Everything you need to know about selecting the right pickup for your guitar When you’re headbanging to a blistering riff by Slayer’s Kerry King or holding your breath as you listen to B.B. King’s soaring lead, you’re hearing more than just great musicians, guitars and amps. Key to any six-stringer’s unique tone is the pickup—the unassuming metal device that sits underneath guitar strings and translates their vibrations into sweet melodies... 

How to drive your tracks to the next level with customized virtual percussion So many of our favorite recordings would collapse without their own flavor of boom boom pow—the powerful percussion elements that propel a song at the drop of a beat. Whether you’re creating hip-hop, rock, jazz or R&B, your music will almost always benefit by integrating some form of percussion. But what if you don’t have access to Neil Peart, Lars Ulrich, Carter... 

Selecting the right effects stompbox will keep your sound on sure footing Many legendary rock moments—Jimi Hendrix wailing through an Octavia on “Purple Haze,” or the Edge’s lush delay on U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name,” for example—were crafted using carefully chosen effects pedals. Guitarists of all genres use these small, specialized signal processors to tweak their instruments’ sounds in wildly creative ways. And they’re... 

Everything you need to know about selecting the perfect guitar From Eric Clapton’s soaring blues to Tony Iommi’s pulverizing metal riffs and Jimi Hendrix’s psychedelic jams, no single instrument has defined the sound and spirit of rock ’n’ roll music more than the guitar. If you want to grab an axe and add a few notes to that legacy, you have to start with the right instrument. With endless variations and models to choose from, how do... 

Rock’s top lighting designer helps you turn an ordinary show into a dazzling spectacle Certainly, the first and foremost reason we attend concerts is to hear great music—but skillful stage lighting can transform a relatively simple treat for the ears into an unforgettable multimedia experience. To ensure that what audiences see is as vibrant and explosive as what they hear, many of the world’s biggest touring acts turn to lighting designer Marc... 

Selecting the right microphone for you is crucial to a sound performance When you’re belting out a power ballad in front of thousands of excited fans or laying down a delicate guitar overdub in the studio, having the right microphone can make your music sound its best—and the wrong mic can turn it flat and lifeless. But with so many variations available, how do you choose? And with top-end mics selling for tens of thousands and cheapies going... 

The sounds you get from the bottom end can take you to the top WHETHER IT’S HIP-HOP OR HEAVY metal, jazz or country, the right bass sounds can make your music boom with hip-shaking power—while the wrong choices can make it flop with a thud. How do musicians, engineers and producers steer their sounds into that elusive deep-end comfort zone? Even the simplest of standout bass parts have more going on than meets the ear. To help pull back the curtain,... 

Getting the right mix involves technology, practice and careful listening Everything’s in place—the songs have been written, the studio has been booked, the musicians are playing perfectly. You’re well on your way to making a masterpiece. But even if you lay down the greatest tracks ever recorded, it’s entirely possible to screw it up at the last minute. The right mix can make or break even the most brilliantly recorded projects. Many... 

Inside one of the most crucial and mysterious steps of the recording process MASTERING ENGINEERS HAVE ONE  of the most specialized and hard-to-define roles in the music business. They sit in finely tuned rooms surrounded by boutique and vintage equipment, often finishing a record a day. But what does it mean to master a completed mix? Especially in this age of affordable digital home recording, asking five experts might elicit five different... 

Getting a great vocal take involves both technical and personal skills “THAT’S A LITTLE OFF-PITCH.” “STAND up straight.” “Don’t cut the phrase here, try it there.” “Remember to breathe!” It actually takes a lot of coaching, encouragement and collaboration to make the most of one’s “natural” instrument. To better understand working with singers in the studio, we consulted Raz Kennedy, who has recorded backing vocals for... 

Martin’s new Performing Artist Series guitar has all the accessibility of an acoustic/electric. FOR: Acoustic performers. The GPCPA1 is made from woods selected for tone, beauty and reliability. Sitka spruce top and East Indian rosewood sides and back make for a sweet and sturdy sound that lives up to the Martin name whether plugged in or not. The Fishman F1 Aura electronics system onboard translates this rich acoustic sound for an amp or PA in... 

Applied Research and Technology M-Four offers a multi-purpose, multi-pattern mic with a twist of versatility. FOR: Recording instrumentalists and singers. The M-Four has all the presence and character expected in a tube mic, but its biggest draw is its ability to customize the perfect response pattern for whatever is being recorded. On top of the usual cardioid, omni- and bidirectional patterns, there are also six additional subtle stages between.... 

An innovative instrument that can record, playback and interface with a computer. FOR: Guitar players, students and songwriters. The iDea OPI-1 preamp can record around 100 minutes of MP3 files from a combination of saddle pickup and an onboard mic. It can also export song ideas or import other material via USB. Use playback to learn tunes, and even change the tempo without changing pitch to work up to speed on new material. Creatively speaking, it’s... 

The Dean Markley UltraSound CD60 reissue is a dual-channel combo guitar amp with headroom to spare. FOR: Guitarists playing everything from rhythm guitar in a blues band to Queen covers with treble-heavy distorted leads. This is an all-tube tone machine. After years of turning knobs and hearing a broad shelving of low, middle or high frequencies, the CD60’s EQ—tuned to a guitar’s tonal sweet spots—turns on a dime. Bright and Mid-Boost switches... 

New for the iPhone: high-quality guitar recording! AmpKit is a virtual amp, effects board and recorder, and AmpKit LiNK interface plugs you in. FOR: Recording on the go. The LiNK is smaller than the iPhone, so taking it to practice or on the road is a snap. It even eliminates crosstalk, so it can be used as a very low latency preamp and sent out to speakers. AmpKit is a free app, although it is equipped with a built-in gear store for racking up more... 

The A-300PRO combines Cakewalk’s lauded software compatibility and universality with Roland’s decades of experience. FOR: Keyboard players. In the world of MIDI controllers, expressivity is key. The plug-and-play USB connection and dedicated transport controls are great features for home recording and production, but rarely do we see such responsive, musical action in a 32-key controller. Nine knobs, nine sliders and eight dynamic pads increase... 

Superior Drummer 2.0 has a revamped interface and loads of new sample libraries. FOR: Songwriters, producers and even drummers. Superior Drummer 2.0 has improved load times, dynamic and EQ controls, ADSR for sample-playback shaping and compatibility with Toontrack EZdrummer libraries, making it as straightforward or as in-depth as needed. Add the Music City USA SDX expansion for 20GB of pristine drum samples recorded in Nashville by drummer Harry... 

Taylor’s T3/B pairs the best of a hollowbody with some signature features from their SolidBody and T5 electrics. FOR: Electric guitarists in almost any genre. The neck expands on Taylor’s hollow T5 design with more substantial frets, t confidence and comfort in the fingers. The same Style 2 HD humbuckers found on the SolidBody line offer traditional three-way switching, while pulling up on the volume knob engages a coil-splitter. The tone knob... 

Perhaps the most complete entry-level studio package we’ve seen. FOR: Home and mobile recording. Fast Track has a sexy new look, with top-mounted knobs, rounded edges and monitor switching boiled down to a single button. Speaking of monitoring, the headphone output is louder than in previous builds, making it less of a hassle to find a balance between mic and instrument when recording simultaneously. The bundled Pro Tools M-Powered Essential software... 

This waterproof case for Stratocasters and Telecasters is the first injection-molded case of its kind. FOR: Traveling guitarists. SKB has spared no efforts in creating the ultimate flight case for two of the most common body styles. The polypropylene copolymer resin is designed to be corrosion- and impact-resistant, airtight, waterproof and even submersible up to certain pressures. Inside, a plush lining supports the neck and protects the guitar from... 

The S3X-H is a powered monitor that can drive a professional mix session as well as an impressive home theater. FOR: Recording studios both home and commercial, as well as multimedia. The S3X-H is horizontally configured (hence the “H”) and all the controls are mounted on the front—which is very convenient for powering up and down safely. In a good room with plenty of space between listener and speakers, the pair creates a solid aural image... 

Carbon fiber pioneers RainSong revamp their grand auditorium guitar to include more traditional design elements. FOR: Any player whose demands include stability and a cool aesthetic. The carbon fiber that gives all RainSong guitars their smoky gray coloring (set off nicely here by a thick rosette of abalone and shark inlay on the fretboard) looks sweet, but its musical characteristics are what really set the CO-WS1000N2 apart. The lack of swelling... 

Heil Sound mics are famous for their condenser-like frequency range and invincibility against clipping. FOR: Drummers and live sound engineers. Playing with Heil drum mics at a gig with decent monitoring feels close to a studio experience. That’s because the frequency coverage and seemingly limitless dynamic range of each microphone is recreating an acoustic instrument, rather than treating the sound as a gunshot to be muffled before sending it... 

One of the most powerful personal monitor/PA systems has become even more portable. The L1 Compact can bump tunes on the street corner and in the boardroom. FOR: Soloists, duos, mobile DJs and public speakers. Transport and setup are much speedier with the L1 Compact than its predecessors, the L1 Model I and Model II. The functionality is simple: two channels equipped with Bose ToneMatch presets tailored to acoustic guitar and handheld mic. NOT FOR: High... 

Pulse-disrupting, sternum-shaking bass! You know you crave it. M-Audio can help. FOR: Enjoying or mixing 2.1 and surround audio. Cleverly designed with a variable crossover and a bypass footswitch, the SBX10 can handle all the bass duties below 200Hz or simply reinforce the rumble beneath 50Hz. For the price (just under $400 at online retailers), it will be hard to find another sub that reaches all the way down to 20Hz. NOT FOR: Plug and play.... 

The cedar top and mahogany back and sides project great tone on Sierra Guitars’ SDS43 Sequoia Acoustic Dreadnought. FOR: Acoustic guitarists one and all. The Sequoia has a familiar body shape, a modest price tag and a classic, no-frills design. Attractive natural wood bindings and inlay are the flashiest visual points. We found the tone especially warm and thoroughly loud when called upon. NOT FOR: Plugging in. A reasonable alternative might... 

Even a Les Paul feels light as air when suspended by this resilient rubber and polyester weave. FOR: Lead players with heavy axes. The arm of the fretting hand has more freedom to swivel, because the shoulder and elbow are never fighting to keep the neck up. A subtle bungee-bounce as the strap gives and snaps back is more noticeable as you move up in guitar weight, but even solid body guitars and basses feel buoyant with the No. 1 Stretch. NOT FOR: Costume... 

Sound Forge Pro 10 is an audio mastering suite with integrated CD creation, top-shelf processors and exciting new editing capabilities. FOR: Audio editing, mastering and sound design. Editors get up to 32 channels of mono, stereo and multichannel audio in a land of safe, non-destructive editing. The key commands are familiar, and a new “Event” tool makes a multitrack producer feel more at home in the mastering environment. Sound Forge now has... 

iZotope Alloy brings the most common mixing processors together in one plug-in. FOR: Anyone doing digital mixing of audio tracks on Mac or PC. No need to pull up EQ, dynamics, transient shaper, exciter, de-esser and limiter plug-ins—Alloy covers six powerful mixing tools in one integrated interface. A menu along the bottom of the Alloy interface illustrates which effects are active and which one is presently selected for editing. The main window... 

Eventide has simplified getting the right modulation effect for the song while saving players from an endless string of noisy, tone-degrading stompboxes and patch cables. FOR: Guitarists and keyboard players who need world-class phasers, tremolos, filters, wahs, flangers, vibratos and more onstage as well as in the studio. In a compact housing that’s built like a tank, ModFactor gathers 10 different categories of time-based effects and offers 40... 

Blue Microphone’s Icicle is a mic preamp and USB converter in a small cylindrical body. Plug it into the end of an XLR cable and any dynamic or condenser mic becomes a USB mic FOR: Recording newbies as well as those who know their mics. Benefits to novices are obvious: simplicity, size and the stamp of a respected brand. For folks with a bigger mic closet, Icicle’s biggest benefit is universality. With a selection of mics of different characters,... 

The BP4025 from Audio-Technica provides two pristine, well-balanced channels of audio in a small, convenient package that practically mixes itself. FOR: Painless stereo recording of instruments, voices and live sound environments. BP4025 is lightweight, phantom-powered, and mountable to a video camera, which makes it ideal for home videos, documentary and even film. The fixed X/Y position of the capsules provides a way to define the space around... 

Since the dawn of USB, we’ve seen many different mics, cables and preamps with digital audio interfaces onboard. Apogee ONE takes the reverse approach: It’s a high-quality single-channel interface with the mic built in. FOR: The discerning home studio or mobile recordist. ONE is literally pocket-sized, and USB-powered to record via an onboard mic or instrument and XLR inputs. Apogee offers an optional tabletop stand, but the built-in mic sounded... 

Two leading experts on live mixing share secrets to improve audio performance in any venue The live performer’s best friend is his or her mixer. That’s the person whose skills and savvy can make artists sound their best—or even better. It’s the live mixer who makes certain that the soaring vocals or searing solos coming off the stage sound as perfect as possible. We tapped two top experts—Jeremiah Hamilton and Eddie Mapp—to help us...