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Gear Tips

A Closer Look at the LEWITT Audio RAY | In-Focus Audio

Founded by Roman Perschon in 2009, and driven by an international team headquartered in Vienna, LEWITT Audio has been at the forefront of microphone innovation in the modern era. The groundbreaking LEWITT Audio RAY is yet another feature-rich entry in the brand’s lineup, redefining what a contemporary condenser microphone can be.

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The Story of the Höfner Violin Bass

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What Is the Difference Between Mixing and Mastering?

In this article, we’re going to break down the differences between mixing and mastering so that you can make the best decisions possible when it comes to the techniques and gear you need to take your productions from fledgling recordings to finely polished masterpieces.

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What Is the Difference Between Active and Passive Pickups?

In this article, we’ll break down the basics of active and passive pickups, explore their pros and cons, and share some of our favorite examples of each type.

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What is a Guitar Setup?

Learn the ins and outs of getting your guitar in tip-top shape.

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How to Adjust a Truss Rod in Your Guitar

Learn the basic steps and gain the knowledge to make minor truss rod adjustments.

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The History of the KORG microKORG

In this article, we're going to look at a little of the history of the groundbreaking microKORG and examine its sounds, its features and how the current version—the microKORG 2—compares to the company's other VA (Virtual Analog) synthesizers.

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The Neumann U 87 and Its Revolutionary Ingenuity

In this article, we’ll uncover the history of the U 87, discover famous artists who’ve recorded with it, learn how it’s constructed, find out how it’s often used and see how it compares to other microphones in the current Neumann catalog.

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Spotlight on the Sennheiser MD 421 Dynamic Microphone

With a storied history and a vibrant future, the Sennheiser MD 421 is a microphone that should be in every musician's mic locker.

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How to Buy a Vintage Fender Telecaster

In this article, we’ll break down how to shop for, evaluate and buy a vintage Telecaster, with expert insights from Jack Hetherington, director of Guitar Center Used and Vintage.

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1985—Present | The Resurgence of the Fender Stratocaster

The Fender Stratocaster experienced a redoubtable resurgence beginning in 1985, and today, the iconic rock ’n’ roll guitar is as relevant as ever.

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Five Ways to Care for Your Electric Guitar

While not quite the living, breathing entity that is an acoustic guitar, the electric still benefits from a little routine maintenance to keep it in top form. We’ll suggest five easy ways to care for your electric guitar, which are considered good habits that can keep your favorite instrument playing for years to come.

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What Is Sidechain Compression?

We’ll equip you with a few essential tips for sidechaining in your own productions, as well as cover the basics. Our aim is to inspire you to discover new and novel ways of deploying this technique to tighten up your mixes and give them a dynamic, punchy edge.

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What Is Gain Staging?

In this piece, we take a deep dive into the principles of gain staging and how to properly apply them to tidy up your mixes.

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How To Record Acoustic Guitar

Learn these recording techniques for pro-level acoustic guitar tones in your home studio.

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How to Build Out a Hardware Vocal Chain

Learn about all the advantages of building out a hardware vocal chain.

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How to Record Drums

Start mastering drum recording with our in-depth guide

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06 Sep 2024
The Story of the KORG MS-20 Synthesizer

We're going to dive into some of the history of how the iconic KORG MS-20 was developed, why it is such an enduringly popular instrument, and look at some artists and songs that show off its capabilities.

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How Ribbon Microphones Work

Unlock the mystery behind the inner workings of these studio staples.

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The Best Songs to Play Drums To

This article aims to engage drummers of all skill levels by suggesting songs everyone can play along with for education, enjoyment and chops building. So, go through your vinyl collection or load up your favorite music site, pop on some headphones, sit down at your kit and let’s bash.

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How to Make Drums Quieter | Tools and Techniques for Lowering the Boom

By adopting a few dynamic-control techniques and acquiring a drum mute trick bag, you can prevent guitarists from using you as a volume scapegoat. This article endeavors to suggest ways you can reduce the heavy hitting and still have fun.

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