Gear Reviews
REVIEW: Cosmodio Pet Yeti Distortion Pedal
When it comes to drive pedals, names can sometimes be misleading. "Super overdrive" might mean distortion to some, and to others it's something that's not enough to solo on. With the name Pet Yeti, Cosmodio Instruments has a pedal that lives up to its name of a wild...
REVIEW: Donner HUSH-X Travel Guitar
The new Donner HUSH-X electric guitar is a cool, compact tone machine that makes practicing and recording no matter where you are a total breeze. The review model we received went straight into the hands of Bella Moulden for a full deep dive and demo in a series...
The ACOUSTIC ISSUE is out now!
Performer Magazine is psyched to bring you our special ACOUSTIC ISSUE celebrating all things acoustic from gear to setup to recording and live performance tips. We've been working hard on this one for a while, and it even has a companion mixtape dropping later this...
How To
Christmas in July – Tips for Holiday Song Placements
It’s 97 degrees outside, fireworks are exploding outside my window, and here I am sitting in an air-conditioned studio, with a floppy Santa hat on, trying to nail this glockenspiel part. Why? Because this is July, when many in the industry are producing and recording...
Clearing up the Most Common Misconception About Musician Insurance
When it comes to the life of your band, or your solo career, we understand that insurance topics might not be the sexiest thing to cover. That said, it’s oftentimes a misunderstand, and crucial part of your business plan. Look, we don’t wish for the worst or...
Why NOW is the Perfect Time to Get Insurance For Your Band
If the pandemic taught us anything as musicians and music-lovers, it’s how much we took for granted seeing live music (and performing live on-stage for those of us who do so). And during the past few years, if you were spending more time in the studio than on the...
Buying Guide
WATCH: The Positive Grid Spark Live is the Ultimate Rehearsal Room PA/Amp for Your Band
https://youtu.be/klI69syvLq0 We recently sent the new Positive Grid SPARK LIVE to Boston-based indie pop band Air Traffic Controller to test out in their rehearsal studio. To show just how easy it is to get set up and rocking right away, we gave them no prior...
WATCH: How to Record KILLER Vocals with the new Telefunken TF17 FET condenser microphone
https://youtu.be/wYVmcUZvMQY?si=Gf698iUc66A7uGjz We recently sent the brand-new Telefunken TF17 into the studio with Amanda Ayala to show off just what a powerhouse this new condenser is. Sit back as she unboxes, sets things up and tracks vocal parts for her new...
WATCH NOW: Get Amazing On-The-Go Sound with new All-in-One Mackie ShowBox
Learn how to get better live sound in a small, affordable and portable PA/acoustic amp package. The new Mackie ShowBox is an awesome battery-powered PA and acoustic amp with a few tricks up its sleeve. We enlisted the help of singer/songwriter Travis Shallow to walk...
Industry News
10 Tips for Recording Great Vocals In Your Home Studio
Invest in a decent mic Each voice has its own tonality and texture and no one microphone is a perfect solution for all voices. Big studios will often line up a bunch of pricey mics at the start of a vocal session to see which one works best for that particular...
REVIEW: Zildjian ALCHEM-E Perfect Tune Over Ear Headphones
Full disclosure: we have been privileged over the past few months to be one of a select group of behind-the-scenes beta testers for a new line of over-the-ear headphones from Zildjian, designed from the ground up for casual music listening, critical audiophile usage,...
Audio-Technica launches ltd-edition ATH-M50xLAB and ATH-M50xBT2LAB headphones
Audio-Technica, a leading innovator in transducer technology for over 60 years, announces the winning limited edition color design of the wildly popular fan-favorite ATH-M50x and ATH-M50xBT2 headphones. The winning design was chosen by fans. After more than a...