News
Power Protection: Why Clean Current Matters
That mysterious hum in your recordings might not be your technique or equipment—it could be your power supply. Many producers overlook power management until noise problems emerge. By then, valuable recording time is lost troubleshooting issues that proper power conditioning would have prevented. Electronic music equipment, particularly analog synthesizers with sensitive circuits, requires stable, clean power. Voltage fluctuations and dirty current can manifest as audible artifacts in your recordings and potentially damage delicate components over time. A quality power conditioner acts as a shield between your precious gear and the unpredictable electrical grid. Beyond noise reduction, proper power management offers:...
Setting Up Your First Synth Workspace: Ergonomics & Flow
Does your neck hurt after a lengthy production session? Are you constantly reaching awkwardly for controls? The problem might not be your gear, but how it's positioned. Many producers arrange equipment haphazardly, creating a workspace that fights against creativity rather than enhancing it. The right height and angle can transform your relationship with your instruments. For tabletop synthesizers, the optimal playing position places your elbows at approximately 90 degrees while your wrists remain straight. This reduces strain during those marathon sound design sessions. Consider these quick principles: Position frequently used equipment centrally Arrange gear by function, not just size Create...
The Evolution of the Home Studio
5 minute read Early Days Home and project music studios have been around for over 30 years, having gathered real momentum shortly after the introduction of MIDI. We’re not going to dissect the vast technical depths of MIDI but one cannot understate the huge impact of MIDI and how it revolutionised music-making. With the power of MIDI, producers of all abilities could program, or record in real-time, a musical performance, and because the information was captured digitally, infinite edits were possible without degradation. Unlike recording to tape, the user could also change sounds with ease during any point of the...