FLAC, short for “Free Lossless Audio Codec,” is a popular lossless compression format for audio. The format offers varying levels of lossless compression from 1 through 8. These levels correspond to a combination of different parameters that can be tweaked to optimize the codec’s performance for your particular situation.
MXL R144 Ribbon Microphone Review
The MXL R144 is an affordable ribbon microphone that provides the unique sound of ribbon microphone recordings from the jazz-age. While not suitable for all recordings, the R144’s warmth and smooth top-end provides a new sound character to diversify your microphone collection.
BitPerfect App Review — Getting the Best Sound Quality from iTunes
I had a rare day off a few weeks ago, and decided the goal for the day would be to figure out how to maximize my Mac’s sound quality. Yes, I am aware that this sounds incredibly nerdy. A few recent purchases, which included an AudioQuest DragonFly USB DAC and a pair of Shure SE846s, successfully put into another one of those maximum sound quality moods that approximately 0.001% of the world’s population experience at any point in their lives.
Low Latency Mode in Logic Pro X
Different plugins introduce varying amounts of latency into your Logic project. Sometimes it’s useful to get rid of some of that latency when recording. Logic Pro X has a built in Low Latency Mode, found under the Record tab in the menu bar, automatically bypasses any plugins that introduce more than a user-definted latency limit.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Headphones Review
Audio-Technica’s new remastered versions of their M-Series professional headphones were made available on the market last month. The original M-Series were known for their closed-back design, featuring great sound isolation for tracking and a professional sound that could even handle mixing duties. The new, remastered M-Series feature some nice design improvements, but they are largely the same headphones as their predecessors.
How to Print MIDI to Audio and Why You Should Do It
MIDI is a popular tool for music composition. In a modern music production environment, it is very common to see MIDI tracks and audio tracks living side by side in a DAW (digital audio workstation). Unlike audio tracks, MIDI tracks contain data that must be played through a virtual instrument in order to produce sound. While MIDI allows for easy manipulation of notes, velocities, and more, the downside is it always needs a virtual instrument plugin to make sound. When you’re finished composing or arranging, it’s a good idea to “print” the MIDI track to an audio track. We’ll be using Logic Pro X in this tutorial, but the core concepts are the same for every DAW.
In-Ear Monitors — Balanced Armature Drivers vs. Dynamic Drivers
In-ear monitors use one of two driver technologies — balanced armature and dynamic. In this article, we’ll discuss the technology behind these two designs and the pros and cons of each.
CAD GXL2200 Condenser Microphone Review
The GXL2200 is the second-tier microphone in CAD’s series of GXL condenser microphones. It is a large diaphragm, side-address, cardioid microphone that offers a clear, present, and quality sound.
Weighted vs. Unweighted Keys on a Digital Piano or Keyboard
If you’re in the market for a new digital piano or keyboard, it’s important to know and understand the differences between weighted and unweighted keys. Both varieties have their pros and cons, and this article you’ll learn exactly what those are.
Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone Review
The Snowball USB Microphone is part of Blue Microphone’s line of affordable desk devices designed for podcasting, voiceovers, and some recording applications. While the Snowball provides a clarity and professional sound suited for podcasting, it has limitations when it comes to recording music.