The Rode M5 Review – Call Your Witnesses!!

M5 mics in XY pattern CARTOONED

If your life we’re on the line in an important court case, and you could only choose one kind of testimony for your defense… which of these three would you choose?: Material testimony Expert testimony Eyewitness testimony If you chose number 3, I’ve got bad news for you – it’s the least reliable of any …

The Rode NT1 – Ssshhh! The Mic… Is Listening!!

CARTOONED NT1

Interested in the Rode NT1, eh? I’m not surprised! It has a really excellent reputation for being an incredibly useful mic in the studio and is touted in the ads by Rode as “one of the world’s quietest studio microphones”. Is that just hype? Or is it history?? Only a mic shootout will tell, so …

The AT4050 Review- The Turn of a Friendly Mic!

In 1995, I saw an ad that stopped me in my tracks. And my recording world would never be the same. Funny how that ad so long ago has led straight to this AT4050 review. But before we go there, let’s go even further back… to dear ol’ high school! I’d been in marching band since 7th …

The Aston Spirit Mic – Shootout in the Studio!

Well, I have had a blast as usual in the studio today, and you all will reap the benefits of my fun! I decided to really put my new Aston Spirit mic through the ringer and test it against other mics in my arsenal that I use on an ongoing basis. The results are pretty much what I expected …

Aston Microphones – Toe Goes In… Hits Come out!

The world wasn’t really expecting, wanting or needing yet another microphone, let alone another microphone brand, to appear in 2016. Most would’ve said, “Okay, there’re enough kids in the pool at this point. Let’s stop the propagation before one of ’em breaks the ‘no pee‘ rule!” But despite our jaded-gearhound cynicism, a resounding SPLASH was …

Which Studio Recording Microphone is best?? A Wizard’s Convention Decides….

mic closet

It’s been quite a few years since I was a cooing babe in my mother’s arms, but I’m told that even then I was one to sing out on occasion. Whether that was life’s endless, flowing inspiration or just the earliest iteration of gas…who can say? But one thing is certain: I’ve been singing for …