Musical Instruments

Any meaningful discussion with an recording engineer will inevitably morph into a discussion about microphones. Just as a closet full of shoes is never enough for a lot of the women I’ve known, a closet full of microphones is rarely ever enough for most recording engineers. There are a lot of different types of microphones and there are a many, many brands, shapes and sizes to pick from. I hope to at least get you started with a road-map of what to look for in microphones and I apologize in advance for setting you on this path! If you’re set on recording as a hobby or career, there’s a very good chance that you’re going to get slightly obsessed with microphones.

The Epiphone Hummingbird is an excellent affordable alternative to Gibson's legendary model.

Mahalo offers affordable ukuleles that are great for beginners. I take a look at a single soprano model, as well as a bundle that includes everything you need to get started.

Shure Microphones are dependable and solid. They make arguably the most popular dynamic mics. Model Numbers like the SM7B, SM57 and SM58 are the bread and butter of any major studios’ microphone closet.   Shure has some great new offerings for not only the professional musician and studio owner, but the home studio owner and weekend warrior.

The Korg C1 Air is an elegant digital piano with excellent tones that will fit in any decor thanks to its stylish cabinet.

Although NAMM wasn't in person this year, the Believe in Music Week was a success, and a lot of new products were revealed virtually. Here are some of the most notable ones.

Shure's SM58 and SM57 are industry standard for live vocals and many different studio applications.

If you name any prominent rock guitarist, there’s a pretty good chance that they have played or do play a Gibson guitar. Gibson has a long history as an instrument maker and is celebrating their 120th anniversary this year.   To mark the 120th year milestone, Gibson has released their 2014 models with features that help with playability and look great too. 

Blue Microphones has released the new Yeti X USB microphone and is providing the opportunity to have professional level audio without professional level costs.

If you have a guitar player in your life and aren't sure exactly what to get them for a gift, this blog entry may be able to give you a few ideas and get you headed in the right direction.