Stay informed with our articles & guides
Occasional articles from members of the Pro Audio team
Welcome to the Scan Pro Audio Press
Here at Scan Pro Audio we have an extraordinary mix of talented professionals from within the Pro Audio industry. Experts on everything from Music Production in the Studio, to Live sound engineers that take a 20k rig out every weekend, and every so often, they produce an article or a post that may be of interest to others in our community.
Here’s where you’ll find them…
Latest Article
Radar Recap
Finding a niche in a saturated market is the golden ticket for most companies but finding a niche and having name familiarity out of the box is even better...
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Faith Guitars
Born from a passion for well crafted, ethically sourced guitars, faith sprung to life in 2002. A team of highly experienced luthiers led by legendary guitar...
READ MORERadar Recap
This year’s Radar festival was Scans most successful yet and proved yet again what a fantastic partnership it has been working with the Radar team...
READ MOREShure SM4
Shure’s most recent addition to their already historic line-up of microphones looks to make recording vocals and instruments at home even easier...
READ MORERODE Phone Cage
Finding the perfect run and gun workflow is a tricky business, if you are self-employed, gathering the gear can be troublesome, expensive and reviews on gear can be somewhat misleading...
READ MORELewitt RAY
With a history of inventions, Vienna has been the birthplace of many of mankind’s giant leaps forward. From the eight-octave grand piano, psychotherapy and even the world’s first electric car, inventors have long been drawn to the creative allure of the Austrian capital...
READ MOREAdam Audio T series
Finding highly functional, incredible looking and superb quality speakers/monitors for small working studios, professional video production or high-end home studios can be akin to searching the desert for an oasis.
READ MOREThreadripper 7000 Series – Tested for the studio
Following on from Intel's return to the HEDT enthusiast and workstation segment with their recent Xeon releases, AMD brings back its own high-end offering in the guise of the Threadripper range.
READ MOREA guide to beginner MIDI Controller Keyboards
As much as the qwerty keyboard has given us incredible access and control over the plethora of programmes that populate your PC or Mac, it can never be considered a musical instrument.
READ MOREBass String Buyers Guide
Lets delve into the complexities and armed with the right information help you make the best string choice.
READ MOREBeginner Electric Guitar
Make life easier with this handy guide to buying your first acoustic guitar.
READ MOREBeginner Acoustic Guitar
Make life easier with this handy guide to buying your first acoustic guitar.
READ MOREPracticing Guitar as an Adult
With the cost of living crisis cutting budgets and forcing people to spend more time chasing economically sensible pastimes, playing guitar is a pretty worthwhile hobby to either take up or rekindle.
READ MOREControl yourself and FL Studio with Novation FL Keys
Navigating your way around a digital audio workstation can be tricky, even if you get used to hot-keying your most used combination of controls or plugins, it never quite feels like a proper instrument.
READ MOREIntel 14th Gen – Tested for the studio
Now that 2023 has come to a close, we return for a look over the new CPU offerings 2023 had to offer.
READ MORESequential – Prophet-5
The Prophet-5 aired for the first time at the 1978 NAMM show and was an instant hit, with some of the world’s leading musicians clamouring to own one.
READ MORESequential – A legacy in Synthesizers
Sequential started life in 1974 as Sequential Circuits, a San Francisco Bay Area garage start up founded by the now legendary Dave Smith.
READ MOREThe new Focusrite 4th Gen Scarlett
After the 2011 launch of their now seminal Scarlett line of interfaces, Focusrite, not content with having one of their instantly recognisable crimson interfaces in the home of every hobbyist producer.
READ MOREWhy your Guitar doesn’t like the weather
Ever noticed how the weather can mess with your guitar? Whether you're jamming in a humid tropical paradise or strumming away in a dry desert, the elements can mess with your guitar's vibe, sound, and overall health.
READ MOREHow did drums become so popular?
Drums have been around for centuries, but they didn't become popular in Western music until the early 20th century.
READ MOREThe Benefits of Learning Piano for Guitar Players
When it comes to musical instruments, the piano and the guitar stand out as two of the most popular choices.
READ MORESo what makes the Strat such an iconic instrument?
The Stratocaster is one of the most iconic guitar shapes in the history of music. First introduced by Fender in 1954.
READ MOREMusic and the Brain
Most Parents have only one real wish for their children, and that is that they grow up to be the best they can be and live a happy life.
READ MOREWhy should I change the Drum Heads on my Kit?
Drum heads are an essential part of any drum set. They affect the sound, feel, and response of the drums, so it's important to change them regularly.
READ MOREThe best acoustic guitar for a beginner
Choosing your first acoustic guitar can certainly seem like a daunting task. Amongst the seemingly endless choice of brands, models, and styles, it's only normal to feel a sense of uncertainty.
READ MOREBenefits of changing strings on a guitar
As a guitar player, you know that changing your guitar strings is an important part of maintaining your instrument. However, it can be easy to put it off and let your strings go for longer than they should.
READ MOREIs Social Media important to a Musician?
Social media has become an essential part of the modern music industry. As a musician, social media provides you with a platform to connect with your fans, promote your music, and grow your fanbase.
READ MOREThe dark art of drum tuning
Drum tuning is a complex and often misunderstood skill. It is often said that drum tuning is a "dark art" because it can be difficult to get right, and there is no one right way to do it. However, with a little practice and patience, anyone can learn to tune their drums like a pro.
READ MORESo you wanna teach music on YouTube?
Starting a guitar tuition channel on YouTube can be a great way to share your passion for music and help others learn to play the guitar. However, it can be intimidating to know where to start when it comes to recording and producing your videos. In this blog, we will explore the equipment needed to start recording a guitar tuition channel on YouTube.
READ MOREWhich Guitar Strap is right for me?
As a guitar player, having a decent guitar strap is a crucial part of playing live or stood up. A strap doesn’t just keep the guitar in position, but it also helps distribute the weight of the guitar evenly, reducing strain on the neck, shoulders, and back. In this blog, we'll take a closer look at the benefits of a good guitar strap.
READ MOREThe Rise of Electronic Drums and Hybrid Drumming
The world of drumming has changed a lot in recent years. Gone are the days when drummers were limited to acoustic drums. Now, there are a wide variety of electronic drums and hybrid kits on the market, offering drummers a whole new world of possibilities.
READ MOREGaming and Metal Music blog
As a gamer and a metalhead, I have always been fascinated by the strong relationship between these two seemingly unrelated mediums. Despite their different origins and aesthetics, gamers and heavy metal fans share a deep love for intense, immersive experiences and a passion for pushing boundaries.
READ MOREDavid Bennett: My Custom 3XS Audio Workstation
David Bennet is at the forefront of today's YouTube creators. He’s a wonderful musician with Piano as his main instrument. Why did Dave choose 3XS systems to power his output.
READ MOREDAWBENCH CPU perfmance results
Welcome to our final round up on Windows 10, where we're taking a look at CPU performance using the newly refreshed and relaunched DAWBench testing suite.
READ MORE3XS powers NOISIA to for future challenges.
Scan and 3XS are proud to be powering electronic music trio NOISIA with AMD Ryzen based audio workstations.
READ MOREHow to keep the sound tech happy
For many live bands the Sound tech is the most important person in the venue, so how do you keep them happy?
READ MOREDESERT ISLAND STUDIO
Last week during a conversation about social media, somebody ask the question what five pieces of gear that are in your studio right now, would you have to take with you to the well-known “Desert Island studio” i.e. which five pieces of kit could you not do without.
READ MORETHE WAMPLER ‘ETHEREAL’ AND OTHER CATHEDRALS
Every so often, an idea comes by, which makes you question why someone hasn’t done it before, or at the very least , done it well.
READ MORETHE DARK ART OF PEDAL CHAINING:
So, you’ve accumulated a bunch of pedals and now’s the time to set them all up and unleash Sonic mayhem… but in what order do they go?
READ MORERECORDING VOCALS: ADD ONS
The main reason for having a vocal filter, is to try and record a ‘dry’ signal. If your studio doesn’t have the best acoustic treatments it could have, you may find one of these filters invaluable.
READ MOREA QUICK GUIDE TO RECORDING VOCALS IN THE HOME STUDIO
The problem of recording Vocals for the smaller studio has been a constant source of difficulty over the years.
READ MOREMIKING UP A DRUM KIT IN THE STUDIO:
From regular samples and loops, through dedicated sample construction kits, not to mention the various incredible software packages that allow the manipulation of MIDI or REX based loops, you’d be forgiven for thinking that no-one really needs drummers anymore....
READ MOREIN PRAISE OF TUNERS
I declare myself of a certain age, whereby I can remember the days, pre-internet, when gigs were plentiful, and rock music abounded from most hostelries on a Friday and Saturday night.
READ MOREGUITAR TUNING ISSUES AND THE PERFECT FIX
I think that guitar players and guitar techs would all agree that there is nothing more frustrating than a guitar that will not stay in tune.
READ MOREGUITAR PEDAL SIGNAL CHAIN BASICS
So you buy your first guitar and amp and start learning to play. I can almost guarantee that it will not be long before you start to become interested in buying some pedals to stick between your guitar and amp and start a lifelong stomp box obsession
READ MOREBOOST THAT MID LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
Guitar players as a rule have lots of friends, that’s a fact. It comes with playing the coolest instrument on the planet. Another fact is that we guitar players all have one friend in common……….MID.
READ MOREBEGINNERS GUIDE TO RECORDING ACOUSTIC GUITAR
One of the commonest instruments used in popular music, the Acoustic guitar can also be one of the most difficult to record for a home or budget studio. In this piece we look at some simple rules and concepts that should ensure you get the best recording possible.
READ MOREREVERB. (WHERE WILL IT ALL END?…)
Todays Digital domain allows musicians and producers a phenomenal selection of plug-ins and treatments. From physical modelling of original spring reverbs, through mathematical models of the Grand Canyon or Wembley stadium, there is a huge wealth of possibilities out there, and with those possibilities must come responsibility.
READ MOREFUZZY, OVERDRIVEN DISTORTION! THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS…….?
One of the really good bits about working here at Scan Towers, is the chance to test the cool new pedals that arrive here daily, but just the other day I found myself contemplating just what I was listening to and why… bear with me…
READ MOREA BAND MENTALITY (ARRANGING WITHIN THE BOX…..)
One of the great things about being a musician, is the chance to play with other musicians. It is indeed the life blood of many players, allowing them to learn and grow and develop their abilities alongside other people doing the same thing.
READ MORETHINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING A MICROPHONE:
A USB mic contains all the elements of a traditional microphone: capsule, diaphragm, etc. Where it differs from other microphones is its inclusion of two additional circuits: an onboard preamp and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter.
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