Latest articles by Matt McCracken
Best guitar VSTs 2026: Get the best simulated guitar tones for your next production
My pick of the best guitar VST instruments will get great guitar tones for your productions, even if you’ve never played guitar before
"I cycle through the presets to see what’s what, and…they’re not great: Mooer GE150 Max Li review
Mooer's battery-operated multi-effects unit delivers all the tools a beginner needs to get up and running, though some features fall short under DSP constraints
Best dynamic microphones 2026: Top picks for recording instruments, vocals and podcasts in challenging conditions
Equally at home on the stage or in the studio, we’ve tested a range of dynamic mics to help you get the results you’re after
Best Alesis electronic drum sets 2026: tried & tested for practice, studio and stage
From entry-level mesh kits to high-end touchscreen flagships, here are the standout top-rated Alesis e-drums tested by our team - plus video demos
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
Best pedalboards 2026: top choice 'boards for guitarists
Organise your guitar effects pedal collection with one of the best pedalboards available from Pedaltrain, D'Addario, Gator and more
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 guitar audio interfaces 2026: Get studio-quality tones at home
The budget to premium, these are the best audio interfaces for guitar and bass tested by expert musicians
Best budget studio monitors 2026: Make your mixes 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
Baum Guitars Verve review
Distinctive looks and a buttery-smooth neck profile with this T-style, but some QC issues hold it back
Best microphones for recording 2026: My top studio mics for instruments, vocals and more
These are the best recording microphones whether you're recording a podcast at home or working in a studio on proper productions
I stress-tested the MacBook Neo for music production and failed to topple it - now, with £50 off for Prime Day it’s the only budget laptop I’m recommending to musicians
It might be cheap, but the MacBook Neo is no slouch when it comes to music production tasks
Best mic stands 2026: My top picks for studio, stage, and podcasting
Whether you need to secure a heavy tube mic or get your drum overheads in order, these are the most stable and reliable mic stands for a variety of budgets
“So insanely powerful that I could see it lasting a decade or more in home recording studios”: Apple Mac Mini M4 review
Apple’s miniature desktop packs enough punch to run most music-making tasks without breaking a sweat
Best podcast headphones 2026: A studio engineer's guide to awesome audio
We break down the top closed-back, zero-latency headphones for podcast recording on any budget
“I get to 171 tracks before any errors during a full playthrough at the lowest buffer setting”: Apple MacBook Neo review
We put Apple’s newest machine to the test to find out if it really is the ultimate budget laptop for music production
"The addition of NAM profile compatibility pushes it well beyond your average multi-effects pedal": Nux MG-50Li review
Nux's battery-powered amp modeller promises over a quarter of a million different amp tones in a compact and gig-ready chassis
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
“For engineers mixing on small studio monitors, these will be a huge asset for checking the bass and sub bass”: Sennheiser HD 480 Pro review
Sennheiser's new cans offer reliable low-end translation that goes where your studio monitors can't
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
Best XLR microphones 2026: Top mics for podcasting, streaming, and studio work
Upgrade from USB with the very best-quality, noise-free mics from AKG, Aston, Neumann, Rode, Sennheiser, Shure and more
Best external hard drives for music production 2026: 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
“I wanted to write it off after seeing the fretboard and feeling the back of the neck, but it won me over,”: Charvel Standard Series San Dimas Style 2 SD2 HH HT review
Charvel takes on the lower end of the market with an Indonesian-built T-type that has some very intriguing specifications
