A Coheed and Cambria tour is something you must experience live at least once. Few other shows compare. With Foxing’s earnest opening, Taking Back Sunday’s nostalgic set filled with Fred-era songs, and Coheed’s dazzling biker-skeleton spectacle, this Skyline Stage stop at The Mann landed like a blockbuster show with the intimacy of a hometown gig. … Read more
Unison Audio’s plugins spark spirited debate in all corners of the music world. I tested four of them: MIDI Wizard 2, Drum Monkey, Bass Dragon, and Chord Genie. First, A Note on the Aforementioned “Noise” Unison Audio has its share of critics, with concerns ranging from pricing and aggressive marketing to a reputation that often … Read more
A €59/approx $70 USD (Altwire’s own conversion as of 09/05/25) two-octave BLE MIDI controller, powered by a coin cell, featuring 6 MIDI effects and a 16-beat looper that layers up to 10 instruments. Quick Take The MONKEY is a Bluetooth-only MIDI controller designed for maximum portability. Powered by a single CR2032 coin cell, it operates … Read more
Portable DX color, real sequencing, and hands-on control in a compact 37-key board. Quick Take For those looking to replicate classic DX-7 sounds on hardware, but without the complexity of an original DX-7 (or its price), the M-VAVE SMK-37 Pro is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to achieve this. It combines a … Read more
Two lossless approaches to hi-fi hearing protection: adjustable precision or set-and-forget clarity. USE CODE “ALTWIRE” FOR 15% OFF. Quick Take Minuendo’s hi-fi lossless earplugs come in two flavors. Their Adjustable model offers a stepless range from −7 to −25 dB, providing musicians and engineers with precise control at a lower cost and reduced setup time. … Read more
A hybrid instrument that works well for practice and casual jams, but reliance on app control and the absence of MIDI output hold it back from professional use. Quick Take The Enya Cyber-G is a beginner-friendly, app-driven smart guitar that blends playfulness with practicality. Its built-in speaker carries enough volume for casual sessions, and the … Read more
Introduction Lunacy Audio’s CUBE takes a bold approach to sample-based synthesis. Instead of offering a traditional library of presets or another analog-style synthesizer, it introduces a 3D interface with eight parallel samplers that can be blended using motion paths called Orbits. This design allows sounds to transform continuously in ways that feel musical and dynamic. … Read more
TL;DR – Infinite Collection Infinite Collection is a free library for Kontakt Player and an entry point into the company’s Infinite Motion Series. It combines ten instruments with the company’s proprietary Non-Static Sampling and the streamlined Infinite Motion Engine Lite, providing cinematic textures and sound design tools completely free of cost. Unlike many free Kontakt downloads, … Read more
Few bands in modern rock have built a world as distinct and devoted as Coheed and Cambria. At the heart of it is drummer Josh Eppard, whose playing has driven the band’s sound for more than two decades. In a recent conversation with Derek Oswald, Josh spoke candidly about life on tour, the band’s evolution, … Read more
Introduction: What is the Sonicware Smpltrek? When Sonicware first launched the SmplTrek, it was pitched as a handheld sampler and groovebox that could take you from idea to finished track without touching a computer. Yet, in the early days of the device, some small flaws held the machine back from true greatness. These were mainly … Read more
Under the shimmering stage lights at Austin’s ACL Live at The Moody Theater, the intimate 2,750‑seat venue beloved by locals and touring acts alike, The Fray delivered a heartfelt, nostalgic journey through two decades of their music, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of How to Save a Life. The night began with a stunning … Read more
Get 10% off with the Decksaver discount code ALTWIRE by going here. “****, I Broke Something On My Synth, Now What?” …words you hope you never have to say! For any person who has ever lost a knob because of being a klutz, watched a synth gather dust between sessions, or wiped off cat hair … Read more
Goo Goo Dolls have announced Summer Anthem, a seven-track EP set for release August 22 via Warner Records. The launch aligns with the band’s sold-out Summer Anthem Tour.
Introduction I don’t say this a lot about synthesizers I review, but with Plinky, it truly was love at first sight. There’s something so different about this device that once you’re lucky enough to get your hands on it, it’s difficult to put it down. Plinky departs from conventional hardware design in both form and … Read more
Metalocalypse creator and Dethlok guitarist Brendon Small is launching an official Reverb shop featuring stage-used guitars, rare prototypes, and instruments tied to the show’s development.
Ozzy Osbourne, known globally as the “Prince of Darkness” and founding vocalist of Black Sabbath died July 22 at the age of 76.
Reviewing VSTs and libraries have left our laptop’s internal hard drive crying for mercy. Can the OWC Envoy Pro Elektron 4TB SSD solve our woes?
The Shure SM7B still sets the pro standard, yet many creators now want a mic that’s simpler, cheaper, and just as solid on sound. Enter the MV7+.
What was expected to be a six-month detour became a thirty-year run on stages worldwide. Throughout it all, Alan Robert never set down his pencil.
Renowned bassist Juan Alderete is preparing to opening his personal gear archive to the public. More than 700 items will be available through the Official Juan Alderete Reverb Shop.