The February 2023 Issue Of RECORDING: Monitors and Monitoring

[Paul Vnuk Jr.]

What is the single most crucial piece of gear in any studio? While this question could quickly spark much debate, monitors are certainly at the top. This, of course, is this month's topic––speakers, headphones, IEMs, monitoring software, room treatments and more; it's all here in the February issue of RECORDING Magazine.

 

Reviews

 

We are jam-packed this month with fifteen product reviews.

 

We have eight monitors on deck this month in all shapes, sizes, styles and price points. From Focal, we have the latest generation Solo 6 ST6. From Meyer Sound, we listen to the Amie. We have the new A7V from Adam, the Image 2 from Fluid Audio, and 5C Active Super Sound Cube from Auratone. On the portable front, we pack up and go with the KRK GoAux4 and the Epic 4 from ReProducer Audio Labs. Finally, we head to Atlanta for a tour and to get acquainted with the latest studio monitors from Danley Sound Labs.

 

In the headphone department, we get our "ears on" the Audeze MM-500 (otherwise known as Manny's headphones) and the eXtra 10 from ESI, which ship with the Realphones software from dSONIQ. We also check out the SuperMoon IEMs from Campfire Audio, and since headphones love a good headphone amp, we bring you Purity from DACS.

 

To help control your low-end, we test out the Turbo Trap from GIK Acoustics. We round out our reviews with the just-released Sonible Metering Bundle and the Toolbox Listen Hub from Sonnox.

 

Interview

 

Named for a classic guitar amplifier, GA-20 is a Boston-born trio steeped in the sounds of vintage Chicago blues, 60s R&B, and gritty classic rock. Uniquely the band feature twin guitars, vocals, drums, and no bass. Editor Paul Vnuk Jr. sits down with guitarist and producer Matthew Stubbs and engineers Matthew Beaudin and Pat DiCenso to find out how they created their latest release, Crackdown.

 

Features

 

Like last month, our second interview comes from Mark Hornsny's Inside The Studio column as Mark goes into the studio and the stage to explore the sounds of Shinedown. Join us as Mark talks with FOH engineer Andy Meyer and the band's bassist Eric Bass who mixed and produced the band's latest album, Planet Zero.

 

 Joe Albano is back with the new Studio 101. Class is in session on monitors and monitoring. Learn about monitor selection, placement, speaker size, "best practices," and more.

 

 In Session Log, producer Marc Urselli continues his look at the Trasfrontera sessions. This time Marc travels to Mexico, bringing us some unique South American instruments and more.

Finally, Aaron Trumm asks us to consider why monitoring matters.

 

That's a lot to monitor. Check out the February issue of RECORDING Magazine.

[bill5]

pffft. Give me some JBL 305s and be done with it.