Bryan Reilly

It seems as though there are a handful of microphones that have made their way into just about every recording studio on the planet—from world-class facilities tracking hit records to the makeshift studio in your mom’s garage where you made your band’s first record. These microphones hold some kind of magic power that makes them sound great on almost any source and instantly produce the sounds we’re so used to hearing on our favorite records. Among these magical microphones, the Sennheiser MD 421 holds a special place in our hearts. The MD 421 has appeared on countless hit records and is a favorite amongst many of today’s top engineers. To celebrate 421 Day, we’re looking back at the legacy of this iconic dynamic mic and how it has impacted the industry over the years. Continue reading →

If you’re interested in analog synths, it’s almost impossible to have a conversation about building a rig without talking about Moog. Since the 1960s, Moog has shaped the landscape of popular music with its industry-leading synthesizers. The signature Moog sound can be found in almost any genre of music ranging from artists like The Monkees, Stevie Wonder, Kraftwerk, Nine Inch Nails, Donna Summers, Parliament-Funkadelic, Pink Floyd, Olivia Rodrigo and many more. Continue reading →

Antelope Audio has expanded their Edge series with the release of the new Edge Solo, Edge Duo and Edge Quadro. All of these microphones come replete with incredible vintage microphone emulations that will allow you access to classic sounds in the studio, in addition to just being great mics on their own.Last week I was able to spend a day in the studio with the new Edge series microphones, and after testing each microphone on a variety of sources, I was blown away. There are so many options available right out of the box and the variety of tones I was able to get from a single microphone without leaving the control room was extremely satisfying 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.   Continue reading →

It’s a very interesting time in the recording industry. The landscape is drastically changing as digital modeling technology comes closer and closer to recreating the sound of the analog classics we all know and love. Over the past year, I’ve had the chance to use some of the top modeling microphones and preamp systems including the Universal Audio Unison preamps, Townsend Labs Sphere microphone, Slate VMS microphone and now the Antelope Audio Edge Strip. There hasn’t been a system that’s let me down yet. In my opinion, it would be hard to find a more versatile microphone for under $1,500 than the Antelope, Slate or Townsend Labs. Continue reading →

When it comes to top quality microphones, every engineer in the business knows and loves Neumann mics, especially the U67. That's why it was particularly exciting when the brand announced at Winter NAMM 2018 that they would be releasing a historically accurate U67 reissue, the first of its kind since the original was discontinued. What sets the U67 apart from any other microphone in the Neumann family is its ability to capture an insane amount of low end. The proximity effect of the U67 is more prominent than any other model Neumann offers and is a favorite to many engineers for capturing an intimate vocal performance. Continue reading →

If you’re looking for a quality set of active studio monitors on a budget, look no further than ADAM Audio. Over the past week, I've got to spend some quality time with their new line of T Series studio monitors, the T7V and T5V. I’m pretty blown away with how ADAM Audio was able to provide such quality sound at such a friendly price point. When you’re first starting out, you more than likely don’t have an insane budget for professional grade monitors, so you try and get the best ones you can and make due with what you have. Of all the monitors I’ve tried in this price range, I personally think the new line of ADAM Audio speakers far surpasses anything in their class. Continue reading →

Drums are something you want to get right the first time. You never want to say the phrase, “We can fix it in the mix,” at any point during the tracking process. Everything from the size of drums, tone and amount of sustain should be well thought out before you start recording. One of the most important elements to discuss when it comes to drums is the kick drum. Even if you're limited to a smaller selection of kick drums in the studio, there are a handful of techniques that can be used to give each their own unique feel for every song on the record. Continue reading →

sE Electronics and Rupert Neve Designs' brand new RNT tube condenser microphone is the third mic in a collaboration series between the two brands. It is pure class-A and fully discrete in both stages of the microphone. On the large, very retro looking power supply, you have the option to choose between nine polar patterns including omni, cardioid, figure eight and everything in between. The first stage of the microphone is the tube based section and includes an ultra-low noise ECC82 tube in the microphone chassis, as well as a custom-built RND output transformer. The Class-A circuitry helps provide a wide dynamic range and highest SPL possible while maintaining the lowest noise-floor. The diaphragm, tube and internal workings of the microphone are encased in a durable all-metal chassis, all constructed by hand in the sE factory. Continue reading →

Depending on what source you’re recording, there’s a million different ways to mic it up to reach the final tone you’re looking for. The kick drum is no exception, and in most music genres, it’s one of the most important elements within any song. Every drummer has a different way of setting up their kick drum. Variables like the drum's diameter, batter head, resonant head, port or no port, style of pedal and internal dampening will determine what microphones to choose and techniques to use. In this blog, I’m going to go over a few examples where the miking technique changes depending on the resonant head on the kick drum. I’m not saying these techniques are the gold standard, but something to have in your back pocket if a situation arises where the drummer has a setup you’re unfamiliar with. Continue reading →