SAMPLED▌ FRONT AND CENTER
Is LUNA Really Free? The Free DAWs Worth Downloading on Mac, Windows and iPad
Universal Audio's LUNA now costs nothing on Mac and Windows. Here is what that gets you, plus the other free DAWs worth your time, including Sampledex on iPad, Mac and Windows.
// also right now
GearWhat Equipment Do You Need to Start a Video Podcast at Home?
A home podcast studio built from gear I actually use: a 4K webcam, a pair of tracking PTZ cameras and the headphones every broadcast booth already owns.
FeatureIs Sampledex for iPad a Real Free DAW, and What Can It Do?
Robert Clemons has brought Sampledex from the Mac to the iPad as a free download. Here is what it does, what it can't do, and who it's for.
// from the dispatch
Best Condenser Microphones for Home Recording
A practical guide to condenser microphones for vocals, acoustic guitars, podcasts, and home-studio sessions.
Best USB Microphones for Recording Vocals
A practical guide to USB microphones for artists, podcasters, streamers, and home-studio vocal recording.
Best Auto-Tune Plugins for Independent Artists
A practical guide to Auto-Tune and pitch-correction plugins for independent artists, vocalists, and producers.
Best Studio Headphones Under $150
A practical guide to affordable studio headphones for recording, mixing, podcasting, and home-studio monitoring.
CD Baby vs DistroKid: Which Distributor Should You Use?
A practical comparison of CD Baby and DistroKid for musicians deciding how to release singles and albums.
Best Budget MIDI Controllers for Producers
A practical guide to budget MIDI controllers for producers, beatmakers, and home-studio creators.
DistroKid vs TuneCore in 2026: Which Should You Actually Use?
Current plans, real costs, publishing admin, and the catalog terms nobody reads — a plain comparison of the two biggest self-serve distributors.
What Is the Best MIDI Keyboard for Beginners in 2026?
What a MIDI keyboard actually does, how many keys you need, and the controllers worth buying right now — from $50 to $150.
Best Audio Interfaces for Home Studios
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, Universal Audio Volt 2, Audient iD4, MOTU M2 — the front door of your studio, picked by how you actually record.