THE BLOG
Mixing tips, mastering guides, gear reviews, and music production tutorials from a studio with 20+ years of experience.
How to Mic an Acoustic Guitar for a Perfect Recording
Most home acoustic recordings sound boomy for one simple reason: the mic is pointed at the wrong spot. This guide walks ...
Understanding Audio File Formats: The Complete Guide
WAV, FLAC, MP3, ALAC, Opus — the audio format landscape has changed a lot, and some of what you learned a few years ago ...
The Greatest Albums of All Time, Ranked by Production
Most 'greatest albums' lists rank by sales or nostalgia. We're doing it differently. This is a ranking of the best album...
The Greatest Vocalists of All Time, Ranked by Technique
Forget popularity contests. This ranking of the best singers of all time judges the greatest vocalists on actual techniq...
The Greatest Drummers of All Time, Ranked by Feel
Forget the fastest hands and the biggest fills. This ranking of the best drummers of all time is all about feel — pocket...
Understanding Impedance in Headphones: From Ohms to Audio
Impedance is one of the most misunderstood numbers on a headphone spec sheet. It's not just about whether you need an am...
The Greatest Guitarists of All Time, Ranked by Tone
Most 'best guitarists of all time' lists rank chops and influence. This one ranks tone — the actual recorded sound that ...
Writing Your First Song When You Know Nothing About Theory
You don't need music theory to write a song. You need three chords, a simple structure, and the willingness to finish. T...
Starting a Song from a Chord Progression
Starting with chords is a solid way to write a song, as long as you know the one trap it sets. Here's the chords-first w...
How to Write a Piano Riff That Carries a Song
A piano hook isn't the same thing as a chorus, and rhythm matters more than most people think. This guide breaks down ho...
How to End a Song: Outros That Actually Land
The ending is the last thing your listener remembers, so it's worth getting right. This guide breaks down the main types...
How to Write Melodies on Guitar
Great guitar melodies aren't luck, and they aren't random noodling through a scale shape. They come from targeting chord...