With their ability to handle high sound pressure levels and reject background noise, dynamic microphones continue to be vital in both live performances and recording. We have analyzed reviews and ratings of the many dynamic mics on the market, to bring you a list of the top ones deserving of your consideration.

Over a century after it was first introduced, the Condenser Mic continues to be an indispensable tool for music production. This guide focuses on the highest rated large and small diaphragm mics that cover all the tasks studio condensers are used for.

The number one barrier to entry towards having a great microphone is that most of them require an audio interface for recording. Major manufacturers now offer some of their models as USB mics with built in analog-to-digital converters to address the needs of people who simply want a good microphone for recording without an audio interface.

Gearing up for recording has never been this accessible, all you need is your computer, instrument, microphone, and a good audio interface. With so many cheap audio interfaces available, this guide will help you make the best choice with our list of current market favorites.

If you're a DJ, musician or live sound engineer, the first thing you will have noticed when looking for professional PA subwoofers is that the market is extremely crowded with an almost endless number of options - this guide will help you decide which subwoofer to get by showing you the highest rated ones currently available.

The best audio interface for each category reviewed and ranked by our audio engineer. Find the best multichannel audio interface for your situation.

With the right audio interface, you can turn your iPad into a full featured recording studio. Featured here are the best audio interfaces that you can use to maximize the iPad's mobile recording potential.

Powered Speakers, also known as active speakers, are loudspeakers with amplifiers built into their enclosures. This combination is simpler to setup and manage, making powered speakers more and more popular among musicians, sound engineers, and DJs.

The best IEMS allow you to hear yourself accurately while playing or performing and can make all the difference in the quality of your sound.

See which of the best chorus pedals are perfect for your playing style, get expert advice on their utility and their pros and cons.

Our guru guitar teacher recommends the best beginner acoustic guitar to learn on, along with personal insights on the features you should be looking for.

Get our expert's advice on choosing the best electric guitars under $1000, covering the vey best popular solidbody electric guitar styles.

Finding the best bass guitar strings can be a challenge. With so many different materials and approaches to bass string design, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which is going to work the best for you and your style of playing.

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 situation.

If you're looking for an amplifier to use with your electronic drum set, or if you're an acoustic drummer looking for a stage drum monitor, then this guide will help you decide which one is best for your situation.

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.

Unlike standard MIDI keyboards, a portable keyboard has built-in speakers so you can play anytime without having to plug in additional equipment. The keyboards included in this guide can also run on batteries so you can play them anywhere.

A solid and reliable stand is a must not just to help with playing, but also to protect your precious keyboards and synthesizers. This article focuses on stands primarily designed for 49 key instruments and up - if you need a stand for a mini or micro keyboard then you should probably consider getting a music laptop stand or something similar.

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 need to work on your recorded music you need to hear exactly how it sounds, warts and all. Multimedia and hi-fi speakers are not suitable for the task because they color the sound. This is where good studio monitors come in...

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

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 audio interfaces. Ordinary preamps built into audio interfaces and mixing desks are usually solid performers but dedicated preamps can add that extra warmth and clarity.

A guitar rig is only as strong as its weakest link, so it pays to get the right patch cables and/or couplers for the job. Here we present you with what the market considers to be the best, covering a variety of price ranges and bundles, along with advice to help you get the best for your rig.

Channel strips provide a high degree of control over the input signal before it reaches your audio interface by providing better mic preamps and more control such as compressor / limiters to prevent exceeding the input limits on your interface.

For this March 2022 Edition we short-listed 97 guitars available from major online American retailers and examined more than 25,100 rating and review sources in order to find the highest rated acoustics to recommend.

If you have an acoustic guitar with pickups you need a specialized acoustic amp if you want to bring out the natural tone of your instrument. These amps aim to be transparent so they are also good at amplifying vocals - this means that many of these amps are also designed to work well as small PA systems.

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.

To make the most out of your studio monitors, you'll want to pair them up with top quality stands that are designed for studio use. In addition to positioning and securing your speakers, these stands prevent cabinet vibration from transferring to your floor or desk, which results in improved sonic clarity.

Here are the best cheap ukes you can get for under $50. We've included bundled packages that have extras like carry bags and tuners which help make them suitable for beginners.

Acoustic guitars priced between $500 and $1,000 tend to have better tonewoods and construction than many of the cheaper options. You'll find many of these guitars also have better tonal definition and projection than their lower priced counterparts.

Looking for a portable and affordable alternative to your expensive and bulky bass amplifiers? Or are you simply looking for a way to improve your sound? If yes, then this gear guide is for you.

Balanced XLR Cables are used to connect microphones and other balanced output music gear into mixing consoles. They continue to be the industry standard for both recording and live performance because they shield your signal from interference to noiselessly transfer your audio over long distances.

For the modern electronic musician, performing goes beyond playing keyboard MIDI controllers and tweaking knobs. Songs arranged in the studio can now be performed and altered live. Sounds, samples or even entire sections of music can be triggered with the help of dedicated MIDI pad controllers assigned to specific functions in a DAW.

We analyzed a record number of guitarist ratings and reviews, more than 183k sources, to bring you the highest rated sets of guitar strings in five standard gauge ranges.

The sub $500 price range is the sweet spot where you can find many guitar amps with good value and overall quality. Here we look at the best of these market leading combo, head and pedal board amplifiers, to help you in your pursuit of great guitar tone and functionality.

Gigging with an acoustic guitar can be a headache if you don’t have an acoustic guitar pickup, and if you don’t get the most appropriate pickup type for you you’re never going to get the tone you want. So rather than go in blind, check out our recommendations!

Here are the highest rated combo modeling amps for guitar, divided into four price brackets to help you find one that suits your budget.

Delay is a unique effect in that it has a place in every genre. Whether you’re looking for dry country slapback chunk or the smooth “filling out” effect you hear in metal. Essentially, if you play guitar you will want to pick up a delay pedal at some point.

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

Here we look at the best travel guitars on the market today, covering both acoustic and electric models, all of which are smaller and lighter to make your journey more comfortable.

The soprano ukulele is the smallest standard size and it produces the trademark bright ukulele sounds we've come to know and love. If you're looking for the classic, traditional ukulele tone then this is the size you are looking for. Coming in at about the same size is the lesser known "pineapple" ukulele.

This focuses on the best mics for live vocals as opposed to ones for speaking conferences or making announcements over PA systems. All these mics are great for vocals, but some can also be used on instruments, and some are also handy studio mics.

This year we expanded the scope of this guide to include both hybrid and standard electronic kits across all price ranges. Our recommendations are separated into 4 price brackets to help you choose the best one that fits within your budget.

The $200 to $300 price range has some nice amps with serious tone and flexibility. Since tone quality inspires better and longer playing, and sonic versatility allows for exploration of other musical styles, these amps are ideal for first time buyers, and for experienced players who want something compact. Includes tube and hybrid amps.

Finding the best drum sticks can be a challenge. There’s so much that goes into how they’re designed, and if you don’t get the right type for your needs and skill level you’re not going to get the tone or response you want.

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.

Here are the highest rated 7-string electric guitars up to $2000 along with advice to help you find the best one for your needs.

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.

Guitar cables can't make you sound better, but bad ones can make you sound bad, if not totally cut off your sound. This results in uninspiring and often awkward experiences that musicians try to forget. So get yourself one of the top rated cables and avoid the problems.

A closer look at the Best Budget Guitar Pickups, excellent options to enhance your guitar tone on a budget.

A reality of being a guitarist is that you can’t always play at full volume. If you live with other people, especially in an apartment complex, you have to keep your volume at a reasonable level. Thankfully, there’s a solution available: practice amps.

Nylon has been the material of choice for flamenco, classical, and many fingerstyle guitarists for decades. First introduced as an alternative to the gut strings used prior to the material’s introduction, nylon has proven itself to be a best option due to its affordability and resilience.

If you're serious about improving or maintaining your drumming skills, practice shouldn't end the moment you step away from your drum kit. Training with drum practice pads keeps your skills sharp while helping you notice small things to improve because you're no longer bombarded with high decibel sounds.

Getting a wireless system for your guitar or bass frees you up from being tethered to your amp or pedalboard and reduces cable clutter on stage. In addition to showing you which systems are the most highly rated by musicians, this guide provides analysis and advice that will help you select the best one to add to your rig.

MIDI controllers have been fundamental tools for producing music due to their versatility and portability. They provide control over a computer software sequencers and virtual synthesizers, as well as external sound modules. This guide covers highly rated affordable keyboard controllers, with options ranging from 25 to 49 keys.

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 highest rated studio subwoofers currently available.

When it comes to acoustic guitars, a huge part of your tone is decided by the strings you use. The gauge, the material they’re made from, and their design can all transform your tone; for better or worse. Make the most out of your instrument, equip it with the best sounding acoustic guitar strings - check out our recommendations!

Closed headphones are essential for any recording setup to prevent spill into live microphones while tracking. These recommended headphones are all circumaural and are designed specifically for use in recording rather than for standard consumer applications.

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!

Here we reveal the top-rated reverb delay pedal combos and the reasons why they are market favorites. Also featured are the best reverb pedals, for those who want a dedicated unit.