Latest articles by Chris Corfield
Best electric guitars under $1,000/£1,000 in 2025: My top picks for players of all styles
Years of playing and reviewing gear have taught me exactly what to look for - here's how to get a guitar to grow with
Best studio chairs 2025: Are you sitting comfortably in your home studio?
Experience exceptional ergonomia with these studio chairs from Corsair, Ikea, Ergolab and more
Best USB microphones 2025: Plug-and-play mics for everything from streaming to singing
Capturing audio has never been easier, with these all-in-one USB microphones from Shure, Sennheiser and more
Best earplugs for musicians 2025: protect your hearing with these essential audio attenuators, for the practice room to your next gig
I road-tested six sets of the best musician-friendly earplugs, from Alpine, ACS, Minuendo and more - recommended options from budget to moulded
Best in-ear monitors 2025: IEMs for stage and studio
Our expert guide to the best in-ear monitors for practice, performance and production, no matter your budget
“A versatile and durable dynamic microphone suitable for a range of applications”: Universal Audio SD-1 review
Affordable dynamic microphone bringing professional sound from a top-tier brand
Best home studio mixers 2025: analogue and digital mixing desks for all budgets
A comprehensive look at the best home studio mixers on the market today – from compact consoles to podcasting heavyweights
Best podcasting microphones 2025: our expert picks for every budget and level, with audio demos
Record your next podcast or stream your heart out with the very best podcast mics, including our recommendations under $100/£100 – plus full reviews and expert buying advice
“One of the most versatile, feature-laden mics for podcasting”: Shure MV7+ review
Shure’s latest is an evolution, if not a revolution, in premium podcasting mics
“Its robust construction, low self-noise, and ability to emulate a range of classic microphones make it a valuable asset”: Universal Audio SC-1 review
Classy condenser with top-shelf tricks but a bargain price tag
"I can clearly see how quickly things can come together when you have the right tools at your disposal": I tried both face-to-face lessons and Pianote to learn the piano in 8 weeks - here's how I got on
Will combining online learning with face-to-face lessons be just what I need to become the piano player I've always wanted to be? Let's find out
Best microphones for recording 2025: My top studio mics for instruments, vocals and more
These are the best recording microphones from the biggest brands including AKG, Rode, Audio Technica, Neumann and more
Best studio monitors 2025: 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
Best external hard drives for music production 2025: Back up your music and boost your computer's performance
Store recording sessions, video files, and sample libraries with our expert pick of the best external hard drives for Mac and PC
Best budget audio interfaces 2025: 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 budget studio monitors 2025: Make your mix sing with these wallet-friendly home studio speakers
The best cheap studio monitors for home recording, with my hand-picked and affordable options from Adam, IK Multimedia, M-Audio, PreSonus and more
Best synthesizers 2025: 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 cheap MIDI keyboards 2025: 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
Best budget USB microphones 2025: Get creative and sound better for less
Our expert pick of the top cheap USB mics for streaming, podcasting, recording, gaming, work calls, and more
Best studio desks 2025: budget-spanning options for organising your recording studio space
Streamline your production setup and bring order to your creative space with one of the best desks for music production
Best DJ headphones 2025: Booth-ready choices from budget to pro-level
Our expert pick of reliable headphones to suit any type of DJ, including options from Sennheiser, Technics and Pioneer
Best acoustic guitar for beginners 2025: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
Start playing today with beginner acoustics from Taylor, Fender, Epiphone, Martin and more – hand-picked by experts
Best MIDI keyboards 2025: Mac, PC and iOS keyboards for players, composers and producers
Our expert guide to the best MIDI keyboards of all sizes and budgets to integrate with your home studio
