Buyer's Guide

A direct box, or DI box, is an essential piece of equipment for any recording or live sound setup. It’s used to convert an unbalanced, high-impedance instrument or line-level signal into a balanced, low-impedance signal that can be sent to a mixing console, audio interface, or other gear. But with so many different types of DI boxes on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you.  Continue reading →

Long before miniaturization made self-powered monitors with built-in amplifiers, crossovers and DSP chips a reality, passive speakers reigned supreme. In fact, active monitors have only become common in professional-level studios in the last few decades—and many, such as Blackbird, Power Station and Gold-Diggers Sound, still rely on passive monitors anyway. Certain passive speakers such as the Yamaha NS-10 have even gained a cult following among mixing engineers. Continue reading →

Vintage microphones are many studio owners’ most prized possessions. Their rich history, glorious sound and vintage cachet make them the crown jewels of any studio gear list. But what exactly makes vintage mics so special? In this article, we’ll break down some of the most iconic vintage microphones and the best alternatives to hold you over until you’re able to complete your collection. Continue reading →

The name Neumann tends to conjure up images of venerated large diaphragm condenser microphones. Still, the company has consistently offered small-diaphragm condensers that have been no less beloved by engineers for decades. Their current line of small-diaphragm condenser mics continues to uphold the same standard, and are worth a look for any serious recordist’s mic locker. Continue reading →

Founded in 2009 by Roman Perschon, LEWITT draws from a rich history of Austrian microphone designs. On a self-described mission to “change the status quo of microphone design,” LEWITT collaborates with audio engineers, producers and musicians to create unique products that make it easy for musicians to express themselves with pro-quality sound. Offering a range of dynamic and condenser microphones at a variety of price points, from compact and affordable drum mics to sophisticated tube condensers, LEWITT is sure to have a product that suits your needs. Continue reading →

  In April 2022, Avid announced that Pro Tools is moving to a subscription model and introduced three new software subscription options: Pro Tools Artist ($99/year) for aspiring music creators, Pro Tools Studio ($299/year) for professional music creators and producers, and Pro Tools Ultimate ($799/year) for audio post professionals and music studios. Continue reading →

DAWs offer a lot of benefits over traditional analog studio workflows, but one thing that's missing is the tactile response of turning a knob or sliding a fader. Control surfaces offer the best of both worlds, combining the workflow improvements of digital audio with the familiar controls of an analog console. But with so many different control surfaces available, it can be difficult to choose the best one for your workflow. In this Buyer's Guide, you'll learn exactly what to look for when purchasing a control surface to ensure you find the perfect model. Continue reading →

Microtech Gefell has been a world leader in microphones for over seven decades. Its storied history finds the brand with a familial link to fellow German mic giant Neumann. Yet, Gefell has cemented an incredible legacy of its own with mic designs for studio, stage and more. With such a wide array of microphones, Vintage King thought it fitting to break down Gefell's offerings in a Buyer's Guide. We will be going through each class of Gefell's microphones and talking about the differences between base models and variants. But before we do that, a little bit of history... Continue reading →

While there are many pro audio brands creating microphones for a wide array of applications, sometimes you need something that is specifically designed for a certain sound source. Remic Microphones specializes in creating mics that work for a number of classical instruments including violin, cello, double bass, brass and woodwinds. Throughout this Buyer's Guide, we'll be breaking down Remic Microphones product offerings and explaining the differences between the various model numbers. Before we get into it, let's talk about the history of Remic and how the brand got its start creating tools for capturing classical instruments in both the studio and live settings. Continue reading →

Since it was started by Rupert Neve in 1985, Focusrite has spent over three decades creating essential tools for music creators. That legacy lives on today, as the brand continues to evolve its interface offerings for different kinds of recording studios. Focusrite Pro has played a pivotal role in this evolution. Focusrite Pro has added four new products to its lineup today, including the RedNet R1 desktop remote controller, Red 8LINE interface, and newly updated versions of the RedNet D16R MkII and RedNet A16R MkII interfaces. In this Buyer’s Guide, we’ll break down this new gear and explain the differences between each line of Focusrite Pro solutions. Before we get too far into the tech behind these groundbreaking designs, let’s talk a little about the start of Focusrite and how Focusrite Pro came to be a part of the company. Let's go back to the 1980s! Continue reading →