Brad Pack

With the announcement of more SoundGrid and Dante-enabled gear at NAMM 2018, including the Rupert Neve Designs RMP-D8 and Apogee Symphony, the world of sending audio over IP has blown wide open. The push towards sending audio over IP has been around as long as road crews and sound engineers have been carrying cables for every single input and output in their rigs. How does this technology help deliver pristine sound and save on chiropractor bills? Continue reading to learn about the many benefits of sending audio over IP. Continue reading →

Though he's moved on from his days of recording above a functional funeral home, Kevin Ratterman still has a penchant for doing things in his own unique way. It's how the Louisville, Kentucky-based producer and engineer came to prominence and began working with artists like My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne and Andrew Bird. Taking a break from a week off the grid in the mountains of Southern Utah, Kevin sat down and chatted with us for our ongoing 20 Questions series. Read on to learn more about his La La Land studio, his signature vocal-chain and that one time he kicked a guitar amp down a stairwell. Continue reading →

Years ago, there was a tried-and-true method for becoming a recording engineer. You would find a studio willing to hire you as an intern, and work your ass off for a few months. Eventually you would catch a break and get asked to run a session. Slowly, you would start to get more work and climb your way up the ladder, until you became a full-fledged engineer with your own interns to boss around. It was the circle of life for audio engineers.  Unfortunately, there are no “Help Wanted” signs hanging in the windows of today's recording studios. Hell, some of today's studios don’t even have windows.  Continue reading →

Last week on the Vintage King blog, we took a deep dive into the drums sounds on Led Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks." We're discussing Zeppelin once again, but this time we are covering the history behind the recording and release of their self-titled debut from January 1969. Continue reading →

Monitor controllers are all about improving your workflow. Most engineers start their home studios with a simple recording interface. When you’ve only got two inputs, a couple monitors and a set of headphones, it’s relatively easy to manage where the signal goes. As you bring in more gear and evolve your studio space, you'll soon come to realize that you've quickly outgrown this style of set-up. With expansion, it can become more difficult to route the signal where you want it to go. Continue reading →

We’ve all been there. You have a question about a piece of gear that you’re too afraid to ask. You figure you’ll just fake ’til you make it, but it goes on for so long you decide you finally have to ask… “What the hell is a DI box and how do I actually use one?” Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Continue reading →

A few weeks back, we posted a blog talking about "how to get a big vocal sound" like Damien Rice, Ray Lamontagne and Beck. We received a lot of comments on social media and we want you to know that we heard you loud and clear:"How do I get that huge, warm, breathy, colorful, rich vocal sound… without wiping out my savings account?”Not everyone can afford vintage tube gear at this point in their careers. That’s OK! While there is nothing like the magic of a vintage U47, you can fake it ’til you make it with these tips for getting a big vocal sound. Continue reading →

What happens when you finally have time to create and nothing comes? It's a hard thing to do when you've been able to relax and then need to find instant inspiration. What do you do? Two words: Brian Eno. Brian Eno was a weird dude. He was a self-described "non-musician” that reinvented the recording process with a highly conceptual approach. His unique strategies changed the way we make music to this day. Continue reading →

Michigan native Khari Cain got his start in the music industry interning for Bad Boy Records, where he began producing as "Needlz." Now he makes hit records with artists like Ludacris, 50 Cent, Lupe Fiasco, Bruno Mars and The Lonely Island. We recently sat down with Needlz and chatted for our ongoing 20 Questions series. Read on to learn more about his love for Michael McDonald, his trick for kicking writer's block and some advice on getting the best kick sounds on an 808. Continue reading →

Can I be real for a second? Stocking stuffers are LAME. Socks. Soap. Maybe some awful smelling cologne/perfume if you’re lucky. This year, surprise your loved ones by stuffing something truly awesome in their stocking! Continue reading →