Latest articles by Andy Jones
Best drum machines 2026: Top beat boxes for all budgets and skill levels
Our tried-and-tested pick of the best on the market - whether you're creating vintage electronic beats to cutting-edge grooves or mix-cutting loops
Best cheap MIDI keyboards 2026: Inexpensive MIDI controllers starting at just £39/$49
Start making music for less with our selection of affordable MIDI keyboards from Arturia, Akai, Nektar, Novation, and more
I'd made five tracks in 25 years, but after I was prescribed medical cannabis, I made an entire album in six months. So, what’s going on?
Let’s get into the weeds
Best MIDI keyboards for beginners 2026: Entry-level controllers for those starting out in music production
Get producing your own music with my pick of the best MIDI controller keyboards for beginner musicians
Best in-ear monitors 2026: IEMs for stage and studio
Our expert guide to the best in-ear monitors we've testedfor practice, performance and production, no matter your budget
How Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke bottled the sound of heartbreak with Only You
Clarke had created Just Can't Get Enough with Depeche Mode, but Only You would be his most important song
Best MIDI keyboards 2026: Find your perfect match for the home studio
My expert guide to the best MIDI keyboards of all sizes and budgets to integrate with your home studio
How Depeche Mode launched their career with one of the most important synth-pop records ever released
One of the band's biggest tunes marked the end of their first chapter, but became a springboard that would propel both them and its writer to legendary status
Best studio monitors 2026: Studio speakers for musicians and producers on any budget
My comprehensive guide to the best studio monitor speakers for home studio recording, whether you’re a beginner or pro producer
What we’ve learned about the inner workings of Kraftwerk’s mythical studio via a recent auction
Here are five takeaways that seal the band's legendary Man Machine status - and shed a light on how Kling Klang really worked…
"I honestly don’t think I would keep going if he quit": Gary Numan on the man who makes his live shows tick
Plus, why he’s finally agreed to play on an ‘80s cruise and when we can expect a new Numan album
The Beatles vs. Kraftwerk: Who has really been the most influential on the future of music
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who will be the fabbest of these four?
Best laptop for DJs 2026: my choice of PCs, Macs, and Mac-alternatives for playing out
My hand-picked laptop choices for DJs, all perfect for Serato, rekordbox, Traktor, Ableton, Virtual DJ, and more
Best synthesizers 2026: Top analogue, digital, mono and polysynths
From mini monosynths, through to mighty polyphonic workstations, our experts have hand-picked hardware synth recommendations for every budget
Best laptop for music production 2026: For home studios and mobile music-making - tested by experts
My pick of the best laptops for making music, plus hands-on reviews, stress testing, and what to look for when buying
Best studio headphones 2026: my pick of cans for mixing, mastering, and monitoring - tested by a working musician and producer
My tried and tested pick of open and closed back headphones for music makers, with full reviews and raw frequency response testing
Best budget audio interfaces 2026: Cheap USB interfaces for home recording, streaming, podcasting, and more
I’ve tested more than 20 options to bring you my expert pick of the best affordable audio interfaces for great quality recording on a budget
Best audio interface 2026: For home recording, podcasting, and streaming - tested by experts
Our tried and tested pick of USB and Thunderbolt interfaces for Mac and PC across every budget, plus full reviews, in-depth testing, and buying advice
“Proper old school producers might also baulk at the ease of song creation and the slick results” – Teenage Engineering EP-40 Riddim and EP-2350 Ting review
It’s a mobile reggae, dub and dancehall sound system with its own mic for less than 300 quid
Is it finally time to stand up to the tech taking the very soul out of music-making?
With AI and voice recognition taking the ‘strain’ out of music production, are we about to see the closure of the DAW?
“Pro-quality results at semi-pro cash”: IK Multimedia Precision 6 MkII review
IK’s iLoud Precision speaker range has just received a MKII upgrade and a price downgrade. Is it too good to be true?
Cyber Monday plugin deals 2025: The biggest plugin sale of the year is over
Cyber Weekend has officially ended, but there are still some last-minute savings to take advantage of on music software
Black Friday plugin deals 2025: These are the last remaining deals on software
Black Friday is over, but you can still bag a last-minute deal on plugins
