Latest articles by Matt McCracken
Best Stratocasters 2024: Our top choice Fender Stratocasters
Our experts countdown the best Strat guitars - from budget to pro - that showcase arguably the most iconic guitar of all time
"Offers a huge amount of options for all players of stringed instruments, and provides the highest accuracy available for any clip-on tuner": Peterson Stroboclip HDC review
One of the most accurate clip-on tuners available for musicians, and discuss that astronomical entry fee
Best guitar cables 2024: Leads and patch cables for all budgets
Quality cables make the difference, here's our top picks from Mogami, Ernie Ball, Fender and more
“A great option for beginner players or those looking to expand their tonal palette on a budget”: Harley Benton DNAfx GiT Advanced review
The middle model of Harley Benton’s budget multi-effects pedal range looks for your attention in a crowded market
Quick! Get the original Spark smart amp at a super low price for a limited time in Positive Grid’s big Labor Day sale
With the launch of the Spark 2, prices are starting to plummet on the original and much-loved Spark amp
Best MIDI keyboards 2024: 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
Best studio monitor stands 2024: Optimise your home studio
Everything you need to know about studio monitor stands and why you need them in your recording studio
Best guitar amp headphones: Our top choices, from wearable tech to pro in-ear monitors
Immerse yourself in your guitar playing with headphones, earphones and IEMs from Boss, Vox, Sennheiser, Shure, Focal and more…
Best distortion pedals 2024: our pick of the top gain stages for guitar
Bring the filth with 10 of the best distortion pedals for hard-rock, metal, and beyond
With up to 94% off at Plugin Boutique, these are the best plugin deals you’ll see for a while - here’s 5 picks from a mixing fanatic with 20 years in the home recording game
Now’s the perfect time to upgrade your plugin collection with this ginormous sale at Plugin Boutique
Best acoustic guitar strings 2024: Find your favourite acoustic strings
Our pick of the best acoustic guitar strings for your style and budget from Elixir, Ernie Ball, Martin, D'Addario, and more
"One of the standout signature guitars I’ve played in my time": Gretsch Electromatic John Gourley Broadkaster review
A relatively affordable semi-hollow signature guitar with a stunning look from the man behind Portugal. The Man
Best acoustic guitar for beginners 2024: 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
How to set the preamp gain on your audio interface
Ensure you are getting the best recording quality possible every time with our top tips
How to plug mics and instruments into your audio interface
Not sure how to plug into your shiny new audio interface? Get set up for recording like a pro
Best budget laptops for music production 2024: cheap laptops for home recording and mobile music makers
We've got the latest laptops on test that will not only enable you to make music anywhere, but do it without spending a fortune – our top picks start at just $/£300
Best MIDI keyboards for beginners 2024: Entry-level controllers for those starting out in music production
Get producing your own music with our pick of the best MIDI controller keyboards for beginner musicians
Best field recorders 2024: Top portable recorders for capturing sound on-the-go
From Foley and found sound to recording your rehearsals, a field recorder can unlock the sonics that surround us
Best podcast headphones 2024: An essential tool for your podcast rig
Our pick of closed-back, wired headphones will help you up your podcasting game in no time
Best podcast mixers 2024: The central hub of your podcasting setup
Find the ideal mixer for podcasting with our top picks from Rode, Yamaha, PreSonus, and others – from budget to pro
“Left me wishing my first guitar had been this much fun to play”: Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage Series review
We get hands-on with one of the cheapest guitars in the Harley Benton range
Best small studio monitors 2024: Compact speakers from budget to professional
The best speakers for small studios and portable use, from KRK, Focal, IK Multimedia and more
Best cheap microphones for recording 2024: Budget microphones for studio and stage
Record instruments or vocals, make a podcast or boost live performances for less, with our pick of the best budget microphones around
