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Hardware Synths, Music Hardware, Music Software, Reviews, Soft Synths, Sound Design

Cheap Synthesizers for Beginners: What to Buy in 2020

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Sound engineers, mixers, producers, and artists know that a cheap synthesizer wasn’t always an option.

High-quality sound engines used to be premium hardware for only the most dedicated and well-equipped studios.

Now, keyboards, modules, and even pocket-sized synthesizers can be purchased for a relatively low cost.

The size of the synthesizer, whether it’s analog or digital, the features it offers, and the reputation of its brand all play into which cheap synthesizer is the best for beginners.

Since not all beginners are the same, there may not be a one size synthesizer to fit all sound engineers.

That’s why we compiled this list of the 5 best cheap synthesizers for beginners, including their pros and cons and main features.

We also made a buying guide to help you compare the major features between not only these brands but also any that you may find on your own.

The best synthesizer is a combination of your needs with the value you can get on your budget. This list should help you narrow it down.

5 Best Cheap Synthesizers: Reviews

Arturia MicroFreak Hybrid Synthesizer

Arturia is an innovative company and this hybrid synthesizer is our top pick all around for beginners.

It’s not the cheapest synthesizer on this list or the most portable, but it has a balance of features and high-end technology that makes it a great pick in general.

This 25-key paraphonic synth has a modern aftertouch keyboard. The hybrid hardware features a ton of high-end options for mixing and producing, including a wavetable, digital oscillator, modulation matrix, and analog filters.

The touch plate offers an unconventional way to control compositions but the options for sound palettes and sonic templates are amazing for the price.

Among these modes are enough software options for any beginner to try out different things and get the feel for their new synth. These include Harmonic OSC, KarplusStrong, Texturer, and Superwave.

The Arturia MicroFreak Hybrid Synthesizer is versatile in both its hardware options and its sound output.

Real-time sequence creation, randomization, and an arpeggiator are just a few key options that let composers get an incredible range of sound out of this cheap synth, with enough variety to make it a perfect pick for beginners.

Pros

  • Expressive touch plate
  • Hybrid software options
  • Wavetable and digital oscillators
  • Analog filters
  • Small size

Cons

  • Touch sensitive keyboards aren’t for everyone
  • Factory presets are a bit outdated

Korg MS20 Mini Analog Synthesizer

We couldn’t do this list without an entry by the upscale synthesizer manufacturer, Korg.

However, you should know that this mini analog synthesizer is the priciest on this list, which is why it’s our premium option out of all the “cheap” synthesizers out there.

Beginners that want to come out of the gate with a big investment in their mixing or composing career should consider the Korg MS20 as the most expensive beginner’s synthesizer they should be looking at.

The Korg Mini Analog Synthesizer has self-oscillating high and low-pass filters with an external signal processor and flexible patching system.

It plugs in with a USB MIDI as well as a 5-pin MIDI. Those who are familiar with the Korg MS-20 should be familiar with its reputation – this is the same tech in a smaller package.

The same vibrant leads and resonant bases can be produced with the same premium features, including two VCFs, two VCAs, a noise generator, and more.

If you’re a beginner who knows they want to get into premium analog mixing and feel like you’ll shell out for a premium model eventually anyway, this Korg MS20 Mini is the cheapest of the high-end premium options from the company that makes it the best of the best.

Pros

  • Vibrant leads and resonant bases
  • Adaptable mixing technology, including two VCFs and two VCAs
  • Two ways to plug in
  • High and low-pass filters
  • Noise generator

Cons

  • Premium price for the cheap list

Roland TB-03 Bass Line Boutique Synthesizer

This cheaper version of a full-size Roland TB-303 Synthesizer features the same realistic recreation of the TB-303’s baseline features.

This portable version, however, features an LED display, MIDI control, overdrive and delay effects, fine tempo control, and other pattern creation modes.

Other than that, the Roland TB-03 Bass Line Boutique Synthesizer has the same sound and user interface as the original version, with hands-on control over parameters like resonance, envelope mode, cutoff, decay, and accent.

This synth is battery powered and can send its control information to a studio controller via a USB or MIDI port while also functioning as an audio interface.

With similar but smaller construction and the same features as the premium TB-303 synthesizer from Roland, this portable analog synthesizer should work perfectly for beginners.

Pros

  • Sturdy construction
  • LED display
  • A variety of programmable effects and creation modes
  • Portability and multiple interfaces

Cons

  • The accent isn’t as good as the premium synth model

IK Multimedia UNO Portable Monophonic Analog Synthesizer

Portable Monophonic Analog Synthesizer from IK Multimedia has 2 oscillators and a multimode filter. It can be easily programmed with 100 presets and taken on the go anywhere.

It has a 2-octave multi-touch keyboard, which is ideal for a portable synth, and it comes with an arpeggiator and step sequencer.

The IK Multimedia UNO Portable Monophonic Analog Synthesizer can be used on the go or plugged into a computer sound station or MIDI keyboard in the studio. It can be battery or USB-powered as the need arises.

IK Multimedia is famous for its hands-on programmability and advanced synthesis features.

Multiple independent VCOs, different waveforms, real-time sequences, an editor app optimized for Mac, PC, and iOS, onboard presets, and a 2-pole multimode filter with band-pass filtering round at an inclusive package for a beginning sound designer.

Pros

  • 2-oscillator monophonic system
  • All-analog audio
  • Multi-mode filter
  • Arpeggiator and step sequencer
  • Intuitive touch keyboard

Cons

  • No lit buttons or display

STYLOPHONE GEN X-1 Portable Analog Synthesizer

For those looking for the cheapest and most completely portable synth out there, this Portable Analog Synthesizer from STYLOPHONE is a perfect pick.

It has two interfaces: a mini keyboard to play notes and a sound strip that can slide between pitches. Battery operated and with a built-in speaker, this synthesizer is the ultimate choice for portability.

It has an audio line out for headphones or speakers as well as a low pass filter, envelope effect, and LFO. It can be switched between octaves and modulated with a pulse width switch to create a chorus effect.

The STYLOPHONE GEN X-1 Portable Analog Synthesizer is a great portable secondary model for a professional or a budget pick with some great features for a beginner.

Stylophone is an iconic model and this cheap, portable version of its next-gen technology is a great starting point for anyone’s music design gig.

Pros

  • Rich sound with effects features
  • Portability
  • Internal speaker
  • Sub octaves
  • Two interfaces
  • Budget price

Cons

  • Stylus wire is too short

Best Cheap Synthesizers for Beginners: Buying Guide

In order to buy a synthesizer that’s perfect for your needs, you should compare the features you value and your personal budget against the models we listed.

They feature a range of prices and technology, so one of them is bound to be a good fit for beginners looking for cheap synthesizers.

Technology

Each synthesizer comes with different modes, presets, mixes, and features. We tried to summarize them for you in the individual product reviews.

Since you’re a beginner and don’t know exactly what you want, you should choose a synthesizer with a ton of presets and different manipulation modes.

Being able to freely control the music mode and the mix is essential when you don’t know exactly what you’re buying.

We chose respected brands so you would have a pick of well-built technology with different wavetables, digital oscillation, modulation matrices, and analog filters.

Interface

The interface factors into the technology but should be its own separate concern for beginners. Some synthesizers have a touchpad keyboard and others have a regular keyboard.

Some feature two full octaves and others switch between them. Since the interface will allow you to mix and design music, your creative flow depends on an intuitive setup.

We listed good options for either interface in this article, but since you can’t get both, you may just have to guess what you will prefer.

The ability to plug into a studio computer or external speakers also makes a difference in terms of the interface, and thankfully that’s much easier to plan for just by looking at the specs.

Construction

You want a sturdy synthesizer, especially if you plan on making it portable. The size of the device factors into the kind of work you hope to do, whether you plan on mixing with headphones on a car or plane ride or prefer to keep the synth at a workstation in a studio.

We put options on this list for both preferences so that no matter where you plan on using this synthesizer, it will work for you so long as you keep this criterion in mind.

Construction and portability also factor into the power source. Some synthesizers are battery-powered and some can run on USB power, which makes a difference if you want to take it on the go.

Some are pocket-sized and some are full keyboards: it just depends on what you’re looking for.

Analog vs Digital

Digital synthesizers have some advantages of technology and can be hybrid devices, like our top pick, the Arturio MicroFreak.

In general, digital synths have more complicated interfaces, more advanced displays, and lit keys.

This isn’t the general recommendation for beginners since they can be more complicated to operate and can run more expensive.

We recommend saving on cost and on headaches with the interface to opt for analog synths or hybrid models.

For those that aren’t positive what they’re doing, analog synths should prove more efficient.

Cost

The cost range on this list is large: from less than a hundred dollars to over five hundred.

We did this so you could find something for your needs no matter your budget, whether it’s a cheaper pocket synthesizer or a full studio-ready model with displays and all the bells and whistles of hybrid analog and digital technology.

The Takeaway

A synthesizer is an indispensable piece of equipment for a budding sound designer, producer, mixer, or composer.

These machines can run into the thousands of dollars, however, and beginners need cheap options so they can make a name for themselves and maybe buy the big stuff later.

This list of 5 options offers any beginner the chance to add quality sound equipment to their studio without breaking the bank.

Some are more budget-friendly than others, but we tried to give you a heads up on where each one fits into the market spectrum and the features they offer.

For many beginners that don’t know which features they need yet, prioritizing a good interface and a ton of modes could be the best bet.

That’s why we chose the Arturia MicroFreak Hybrid Synthesizer as our best overall pick for cheap synthesizers for beginners to buy in 2020.

Its after-touch keyboard is slick and modern while its hybrid hardware offers a ton of premium features at a mid-low budget range. These include a wave-table, digital oscillation, modulation matrix, and analog filters.

Once you’ve discovered which features are important to you, you may be able to shell out for a more premium synthesizer.

Until then, use these budget options to find your feet, gauge how much optimization you need, and get your audio mixing, composing, or designing career off the ground.

Effects, Music Software, Reviews

Best Reverb Pedals

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While the electric guitar seems like a fairly simple instrument, there are a lot of things to consider with it.

Firstly, the electric guitar on its own requires an amp to work, as well as additional effects units if you want to make things more interesting.

From the earliest days of the instrument, one of the main goals for guitar players was to make them sound less “dry.”

Over time, guitarists and engineers started adding atmospheric effects using different methods.

In the present day, this comes as one of the easiest tasks since you can get your hands on some very simple and effective pedals.

And talking of atmospheric effects, reverb holds an important place in the world of the electric guitar.

The other alternative is the delay (or echo) but the discussion which of these two effects is better is still ongoing.

Reverb still has its strong following and will give your guitar tone just a slight “vintage” twist in there.

With all this said, we’re going to look into the best reverb pedals on the market today. Below, you can find something for everyone’s needs and set budget levels.

Electro-Harmonix Oceans 11

For many decades now, ever since the end of the 1960s, Electro-Harmonix kept pumping out great pedals.

Although fairly known for their impeccable distortions, they still have some other great stuff in other departments to offer.

For this list, we’re looking into their Oceans 11 reverb pedal that, as you might have assumed from its name, comes with 11 different reverberation presets.

But aside from this very versatile feature, we also have an additional mode switch that does further tone-shaping on each of these 11 presets.

There’s even an additional input on the side that lets you use an external switch for that “infinite” reverb that keeps on ringing out in the background.

Boss RV-6

Boss is hard to avoid on pretty much any list of pedals. No matter the effect or the era in rock music, there’ll always be mention of this legendary company.

As far as reverbs go, we’re quite fascinated by their simple, compact, and yet very potent RV-6.

But aside from its basic controls, you can also find a switch for different reverberation modes.

The pedal also comes with a special mode that combines delay and reverb, making a super-atmospheric tone for some of those mellow songs.

You can also use it as a stereo pedal and even pair it with an expression pedal for more tone-shaping options.

Boss RV-500

Now, Boss’s new 500 Series of pedals is just something else.

These are more than just the typical stompboxes that give you a few options and presets. Just take a look at RV-500 and all of its features.

This is like a very detailed and complex digital processing unit that’s focusing solely on reverb.

It would take a lot of time to explain what this pedal does exactly. This fully digital device comes with an impeccable sound resolution of 32 bits and 96 kHz.

There are 12 basic modes as well as 21 reverb types. You can also dial in some of those vintage-inspired tones that resemble tape delays.

There are also other features like MIDI connectivity for more control options.

MXR M300

And MXR also comes as another amazing example of a brand that manages to surpass its competition in many different aspects.

Although compact and simple, their pedals are quite useful, which is also the case with their M300 reverb.

Here, we have a straightforward approach with only three basic knobs and some additional controls that allow you to cycle through 6 different modes, including one that mimics those plate reverbs.

What’s more, you can add some diversity in there using an expression pedal. This is a very useful one for those who adore the reverb effect but don’t feel like using complicated pedals.

Walrus Audio Fathom

While the company is not that big and famous compared to some other that we mentioned on the list, Walrus still makes some of the best pedals on the market these days.

In their arsenal, we can find an amazing and very atmospheric Audio Fathom reverb.

It comes with four modes, all of which provide you with great spaciousness and detailed controls that let you dial in anything from subtle shimmering reverberation and up to those extremely long and psychedelic yet unique-sounding effects.

To add to all this, there’s even a switch that gives you “infinite” sustain when you press on it. It’s a compact pedal, but it’s a real playground for reverb lovers.

Donner Verb Square

When we’re talking about pedals of any kind, things often get really difficult if you’re operating on a budget.

Sure, all these pedals that we mentioned are great, but some of them can get rather expensive.

At the same time, it seems as if all the cheap stuff just isn’t worth it. This is where Donner steps in with their amazing yet affordable pedals.

This is exactly the case with their Verb Square reverb. Packed into a mini-sized casing, it comes with just the essential controls.

It’s not complex, it’s just a “stripped-down” reverb unit that will help you get what you need. Considering its price, this is more than a great deal.

Eventide Space

Lastly, we’d mention another one of those very detailed pedals. The unit in question is Eventide Audio’s Space reverb that comes with so many options that we wouldn’t be able to fit into an entire article.

And this one’s even more detailed and complex compared to Boss RV-500. There’s an abundance of controls, each doing different parameter tweaking depending on the reverberation mode.

It comes with 12 basic reverb algorithms, stereo mode, expression pedal connectivity, as well as USB connectivity for some serious tone-shaping options.

Music Hardware, Reviews

Best DJ Headphones to Buy in 2020

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DJ headphones are a significant investment for any music mixer, designer, producer, or DJ.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an up and coming artist or a big name, you can always do with a little experimentation.

New gear, whether it’s to up your game or try something different, can be the difference between staying steady and making it big in your industry.

These 5 headphone models provide diverse picks for quality, special features, and low prices in DJ headphones for 2020.

No matter your needs or experience as a DJ, one of these pairs of headphones should be enough to enhance your work.

Even if not, you can use our buying guide to compare the main features between models for a more informed decision, even between brands you choose yourself.

Reviews of the Top 5 DJ Headphones

Sennheiser Pro Professional DJ Headphones (HD25)

The HD25 headphones from Sennheiser Pro are considered to be the gold standard for professional DJs by many professionals.

We can’t find a reason to dispute this reputation, which is why they lead this list as our choice for the best overall DJ headphones in 2020.

They’re built well – you can tell the difference as soon as you pick them up. They have a sturdy feel and perform at professional levels in sound reinforced, studio monitoring situations.

In that sense, the HD25 headphones are the best around for cameramen and DJs, with high sensitivity sound quality owing to its lightweight aluminum voice coils and its ability to take a lot of sound pressure without overloading.

For a career DJ, it’s also essential for their headphones to be comfortable during long work hours.

Thankfully, the Sennheiser Pro Professional headphones are light and comfortable even during the long haul.

They conveniently detach from a single-sided cable, work for single-ear listening modes, and feature a rotatable ear capsule for the purpose.

At a reasonable price, the HD25 headphones are the best overall pick for professional DJs and hobbyists in 2020.

Pros

  • Reinforced for studio monitoring settings
  • Sensitive sound quality
  • Lightweight coils
  • Comfortable construction
  • Rotatable ear construct

Cons

  • Some users recommend custom ear pads for extended use

OneOdio Professional Studio Headphones

These professional studio headphones from OneOdio can be used without an adapter for professional sound mixing and studio monitoring, as well as advanced 50mm neodymium drivers.

In its budget price range, the OneOdio professional studio headphones have stellar sound quality, with clear vocals, powerful bass, and crisp high notes.

Its ear cushions are made of high-quality padding to maximize noise isolation and comfort during long studio mixing sessions.

The 10-foot cord and standard plug let you use these headphones without an adapter. The headband adjusts to a range of comfortable angles and also swivels for single-ear listening.

Long sessions with the OneOdio studio headphones are cushy and free of fatigue. The headphones are compatible with iPad, iPhone, Android, iPod, and other audio devices.

With OneOdio’s shareport technology, you can connect multiple headphones to the same OneOdio pair without using any splitters.

These headphones are also collapsible for easy traveling, for listening or even mixing on the go.

With the extremely low budget price, the OneOdio professional DJ headphones easily make our pick as the best budget headphones available to buy in 2020.

Pros

  • 50mm drivers
  • Budget price
  • Clear vocals, powerful bass, and crisp high ranges
  • Comfortable noise-canceling earcups
  • 10-foot cord

Cons

  • Some users report that they could be smaller for easier portability

Numark HF125 Portable Professional DJ Headphones

Numark Professional DJ Headphones are cheap and ultra-light.

Those who don’t really know what they want from their DJ headphones can’t go wrong with these professional models from Numark, which have a padded headband and ear cushions even at the low price.

The Numark headphones have a hard wired cord with a 6-foot length, a 1/8” TRS connector, and a ¼” TRS adapter.

Pretty much any mixer you have will be compatible with these headphones. The headband has 7 positions and the 40mm Mylar speaker drivers are high-quality. These headphones should easily carry any DJ through a long mixing session with clarity and precision.

The Numark HF125 Professional DJ Headphones prioritize ease of use, cheapness, and portability. These small, light headphones are easy to carry with you on trains and planes to mix on the go.

Keep in mind that the ultra-low price comes with some concessions: some customers have reported that the headphones run a little hot and feel a little tight, despite the adjustable headband.

Regardless of minor setbacks, the Numark HF125 Portable Professional DJ Headphones are cheap, light, and extremely effective in their price range.

Pros

  • Low price
  • Lightweight construction
  • Wired 6-foot cord
  • 7-position adjustable headband
  • 40mm Mylar speaker drivers
  • Padded headphone cups

Cons

  • They tend to run a little hot in long sessions

Vogek Over-Ear DJ Headphones

Versatility and value are the name of the game with the Vogek over-ear DJ headphones.

They have a 2-in-1 plug with a standard 3.5mm and 6.35mm diameter, easily switching between them. Since you don’t have to buy another cable for different equipment, a DJ with a complex sound setup can make use of the Vogek’s adaptive cable.

The music experience on the Vogek headphones is ahead of the game in its price range, which is really low. 50mm speaker drivers give users a powerful bass range.

The HIFI sound range of the Vogek Over-Ear DJ Headphones can’t compete with models worth hundreds of dollars, but in the less than $50 price range, the Vogeks shine with professional-grade quality.

For those that like taking their headphones with them on the go, these stereo monitor Vogek headphones feature a 90-degree rotatable earcup. The 3-meter cable is flexible and strong.

With compatibility across instruments and devices, including electronic guitar and bass, drum, piano, iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Android audio devices, and iPods, the Vogek headphones offer DJs a versatile option at a great value.

Pros

  • 2-in-1 plug with 2 sizes
  • 50mm speaker drivers
  • Wide bass range
  • Comfortable, rotating earcups
  • 3-meter flexible cable
  • Versatile compatible across instruments and devices
  • Budget price

Cons

  • Some customers report that the Vogeks are mid-frequency heavy

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

With both wired and wireless models, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones are critically acclaimed by engineers, DJs, and audio reviewers for a reason.

The cable detaches from a 45mm aperture driver with copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils and rare earth magnets.

These headphones are priced at the higher-end of these commercial DJ headphones, but it shows in the fantastic circumaural contoured ear cups, which provide professional-grade sound isolation in even noisy environments, which any DJ should appreciate.

They provide excellent clarity, a deep bass response, and a wide frequency range.

The ear cups are padded for comfort and swivel 90 degrees for single-ear listening modes.

Top audio engineers support Audio-Technica with their reviews and purchases and we agree. They’re last on our list of top 5 DJ headphones but not at all least in comfort, sound quality, or versatility.

Pros

  • Extended frequency range
  • Accurate bass response
  • 45mm aperture drivers and high-quality detachable cable
  • 90-degree swiveling earcups

Cons

  • The manufacturer’s earcups can be fatiguing during long mixing sessions

Best DJ Headphones: Buying Guide

Use this buying guide to compare the main features between headphone brands to manage your needs as a DJ, no matter your experience level.

These features include comfort, sound quality, construction, appearance, and price.

Comfort

The comfort, rather than the sound quality, is the primary consideration of most audio professionals when they’re buying their DJ headphones.

The reason is that DJs mix and perform for hours either in their work as a DJ or their music mixing and design in their off-time.

The perfect DJ headphones need earcups and a headband that promotes adjustment and wearability over long sessions without causing fatigue in the user.

You may know that your ears or head shape requires a certain design to match your needs.

You want to look for headbands that are padded and adjustable. Those small comfort factors matter exponentially more for DJs that need to work long shifts at their job.

The headphones you choose not only need to withstand the work in terms of the sound quality but also in terms of comfort.

A fatiguing pair of headphones can seriously impair a DJ’s concentration.

Sound Quality

Different headphones have different sound qualities. This may be the feature with the widest range of quality difference in proportion to the price.

It also factors heavily into each DJ’s personal preference.

Some prefer a wider range of bass while others prioritize the natural highs and mids.

Sound quality also factors into the materials used to build the headphones. Rare metals, earth magnets, and the metal coils factor into the sound quality.

Higher priced headphones often have rarer materials, but it’s important to notice when headphones with a high price tag don’t back it up with the right metals.

Soundproofing also factors into sound quality for a DJ, since you’ll likely be working in a studio or a loud environment.

Sealed ear-cups that are built at the right size for your ears are essential here.

The material used to make the cups – whether they’re spongier or rubberier – can heavily impact the soundproofing and isolation. This can make a huge impact on your performance as a DJ.

Construction

Other than the metals used in the cables and the material composition of the ears, there are other considerations when measuring the headphones’ construction.

The headband should be cushy and adjustable with enough range to fit your head.

Earcups that can swivel 90 degrees can be used as single-ear listeners, which many DJs prefer both at work and in the studio.

Cables could be a different millimeter in diameter or detachable, promoting ease of use and versatility. The aperture drivers make a difference in their hardware compatibility.

The need for an adapter can also change how versatile the headphones are.

Appearance

The Appearance of the DJ headphones can mean more to a DJ than the ear cup design and cable construction.

More expensive models can be glossier and look more professional, with ears that have a metallic finish and an attractive headband.

For prestige DJs that want to put up a certain front, it can be beneficial to spend a little extra and get a nicer looking model.

Cost

The cost range of these DJ headphones is pretty wide, ranging from our budget picks as low as $20 to our luxury picks priced as high as $150.

You can pay even more for premium models available out there, but we wanted to keep the ones on this list affordable for normal users.

The main consideration for cost comes from the mix of quality construction and special features. However, DJs of different experience levels will interpret the cost differently.

Those who want to try out different features may opt for cheaper models to get a feel for what they want.

Those who know the special features they need can afford to choose a premium model built exactly for their needs.

The Takeaway

Professional DJs need the right equipment to shine.

Our buying guide prioritizes the features we think audio professionals need to consider to choose the right headphones for their experience level, including physical construction, sound quality, and especially the comfort level.

More than anything else, DJs need to design and mix for long sessions without fatigue. Comfort is paramount.

The HD25 headphones from Sennheiser Pro are our pick for the best overall DJ headphones to buy because of their comfortable construction, lightweight design, sound quality, and how reinforced they are for studio monitoring.

DJs of any experience level can get a lot of use out of the Sennheiser Pro DJ headphones and use them for long sessions without fatigue.

Whether you’re studio monitoring, designing and mixing music, or pulling long sessions as a professional event DJ, one of the models on this list should satisfy your needs.

Music Hardware, Outboard Processing, Reviews

Best Wah Pedals

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For many decades now, the electric guitar has seen constant evolution and change when it comes to the approach of altering its basic tone.

It’s not only that we have plenty of different effects, amps, and other devices that help us achieve different sonic settings, but we even have improved versions of the old effects that take things to a whole new level.

And it goes both in terms of sonic qualities and in terms of functionality and features. And, of course, one of the most popular effects that pretty much changed the game in the world of electric guitar and modern music, in general, is the wah-wah effect.

This pedal, which adds voice-like qualities to your guitar tone, finds its use both in lead and in rhythm sections.

And, at the same time, it’s extremely fun to use, making your music quite appealing. At the end of the day, it’s one of the best expression tools that a guitarist can find these days.

However, with so many products available on the market today, it can get hard to find the right wah pedal for your needs.

We decided to dive more into this topic and bring you some examples of the best wah pedals that we could dig up online.

Going through these, there will be something for anyone’s playing styles and genre preferences.

Boss PW-3

Of course, no matter the type of effect, Boss is always one of the top brands to choose from. Although not that well-known for wah pedals, they still have a good one called PW-3.

And it’s a fairly simple pedal with straightforward features. But aside from the basic functions, we also have an additional switch for two modes. There’s the “vintage” mode, as well as the “rich” mode.

The “rich” one is pretty interesting as it brings more of that low end into the equation. On the other hand, the “vintage” mode is subtler and manages to keep things calmer.

Additionally, this pedal comes in a well-made casing.

To put it simply, it can handle even some rougher on-stage settings and you won’t really need to worry whether this pedal will give up on you, even after heavy prolonged use.

After all, it’s not like you’d expect anything less from Boss. PW-3 a simple go-to choice with some versatility added to it.

Dunlop GCB95 Cry Baby

In case you’re looking for that simple straightforward wah with a classic tone, then Dunlop’s GCB95 Cry Baby, or GCB95, is the way to go.

This is the original circuit developed back in the 1960s with just some minor changes added to it over the years.

With a simple toe-click action, you’ll turn it on and have your way into any lead or rhythm section that you need.

The casing design remains the same over the years, combining simplicity, practicality, and that much-needed roughness in handling.

In short, the pedal gives that classic and somewhat vintage-oriented tone.

However, the response it amazing and it can take you anywhere from subtle wah tones and right into those heavy lead territories.

It’s the ultimate simple wah that spans all genres.

MXR MC404 CAE

Of course, MXR is another big player in the game of guitar pedals, although not many people remember them for their wahs. Nonetheless, a piece like their MC404 CAE.

Now, this is a fully professional and very versatile wah pedal that you don’t see every day.

Aside from a great sweep and a very easy to control the rocking part, we have an option to choose between two different inductors.

This control completely reinvents the tone and helps you add some diversity in there, all while using just one pedal.

What’s more, we even have an internal Q control, as well as additional gain.

It’s a great choice for anyone who loves to play around with more features.

Morley Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2

Steve Vai is one of the best lead guitar players of all time, so it’s pretty obvious to have his signature pedal in this list.

And Morley’s Bad Horsie 2 is all about expression, just like Steve Vai is.

One of the main traits is that it’s an optical wah, meaning that there’s no switching. All you need to do is step on the rocking part and the wah is engaged.

Just move your foot from the pedal, and it will be disengaged.

What’s more, the pedal comes with additional tone-shaping controls for contour.

This wah can also add more boost to the tone, which is very useful for lead sections.

It’s a bit of a larger pedal, which may be a problem for smaller pedalboards, but it’s still an awesome pedal.

Electro-Harmonix Wailer

Electro-Harmonix is another somewhat unexpected pedal manufacturer that you’d not expect to see on a list of best wahs.

However, when you hear their Wailer, you’d be surprised at how amazing their capabilities are in this particular territory. In so many ways, it reminds us of those old school-oriented wahs, just like Dunlop’s classic Cry Baby.

However, it also has the company’s very unique circuit that gives it that “crying” or “wailing” tone, as its name already suggests. Additionally, this wah is packed into a very light yet durable casing.

It’s a very useful one for anyone who’s looking for a cheap, simple, and durable pedal that still delivers awesome tones.

Xotic Effects Wah XW-1

Lastly, we’d like to mention a high-end professional-level wah pedal that can work well for any setting and any genre.

This one is based on the well-known Italian-made Clyde McCoy wah pedals originally made back in the 1960s.

However, more versatility comes with bias, “Q,” bass, and treble controls that add some significant tone-shaping features in there.

But what’s also really exciting is that you can adjust the pedal’s tension, which you don’t quite see on any examples these days.

It’s not a cheap one, but it’s more than worth it.

Deals, Effects, Featured, Music Software, Productivity, Reviews, Sound Design

Best Online Mastering Service

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Welcome to our article on the BEST Online Mastering Service! Mastering and mixing an audio track is a craft that takes years and years to master (no pun intended). However, improvements in artificial intelligence and music production software have made it so that this skill actually isn’t really necessary to learn anymore.

Today’s article will show you exactly how cheap and good some of the available INSTANT online mastering services are.

They obviously are not perfect. We are of course talking about on-the-spot instant mastering, and not just going and filing an order on-line for a human to master your tracks later. There is no human interaction with these online mastering service tools, you are the only human hearing them.

At the end of the day, there’s no way for these tools to know what your vision for the track is, and nothing beats the personal touch of an engineer.

Having said that, all of the tools tested in this article improved our track pretty much instantly at a very small cost. Some of the best online mastering service products were truly mind blowing, producing radio-ready tracks in a matter of minutes.

We have no doubt that these platforms will open the doors for hundreds of thousands of home producers and artists, allowing them to have good quality mixes in the time it takes to drink a coffee.

And if you want updates leave your e-mail below.

NOTE: If you are on a mobile device, scroll to the right to see all picks and inside the cells to see all their content. So here they are, our favourite online mastering services, reviewed:

Product Name Main Features Export Formats available Rating / Pricing
Cloudbounce
 26 different settings for the final mix.

Freebies included: A Crash Course in Mixing (PDF), a bunch of Ableton templates and a Logic Pro template

Manual mastering tool with Abbey Road Studios option		 16 bit WAV

24 bit WAV

MP3		 9.4
CHECK PRICING OPTIONS
Aimastering.com
 Automatic video creation

Automatic Youtube loudness setting

Limiter, ceiling, oversampling, sound quality, sample rate, low and high cut controls

Easy mastering mode

Huge range of statistics on pre and post mastering track

API for developers		 16 bit WAV

24 bit WAV

32 bit WAV

MP3.		 8.4
CHECK PRICING OPTIONS
Landr
 Distribution tool for spotify apple music, google play music, amazon music, pandora and beatport.

Collaboration / Feedback tool

Reference mastering

2 master controls: Style (warm, balanced, or open) and Intensity (low, medium, or high)		 LO-RES MP3 (192kbps)

HI-RES MP3

(320kbps)

WAV (16bit)

HD WAV (24bit)
 8.1
CHECK PRICING OPTIONS

# BEST ONLINE MASTERING SERVICE – Cloudbounce Review

And here it is: Cloudbounce. Having launched in 2015, they’re also a somewhat familiar name in the industry.

Unlike other Online Mastering Services in the list, Cloudbounce has a more stripped down approach to mastering, offering solely their mastering tool, and no other bells and whistles.

It’s interface also isn’t as shiny and clean as some other tools in this list, though it makes up for it with the additional controls and settings for the master sound that other tools don’t offer.

We really prefer a minimal/stripped down interface because in the end we want great mastering for cheap.

Cloudbounce Pros:

  1. Relatively cheaper than competitors (mixes start at 9$).
  2. Different pricing plans available (per mix, per month, per year).
  3. 26 different settings for the final mix.
  4. 3 output formats: 16 bit WAV, 24 bit WAV, MP3.
  5. Lightning fast.
  6. A pack of freebies are included with every account: A Crash Course in Mixing (PDF), a bunch of Ableton templates and a Logic Pro template file for your mixes.

Cloudbounce Cons:

  1. Interface was often confusing, with banners and footers obstructing buttons and menus
  2. No additional features besides mastering (ie no distribuiton, feedback, etc)

Cloudbounce: Our Rating: 9.4/10

Speed: 9.3/10

As with most tools in the list, the upload, preview and mastering took only a matter of a few minutes. This was perhaps the fastest service in the list. Throughout this whole experiment, the speed at which these masters are produced was what most surprised us.

Interface: 7.6/10

It seems like a small investment in a web designer could make this tool so much better, but unfortunately, it’s still quite clunky and unfriendly to the user.

Quality of Mix: 9.5/10

The out-of-the box mix (pre-customisation) sounded really good. In our opinion, a bit aggressive and with a lot of loudness and attack, but this was also due to the nature of the track. After correcting this with the many customisation options, the track ended up sounding great.

And here is where Cloudbounce Online Mastering Service really stands out. It has hundreds of different possible combinations between the two controls (musical genre and mastering controls) that allow you to play around until you find the perfect mix. It also sounds extremely well for what it is.

Whilst the first control (musical genre) is pretty straightforward, the mastering controls allows for much more customisation. It allows you to boost low, mid, and high sections of the music, add brightness, warmth, loudness, and more.

Due to this feature alone, we award Cloudbounce the highest grade in the list of BEST Online Mastering Service providers, in terms of mix quality

Additional Tools: 7.5/10

There was only one additional tool we could find, however, it’s one we quite enjoyed. After mastering the track, there is an upgrade available, which allows you to send the track to the abbey road studios for manual mastering by one of their engineers.

We thought this was pretty cool. This will cost you around 100$ and allows you to get a human touch on your AI powered mix.

This service will probably rely heavily on template files and presets, though its still a great way of improving the mix without investing that much.

-> Try CloudBounce for free

#2nd Choice Online Mastering Service – AImastering.com (by Bakuage) Review

Bakuage’s AImastering.com is a pretty unconventional choice for our list. You won’t find them in a lot of lists, and that’s really unfortunate, because we actually loved their AI.

If you have some technical knowledge of how to master a track, you’ll have a lot of fun with AImastering.com Online Mastering Service.

It includes a youtube loudness feature and automatically creates a downloadable video for your song, so if you use youtube as a promotion platform for your work, this is an absolute no-brainer. But our favourite feature was undoubtedly the “statistics” page of the mix.

After the AI finishes the master, it creates some very interesting statistics including “professionally”, which is how close the track sounds to a commercial track. This kind of “gamifies” your production and mixing skills and allows you to benchmark your progression as a musician- very cool!

There’s a bunch of other analytics provided such as loudness and waveform analysis that really allow you to perfect your track and compare pre-master and master versions.

It’s not all roses though. We did face some technical issues, hitting a 502 page when trying to download the master

AImastering.com Pros:

  1. Automatic video creation for youtube.
  2. Youtube loudness setting.
  3. Controls for limiter, ceiling, oversampling, sound quality, sample rate, low and high cut.
  4. 4 output formats: 3 WAVs, 1 MP3
  5. Option to preserve bass. Or not- might result in distorted bass.
  6. Easy mastering mode– focuses on loudness only.
  7. Statistics given: Loudness, RMS Peak, True Peak, True Peak(15kHz lowpass), Loudness Range, YouTube Loudness, Micro Dynamics Space Professionality, Acoustic Entropy, Ear Damage, Dissonance
  8. Loads of graphs and analytics provided.
  9. Relatively affordable– 1 free master, then 9.99$/master, or 29$/month for unlimited masters.
  10. API open for developers.

AImastering.com Cons:

  1. Some bugs were encountered.
  2. Docs could be better written

AImastering.com: Our Rating: 8.4/10

Speed: 9.0/10

AImastering took slightly longer than it’s competitors, though it was still very fast. Within 10 minutes, we had a great sounding mix.

Interface: 8.4/10

The interface, copy, and help docs could be improved. Their homepage simply states “Free Mastering is Available”, which might be a bit confusing for a somebody who stumbles upon the site. However, despite not being very flashy, the interface works well and everything is easy to locate.

Quality of the Mix: 9.3/10

Here, we’re considering the master produced with the standard options. Due to the many controls included in the tool, the range of tracks produced is huge. Therefore, we’re sticking to the “easy” mode of using AImastering.com

Overall, another solid mix. It’s really hard to set it apart from the other tools in the mix, though we find this track to have less loudness and bit more warmth out of the box.

Much like the other tools in the list, the final result was more than ready for distribution on the online platforms, which clip and compress a lot of the nuances of a track anyway.

Additional Tools: 7.0/10

In terms of additional tools we could only the video creator, which was pretty cool, but honestly not that useful if you’re not using youtube. And even if you are, you’d probably want to invest a bit more in a proper video.

Footnote: you may also wonder why we decided to choose AImastering.com over Bandlab free mastering for the second spot on this list. After all, if you want free online mastering, it’s certainly one of the best options. 

In essence, you can simply get a bit more out of AI mastering as a musician. It means that although not stated on their site, you’re actually getting extra and more useful data than just the release-ready master. 

With Bandlab, there’s no such thing and the service is ultimately a bit similar to some of the paid options on here. If you’re looking for a free version of a site like Landr for Ai mastering, band lab free mastering is the way to go. However, it does operate similarly to some of the other services we have featured here. 

MORE INFO

Landr Online Mastering Review

Landr is a household name in the online AI-powered mastering industry. Developed by the Canadian company MixGenius, it’s been around for a while and it keeps expanding its tools, now also offering distribution, collaboration, promotion tools, and even rent-to-own plugins.

Landr Pros:

  1. Includes a distribution / release tool for Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Pandora and Beatport.
  2. Really clean and pleasant interface.
  3. Includes a collaboration tool which allows you to share masters and get feedback.
  4. Allows for reference mastering.
  5. 2 controls to customise master: Style (warm, balanced, or open) and Intensity (low, medium, or high)
  6. Different pricing models available (per mix, per month).

Landr Cons:

  1. Less than stellar customer support, according to several reviews.
  2. Distribution tool can take a few days to work.
  3. Limited master customisation options.

Landr: Online Mastering Service – Our Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Speed: 9.2/10

The mix preview took about 5 minutes to prepare, whilst the actual mix took about 10 to 15 minutes. The app works in the background so you can close the browser and check back on it later.

Interface: 9.7/10

As previously mentioned, this was probably the most enjoyable interface to work with. Everything was where we expected it to be, and the layouts simply look good.

Quality of Mix: 8.3/10

We provided a rather low-quality, uncompressed hip-hop instrumental track. The result was notably cleaner, louder, and overall quite impressive.

Playing around with the customization controls (style and intensity) yielded slight differences in the mix, though the out-of-the-box mix ended up being our favorite. The reference mastering tool also caught our attention, though again, we didn’t notice a huge difference in the mix after uploading a classic hip-hop track from our library.

If you’re looking for a more customizable Online Mastering Service, then you might want to keep on reading our reviews.

But overall, it kind of blew our minds. The final result was pretty much radio ready and was a huge improvement from the track provided. Some nuances, tones, and little tricks might have been added by a professional engineer, but the final result was very good- a no-thrills simple mix that was very pleasant to hear.

Additional tools: 9.4/10

The standout tool is undoubtedly the ability to release your tracks directly to the major streaming platforms. So, additional points here for being easy-to-use in terms of including the whole typical supply chain of a modern musician. Cons for having less control than Cloudbounce in terms of customization making it slightly less good value. 

It’s worth mentioning at this stage some of the common concerns first-time users of Ai mastering services may have and how the options of this list compare. For example, if you’ve poured your heart and soul into your first demo and are wondering ‘are online mastering services any good’ you may not be willing to spend money on a final master that turns out less than stellar, especially if you’re also considering using a professional mastering engineer. 

It’s at this point that for independent artists we would recommend testing out the whole AI mastering concept as a whole on a free mastering service like BandLab to give you an idea of what it involves before moving onto some of the options on this list for your actual master.

To move on, let’s now look at Landr vs Cloudbounce, the good and the bad, and how they compare. This saves a ton of work and in our experience, worked relatively well, taking only a couple of days until the tracks were available in all the platforms. Some users have complained of slow release times, so we can’t guarantee that all users will have the same experience as us.The collaboration tool was interesting, but in our opinion, not that useful, especially because the mix can’t be customized beyond 2 controls. So even if you manage to get great feedback on your track, there’s not much you can do with it.

Does LANDR do free mastering? And is it the best for free online mastering? 

Here’s a tip, you can actually try Landr for free, so if you go ahead and sign up, upload your mix, and wait a few minutes, you’ll be able to judge for yourself. However, the keyword is this is a free trial. If you want to use it on a more frequent basis, you will naturally have to pay, especially to access the full range of features. However, we’re including this because, for the purposes of mastering only one track, it might be all you need.

Landr vs Cloudbounce Online Mastering Service Comparison

After reviewing these first two Online Mastering Services, we’ve gathered some thoughts and notes about they compared.

Here’s our rundown:

Landr is a better investment for artists looking to focus only on production and creation of music. There aren’t many ways to customise the mix, and it provides an easy distribution system.

If you want to eliminate the number of decisions during these stages, then Landr is your tool. Create a track, upload it to Landr, have them distribute it, and go back to the studio.

Cloudbounce is more of a no-thrills solution that requires a bit more work.

You’ll spend more time customising the master, and you won’t be able to distribute or promote the track directly through the platform. But to be honest, we’re here for mastering so extras don’t count that much.

Cloudbounce is, in our opinion, the best solution if you’re interested exclusively in the quality of the mix.

It gives you way more style and mixing options, even allowing you to send it to a very reputable studio in case you’re not satisfied with the Cloudbounce version.

eMastered vs Landr Online Mastering Service Comparison

Our final comparison is between Landr and eMastered. We got asked by one of our readers to compare the two, so we thought we’d give eMastered a try and see how it stacks up. Here are our thoughts:

eMastered offers more control over the mix, with 6 controls and the option to use a reference for mastering. However, the Landr AI is, in our opinion, superior a producing a clean and loud track.

When it comes to pricing, Landr starts at a way lower price point, almost a third of eMastered. This is for the basic subscription though. The advanced Landr sub is still cheaper, but the Pro will be slightly more expensive.

How much should mastering cost?

Mastering budgets live in a spectrum. A master from a top-shelf studio will set you back several thousand dollars, whilst there are online AI mastering tools that are as cheap as 19$. But how should you decide how much to spend?

Like most things in life, you roughly get what you pay for. However, for a very small investment, you can get your track sounding pretty good, definitely release-ready and even radio-quality. By very small investment, we mean under 100$, through an automated service such as one of the ones listed above. This represents the best return on your investment. If you’re uploading your track to youtube, or a social network such as Instagram or Facebook, a lot of the quality will be lost anyway.

And if you’re a professional musician, who expects to have their songs played on the radio or needs high fidelity masters, you should be ready to spend a few hundred dollars in a studio such as Abbey Road, who now offers an online mastering service.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it folks! Our favourite Online Mastering Services. If you made it this far, we’re sure you’re ready to bite the bullet and try out one of the services on this list. At the end of the day, most services offer a free master as a trial, so you don’t have much to lose. And as always, if you have any experience with any of the software in the list, post your thoughts below!

Music Hardware, Reviews, Sound Design

Best MIDI Controllers to Buy in 2020

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No matter what budget you’re working with, serious composers and music producers need a MIDI controller or keyboard compatible with their devices.

Home and mobile studios enable music producers to plug into their computers or work over Bluetooth, connecting to DAW software and VST synth plugins, as well as other installed programs that composers rely on to design their music.

From portable MIDI controllers to sturdy home setups, from minimalist designs to all the knobs and buttons anyone could ask for, composers and producers have a lot of options when it comes to MIDI controllers to buy in 2020.

This review list includes some that can be bought on a strict budget and others that are premium picks for high-end customers.

Either way, these are the best MIDI controllers available and provide the audio interfaces that any pro music developer needs.

Below the review list, we’ve assembled a buying guide to compare the main features that buyers need to be aware of when shopping for the best MIDI controllers.

Even if you don’t like the brands we’ve listed, you can use this buying guide to find your own, or compare the ones that you already have in mind by their main distinguishing features and compatibilities.

Reviews of the Best MIDI Controllers in 2020

Novation Launchkey Mini-Key MIDI Keyboard

Many MIDI controllers have synergy with apps and other subscriptions that music designers commonly use.

The Novation Launchkey Mini-Key MIDI Keyboard is no different.

It has an intuitive relationship with Ableton Live, one of the most popular pro design suites out there.

Ableton Live on the Novation MIDI keyboard provides recording, macro-control, MIDI capture, and clip launching software.

Novation’s arpeggiator is intuitive but it isn’t simple: it allows designers to control beats, patterns, octaves, and more.

The MIDI keyboard has a fixed chord mode that helps with transposition. 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads, 8 rotary controls, sustain input, and pitch touch strips make Novation a versatile design and sound clip manipulation device.

The primary appeal of the Novation Mini-Key MIDI Keyboard is its portability.

You can take the keyboard with you physically but can also send program changes and apps to other hardware, as well as adding keys directly over MIDI.

An affordable price as well as a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty make the Novation Launchkey Mini-Key MIDI Keyboard the best overall pick for MIDI controllers in 2020.

Pros

  • Ableton Live support
  • Intuitive arpeggiator controller
  • Portable design
  • 8 rotary controls, 16 RBG pads, and versatile design devices
  • Low price
  • 3-year warranty

Cons

  • The layout is not optimized for live looping

Novation 49SL MkIII, 49-Key MIDI Controller

This second MIDI controller from Novation comes in 49-key and 61-key variations.

It combines MIDI hardware and CV/Gate synths into one piece of premium hardware, which is our pick for the best high-end priced MIDI controller available in 2020.

The Novation MkIII perfectly controls with Ableton Live’s software and integrates easily with your chosen DAW.

It has an internal 8-track pattern-based sequencer with a high-resolution sequencer and recorder that lets composers selectively play and edit separate sequences from the keyboard.

The keyboard on the MkIII is renowned as a premium synth-style keybed with a high scan rate, aftertouch, and semi-weighted construction.

Its arpeggiator can be set for different types, sync rates, lengths, and customizable pads and design rhythms. It has 1 routable clock for control across the whole system.

The Novation 49SL MkIII, 49-Key MIDI Controller has a high-end price but the full keyboard is pro-grade and sturdy. For advanced systems at a premium price, this is our high-end pick.

Pros

  • 8-track sequencer
  • Premium semi-weighted synth-style keyboard
  • Advanced arpeggiator system
  • 3-year warranty

Cons

  • Premium price

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 Mk2 Keyboard

The Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 Mk2 Keyboard comes in 25-key, 49-key, and 61-key variations.

The Komplete Kontrol keyboard connects to most virtual instrument systems. The Fatar keyboard is professional quality, featuring after-touch on its 61 semi-weighted keys.

Its pitch and mod wheels have an ergonomic design and offer touch strip technology for expression control.

The set of KOMPLETE instruments and the Native Kontrol Standard instruments all have pre-mapped control on the Native Instruments Keyboard.

The Komplete Kontrol is portable, offering more keys than average on this USB 2.0 bus-powered keyboard. Its design features 8 capacitive knobs, a 4D encoder, and a full range of control over the various plugins, transports, and mixers used by the composer’s DAW.

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol Keyboard has an intuitive OLED display for use with its Smart Play system. This allows composers to scale snap, trigger chords, and arpeggiate their tracks.

Being portable and configurable to most composition software, this MIDI controller keyboard is a fantastic high-end mini keyboard, though it has a premium price.

Pros

  • After-touch design offers intuitive control
  • Ergonomic touch-strip design
  • Completely bus-powered by USB 2.0
  • Compatible with plugins and various composing services
  • Configurable and portable

Cons

  • The mini keys aren’t for everyone
  • Above-average price

Alesis V49 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller

The Alesis V49 MIDI Keyboard Controller has 8 backlit pads that are pressure and velocity-sensitive that enable beat production and clip launching on a professional level.

Its interface includes 4 assignable buttons and 4 knobs that interface seamlessly with most music production software. Its buttons and knobs are lit for ease of use.

It has octave buttons that give composers access to the full pitch range, which can be modulated with control wheels that help the Alesis V49 MIDI Keyboard deliver more creative control over sound clips.

Alesis also includes premium software already integrated, which is impressive at its low-end price. This composition software includes Ableton Live Lite 9 and Eleven Lite, Mini Grand, ProTools, First Alesis Edition, DB-33, and Air Music Tech’s Xpand!2 virtual instrument software.

Alesis offers 3 sizes that increase portability, with 25, 49, or 61 full-sized square-front keys that are velocity-sensitive and ideal for various professional virtual instrument suites.

Pros

  • 8 backlit beat production pads
  • 4 assignable knobs and buttons
  • Octave keys
  • Portable design in 3 keyboard configuration sizes
  • Pre-uploaded premium software

Cons

  • The drum pads are not the most sensitive on the market

Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII MIDI Keyboard Controller

This USB MIDI keyboard has a portable design with 25 velocity-sensitive keys and an up/down octave switch so you can work in multiple ranges in the limited space.

For complete virtual synthesizer control on the go, the Akai Professional Mini MIDI Controller is last on this list, but not least.

A 4-way thumbstick gives you control over pitch and modulation.

Akai Professional controllers are built for customization with a built-in resolution control and arpeggiator.

Multiple design modes give composers and designers a range of options.

This keyboard controller requires no drivers, making it extremely portable. It’s powered by USB and backed by beat maker essentials, which are 8 backlit MPC drum pads with Note Repeat & Full Level control.

Control over virtual instruments and whatever DAW you’re using allows composers to trigger samples and take control of assignable Q-link knobs.

The Akai MIDI controller comes with different mixers, plug-ins, and pro production packages that include 1400 sounds.

Its suite is compatible with both Mac and PC and gives designers access to a wealth of design materials.

Akai Pro MPC Essentials, Air Music Tech, and SONiVOX Wobble are available for download with the Akai Professional MIDI Controller.

At a low price and a portable size, this controller is our pick for the best budget controller available.

Pros

  • Modulation and control options
  • 8 backlit MPC drum pads
  • Downloadable software suites
  • Portable size and velocity-sensitive keys
  • Budget price

Cons

  • Some Windows 10 incompatibility, with reports of scaling being a problem in simultaneous open programs in the Akai Professionals suite

Buying Guide for MIDI Controllers in 2020

This buying guide for the best MIDI controllers to buy in 2020 contains categories that should be compared between models to choose the best for any composer or sound designer’s needs.

These categories include features, construction, software compatibility, and cost.

MIDI Controller Features

There are many features unique to each MIDI controller in terms of design features and control.

It helps to know what kind of pitch and modulation control you need as a sound designer and what control scheme suits your work.

Some of these controllers have multiple control knobs and pitch controls, encoders, and plugins.

The Komplete Kontrol Keyboard even has an OLED display to help you use it on the go. Recording control, MIDI performance, drum pads, and rotary controls are all things to watch for.

The keys themselves should also be included in an assessment of the controller’s features since some have as few as 25 and some as many as 61.

Construction

The keys factor heavily into the MIDI controllers’ constructions as well. Whether they’re weighted or not can affect their sensitivity.

There are also touch strip-activated keys versus mechanical ones and this makes a huge difference depending on the designer’s preference.

Some of these controllers are portable, or USB 2.0 bus-powered.

If you like designing while you travel, it’s essential to find a sturdy MIDI controller keyboard that works on its own power or a long-lasting charge, with sturdy keys, and probably a shorter length.

Backlit knobs and controls can also be a concern when evaluating a MIDI controller’s design.

Control wheels, knobs, pitch controls, and pads differ between controllers so it pays to know what design features you prefer or what compositions you plan on manipulating before choosing a MIDI controller.

Software Compatibility

MIDI controllers are not always compatible with both Mac and PC. Designers that prefer one system over another need to know which controllers will work on their system.

Many of them also feature compatibility with various software suites, including ProTools and synergy with Ableton Live.

Downloadable sound packages and essential tools are available as software plugins on many MIDI controllers.

Those who want to work with specific suites can use this to guide their buying choices.

Designers that prefer a multifunctional design tool in their MIDI controller should research the software requirements and compatibility for their chosen brand of keyboard.

Cost

The cost of these MIDI controllers varies wildly, from just over a hundred dollars to nearly a thousand. Since the range is so great, music producers need to know the features they need for their work.

Often, a design suite, an extra range of keys, or a control knob can make a difference of hundreds of dollars in the finished MIDI controller model.

The Takeaway

MIDI controllers differ by construction and this affects functionality.

Some have 25 keys with octave up/down switches and some are full 61-key keyboards.

Some are touch-sensitive, velocity controlled, weighted, or semi-weighted. Knobs, controls, drum pads, and other physical features can dramatically differentiate your MIDI controller of choice as a design tool.

Some also come with production packages, including software suites, extensions, protocols, and integration with common DAWs and sound controllers, including the Ableton Live program.

Those who want to manage their sound design suites from one controller should check for compatibility with their intended software suites, including basic compatibility with Windows, PC, or iOS devices.

Portability also makes a difference, as some designers may want to set up a high-tech home studio while others will prefer to take their design tool with them in transit.

Our pick for the best overall MIDI controller keyboard for 2020 is the Novation Launchkey Mini-Key MIDI Keyboard.

For its Ableton Live support, portable construction, and multifaceted controls (8 rotary knobs, 16 RBG pads, and more), the Novation MIDI Keyboard is an intuitive all-purpose MIDI controller.

Its low price and 3-year manufacturer’s warranty round out an enticing package.

Regardless of which MIDI controller you choose, design features, software compatibility, portability, and other controls make a huge difference in how sound designers and music composers can use it.

Use this series of reviews and this buying guide to choose between the MIDI controllers listed here or any that you find on the market.

Music Hardware, Productivity, Reviews

Best Audio Interfaces in 2020

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As a music producer, songwriter, musician, or audio designer, an audio interface is a virtual workshop that can make or break your work.

Consider your computer the workstation and the interface as the toolbox where the quality of your audio and your options in mixing, synthesization, and production are determined by the quality of the interface.

Whether you produce music on Mac or PC, there are tons of options for audio interfaces to buy in 2020. These 5 choices should be enough to get any musician thinking about their options and comparing the price, features, compatibility, and aptitudes of each machine. The buying guide below these reviews compares the major features that should be considered when buying one of these audio interfaces.

This guide should help anyone looking for an audio interface in 2020 compare models based on their needs and expectations to choose the right one for their work.

Reviews of the Best Audio Interfaces

Audient iD4 High-Performance Audio Interface

The Audient iD4 audio interface has 2 inputs and 2 analog outputs (it has no digital outputs, in other words).

By offering a simple interface, complete with a mic preamp, phantom power for condenser mics, and instrument level DI for guitar and bass, the Audient iD4 is the best overall choice for an audio interface, especially on a budget.

The iD4 also has dual headphone outputs and an output for speakers.

The whole interface works on USB power and features compatibility with Apple’s camera connection kit, as well as mobile optimization for iPads and iPhones.

USB audio interfaces come in many shapes, sizes, and costs. Audient’s iD4 2-in/2-out USB interface is the best in its price range, with enough features to satisfy experienced audio producers and the optimization for Apple devices that many designers crave.

Pros

  • Simple interface with premium condenser mics
  • Dual headphone outputs and speaker output
  • Powered purely by USB connection
  • Affordable price

Cons

  • No digital connectivity

Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII Duo

Featuring thunderbolt connectivity, 2 analog inputs, 6 analog outputs, optical Toslink digital connectivity, and an audio resolution of 24-bit/192kHz, the Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII Duo is our pick for the best premium-priced audio interface available in 2020.

Its audio output and UAD-2 plugins have a quality second to none on this list, though the price reflects it.

The Apollo Twin MKII Duo is a desktop-format interface that connects to Mac or PC by Thunderbolt, rather than by cable, and has to be powered from a wall outlet rather than by USB power. This restriction may be a con for some audio designers.

The Apollo Twin MKII Duo can also power UAD plugin effects and comes with Solo, Duo, and Quad options.

The Unison pre-amps are also great emulation plugins for each of the Universal Audio Apollo’s input paths.

Real-time UAD processing allows designers to track audio through vintage tape machines, compressors, pre-amps, and guitar plug-ins with zero latency.

Premium preamps, line outputs, and real-time analog classics UAD plug-in bundles make the interface a premium design choice for songwriters and producers.

Its updated 2.0 software bundle includes a drag and drop interface, resizable windows, and channel strip presets.

For anyone who can afford it, the Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII Duo is the premium choice on this list.

Pros

  • High-quality output with an array of options
  • UAD plugin effects
  • An array of preamps and emulation options
  • Real-time analog classics bundles and other extra features round out a premium package

Cons

  • Thunderbolt-only connectivity can be restrictive
  • Powered by wall outlets rather than USB
  • Premium price

Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface

This 3rd generation Focusrite Scarlett Solo audio interface features pro tools, USB connectivity, and a top of the line preamp.

The bright, high-quality sound output of the Focusrite Scarlett is due in part to its switchable air mode.

It also features two hum-free outputs and a guitar/bass input.

Its high-quality converters record and mix at a quality of 24-bit/192kHz, which is the industry standard for premium audio output. For those less experienced in audio interfaces, its quick-start tools help new users install and run the interface easily.

The Focusrite interface also features pro tools such as Ableton Live Lite, Softube Time and Tone Bundle, a plug-in suite, a creative pack from Focusrite, and other virtual instruments available through download.

Focusrite also offers an XLN addictive keys subscription and a Nugen Audio Monofileter Elements plugin. Focusrite Scarlett Solo’s integration with online subscriptions, as well as its USB-powered system, make it a quality modern audio interface for those shopping on a reasonable budget.

Pros

  • Pro Tools and other online subscriptions give users a lot of options for customization
  • Its converters and recorders are high-quality and industry competitive for audio output
  • Its plugins are available by subscription through many free services offered by Focusrite
  • USB-powered audio interface
  • Competitive price

Cons

  • Lack of compatibility for USB3 ports

PreSonus AudioBox Audio Interface

The PreSonus AudioBox Audio Interface is compatible with PC and Mac and bus-powered by a USB 2.0 audio and MIDI interface.

Pretty much any recording software that songwriters and producers use is compatible with the PreSonus AudioBox.

It also features a low budget price for designers that need a quality interface without putting up a ton of cash.

It features 24-bit resolution audio output and an array of kHz sampling rates, including 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96. Its 2-combo mic and instrument inputs feature high-performance, high-headroom mic preamplifiers, and low-noise output.

PreSonus uses over 6 GB of third-party resources, including software and plugins like the Studio One Artist DAW software and the Studio Magic Plug-in Suite.

Its features combined with its high-quality output and add-ons make it the top choice on this list for budget-priced audio interfaces, for both PC and Mac users.

Pros

  • Compatible with PC and Mac
  • USB 2.0 audio output and MIDI interface
  • 24-bit resolution audio output
  • Third-party resources including pro plugins and add-ons
  • Low-budget price

Cons

  • Without a powered USB 3.0 hub, the PreSonus experiences some connectivity trouble

BEHRINGER Audio Interface

The Behringer Audio Interface features a 4×4 2.0 Audio/MIDI interface powered by USB.

Its professional audio has an output of 24-bit/192kHz. For those that want to design audio on many different recording software programs, Behringer’s audio interface works with Ableton Live, Avid Pro Tools, Steinberg Cubase, and other popular tools.

Behringer streams through 4 inputs and outputs, as well as featuring a MIDI I/O with ultra-low latency.

This audio interface is compatible with Mac and PC.

The Behringer has 4 modern MIDAS-designed Mic Preamplifiers with 48 volts of phantom power. The chassis on the Behringer is made of impact-resistant metal.

As a studio tool, the Behringer Audio Interface works with a myriad of plug-in microphones, instruments, and line-level sources for incredible studio flexibility. Behringer also flourishes with MIDI devices to improve control.

Pros

  • High-quality audio output
  • 4×4 2.0 Audio/MIDI interface
  • Powered by USB
  • Compatible with various audio interface tools from Ableton, Avid, and more
  • 4 inputs and outputs, as well as preamps with over 48 volts of phantom power
  • Impact-resistant casing

Cons

  • A single phantom power switch for all channels can detract from mixed audio sources

Best Audio Interfaces: Buying Guide

This buying guide for audio interfaces in 2020 compares the major features that will fall under fire when audio designers and songwriters shop for different brands.

Even if you don’t prefer the ones listed in this review series, you can still use this buying guide to compare models of your choice for their features, including audio quality and specs, hardware features, cost, software add-ons, and compatibility.

Audio Quality

The audio output quality is a huge part of any decision to purchase an audio interface for composers and audio producers in 2020.

Many of the devices on this list output at 24-bit/192kHz, which is professional quality for a personal studio.

Many also feature Audio/MIDI interfaces, phantom power, combo mics, high-performance instrument inputs, and other audio devices.

The most expensive model on this list, the Apollo Twin MKII Duo, has options for UAD plugin effects and comes with Solo, Duo, and Quad options, as well as other emulation and performance fixes.

Thankfully, you don’t always “get what you pay for” with audio interfaces since even the budget options on this list come with a ton of features.

There are some premium input and output options that you can only get at a high price, however, so audio engineers and producers that are looking for specific optimization features should prioritize the features most important to them when comparing interfaces.

Hardware Features

The hardware can make or break these interfaces. The number of audio in/out ports differs between interfaces.

The microphone input and the options for additional hardware compatibility differ as well.

The most significant difference in hardware between interfaces is the power source.

Some of these devices can be powered purely by USB input, which is desirable for most composers. Others require wall outlets to power, which can be less convenient.

A designer’s inputs are limited by the physical ports for plugins. Some interfaces, for instance, such as the Focusrite Solo, lack compatibility for USB3. It’s essential to know each interface’s compatibility before buying.

Cost

Comparing cost is a simple comparison between audio interfaces.

The models on this list range from budget options under $100 to $800 premium audio interface hardware.

The price isn’t always proportional to the number of features offered. Our top pick, the Audient iD4 interface, has a mid-low price compared to others on the market. However, the premium features offered by the high-end interfaces may be exclusive to that price range.

For general shoppers, our budget recommendations should easily suffice. Only those with specific premium features in mind should opt for pricier alternatives.

Software Add-Ons

Many audio interfaces come with access to other suites and program add-ons that can be purchased or even subscribed to for free (PreSonus is big on these).

These add-ons give users a range of compatibility options, as well as access to other audio mixing and design suites through their interface.

Ableton Live and Softube offer fantastic, multifaceted design suites that some interfaces can easily connect to and use.

Compatibility

Not all interfaces are compatible with certain design suites. Veterans of Ableton or other specific tools should check compatibility before purchasing an interface.

Compatibility also matters in terms of hardware. Not only are power and output options a concern, as mentioned, but software compatibility matters as well.

Some audio interfaces are compatible with PC and Mac, but some are not. This could narrow your list automatically.

Audio designers with specific programs they want to run also need to check compatibility between the audio interface and the suites, plug-ins, extensions, add-ons, and other performance features and subscriptions they may want to run through their new interface.

The Takeaway

A new audio interface can make sound mixing, composing, design, recording, and other audio engineering feats easier.

Many interfaces are compatible with software upgrades, add-ons, and other subscription services.

No matter how much customization a sound designer wants from their at-home design studio, there are audio interfaces out there that can provide those services and more.

Choosing the right one requires knowledge that we hope to provide in this review series and buying guide.

We reviewed several of the most popular and well-reviewed audio interfaces to compare their features and present the options for sound designers that want them.

Our all-around pick for the best audio interface in 2020 is the Audient iD4 interface, which has a simple design and a ton of compatibility with software plugins, despite being designed for Mac users.

In our experience, most composers prefer Apple devices anyway, but for those that are die-hard PC fans, there are options for them as well.

Comparing the hardware compatibility, power source, plug-in options, software interface, audio quality, and versatility should give any composer or producer in 2020 the options they’re looking for in the realm of quality audio interfaces.

DAWs, Music Software, Productivity, Reviews

Ableton Live 10 Review

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Ableton Live is a software sequencer for recording and mixing live performances as well as composing, arranging, mixing, and mastering original music.

DJs and music producers alike favor its control suite over other software sequencers. Ableton Live 10 is the best update the software has received.

This review evaluates its main features in terms of the users who would benefit from them.

We’ll go over any possible drawbacks you may experience with the Ableton Live 10 Suite, but for music producers, mixers, arrangers, DJs, and other industry professionals, the Live 10 update is the best version of an already multifunctional application.

The Interface

You may already know that Ableton Live has an intuitive, simple interface set up in two views: arrangement and session.

This allows you to play samples and MIDI sequences live, or in a predetermined order so you can trigger the instruments or third party sounds manually.

The Live 10 update improves on the formula even more.

It’s clean and intuitive in the refreshed Live 10 design, with the previous skin options changing to more comprehensive themes that change how you interact with Live 10 based on your preferences.

Unlike in Live 9, clip fade-ins don’t need to be enabled separately in Live 10 – there are built-in shortcuts for that and other commonly used processes that allow you to instantly reposition clips in your track or fold all arrangement tracks.

The Chase MIDI Notes tab lets the program resume long sound clips without them needing to be manually retriggered.

Just looking at Live 10, you know you’re getting a more refined suite than previous updates. The browser is now color-coded for your curated content, managing your updates, and curating your tracks.

The typeface is clean and easy to read, as it has been on other Live versions, but this time with more customization options to help users make it as easy to read for them as they want.

Capture, Wavetable, and other devices like Pedal and Drum Bass all appear on the interface in more intuitive ways to help with the efficiency of your design.

Arrangement view has improved that design by grouping your features intuitively to avoid a cluttered interface, even though Live 10 has more features than ever before.

If you know what all that means, then you’re in the right place in your industry to make use of Ableton Live 10.

Even if you don’t have experience with other interfaces, the options for instrumentation and effects may convince you.

The Push 2 interface that has been integrated into Ableton Live 10 also gives you more options in terms of applications and an even more refined interface.

Those who use Push on their devices will be happy to read on and discover how Ableton has fixed one of the major drawbacks of previous updates, which was the lack of Push features.

Push integration

The Push interface gives Ableton Live 10 access to premium features, making it a more versatile studio DAW than any on the market.

Ableton Live 10 doesn’t have to be established with Push but Push and Push 2 offer a lot of useful expanded functionality that makes Live 10 even more interactive.

The vibrant Push display could be a huge asset to organizing your work in a live performance setting or a studio composition setting.

Push also allows Live 10 to visualize each note in MIDI clips, which enhances users’ ability to sequence them, something that previous Live 10 suites have been lacking and now can’t do without. Push enhances the already stellar MIDI sequencing on Ableton Live 10 by showing notes in four rows, accentuated by a separate sequencer section. 

Push users should love the full integration with Live 10, including the new features and vibrant, intuitive interface changes. Using new devices in the suite like Wavetable and Echo is not only easy but they look great too.

Previous Live updates have been a little slow getting full device integration up to speed with the Push interface, which has made Mac users and “Push natives” a little slow to get on board. Those worries are gone with Live 10.

Instrumentation options

Ableton Live 10 features synth options that give mixers way more utility than previous updates to the suite. The range of timbres and the sheer number of presets all situated on the vibrant Push 2 display makes Live 10 more multifaceted than the versions that preceded it.

New audio effects give users a ton of options, including echo, drum base, and pedal, all of which provide modes for mixing and production that can make Live 10 even more customizable.

Echo allows users to program delays, similar to a tape system. Drum Base is a tool that gives users more audio shaping options than before by combining transient shaping, compression, and distortion into one mechanic.

Pedal is the best guitar distortion effect added to Ableton Live in all its updates, including dedicated sub controls for manipulating the low end of the spectrum better than any previous version.

Live packs

Ableton Live 10’s live pack options aren’t for everyone, particularly those who are overwhelmed by bundled content in an already multifunctional design suite.

However, they have a lot to offer those looking for even more options and are better in Live 10 than they’ve ever been.

These packs include Build and Drop and other themed content packages, including stylistic instrument presets and effects that help consolidate the creative process around a style built-in to the samples. They help mixers by providing MIDI clips and samples and more raw material in keeping with the live pack’s theme.

The instrument packs in Live 10 aren’t a significant jump in variety from the Live 10 presets, but some users may find the options for hybrid kits to be useful, as they include more instrument mixes and a host of MIDI beat clips that pair with the other kits and applications. The Drum Booth kit, for instance, is perfect for acoustic mixing. Synth Essentials comes with all the samples and presets needed for an electronic mix.

These packs may not appeal to everyone, but for many users they expand the information available in Live 10 to customize mixes so it’s worth it to see them improve from Live 9.

Wavetable

Wavetable is the main device in the new packs that we’ll talk about since it’s probably the most useful for the average Live 10 user.

Wavetable has a wide palette of synthesizers and instruments that make its design capabilities much improved over its predecessors.

You can use it to morph hundreds of wavetables using classic and synthetic forms and two flexible filters.

It’s Live 10’s main synth collection for a reason, and works perfectly in tandem with Operator and Analog on Ableton’s system.

With the ability to make adjustments in the form of automation and to edit MIDI clips together, Wavetable is a great addition to your already packed feature list with Push, drum pads, keyboards, and more operating on the Live 10 interface.

Demo

A demo option sweetens the deal for the Ableton Live 10 suite because it allows you to practice on its basic features for free.

If your system requirements are in order, you have nothing to lose by trying out the Live 10 demo.

Cons

We didn’t notice cons with the interface or features available with the Ableton Live 10 design suite. The main drawback is that Live 10 loads slower on iMac than Live 9.

The Takeaway

Ableton Live 10, like its previous versions, is most notable for its features and interface.

The applications, live packs, instrument and clip options, and other features give mixers, arrangers, and composers all the tools they need to boost their audio design station with one of the best mixing and design suites available.

Its integration with Push gives Live 10 options for applications and devices, as well as useful MIDI visualization options.

Wavetable and Echo, as well as other live packs and applications, give Live 10 a ton of building options that include everything from a themed interface to new instrument and clip packs.

If the adjustment and automation options on MIDI playback, instrument mixes, and customizable interfaces aren’t big enough selling points, Live 10 also offers a demo period that gives users the chance to experience its features without financial risk.

This offsets the premium price of Live 10, but it’s not so outside the market prices of other suites to criticize it on those grounds.

In fact, if you’re a designer looking for an improved version of Live 9, Live 10 ups Ableton’s game in its creative features, sound library, and intuitive interface.

Its new integration with third-party programs makes it an even better option for designers looking for an all-in-one design suite to mix, arrange, compose, and master existing or new music.

With the addition of a free trial, you don’t even have to take our word for it: you can try it out yourself.

Music Software, Productivity, Reviews

Best Website Builder for Musicians in 2020

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Music is one of those careers that now requires an online presence for its artists to be successful.

Not only have a ton of artists been discovered on the internet, but being present and active there is crucial to establishing a marketing network, a social media presence, and a loyal following.

Building a website could be useful for any career that involves these things, but there are specific options for musicians that should be considered by anyone that wants a page tailor-made to their career’s needs.

Read on to discover the 5 best website builders for musicians in 2020, including a series of reviews and a buying guide to help you compare the main features you should be shopping for when comparing major website builders.

Top 5 Website Builders for Musicians

Wix

A few of the best website builders out there are specific for musicians, but many, including our pick for the best of the best, are programs with so many options that musicians can use them just as well as anyone.

Wix is one of those.

Known by many as the best all-around website builder on the internet, Wix is easy to use, has a free version, and should let you do anything you can imagine to get your website running with the templates and applications you want.

The ease of use comes from its drag-and-drop design, which is intuitive for anyone, even those who have never built a website before.

Wix has a tone of style designs too, including the ability to add galleries, assemble a mailing list, and choose from a ton of musician-specific templates to make your website unique.

Wix has cheap plans, starting with a free version that escalates to $20 per month if you plan on selling albums or songs from your site.

You can manage gigs, track sales, create a network of contacts, and more with Wix’s business features, which include many musician-specific options for the template that you choose.

For the wealth of features and ease of use, Wix tops our list of website builders for anyone, musicians included.

Pros

  • Easy to use with an intuitive design
  • Tons of template and style options
  • Free account options as well as paid business profiles
  • Musician-specific features for sales, mailing lists, and styles

Cons

  • The inability to switch templates once the site has become active means that musicians need to spend more time building the site before it goes live

Squarespace

Squarespace is another of the best website builders out there and as far as the visual design of their templates, it might be the best.

It doesn’t top this list despite its high-quality style because of fewer options for musician-specific needs and the premium price.

Those who are creative, though, can make better use of Squarespace’s design options than other website builders out there.

This includes tons of well-known artists and musicians – they love the depth of customization options and the beautiful templates that make Squarespace websites stand out.

From minimalist record sales companies to complex storefronts, Squarespace templates are ideal for budding and establishing careers in music.

Squarespace has drop-down menus and selectable options, rather than a drag-and-drop interface, making it a little more difficult to use than some other sites.

Thankfully, Squarespace has 24/7 support and offers a 2-week free trial so people can try it out before committing.

Having said that, Squarespace plans are not as cheap as some others. Their cheapest is $12 per month and that goes up to $26 or even $40 per month for a plan that includes eCommerce options.

Pros

  • Squarespace’s template designs are second to none
  • 24/7 customer service
  • Options for a 14-day free trial

Cons

  • Above-average prices
  • Less intuitive design than Wix

Bandzoogle

Bandzoogle, if you can get past the cheesy title, is a great website builder specific for those that want to showcase their band, sell records, and network with the online music community.

You should know what you’re getting into with Bandzoogle – a smaller, less well-established site than some of the more refined alternatives, but one with music-specific options and a few features that should make any budding band excited.

The first is that eCommerce accounts on Bandzoogle are all free of commission, which means you can sell your band’s albums and merch without worrying about paying out to the service.

Their music-specific analytics are useful for bands that want to track their sales and fanbase activity.

In addition, Bandzoogle features over 100 music-specific templates optimized for both desktop and mobile devices.

Since the site is fully integrated with social media platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube, you can allow fans to stream songs from your site and access your merch from the same place.

At $8.29 per month, Bandzoogle is one of the cheaper plans out there, especially for eCommerce-enabled pages.

They don’t have a free option, but they offer 30-day free trials so you can try out both cheap and expensive plans to see if you like them before you financially commit to them.

Pros

  • Music-specific features such as templates
  • Social media integration gives customers easy access to your music and material
  • Cheap plans and generous trials periods

Cons

  • The interface isn’t as refined as those on some of the bigger sites

BandVista

This is another musician-specific website builder for those that want an easy and cheap way to get their band albums or their merch out there for fans to see.

It’s a great budget pick for those that are looking to set up a site quickly and easily and don’t mind sacrificing some premium features to get it done.

BandVista is an easy application to use and set up so it’s ideal for those that want to set up a website quickly.

It’s also cheaper than many of the more well-known alternatives, though it comes with options that are easier to navigate than the main sites.

The low price, ease of use, and quick application setup are its main positives, however.

BandVista is as known for its simplicity as for its easy setup, but for some artists, especially those that tend towards more creative design, their template options may not be enough.

BandVista’s style is a little outdated, with template options that tend towards simpler designs and not a lot of unique features.

However, it’s cheap and easy to set up for those that want a simple platform to make a quick site.

Pros

  • Ease of use
  • Simple templates make it easy to choose one
  • Band-centric styles and templates

Cons

  • Outdated interface and appearance

Weebly

For musicians deep into SEO features and looking for a wide selection of applications on their music site, Weebly is the best platform available.

While it’s not musician-specific, it can be optimized for bands and used to network with its ideal categorization features that emphasize strategies that help you be found in a Google search.

This means that Weebly’s use of SEO represents more people finding your music and booking your events just by virtue of their keyword, sorting, and optimization strategies.

They provide a ton of flexible, stylish apps to use to spruce up your site and increase your traffic.

Best of all, Weebly offers a free plan designed to get you attracted to their specialty features before considering a paid plan. You could always just keep things free, however.

They offer options for free domains, shipping discounts, and other eCommerce features, with some plans as low as $6 per month.

Their performance, professional, and free plans all offer more applications than most other website builders.

For musicians, the eCommerce options are particularly valuable for those that want to use their websites to advertise a record label or sell merch.

This is all without the aggressive compensation fees of some of the other website builders.

Pros

  • State of the art SEO features
  • eCommerce applications for free domains, shipping discounts, and more
  • A variety of affordable plans

Cons

  • Not the most intuitive interface on the market

Best Website Builders for Musicians: Buying Guide

Not all website builders are made equally – their templates, usability, monetization options, cost, and design make a huge difference.

These differences are accentuated when you’re a musician that wants to build a site with a specific purpose, such as selling your band’s records or establishing a network to increase your fan-base and fill your booking schedule.

Read on to compare the main features of these site builders to compare the ones on this list or any that you may be considering.

Templates

The first thing that may attract you to a site builder is their template options.

For those that are creative and want to be able to customize their applications and have a ton of premium options to give their site a unique identity, you may want to use Wix or Squarespace and customize it for a music site rather than rely on the relatively few options of niche sites like BandVista.

Some of these platforms have over 100 music-specific website templates to give you the tools you need to make the site in your head a reality.

Usability

Some of the sites with hundreds of templates are tougher to use. Some have textbox constructions rather than drag-and-drop applications and others can be overwhelming with the choices you have.

This may be a reason to opt for the simpler sites, which often come with a cheaper price tag.

Some users may prioritize usability in order to set up their site quickly, rather than deal with a million options and templates. Particularly for those that have never made a website before or don’t know what they want, simplicity could be a huge selling point.

Monetization

As a musician or a band member, you may be creating this site to monetize your band label, records, or merchandise.

Not every website builder can be monetized, however, and not all of those that can are monetizable for free.

If this is your main goal, you need a site builder with networking options to increase your fanbase and options for storefronts and monetized applications.

Most don’t have eCommerce options as a default so in that case, you need to compare the premium prices of each site builder when choosing between them.

Cost

The cost has a huge impact on profitability when you consider that these sites are paid for with per month subscriptions and have a wide range of prices.

Some cost $25+ per month and others have account options that are completely free.

Free accounts are often more limited, but many (such as Wix) have some diverse free accounts.

Many offer free trials of different lengths as well, which is something to watch for when you aren’t sure which site builder you want to use and prefer to try them out first.

Interface

Some site builders have a simple interface that lets you drag and drop design options, while others have more conventional website builder applications.

Depending on your experience, you may want to find options that are simpler to use so you can build your band’s site quickly.

The age of the site builder also matters here, as some may have outdated templates that aren’t as eye-catching.

The type of music you play matters here as well since the interface can communicate a lot about intentions and style.

The Takeaway

Site builders for musicians range from niche sites that have specific features for the industry and general sites tailor-made for creative thinkers to make the site they want.

Our top choice is Wix for the breadth of features it has, as well as its customization options, usability, and free account options.

However, by using this review series and buying guide, you can choose between any other site builders you find as well by comparing their main features.

By figuring out your specific needs in terms of usability and monetization, you can customize any site builder for your needs as a musician looking to expand your fan-base or sell your music.

Effects, Music Software, Reviews

Top 5 Free Autotune Plugins to Use in 2020

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Music production is an expensive business to get into because of the software and hardware overheads.

Finding free plugins and apps out there to give your tech an edge over the competition and improve your music with premium features usually reserved for premium services could be a huge plus to your business.

This is why we compiled this review list of the top 5 free autotune plugins you should consider in 2020 to up your music production game for no out of pocket cost.

We also created a buying guide comparing their features more generally so that you can make an informed decision of which plugin is the best for you based on your needs and the needs of your business.

You could also use the guide to compare plugins you find on your own if you have a specific brand in mind.

Reviews of the Top 5 Free Autotune Plugins

These are the 5 best free autotune plugins we reviewed. We go over their main features and pros, as well as some of the drawbacks so you know exactly what you’re buying.

MAuto Pitch

For visualization and customization, MAuto Pitch is the best free plugin we tried out.

It has a range of features that improve music production on many levels, including fine-tuning sets, configuring formats, and enhancing performance.

The first thing you’ll notice about MAuto Pitch is its interface. Its modern, intuitive visuals are easy to interpret but also organized with the options at your disposal to make your music production work easy.

Namely, the main features MAuto Pitch excels in are its depth, speed, and tuning controls.

Its depth control features give you enhancement functions that allow you to alter sound depth to your specifications. This includes fine-tuning the pitch to get it exactly the way you want it.

The speed control similarly lets you set the parameters for the program to skip the out of tune sounds, jump around, or smooth it out with transition controls. Both the high and low speeds on the MAuto Pitch plugin give you options to customize your experience.

This multi-functionality and control make MAuto Pitch the best plugin we reviewed.

Pros

  • Optimal sound, depth, and speed controls
  • Modern, intuitive interface
  • Enhancement functions that offer tons of customization

Cons

  • For the heaviest music production work, MAuto Pitch, which is designed for lighter edits, may not have everything you need compared to premium software options

GSnap

GSnap is a popular option when it comes to vocal pitch tuning and other various effects and is well-known for its adeptness in altering vocal sounds.

Of course, it can mix and produce for instruments as well, but it’s in the vocal range that GSnap shines and may top your personal list if those functions appeal to you and your work, though it doesn’t quite top ours.

The user interface, both in graphics and controls, is easy to use. It has two sides so you can view the original and updated pitches, as well as a MIDI control box that allows you to input and link notes to the track you’re working on.

GSnap has features in the program that guide you through the work that needs to be done, taking you to the areas that need work on its own.

It’s a multifunctional app as well, with 12 control knobs that help you edit effects with a lot of customization. Speed and vibrato knobs are particularly useful, allowing you to use pitch detection and manipulation to make the music sound more organic and in tune.

The gate and threshold knobs are also useful, allowing you to pitch-shift at will and adjust the sound detection so that the plugin reads the sounds differently depending on what you’re producing and for what medium.

This multi-functionality makes GSnap a great alternative pick that might be the top pick for those that focus on thresholds or who want a plugin that emphasizes voice controls.

Pros

  • Pitch tuning and effects are more varied than the average plugin
  • The interface is sparser than some modern applications but still intuitive
  • 12 control knobs give you a ton of features to play with

Cons

  • GSnap is not available for Mac

KeroVee

For voice conversion, KeroVee is a great choice.

It comes with a ton of tools and functions that can help you manage pitch correction to your specifications and replace organic voices with mixed mechanical equivalents.

This applies to instruments as well, which can be autotuned on KeroVee as well as on many premium applications.

The display is broken into two sides, which show the initial and mixed signals and allow you to fine-tune the results with knobs on the display.

Pitch adjustment is accurate on KeroVee even to demanding specifications and is perfect for formatting, panning, and transposing sounds.

Its MIDI controller can detect notes automatically and give you corrections that you don’t even need to input manually. Its calibration and nuisance knobs let you remove discrepancies, adjust vibrato, and set the plugin’s correction speed.

KeroVee’s plugin guides and automatic correction software are finetuned for professional autotuning work.

Pros

  • Autotuning software offers optimal control
  • The interface is simple but functional
  • Numerous fine-tuning knobs give you customization and functional pitch shifting, formatting, and calibration options

Cons

  • KeroVee is built to finetune vocals, not as much for overhauling huge multi-track instrumentations, so some producers may prefer another plugin

Graillon 2

Auburn Sound’s Graillon autotune plugin hasn’t always been free, but Graillon 2 gives you its premium features at no cost to you.

The Graillon 2 plugin has to be the top choice for autotuning in metallic or robotic sounds with its smooth correction module controls that can adjust the speed of sound changes.

You’ll notice right away that Graillon 2 has a classy interface with a nostalgic color scheme and large decorative font. The central display gives you access to the current sound and intuitively helps you see how the program is correcting it.

Graillon 2 has inertia and speed knobs that reduce pitch correction. It also has a bitcrusher function that gives you access to distorted and robotic sounds that are specific for certain compositions.

The growl sound functions and bitcrusher combined with the vintage interface make Graillon 2 a compelling classic experience with a lot of features.

Pros

  • A perfect plugin for autotuning metallic sounds and turning voice samples into artificial sounds
  • Nostalgic, high-end interface appearance and intuitive controls
  • Bitcrusher function gives you multifunctional distortion options
  • Growl sounds and other knobs round out a versatile plugin package

Cons

  • The lack of semi-tone jumps and some tricky pitch-shift dial options can take some getting used to for some users

AAS Autotune

We’ve talked about the interfaces on each of these autotune plugins but AAS Autotune is our pick for the best plugin that has no interface at all.

This means that you can only set one correction parameter at a time, but the plugin still works well for certain needs.

For tuning fast sounds, especially robotic ones like autotuned vocals in pop tracks, AAS Autotune works well for the most simplified functions possible.

For some tuning, this can be a useful application, especially if you don’t want to mess with a ton of features.

AAS Autotune can be turned on and do its thing without you nursing it so if your goal is to use software to truly “auto” tune the sounds, AAS Autotune might be the choice for you.

Another bonus to the lack of an interface is that it takes up almost no processing power on your computer, freeing it up for other tasks if you want to work on something else.

Pros

  • Low RAM requirements make it easy to run with other applications
  • True automatic tuning makes it easy to set up and run without messing with a ton of features
  • Fast tuning for metallic sounds or hectic pop tracks is easier with AAS than doing it manually with something else

Cons

  • No interface means no frills and fewer options for customization – just make sure you know what you’re getting into

5 Best Free Autotune Plugins: Buying Guide

This buying guide summarizes the main features you should be looking for when comparing these and other autotune plugins.

Interface

The first thing to look for is a plugin that features an interface you can use, since it won’t matter what features it has if you can’t use it efficiently.

Some have classy interfaces like Graillon 2’s decorative font style and some don’t have any interface at all: AAS Autotune, for instance, is just a program that you run on your computer and doesn’t have any windows or extra features.

This gives you a wide array of choices when you’re looking at the interfaces that might work for you.

Since you’re probably using this plugin for work, you need something that you can spend hours on, view the options you need easily, and make your sound design changes with as little hassle as possible.

The good news is that since all these plugins are free, you could theoretically try them out one at a time until you find one you really like.

Control features

How each plugin plays on the traditional features of autotune programs will go a long way to determining which is the right application for your needs.

MIDI controllers, speed, vibrato, gate, and other function knobs (as well as various autotune effects) give the plugins their own identity.

They go from pure minimalism to ultimate multi-functional style tools with as many as 12 knobs to view on increasingly complex interfaces.

What you want to accomplish with this plugin, from voice manipulation to instrumentation conversion, needs to be compared to the desired effects themselves and will largely affect which plugin you choose.

Compatibility

Compatibility is something to check on any plugin before you try and incorporate it into your workspace. GSnap, for instance, isn’t compatible with Mac operating systems.

Some require more RAM than others to run successfully (consider AAS Autotune, for instance, whose minimalism makes it an easy application to run on any computer).

Compatibility may not be on your list of desired features but it’s essential by nature to consider when you’re making your decision.

Uses

This category is separate from the features because, in addition to looking at what the plugins can specifically do, you need to look at how you intend to use them to choose the right one.

For example, one plugin may have more features but may lack another’s accuracy in terms of specific conversions of natural voices to robotic effects or adding vibrato, or another specific function you may need.

You need to compare your intentions to the features to know which plugin will work best for you.

Cost

As stated, all these plugins are free, so this is no concern here.

The Takeaway

Free autotune plugins can be extremely useful additions to any audio mixer or music producer’s toolkit.

Usually, they come at a price, which is why we assembled this list of the 5 best free ones you can use to mix and tune music and sounds without paying a high premium.

Many of these plugins feature versatile features, control knobs, clever interfaces, and tons of customization options.

One of them (AAS Autotune) doesn’t feature any of these things but instead offers a streamlined approach to autotune plugins that lets you run applications quickly and without the hassle of figuring out bells and whistles. No matter which you choose, you’ll be choosing correctly.

Even still, the wealth of options makes MAuto Pitch our top choice for free autotune plugins because of its wealth of features, beautiful interface, and options for fine-tuning compositions to exact specifications.

No matter if you choose one of these or a brand of your own, use our buying guide to compare the main features so you can match the plugin to your audio production needs.

Autotuning complex compositions is difficult but it doesn’t have to be expensive – use this guide to get a premium autotune plugin for your software arsenal without spending a dime.