Dave Smith: The Godfather of MIDI
Music technologist, inventor, and synthesizer creator Dave Smith died on May 31, 2022. His innovations will continue to shape music for years to come. Read the post.
virtual instruments
Using a laptop onstage (without crashing your performance)
Considering using a laptop onstage to enhance your sound or visuals at gigs? These basic tips can help you minimize problems and keep your shows on track. Read the post.
Finding the right digital piano
Need the feel and sound of a great acoustic piano for your live shows? Here are some digital pianos that might fit the bill Read the post.
Acoustic piano on stage and in the studio
While an acoustic piano may be the preference for a studio or live gig, it’s not always the most practical choice. Here are tuning tips and suggestions for alternatives when it comes to providing piano for your next gig. Read the post.
Working with plug-ins: A beginner’s guide
If you’re new to home recording, or looking to expand your repertoire, using plug-ins might feel intimidating and complicated. It’s really not that hard to start using plug-ins and expand your sonic palette. Read the post.
Meet the Audio plug-in: Your start-up kit
An audio plug-in is specialized software for better music-making with your DAW, and plug-ins serve a variety of purposes to flavor, enhance, and add to the breadth of your home studio recordings. Read the post.
Analog synthesizers expand your musical horizons
From mood-setting ambient tones to raucous synth-pop, analog synthesizers have made a mark on music in various genres – and they’re not just for keyboards! Read More.
Four Unusual Keyboard Instruments That Can Inspire New Music
When you think “keyboard,” you might think of a grand piano or Hammond organ, old-school analog synth or cutting-edge Korg digital workstation. But the possibilities for keyboard instruments go far beyond. Read More.
Managing latency with your keyboard to lock in your parts
When playing keyboards, latency can refer to the delay between hitting a key and hearing the resulting sound. Just a little delay can derail your part. Read More.
Seven tips for recording great keyboard parts in the studio
Having an inspired idea is one thing, but actually recording great keyboard parts in the studio can be another. Here are seven tips to put you on the right track. Read More.
Going mobile: A look at music making apps
Jordan Rudess, keyboardist for Dream Theater and founder of Wizdom Music, gives us his picks and favorites in the ever growing world of music making apps for your mobile devices. Read More.
Virtual synths and musical instruments on your mobile device
You can transform your mobile device into a Swiss army knife of synths and virtual musical instruments with these recommendations from Dream Theater keyboardist and musical entrepreneur, Jordan Rudess. Read More.
Six tips for adding Hammond organ to your music
The Hammond organ is the most commonly heard type of organ in popular music. It can be a complicated and challenging instrument, so here are some tips to help you get started. Read More.
Virtual instruments – the secret ingredient of film, TV, and video game music
Ever wonder who plays the Hollywood scores? Not so long ago, film scores were recorded in studios and on sound stages. These days, that brilliant score might not have been played by a live orchestra. Technology allows virtual instrument developers to create near-identical versions of real-life instruments. Read more.
100 greatest songs and the 58 music instruments that made them [Infographic]
For music lovers, digging into the instrumentation and arrangement of our favorite songs is part of the wonder of music production. Berklee Online did an analysis of the instruments used on the top 100 songs from Rolling Stone‘s list. Read the post.