Gear Reviews
Spotify is Finally Listening to Music Makers
For independent artists and labels, there is definitely a love/hate relationship with Spotify. We love how the deals with distributors have made the track uploads process easy. We hate how we have very little shot of making an editorial playlist on music alone, (hint:...
REVIEW: Pigtronix Star Eater Analog Fuzz Pedal
Not all fuzzes are created equal; the various vintages and versions, the tweaks, the re-issues, the everything-in-one model configurations. It’s overwhelming to sort through. Pigtronix has unleashed their new Star Eater, and its options are practical for what a fuzz...
REVIEW: Palmer PWT08 Powerbar
Pedalboard power supplies are often overlooked, but it’s an area that can not only mess with your pedalboard, but with your pedals themselves. Palmer’s PWT08 has plenty of clean and safe power on tap, so consider adding one to power your board today. There are eight...
How To
Dear Music Maker – You’re Doing Just Fine
Did you see that meme about how Shakespeare wrote King Lear during the plague? How about Isaac Newton - did you see the article about how he developed differential and integral calculus (among other things) whilst in quarantine? But how about you? Did you lose weight,...
Is Your Band Ready for Entertainer Insurance?
With the world of touring and live gigs at a standstill for the past few months, you may be forgiven for not giving your stage show much thought lately. That said, now might be the best time to start planning for the months ahead. There seem to be some promising...
Using Gratefulness to Reframe Your Definition of Success
A few months ago, my life’s work was finally realized. One random weekday afternoon just driving down the road -- out of nowhere I realized… holy shit, I’m successful. Just like that. A life changing realization as boring and meaningless as it sounds. After more than...
Buying Guide
Eurorack and Modular Synthesis 101
A Non-Scary Intro to Eurorack AKA Modular is Not a Dirty Word Hello, my name is Quinn, I make music under the name Wyram, and I love working with Eurorack Modular Synthesizers. Not only do I think Eurorack modular manufacturers are creating some of the most...
Hooked on Phonics: Synthesizer Polyphony Terminology
Synthesizer Polyphony Terminology and the Polyphonic vs. Paraphonic Debate Talking about, or learning about, synthesizers can be a challenge in general, but the situation is made worse by the fact that synthesizer culture lacks firm, codified terminology. Whether...
A Beginner’s Guide to Wavetable Synthesis
What is Wavetable Synthesis? Wavetable synthesis is an application of digital sound synthesis that uses multiple waveforms stored together in a table to generate sounds. Wavetable synthesis dates back to the very early days of computer music in the 1970s. Max Mathews...
Industry News
Be Prepared for Summer Touring Season with the Right Insurance Policy
PLAN BEFORE YOU HIT THE STAGE Summer is a great time to hit the road in support of your latest release or book a string of fun outdoor gigs and festival slots to get your music in front of big crowds. The weather’s great, audiences are primed to go see live music, and...
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...