Gear Reviews
The Difference Between TRUE BYPASS and BUFFERED BYPASS
It’s impossible to shop around for effects pedals without noticing claims of “true bypass” coming from a wide range of manufacturers. Like many things in the guitar effects world, there is some disagreement about the benefits of true bypass, with some players...
Practical Tips and Tricks for Stacking Gain and Overdrive Pedals
In the guitar world, especially when it comes to tone, everyone has an opinion on what’s “right.” However, between the blurred lines of audio science and the endless chatter of gear forums finding what’s best tonally for yourself can be a challenge. With seemingly...
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FUZZ, OVERDRIVE AND DISTORTION PEDALS?
They all do the same basic thing – add harmonics and clip the audio signal. However, the sounds that they produce, and the amounts of distortion can be quite different. OVERDRIVE GUITAR PEDALS An overdrive guitar pedal produces enough gain to push your amp into its...
How To
11 Pro Tips for Livestreaming Your Show from Home
If you’re like most musicians, gigs are your lifeblood. But when you can’t connect with your audience in person, livestreaming is your best opportunity to gain new fans and generate income while building momentum for your next show. Livestreaming lets you provide a...
Let’s #KeepTheMusicGoing with the #EVOpenMic event
Your gigs are postponed, but Electro-Voice wants YOU to keep performing! This May, EV is hosting a series of 15 online concerts on their Facebook page, and they're looking to book artists to play their original tunes for an #EVOpenMic. All music genres welcome. If you...
FREE AmpliTube Orange Tiny Terror Amp to IK Multimedia newsletter subscribers
Sharing today's news from our friends at IK Multimedia: As a thank you from our IK family to yours, we are gifting all new and existing newsletter subscribers the AmpliTube Orange Tiny Terror amp. From April 29th to May 6th, join our IK newsletter and confirm your...
Buying Guide
REVIEW: Sterling By Music Man Sabre Electric Guitar
Typically, when a manufacturer offers up a lower-priced import instrument, it’s been streamlined for costs; components are often inexpensive, electronics are simpler, and design features found in higher end models are skipped over. Ernie Ball Music Man took their...
Review: Taylor 514ce Urban Red Ironbark Acoustic Guitar
Taylor’s been pushing the expectations and limits of Acoustic guitars for decades now; just when you’d assume there’s a plateau, they go further into new territory. Their 514CE in Urban Red Ironbark is a perfect example of design, materials and execution that makes...
How to Set Up a USB Audio Interface with First to Eleven and Focusrite
We recently hooked up the band First to Eleven with a brand-new Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 USB Audio Interface so they can record their tracks, livestreams and live performances with ease. Watch all four episodes as we go from unboxing, to DAW setup, to capturing...
Industry News
VIDEO SERIES: How to Set up a JBL EON ONE Mk2 Portable PA
Looking to hit the road, or bring your own sound system to your coffeehouse gigs, house concerts, busking side hustles and more? Let Brandon Hardesty walk you through the new JBL EON ONE Mk2 portable PA to demonstrate just how easy it can be to get going (even without...
PERFORMER’S 2023 HOME RECORDING BUYER’S GUIDE
OUR ANNUAL HOME STUDIO BUYER’S GUIDE or May We Present: The Homebody Awards? It’s awards season, America! Well, I’m not sure if that’s exactly true (or if you’re even reading this in America), but if we’re putting out a special issue (and we happen to think this one...
Stream the Companion Home Recording Issue Mixtape
The Home Recording Issue Companion Mixtape, brought to you by Focusrite by Performer Magazine This mixtape is the special companion to our recent HOME RECORDING ISSUE (out now in print and online), which you can read in its entirety for FREE at...