Articles published on the The Pro Audio Files

AI in Music Production — Tools, Terminology and Implementation

17 Great Desktop Synths Under $1000

Affordable and Quiet HVAC Solution for Home Studios — MRCOOL DIY Mini-Splits

A Guide to Essential Logic Pro Keyboard Shortcuts

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to MIDI Basics

16 Favorite Cinematic Percussion Libraries

20+ Powerful Ableton Max for Live Devices to Explore

13 Best Ethnic and World Instrument Libraries

13 of the Best Creative Pitch-Shifting Plugins

Tips for Noise Reduction in a Home Studio

13 of the Best Choir Sample Libraries

Intro to Circuit Bending (+ Resources, Samples & Interview)

Intro to Microtonality (+ Interview with Brendan Byrnes)

Digital Audio 101: The Basics

What Is an Arpeggiator? (+ 8 Creative Uses)

How to Generate Musical Ideas From a Rectangle

The Basics of Impulse Responses & Convolution (+ Plugins, Software & Hardware)

What Are Equal-Loudness Contours? (+ Why It Matters)

9 Essential Skills for Electronic Music Producers

34 Favorite Kontakt Libraries of All Time

The Basics of Sound Synthesis

The Basics of Sound Design (+ Essential Software)

Oversampling in Digital Audio: What Is It and When Should You Use It?

16 Considerations for Naming New Instrument Presets

13 Free Sample Libraries for Music Production

5 Strategies for Creative Discovery in Music Production

8 Considerations for Creating a Live Performance Rig for Electronic Musicians

11 Plugins for Adding Rhythmic Sophistication

12 Experimental Approaches to Music Production & Composition

A Guide to Field Recording: Location, Hardware, Software & More

A Guide to Buying Your First Pair of Studio Monitors

Review: Audeze LCD-1 Headphones and Reveal+ Plugin (w/ Interview)

Audio Design Desk — a New Paradigm for Audio Post-Production

21 DIY Kit Sources for Pro Audio, Synth Modules & Instruments

OTHERS:

A Basic Guide to Microphone Specifications

The Basics of Frame Rates in Audio Post Production

47 Glitch-Inducing Plugins & the Search for Error

15 Favorite Spitfire Audio Instruments

The Basics of Step Sequencing (+ 9 Great Step Sequencers)

Review: PORTAL – Granular FX Plugin by OUTPUT

8 Favorite iZotope Plugins

6 Great Vocoder Plugins (+ What is a Vocoder)

Review: LYRA-8 & the PIPE by SOMA Laboratories (+ Interview)

6 Earplugs for Musicians, Engineers, and Concert-Goers

The Complete Guide to Choosing a MIDI Controller 

15 Awesome Transient Designer Plugins

Review: smart:EQ 2 by Sonible

Orchestrating Synths: Layering, Stacking and Blending

Review: PLUS and PLASMA Pedals by Gamechanger Audio

The Fundamentals of Physical Modeling Synthesis

Review: The Snapin Eco-System by Kilohearts

The Fundamentals of Phase Distortion Synthesis

Review: Helix Guitar Processor by Line 6

Synth Expo LA 2018 (+ Interview with Paolo De Gregorio)

Review: XOSPHERE 2 by Sample Logic

Review: Pyramid mk2 Sequencer by Squarp

10 Great Brass Sample Libraries

Review: eXplorer5 by Rob Papen

Review: 90’s Retro Trumpets by Cinesamples

The Fundamentals of Subtractive Synthesis

11 Free Synth Plugins for Your Collection

Review: Eventide SP2016 Reverb Plugin

Review: RX7 by iZotope

The Fundamentals of AM Synthesis

Interview with Veteran Sound Designer: Seph Lawrence

Review: FORZO Modern Brass from Heavyocity

Review: British Drama Toolkit by Spitfire Audio

The Fundamentals of AM Synthesis

Review: Zebra 2.8 — The Workhorse Synth from u-he

18 Synth Parameters That Are Often Misunderstood

Review: Elevate by Newfangled Audio

Factorsynth: A New Max for Live Device by JJ Burred

Tips for Building a Synth Sound from Scratch

Review: Arpology Cinematic Dimensions by Sample Logic

10 Ways to Affect the Frequency Spectrum Without Traditional EQ

12 Sampling Instruments That Morph and Layer Multiple Sources

8 Unusual MIDI Controllers for Music Production

Review: Spitfire Solo Strings (+ Experiments with Labs)

Review: TRAVELER — a Doppler Effect by TONSTURM

The Fundamentals of Amplitude and Loudness

New Plugins from Isotonik Studios & Glitchmachines

MPE: The New MIDI Protocol and the Roli BLOCK

Review: Spitfire Chamber Strings

Orb Composer by Hexachords: Composing with AI [Review]

11 Tips for a Successful Career in the Music Industry

String Articulations: Terminology and Effects

Creating Tempo Changes on-the-fly in Logic Pro

Sound Design Tools for Music Production

Review: Master Sessions Suite by Heavyocity

Review: Vital Series: Sticks and Mallets by Vir2

Review: Collision FX by Sound Yeti

The Fundamentals of Sampling Instruments and Libraries

Review: Analog Strings by Output

8 Things Considered at NAMM 2018

Interview with Andrew Ostler: Developer & Founder of Expert Sleepers

Review: Noiiz.com — A Music Production Platform

Review: Ensemblia 2 Percussive by Cinematique Instruments

Review: ULTRAKICK — Kick Drum Synth

Interview with Simon Stockhausen — Composer, Performer & Sound Designer

Interview with Alessio Santini, Developer and Founder of K-Devices

Review: Thorn Synthesizer from DS Audio

Jam Origin’s MIDI Guitar 2 for Live Performance

The Fundamentals of Waveform Editing

The Basics of Wavetable Synthesis

The Basics of Additive Synthesis

The What, Why and How of Modular Synthesis

Plugin Review: soothe by oeksound

Analog, Tubes, Vinyl and the Future of Retro

Adaptiverb: An Innovative Approach to Reverberation

A Guide to Synth Modulation Sources and Controls

The Benefits of Self-Imposed Limitations

An Overview of the FabFilter Twin 2 Subtractive Synth

Content, Form and the Empty Container

The Basics of Synth Envelope Parameters, Functions and Uses

Bits, Bytes and Beers

How to Improve Acoustics in Your Home Studio

5 Essential LFO Parameters You Should Know

10 Weird iOS Audio Apps for Music Production

Introduction to Granular Synthesis

Introduction to FM Synthesis

Ableton Live and Cycling ’74: The Holy Alliance or Dynamic Duo?

50 Steps to Transform a Simple MIDI Drum Loop Into a Complete Track

10 Must-Have iOS Synth Apps for Music Production

The Luxury of Procrastination