
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. He's an alumnus of Spirit Studios, where he studied studio engineering and music production. When not writing for MusicRadar, you'll find him making a racket with northern noise punks Never Better.
Latest articles by Matt McCracken

7 of my favorite audio interfaces are still reduced on sale for Black Friday - including the one I use every day in my home studio
By Matt McCracken last updated
I've tested 12 audio interfaces in the past 12 months, and a some of my top picks have been reduced - but hurry, these prices won't last long

With a year’s UAD Spark subscription plummeting to just $79, this plugin deal is the best way to improve your mixes over the next 12 months
By Matt McCracken published
Think plugin subscriptions aren’t good value? I’ve done the maths and with this UAD Spark deal you’re getting a much bigger saving than you might think

$300 off the 4.5-star rated Strandberg Boden Essential feels like the guitar deal of the year - save big on the most forward-thinking guitar around
By Matt McCracken published
It's not for traditionalists, but this is an amazing deal on one of my most highly rated electric guitars

Gear4music Black Friday deals 2025: The Black Friday sale is live – and there are some great offers for musicians
By Daryl Robertson last updated
The Black Friday savings of 2025 have arrived at Gear4music. We've got all the latest info, recommendations and guidance

Neural DSP just sweetened the deal when you pick up a Nano Cortex for Black Friday - help yourself to a plugin of your choice free of charge
By Matt McCracken published
There aren't any Neural DSP savings yet, but you can bag software worth up to $149 with any Nano Cortex purchase

“If you already own an Apollo or Volt interface and want to upgrade your inputs, then the Volt 876 is a no-brainer”: Universal Audio Volt 876 review
By Matt McCracken published
UA's biggest Volt interface makes recording drums or full bands a breeze with some neat workflow-enhancing touches

Fender just launched its Black Friday sale and I can't believe the Player II Stratocaster is this cheap - save up to 30% off a range of Squier and Fender guitars
By Matt McCracken published
The Fender sale has some amazing deals on guitars - here's 7 of the best for you

I’ve seen a lot of Black Friday sales, but this one’s next level - Sweetwater just dropped thousands of discounts of up to 80% off guitars, drums, keys, and more
By Matt McCracken published
The Black Friday guitar deals start here with one of the biggest sales of the year over at Sweetwater

The early Black Friday guitar deals don't get much better than this sale at Thomann - save up to 69% on two top-rated guitars, a Warm Audio condenser mic, a Behringer synthesizer, and loads more
By Matt McCracken published
Thomann’s early sale features some of the biggest savings I’ve seen this year, including some of our most highly rated gear

Best cheap acoustic guitars: 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 Christmas gifts for music producers 2025: 9 affordable ideas they'll actually use
By Matt McCracken published
Struggling to decide what to buy the music producer in your life? Here's an in-depth guide to the best gift ideas for producers, written by producers

Waves just made the first move on Black Friday with 3 jaw-dropping offers - and one’s completely free
By Matt McCracken published
Grab yourself some monster discounts with these early Black Friday plugin deals over at Waves

Best PCs for music production 2025: Apple Macs and Windows machines for your home studio
By Matt McCracken last updated
Discover the power that a desktop PC or Mac can bring to your music-making, with my expert pick of the best desktops for music production

“For the majority of producers the iMac probably isn’t the right choice”: Apple iMac M4 review
By Matt McCracken published
An all-in-one desktop computer that's gorgeous, capable, and just a little conflicted

Best Christmas gifts for musicians 2025: 21 affordable festive present ideas for music-makers (which they'll genuinely love)
By Daryl Robertson last updated
Shopping for a drummer, guitarist, DJ, producer or content creator? Here’s some Christmas gift inspiration for the muso in your life - including last-minute ideas

Best budget laptops for music production 2025: Affordable laptops for making music
By Matt McCracken last updated
I'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

“Its (mostly) stellar build quality sets it apart from many guitars costing twice the price”: Jet JJ-300 P90 review
By Matt McCracken published
Jet Guitars' thoughtfully built offset leaves a lasting impression, but it's not without compromise

Best external hard drives for music production 2025: Back up your music and boost your computer's performance
By Chris Corfield last updated
Store recording sessions, video files, and sample libraries with our expert pick of the best external hard drives for Mac and PC

Buy one $49.99 IK Multimedia plugin and get a whopping 38 free with the best plugin deal of the year so far
By Matt McCracken published
Plus, the more musicians register, the more free plugins everyone gets with up to 50 free plugins available

What are the best online guitar lessons in 2026? I review guitar gear for a living and these are my favourite lessons platforms
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
My pick of the best online guitar courses will get your playing up to speed from the comfort of your own home, whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player

With some astonishing discounts of up to $3,500 off, the Sweetwater Recording Sale is the place to pick up studio gear for less this Prime Day
By Matt McCracken published
If you want pro-grade recording gear for Prime Day, then this sale at Sweetwater is where it’s at

"The Ridge does something different, which makes it genuinely worthy of praise": Kernom Ridge Overdrive review
By Matt McCracken published
A pedal that gives you all your favourite drives in one box, and then some

With plugins starting from just $24 the Universal Audio Rocktober deal is the best place to power up your productions ahead of Prime Day
By Matt McCracken published
Get ahead of the Prime Day music deals with this awesome sale over at Universal Audio
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.

