Matt McCracken
Matt is a Junior Deals Writer here at MusicRadar. He regularly tests and reviews music gear with a focus on audio interfaces, studio headphones, studio monitors, and pretty much anything else home recording-related. Responsible for over 60 buying guides, a large part of his role is helping musicians find the best deals on gear. Matt worked in music retail for 5 years at Dawsons Music and Northwest Guitars and has written for various music sites including Guitar World, Guitar Player, Guitar.com, Ultimate Guitar, and Thomann’s t.blog.
A regularly gigging guitarist with over 20 years of experience playing live and producing bands, he's performed everything from jazz to djent, gigging all over the UK in more dingy venues than you can shake a drop-tuned guitar at. When he's not holed up in his home studio recording new songs or downloading new plugins, you’ll find him making a racket with Northern noise hounds JACKALS.
Latest articles by Matt McCracken
How to set the preamp gain on your audio interface
By Matt McCracken last updated
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
By Matt McCracken last updated
Not sure how to plug into your shiny new audio interface? Get set up for recording like a pro
Best MIDI keyboards for beginners 2024: Entry-level controllers for those starting out in music production
By Andy Jones last updated
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
By Simon Fellows last updated
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
By Chris Corfield last updated
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
By Chris Corfield last updated
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
By Matt McCracken published
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
By Si Truss last updated
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
By Chris Corfield last updated
Record instruments or vocals, make a podcast or boost live performances for less, with our pick of the best budget microphones around
“Huge storage and ability to load your own loops make it an instrument in its own right”: DigiTech JamMan Solo HD review
By Matt McCracken published
We welcome back another DigiTech staple with massive storage and stereo-looping capabilities
“Feels like you’re playing through an amp with excellent low-latency performance”: Blackstar Polar 2 review
By Matt McCracken published
We get hands-on with the new guitarist-friendly audio interface from British amp manufacturer Blackstar
How to use an amp simulator with an audio interface
By Matt McCracken published
Turns out we may have all been using our amp simulator plugins completely wrong. Let's clear up the matter once and for all
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2024: Top picks for strummers on a budget
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
Your guide to the best cheap acoustic and electro-acoustic guitars out there, with amazing value options from Martin, Taylor, Fender, and more
Best microphones for recording 2024: Top studio mics for instruments, vocals and more
By Chris Corfield last updated
These are the best recording microphones from the biggest brands including AKG, Rode, Audio Technica and more, split by price
Learn to play guitar for just $4.99 a month with this mammoth Fender Play discount - get 60% off for a limited time
By Matt McCracken published
Ending on July 6th, this huge 60% reduction on a Fender Play annual plan won’t be around for long
Best beginner electric guitars 2024: Start strong with our top picks
By Chris Corfield last updated
Our round-up of the best electric guitars for beginners, tested by experts
Waves just slashed pretty much every plugin down to only $29.99 - including the channel strip we swear by
By Matt McCracken published
With 239 plugins reduced to just $29.99, it's the perfect time to refurbish your plugin folder
Will upgrading your audio interface improve sound quality? It's time to bust some myths...
By Matt McCracken published
Wondering whether a new interface will have a noticeable impact on the quality of your recordings? We take a look at the science to find the answer
Best pedalboards 2024: top choice 'boards for guitarists
By Alex Lynham last updated
Organise your guitar effects pedal collection with one of the best pedalboards available from Pedaltrain, D'Addario, Gator and more
Best PCs for music production 2024: Apple Macs and Windows machines for your home studio
By Chris Corfield last updated
Discover the power that a desktop PC or Mac can bring to your music-making, with our expert pick of the best desktops for music production
Today is your last chance to grab Waves's bonkers distortion plugin Berzerk for free - exclusive to MusicRadar readers
By Matt McCracken last updated
We've teamed up with Waves to offer you Berzerk for free (rather than $29.99) until 1400 BST/0900 EST – find out how to claim your plugin for nothing
Audio interface vs mixer: Which should you choose for your home studio?
By Matt McCracken published
There’s more than one way to get audio in and out of your computer - we look at two of the most common options for musicians
Waves just slashed the price on 20 of their best-selling plugins, including Waves Tune and Vocal Rider at just $35.99 each
By Matt McCracken published
Mix like a pro for less with cut-price channel strips, AI noise removal tools and creative plugins in the Waves best-seller's sale
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