A practical guide to the best microphones for live drums — nine picks across kick, snare, toms, and overheads from budget bundles to professional workhorses, with honest guidance on what each position actually needs.
A practical guide to running a soundcheck as a self-producing band — the right order, what to check on every channel, and the habits that separate a confident soundcheck from a chaotic one.
The complete guide to wireless antenna distribution for live sound — why antenna farms cause dropouts, how receive and transmit sides work differently, and the exact gear to fix it at every budget.
A practical guide to the best PA systems for bands — five complete speaker and subwoofer setups across budget to professional tiers, with honest guidance on what each delivers in real venues.
A practical guide to the best PA subwoofers for live sound — five picks across budget to professional tiers, with honest guidance on when you need one and how to set it up correctly.
The Sennheiser e935 vs SM58 comparison answers the most common vocal mic upgrade question — what exactly do you get for the extra $90, and is it worth it for your specific stage situation?
A practical guide to the best PA speakers for small venues — six picks across budget to professional tiers, with honest guidance on what actually matters for self-producing bands.
An honest comparison of the Sennheiser e935 vs Shure Beta 58A — two dynamic vocal mics at a similar price point with very different approaches to live performance.
A practical Sennheiser e935 review — what makes it a genuine step up from the SM58, who it’s best for, and the one honest limitation most reviews gloss over.
A firsthand guide to mic’ing a bass amp live — covering five microphone options from the SM57 to the MD 421-II, placement technique, EQ, and how bass amp mic’ing differs from guitar.
A step-by-step guide to building a monitor mix on the Behringer XR18 — covering aux send routing, per-member mix setup, IEM integration, and the practical workflow I use with my own band every show.
A practical guide to mic’ing vocals live — covering mic selection, placement, technique, EQ, feedback control, and the differences between dynamic and condenser options for real stages.
A firsthand Shure PSM300 review from a gigging musician who runs one every show — covering sound quality, RF performance, setup, MixMode, battery options, and who should actually buy it.
A practical guide to the best wireless IEM systems for bands — covering four systems from budget to professional, plus a thorough breakdown of UHF frequency bands so you can choose the right one for your market.
A firsthand review of the Bose S1 Pro+ — the all-in-one portable PA that solo performers, acoustic duos, and buskers reach for when they need professional sound without a full rig.