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
“Equal to or even better than similarly priced offerings from bigger name brands“: Soloking MS-1 Custom review
By Matt McCracken published
Can this great-value guitar shine in an ultra-saturated marketplace? We get hands-on to find out
"A few small gripes aside, it’s the perfect first wireless system for players looking to take to the stage cable-free": the t.bone GigA Pro pedal set review
By Matt McCracken published
Cut the cord for less with an affordable, pro-level guitar wireless system from Thomann
Best gifts for guitar players 2024: Gift ideas for every type of guitarist
By Ed Mitchell last updated
Great gift ideas for guitar players everywhere - from electric guitar strings and capos to acoustic guitars and amps
"They may not have all the bells and whistles of the bigger brands, but they get the job done": the t.bone EP 4 in-ear monitors review
By Matt McCracken published
Thomann’s budget in-ear monitors offer excellent quality sound for much less than the bigger brands
Best budget studio headphones 2024: Top cheap headphones for every studio task
By Dave Clews last updated
Expert buying advice, plus our pick of budget studio headphones for music-makers from just $/£40
“Every bit as clear and crisp as a cable”: Positive Grid Spark Link review
By Matt McCracken published
Free yourself from the constraints of cables with this simple-to-use wireless guitar system from Positive Grid
Ditch your amp and save - Line 6 just slashed a colossal $200 off the price of Helix Floor and LT
By Matt McCracken published
Don't fret if you already bought one, many retailers are refunding the difference
Best Telecasters 2024: Fender Telecasters for every budget
By Ed Mitchell last updated
Our pick of the best Telecasters that prove Leo Fender’s first born is still the most versatile guitar design of all time
"If you want an amplifier that can play multiple roles, the Spark Live is a fantastic choice" – Positive Grid Spark Live review
By Matt McCracken published
We take a first look at the exciting new hybrid smart amp and PA system from Positive Grid
Best vocal mics 2024: Our top vocal microphones for stage and studio
By Chris Corfield last updated
Add some sheen to your vocals with the best dynamic and condenser mics from Shure, AKG, Rode, Aston, Telefunken, Neumann, and more
Best electric guitar strings 2024: Sets for all styles and budgets
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
These are the very best guitar strings from Ernie Ball, D’Addario, Elixir, Rotosound and more
What acoustic guitar string gauges should I use?
By Matt McCracken published
Our definitive guide to stringing your acoustic with the right gauge to suit your playing style
Best overdrive pedals 2024: Find new inspiration with the best drive pedals for guitar
By Chris Corfield last updated
Some of the best examples of a key component of any guitar player’s rig - the overdrive pedal
Best dynamic microphones: Top picks for recording instruments, vocals and podcasts in challenging conditions
By Simon Fellows last updated
Equally at home on the stage or in the studio, our pick of the best dynamic microphones deserve a place on any musician’s wishlist
Harley Benton JA-25TH Firemist review
By Matt McCracken published
A 25th-anniversary edition offset that looks to celebrate everything great about the value-centric Harley Benton brand
Quick! The Kemper Profiler Player is already discounted at Thomann
By Matt McCracken published
Despite just being released the latest amp modeller has already seen a tasty £50 discount - act fast before it goes back to full price
Best practice amps: the best amps for guitar practice
By Jonathan Horsley last updated
Onboard effects, digital modelling, valves? Here are the best practice amps for guitar, with options from Yamaha, Power Grid, Fender, Line 6 and more
Load up on must-have studio tools with all Waves plugins slashed to just $29.99 - plus buy two, get two free
By Matt McCracken published
Featuring essential compressors, EQs, channel strips, and creative plugins, it's the perfect chance to restock your studio
How to gift plugins to a musician this Christmas
By Matt McCracken published
Giving the gift of music software this Christmas is a breeze when you know how - here's everything you need to know
Plugin Boutique just obliterated the price of our favourite Universal Audio plugins - score up to 86% off
By Matt McCracken published
UAD’s best-selling plugins are now available at some incredibly low prices - no additional hardware required
Best fuzz pedals 2024: add some extra dirt to your guitar tone
By Michael Astley-Brown last updated
From Fuzz Faces to Big Muffs, here’s our pick of the best fuzzboxes out there
Cyber Monday Andertons deals 2023: Here are the deals that are still live
By Daryl Robertson last updated
Cyber Monday is over, but you can still bag some bargain gear at Andertons
Cyber Monday plugin deals 2023: Explore our pick of software deals that are still live
By Chris Barnes last updated
Cyber Monday is over, but you can still shop huge deals from Waves, IK Multimedia, Plugin Boutique and loads more
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