Guides– category –

A beginner's guide to the differences between VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and CLAP. What each format is, the formats Ableton Live, Cubase, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, FL Studio and REAPER officially list, and what to check before you buy a plugin.

A beginner's guide to the difference between inserts and sends (AUX). Why compressors and EQs go on inserts while vocal reverb and delay go on sends, based on the official manuals of Logic Pro, Cubase and Ableton and FabFilter Learn.

The differences between XLR, TRS and TS cables for beginners: balanced vs unbalanced connections, which cable to use for microphones, guitars, studio monitors and headphones, and common mistakes, based on official materials from Focusrite and Neutrik.

A beginner's guide to ASIO drivers: their role in reducing latency, why Windows needs them, how manufacturer drivers relate to Steinberg's generic driver, the link to buffer size, and how Mac's Core Audio differs, based on Steinberg, Microsoft, Apple and Focusrite materials.

Microphone polar patterns explained: cardioid (unidirectional), omnidirectional and bidirectional. How each picks up sound, what suits home vocal recording, and how patterns relate to the proximity effect, for beginners and based on Shure's official materials.

A beginner's guide to phantom power (+48 V): why condenser microphones need it, why dynamic microphones usually do not, the order for connecting a microphone, cautions for ribbon microphones, and how to use the 48V button, based on Focusrite and Audio-Technica materials.

Voltage Modular Nucleus is a free set of modules for Cherry Audio's modular synth, with 22 modules and 130+ presets. How to get it, supported operating systems and where it fits. The Voltage Modular host itself is a separate download.

SampleTank 4 Custom Shop is a free sound workstation from IK Multimedia with 4 GB+ of samples and 50 sounds. How to get it, its features and how it differs from the paid editions.

Analog Lab Play is a free instrument plug-in from Arturia with 100 sounds picked from the V Collection and more, and 4 macros to shape them. How to get it, supported operating systems and formats.

UVI Workstation, now renamed UVI Player, is a free software instrument player that comes with 50 UVI Starter presets. How to get it, supported operating systems and formats (AU, AAX, VST, VST3).