Open-back headphones are commonly identified by their vented or mesh-covered enclosed earcups. This design promotes a more natural sound that minimizes internal reflection and standing waves making them much better suited to mixing and mastering compared to closed-back headphones. This guide is for anyone who is looking for headphones suitable for mixing and mastering.

The acoustic guitar has long been, and continues to be, the most accessible music instrument available.

Having the right mic to record this prolific instrument is critical to a good recording setup for any musician or studio.

Wireless systems are great because they free you up from being stuck in one spot.

Today's wireless systems are relatively free from interference and drop outs, so if the fear of these things happening has been holding you back then there's no longer any need to worry - just ensure you get a system with the range you need.

Guitar amplifiers don't just amplify sound, they also shape and color the sound. This is especially true for tube amps, and is the reason why amps are considered as vital to tone as guitars themselves. Here we feature the best tube amps that fit the average guitarists' budget, based on actual user feedback and market sentiment.

You can get some surprisingly good studio headphones for less than $100 these days, however not all types of headphones are available in this price range so we explain what the different types of headphones are and provide you with the information you need to get the best option for your needs.

61-Key MIDI keyboard controllers are big enough for complex two hand playing, while still retaining compact and portable profiles. As such, they are ideal instruments for Keyboardists who are looking for a controller that can be used both in the studio and for live performances.

This guide features 7-piece drum mic sets because this is the minimum number of mics you generally need to mic a 5-piece drum set for recording or playing large venues.

Electronic drums are a heck of a lot of fun to play with, but more importantly they're the best way to learn, practice and improve your chops without making all the noise associated with acoustic drums - just slip your headphones on and you're good to go!

Powered Speakers, also known as active speakers, are loudspeakers with amplifiers built into their enclosures. This combination results in improved versatility, making powered speakers more and more popular among musicians, sound engineers, and DJs.

Portable audio recorders are versatile devices that are used for recording rehearsals, live shows, and field recordings.

This guide is for you if you want to purchase a recorder to capture better quality audio than you can with a phone app.

When you need to work on your recorded music you need to hear exactly how it sounds, warts and all.

Generally speaking, multimedia and hi-fi speakers are not suitable for the task because they tend to color the sound. This is where good studio monitors come in...

If you're looking for an amplifier to use with your electronic drum set then this guide will help you decide which one is best to get for your situation.

Note that there are other types of amps which can also be used with electronic drums, so read the "Things To Consider" section if you would like to know about the alternatives.

We sought to make this the most comprehensive guide to electronic drums by conducting a detailed survey of the most popular and highly rated electronic kits at major online American music gear stores, which led to us short-listing 27 kits for detailed analysis for which we examined over 1,900 reviews, ratings, videos, and forum posts.

There's just no replacing the feel and sound of acoustic pianos, but they are not always practical when considering real world space and budget restrictions. This is where we come in with our feature on the Best digital piano keyboards, featuring market favorites in the sub $1000 price range that have impressed student and professional pianists alike.

Stand alone mic preamps are a great way to enhance the quality and character of your microphone recordings as well as allowing you to add extra mic enabled channels to your setup. Ordinary preamps built into audio interfaces and mixing desks are usually solid performers but dedicated preamps can add that extra warmth and clarity.

Studio subwoofers free up your main monitors to better handle the mids and highs - the end result being better overall sound quality and clarity. This guide tells you what you need to know to add a subwoofer to your studio monitors along with a list of the best studio subwoofers currently available.

Portable PA Systems are designed to provide convenient sound reinforcement that can be easily setup, packed away and carried for transportation.

If you're unsure about exactly what a 'portable' PA System is that's probably because there is no standard definition, so we have defined them in the Methodology section of this guide.

If you go to many of the major online retailers you'll find well over 100 options priced under $500 listed in their drum set categories which can be very confusing if you're just starting out.

This guide simplifies the process of buying a beginner drum set and tells you what you need to know to avoid some of the pitfalls in buying drum kits online.

This guide is designed to help anyone who wants to get some new full-sized microphone stands either for stage or studio use.

For solidbody electric guitars, the $200 to $500 price range is where things start to get serious - quality is good enough for mid to advanced level players, while the prices remain beginner friendly. This guide aims to help you narrow down the options to only the most popular and top rated ones, so you can confidently and conveniently pick what suits your playing style.

The basic mechanical filtration of pop filters is so practical and efficient, that we still haven't found better alternatives. Positioned between the singer and the microphone they stop fast moving air from hitting the mic capsule and while filtering unwanted "pops", they also prevent saliva and moisture from getting into the microphone.

This gear guide will help you find the right studio recording microphones for your budget and needs.

The focus is on top rated condenser and dynamic mics that are currently being used to record vocals in home recording and professional studios.

Here we look at top rated 4-string bass guitars in the sub $300 price range, great for students of the instrument and for guitarists who want to have an affordable bass on hand for recording. Be it for yourself, or for a special someone who's learning the ropes, these bass guitars are market proven to provide satisfactory sound, performance and value.

This guide is designed to help anyone who is currently looking for a good inexpensive guitar amplifier. We have only included combo amps which you can take out of the box and start using immediately without having to buy an additional speaker cabinet.

This guide covers all the main types of guitars with nylon strings including classical, flamenco, hybrid and both acoustic and acoustic-electric models.

It also provides advice on topics such as Tonewoods, Scale Length, Nut Width, Action / String Height, Acoustic and Acoustic-Electric options.

When you want a microphone to record with that's "plug and play", and you don't want to deal with using an audio interface, that's when you need to get a USB mic.

They are also great for mobile recording because you can just plug them directly into your laptop or tablet without any additional power requirements in most cases.

This guide is primarily focused on mixing consoles used for live sound - we will provide a guide to studio mixing consoles at a later time.

Stage monitors allow performers to hear themselves and others on stage. Without stage or floor monitors it can be very difficult to stay in time and sing in tune.

We have decided to focus this gear guide on floor monitors (also called wedge/foldback speakers) since they provide good area coverage and they are what most people use.

Keyboard amplifiers tend to be quite versatile with many able to amplify a wide range of input sources from keyboards and synths to vocals, electronic drums, acoustic guitars, bass, drum machines and backing machines. Some of the multi-channel options can even be used as small PA systems ideal for practice sessions or performing in small venues.

The main job of a DI Box is to convert your (1/4" TS) instrument lead signal 'directly' into the (balanced 3-pin XLR) microphone inputs that a mixing console typically has. Unlike a simple headphone adaptor (1/4" to 1/8") it has to convert the differences in impedance and voltage between the two sides of the connection.

Closed headphones are essential for any recording setup to prevent spill into live microphones while tracking. The following list of recommended headphones are all circumaural (they cover your ears completely) and are designed specifically for use in recording rather than for standard consumer applications, although audiophiles will appreciate their high level of performance.

From subtle reverb and compression, to robotic and alien sounds, vocal effects let you improve, tweak and even transform your voice. At first, this was achieved through post processing, but technology has made it possible for on-the-spot effects application and adjustments while performing. Even realtime pitch correction is now possible, along with automatic harmonies, essentially giving you your very own team of virtual sound engineers, vocal coaches and backup singers, all packed in a box.

A channel strip is often the first piece of outboard gear, other than a simple mic preamp, that many home recording enthusiasts buy.

That's because channel strips provide a high degree of control over the input signal before it reaches your audio interface.