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Brandon is a producer, audio engineer, multi-instrumentalist, and senior writer at Higher Hz, where he covers microphones, studio monitors, audio interfaces, and recording techniques.
Coming from humble beginnings, Schock began recording psychedelic bedroom pop with nothing except for GarageBand and the built-in microphone on his laptop as a teenager.
While he's since upgraded his recording setup, Brandon still has a proclivity to work through the confines of limitation.
His music is spasmodic, distorted, and restless, often taking inspiration from artists such as Cornelius and The Beach Boys.
Over the years, he's gained a vast amount of experience recording, writing, and performing with local groups and fellow artists such as Petty Walker, and Windy 500.
When it comes to gear, Brandon has a particular fondness for several models and series of studio gear. He usually records through his Focusrite Clarett 8Pre, aided by his Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro for tracking.
For microphones, the Electro-Voice RE20, Neumann KM 184, the AKG SE300 B (particularly when using the CK91 capsule), and Coles 4038 are worked to their limits in his studio.
He also has a soft spot for Adam Audio studio monitors, which he has been using for years.
In terms of preamps, Brandon has two favorites: the clean and transparent Focusrite ISA One and the warm and colorful Universal Audio Solo/610.
However, even though he has his mainstays in his arsenal, he's incessantly researching and trying to find hidden gems.
Still forever passionate about music, Brandon has recently dedicated himself to writing about the latest innovations in audio technology, while keeping busy with his own projects and passions.
The iRig HD X is one of the latest installments from IK Multimedia. It’s a compact guitar interface that presents itself as an ingenious solution to mobile recording and augmenting your live performance rig.
Let’s take a closer look and see whether it deserves a place in your arsenal.
If you’ve ever watched Conan O’Brien, David Letterman, or Johnny Carson (if you’re a bit older), you’ve probably noticed that little box-shaped microphone sitting on their desk.
Well, in Johnny Carson’s day, that microphone was most likely the C414 EB, the original model of what I’ll be reviewing today.
M-Audio tends to be fairly hit or miss, especially with their lower-budget products. However, every once in a blue moon they really nail it. Let’s take a closer look and see what the BX5 D3 studio monitors have to offer.
Microphone gain is one of the most critical aspects to keep account of when recording. Without it, your mic would be virtually useless. But what exactly is gain and how does it work? Let’s dive in.
If you’re looking for small desktop monitors, it can be hard to justify throwing any more than $100 or so at the cause unless you’re an insane audiophile.
If you do fall into that category, the iLoud Micro Monitors are a phenomenal choice to consider within this niche of the market. They’re compact, and while not the cheapest option, they sound far better than anybody could ever expect them to.
JBL has been well-trusted as a leading audio equipment manufacturer ever since its inception in 1946. Behind the entirety of its portfolio is a dedication to science and research which lies at the heart of each of JBL’s products.
The 305P Mk2 do a good job at carrying this legacy on, and I personally think they’re one of the better options available for budget studio monitors.