Gear Reviews
REVIEW: Coppersound Strategy Two-Channel Preamp and Overdrive V2
Back in March of 2021 we reviewed Coppersound’s Strategy pedal. The cool Strat-inspired design is as unique as the sound, and now Coppersound has updated it with an additional overdrive mode. Enter the Strategy V2. Again, the blend of Stratocaster and stompbox design...
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...
How To
Shure Works With Musicians To Start #FoundSoundChallenge
Shure Works With Musicians To Start #FoundSoundChallenge While Supporting MusiCares Foundation While people adhere to stay-at-home guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, they are looking at new ways to maintain creativity. Shure, a global leader in audio equipment,...
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...
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
Performer’s Annual Holiday Gift Guide 2023
For our annual Holiday Gift Guide this year, we thought, “What’s the best way to approach recommendations for today’s musicians?” And from there, it was easy: if we were setting up a home studio rig from scratch, what sorts of things would WE put on our wish list?...
WATCH: Get to know the LD Systems Maui G3 PA System
We recently enlisted the help of LA-based singer/songwriter and outer space expert Foxanne to help demonstrate the amazing qualities of the new LD Systems Maui G3 PA. In this new series, we'll go from unboxing to setup, to playthrough as we get to hear the entire...
VIDEO SERIES: Mic Locker Challenge featuring AKG P Series Mics
Theresa Jean of the Nashville-based band The Nearly Deads is up for a challenge: specifically the AKG Mic Locker Challenge we posed to her recently -- can you record an entire track from scratch in your home studio using the new P Series mics from AKG? Well, in this...