Latest articles by Chris Corfield
Best synthesizers 2025: Top analogue, digital, mono and polysynths
From mini monosynths, through to mighty polyphonic workstations, our experts have hand-picked hardware synth recommendations for every budget
Best cheap MIDI keyboards 2025: Inexpensive MIDI controllers starting at just £39/$49
Start making music for less with our selection of affordable MIDI keyboards from Arturia, Akai, Nektar, Novation, and more
Best budget USB microphones 2025: Get creative and sound better for less
Our expert pick of the top cheap USB mics for streaming, podcasting, recording, gaming, work calls, and more
Best external hard drives for music production 2025: Back up your music and boost your computer's performance
Store recording sessions, video files, and sample libraries with our expert pick of the best external hard drives for Mac and PC
Best studio desks 2025: budget-spanning options for organising your recording studio space
Streamline your production setup and bring order to your creative space with one of the best desks for music production
Best DJ headphones 2025: Booth-ready choices from budget to pro-level
Our expert pick of reliable headphones to suit any type of DJ, including options from Sennheiser, Technics and Pioneer
Best acoustic guitar for beginners 2025: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
Start playing today with beginner acoustics from Taylor, Fender, Epiphone, Martin and more – hand-picked by experts
Best MIDI keyboards 2025: Mac, PC and iOS keyboards for players, composers and producers
Our expert guide to the best MIDI keyboards of all sizes and budgets to integrate with your home studio
Best PCs for music production 2025: Apple Macs and Windows machines for your home studio
Discover the power that a desktop PC or Mac can bring to your music-making, with our expert pick of the best desktops for music production
Best vocal mics 2025: Our top vocal microphones for stage and studio
Add some sheen to your vocals with the best dynamic and condenser mics from Shure, AKG, Rode, Aston, Telefunken, Neumann, and more
Best reverb pedals 2025: Our pick of reverb effects for your pedalboard
From subtle to extreme, these are our reverb top picks right now
“As production becomes more cloud-oriented, many are questioning whether desktop DAWs are beginning to show their limitations”: How online DAWs are ushering in a new era for music making
Can browser-based digital audio workstations match up to traditional offline DAWs? We take a look
Best earplugs for musicians 2025: hearing protection for the practice room to your next gig
Our rundown of the very best earplugs for concerts, band practice, and more to give your ears the protection they deserve
Best in-ear monitors 2025: IEMs for stage and studio
Our expert guide to the best in-ear monitors for practice, performance and production, no matter your budget
Best condenser mics 2025: my expert picks for home recording
Capture every nuance of a vocal and high-fidelity detail of an instrument with condenser microphones from Rode, Neumann, Audio-Technica, Aston, AKG and more
“A fantastic blend of features, portability, and audio quality that will serve many users well in crafting great-sounding mixes”: Soundcraft Notepad-12FX review
Compact, powerful, and versatile - but is the Soundcraft Notepad-12FX the best option for small studios?
Best budget in-ear monitors 2025: Our pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
Our recommended budget in-ear monitors for practice and performance – options starting from $99/£75
Dell Black Friday deals 2024: The Dell Black Friday sale is still live
Black Friday may be over but you still grab some great deals on a Dell machine
Waves just dropped its best value software offer yet for Black Friday - get 3 plugins for $49.99 and save hundreds
Save cash and boost your plugin arsenal with these top-tier tools, effects and bundles
Best studio monitors 2025: Studio speakers for musicians and producers on any budget
A comprehensive guide to the best studio monitor speakers for home studio recording, whether you’re a beginner or pro producer – including Yamaha, IK Multimedia, Focal and more
Sweetwater's mega Shure microphone sale includes big savings on a legendary mic used by the Chili Peppers, Michael Jackson, Metallica, Green Day and more
Upgrade your audio game with Sweetwater’s unbeatable Black Friday discounts on legendary Shure microphones
Best home studio mixers 2025: Analogue and digital mixing desks for all budgets
Our expert pick of compact consoles for home recording, production, podcasting and more
Best podcasting microphones 2025: our expert picks for every budget and level, with audio demos
Record your next podcast or stream your heart out with the very best podcast mics, including our recommendations under $100/£100 – plus expert buying advice
