Vintage King Blog

Let's face it. Drum recording can seem really overwhelming for anyone who is new to the concept. It’s not uncommon to have to manage placement, phase, and clipping for a dozen mics during a recording session. They key is to relax and take it one mic at a time.

Throughout this blog, we'll touch on some of the key elements of miking a drum set and how you can make sure you are doing the job right the first time. There are many different ways to accomplish recording a great drum track, but these are some of the time-tested basics standards that will keep clients happy. Continue reading →

A few weeks ago, Universal Audio announced Apollo X, the latest upgrade to the brand's beloved flagship interface. With more power, improved conversion, built-in talkback mic and expanded monitoring options, the Apollo X is better than ever. Want to learn more? Check out our review of all four Apollo X interfaces by clicking here.

For those of you located near Los Angeles and Nashville, we are hosting two special events on October 4th that will allow you to be one of the first to get your hands on the Apollo X interfaces. The Universal Audio crew will be at our Vintage King Los Angeles and Vintage King Nashville showrooms throughout the day on the 4th and will be providing visitors with demos of the Apollo X's new features and upgrades. Additionally, we'll have a Universal Audio giveaway and there will be light food and drink at both locations. Continue reading →

Looking to try something new in the studio? Maybe add a microphone to your existing arsenal?  Well, you're in luck! Vintage King and Lewitt are giving one person the chance to bring home a LCT 540 SubZero microphone in our brand new giveaway.

The LCT 540 SubZero is a unique large diaphragm condenser microphone that is capable of capturing ultra-detailed sound images. Thanks to its advanced architecture, the microphone keeps self-noise below the level of human hearing. While the microphone was designed specifically for vocals, the LCT 540 SubZero can handle a wide range of instruments from the more intimate (mandolin) to the more boisterous (drums). Continue reading →

After spending two years on its development, Make Noise has announced the release of a brand new version of the Rene R2 synthesizer module. While the original Rene was a one-channel, two-dimensional Cartesian sequencer, the newly updated module explores for another dimension altogether.

Based on the coordinate system of mathematician René Descartes, the Make Noise Music Rene R2 is now the world's only 3D Music Sequencer. The module now features a three-channel, three-dimensional sequencer with memory that can hold up to 64 complete STATEs. This gives you access to perform and program on multiple different axis with new all new touch sensing technology. Continue reading →

The microphone innovations created under the roof at EMI are many of the same principles and techniques that we still apply in the recording studio today. Alan Blumlein, anyone? With the release of their REDD Microphone, Wade Goeke and the Chandler Limited crew are putting EMI microphones on the map once again.

For the first microphone to be badged with the EMI logo in 50 years, Chandler Limited teamed up with engineers at Abbey Roads Studios. The resulting EMI REDD Microphone is a large diaphragm tube condenser mic that features a vacuum tube based REDD.47 Mic Amplifier circuit directly coupled to a custom handmade premium platinum membrane capsule. Continue reading →

After the Summer of Love in 1967, psychedelic rock began to spread throughout the world like a strange-smelling cloud of smoke. It quickly became the calling card of 60s counterculture. Artists like The Doors, Led Zeppelin and even The Beatles began to experiment with the genre. But one of the most quintessential albums from the era comes from a band that never got to taste the fruits of their labor.

The Zombies are best known for their hit “Time of the Season” from the cult-classic Odessey and Oracle released in 1968. While the album was originally met with mediocre reviews, now — 50 years after its initial release — it’s finally come to be appreciated as one of the greatest albums of all time. Continue reading →

Since its initial release in 2012, the Universal Audio Apollo series has revolutionized the world of digital audio interfaces by offering an impeccable sound at an affordable price. With the announcement of the Universal Audio Apollo X, the brand is once again pushing their flagship interface forward and providing significant upgrades in power, conversion and monitoring.  

To purchase the Universal Audio Apollo X Series, which is in stock and shipping from Vintage King right now, please click here. To take advantage of best-in-industry trade-in values when upgrading your current Apollo to an Apollo X, please click here. Continue reading →

Universal Audio is changing the interface game once again with the release of Apollo X. The latest generation of the brand’s flagship interface has been given a significant boost with more processing power, improved conversion, new monitoring options and so much more. Learn more about Apollo X by reading our First Listen review here.

If you’re already a current Apollo owner and would like to upgrade to the new Apollo X, you’re in luck. Vintage King is offering best-in-industry trade values when upgrading from your current interface. When trading in towards an Apollo X interface, you can receive up to $1,375 in trade value. Continue reading →

The Outlier Inn is a world-class recording studio located on a working 12-acre farm in New York’s southern Catskill Mountains, 90 miles from the big city. The land the studio sits on presents a peaceful and inspiring backdrop for recording and mixing, and also serves as a retreat center, an event/workshop space and a sustainable fiber and organic vegetable farm.

Josh Druckman has been the house engineer and producer at Outlier Inn for 15 years and has worked with artists like Luke Temple, Blonde Redhead, Guerrilla Toss and The Dig. We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Josh and talking to him about the studio's unique location,taking the stress out of recording and the Neve VR72 console and UnderTone Audio UnFairchild he picked up from Vintage King's Chris Karn. Continue reading →

In the four-plus years I've worked at Vintage King, there hasn't been much I enjoy more than talking to our company's co-founder Mike Nehra about his thoughts on recording music. The man has an encyclopedic knowledge of methods for recording guitar, how to get the perfect snare sound, what compressors to use on vocals, the particular sounds of vintage consoles and so much more. He is a literal walking, talking version of the best Tape Op interview or Sound on Sound article you've ever read.

Seeing as though we've been celebrating our 25th Anniversary throughout 2018, we decided that it was time to sit Mike down and have him take part in our 20 Questions series for the blog. Continue reading below for our conversation with Mike and learn more about what got him interested in music, the best venues he's ever played, his favorite pieces of gear to come to Vintage King and his ideal fishing spot. Continue reading →