Music Matter Blog

Best FireWire Audio Interface 2012 Under £400 : In this article Music Matter run through some of the best FireWire Audio Interfaces to buy in 2012.

There are two formats – FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 – and adaptors are available that convert between them so they’re fairly interoperable. A FireWire audio interface has traditionally been the choice of the professional because it handles sustained high data transfer rates more reliably than USB. It’s also more expensive, but it does carry power and some FireWire audio devices can be daisy chained without the need for a hub.

Mackie Onyx Blackbird FireWire Audio Interface – £314.00

• 16 Input / 16 Output
• 8 Onyx Microphone Preamps
• 2 Super Channels with Inserts
• Phantom Power
• ADAT I/O
• Wordclock I/O
• 24-bit/96kHz
• Tracktion 3 Software
• Mac OS X
• Windows XP/Vista/7

The Mackie Onyx Blackbird is a 16 x 16 FireWire Audio Interface continue reading…

In this article Music Matter run through the best studio monitors under £200 to buy in 2012. To make this a fair contest we have only selected the monitors sold as pairs. Studio Monitors are designed to have the flattest, and truest frequency response possible, so if you’re monitoring on a budget we can highly recommend any of the following:-

Tascam VL-M3 (Pair) Active Studio Monitors – £69.00

• Compact and Lightweight
• 3″ Full-Range Speaker
• 24W Stereo Power Amplifier
• Bass-Reflex Cabinet
• RCA Inputs

The VL-M3 desktop stereo monitors from Tascam provide reference-quality audio at an affordable price. The small size makes the monitors ideal for home or mobile use. Each monitor has a 3″ full-range speaker to provide a wide frequency response, while the bass-reflex cabinet design helps to extend bass frequencies. An internal 24W stereo amplifier provides a strong signal with low distortion. Signal input is via stereo RCA inputs for wide compatibility. continue reading…

In this article Music Matter run through 5 of the Best Studio Microphones Under £200. You can achieve great recording results without spending more than £200 these days with prices on good quality studio mics always coming down. Manufacturers like Rode, SE Electronics & Audio Technica also throw is additional accessories such as shock mounts, pop shields & cables making these studio microphones excellent value for money.

Rode NT1a Vocal Recording Pack – Large Diaphragm Condenser Studio Microphone £149.00

• Cardioid Polar Pattern
• 1″ Large Diaphragm
• Transformerless Output Stage
• 48V Phantom Power
• Pop Shield & Shock mount Included
• XLR Cable & DVD Included

The Rode NT1-A Complete Vocal Recording Solution is an anniversary microphone package that includes a professional-quality NT1-A microphone and a number of useful recording accessories.

The NT1-A is a large-diaphragm side-address condenser microphone intended for general instrument and vocal recording. The mic features a 1″ diaphragm with a gold-plated membrane, which provides a wide frequency response and exceptional signal-to-noise ratio. The cardioid polar pattern provides excellent off-axis rejection, minimizing noise caused by room ambiance, instruments, monitors, headphones, etc. The balanced, transformerless output circuitry results in quiet, low-noise signal reproduction at high output levels. The NT1-A is powered via 48V phantom power and has a standard XLR connector. continue reading…

In this article Music Matter run through the best 49 Key MIDI Keyboard Controllers of 2012, under £300.00. With so many different parameters, functions & bundled software it can be difficult to make a decision. From Pro MIDI Keyboards designed to control any DAW software all the way down to cheap MIDI Keyboards starting at only £64.99, this article will point you in the right direction based on your budget.

AKAI MPK49 – 49 Key MIDI Keyboard Controller (£259.00)

• 49 Semi-weighted keys
• 12 MPC Drum Pads – 8 Faders – 8 Pads
• Pitch bend & Modulation
• USB Powered
• Ableton Live Lite AKAI Edition continue reading…

In this article Music Matter run through 5 of the Best USB Audio Interfaces for 2012 under £200. Given the amount of cheap USB Interfaces available on the market today, it can be difficult to compare the different amount of input / outputs, digital conversion & bundled software to make the most of your purchase.

Alesis IO4 USB Audio Interface (Currently £119.00)

• 4 Input / 4 Output (16-bit)
• 2 Input / 2 Output (24-bit)
• 4 Microphone Preamps
• Phantom Power
• Send-Return Inserts
• MIDI I/O
• Cubase LE Software
• Mac OS X
• Windows XP/Vista/7

continue reading…