The number of audio interfaces on the market right now goes through the roof. Many audio gear manufacturers have their own line-up that includes everything from budget-friendly to high-end models. If you’re thinking about getting into music production or recording, you might be looking to pick up an audio interface. Read on to learn whether you really need one and how much money you should fork out.

What would you say if I told you twenty years? Granted, most manufacturers ‘only’ offer a few years of warranty, but anyone who’s ever owned a digital piano from one of the big-name brands will know that a fifteen to twenty year lifespan isn’t unusual. What about maintenance, you ask?

Podcasts have long transcended their status as being nothing more than roughly 30 minutes of chitchat at a roundtable. They’re big business these days, with big-name PR agencies launching one after the other. Thankfully, not every podcast has to be a huge project that involves years of research.

An extensive hardware-based set-up versus a laptop-and-DAW rig: what’s better when it comes producing tracks? It’s an endless discussion and guest-blogger Michiel Buisman knows that he couldn’t possibly settle it once and for all here. But, like he says, he’s smug enough to think he has something to add to the debate. Here goes.

Done recording your podcast? Then it’s time for the editing phase. If you prefer to keep things vanilla, this won’t take too long, but if you’re looking for a more professional radio-sound complete with jingles and background music, then you’ve got your work cut out for you. Read on for a step-by-step guide!

As a band, whether it’s conscious or not, you develop your own unique character and image, which not only gives your music some colour and identity but your gigs as well. Some well styled photos can do wonders when it comes to putting your band in the spotlight and presenting the right image, but how do you go about making a good set of photos?

Busy making music on a computer in your living room or bedroom simply because there’s nowhere else you can do it? Why not make something that’s more in keeping with the interior design and build yourself a stylish production studio? Here, Guestblogger Michiel Buisman takes an old and battered upright acoustic piano, empties it out and adds some extreme mods to turn it into a fully equipped studio workstation.

Guestblogger Niels Winter compares his experience of recording in a fully decked out professional studio and at home. Both options come with their advantages and disadvantages, but one thing is certain: recording your own songs – especially if you’re working on a complete album – is a big job that takes a big investment.

Know the deal? I’d be surprised if you didn’t: another rejection letter in your inbox in response to your latest gig-fishing email. It seems that the majority of the bands that are sending out their bio and demo to venues receive a ‘no’ – if they receive a reply at all.

While working with analogue gear is great and rewarding, it can also be complicated and costly — but it doesn’t have to be! The 500 series format, also known as the Lunchbox system, is known for keeping things simple, affordable and overseeable for smaller studios that are looking to build a serious collection of synth and FX hardware.

Ever wonder how some producers churn out a track a day while it takes you months to finish just one? Guest-blogger Melvin Rijlaarsdam shares his top ten tips for speeding up your music production workflow without compromising the quality of your tracks.

Guest-blogger Hens Zimmerman returns to show you how you can draft up tracks with Ableton Note before turning them into fully-fledged songs in Ableton Live.