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 Music Sync Submission Websites for Independent Artists
A real breakdown of where to actually pitch your music for film, TV, ads, games, and creator projects — and why most artists are using the wrong door.
Best Websites to Sell Beats Online for Producers
BeatStars, Airbit, Soundee, Traktrain — which platform actually fits how you sell, and what to stop pretending about the beat game.
Best Free DAWs for Beginners
GarageBand, Pro Tools Intro, Waveform Free, Cakewalk Next — the real question isn't which DAW is best, it's which one will actually make you finish a song.
What Is the Best Music Distribution Service for Independent Artists in 2026?
How the major distributors price their plans now, who takes a cut of what, and the catalog terms that decide whether your music stays online.
ASCAP vs BMI vs SESAC: Which PRO Should a Songwriter Actually Join in 2026
A no-spin breakdown of America's three performing rights organizations — what they cost, who they pay best, and the one question that decides it for most writers.
This Week in Music: Catalog Control, New Eras, and the Artists Rebuilding the Room
Phoebe Bridgers frames a return, Charli xcx turns pop into a full creative system, Daisy Chain Fields treats the festival as social infrastructure, and yasiin bey reopens a complicated catalog. The week's real story was access — who gets to control the doorway.
Analog synth myths that will not die
Blind-test reality checks on warmth, presets, and the idea that a filter can fix a bad idea.
Small studio signal flow for a hardware synth rig
Mixers, interfaces, and monitoring choices that scale from one synth to six.
Favorite Daughter Steps Into Footwear With Caleres
Sara and Erin Foster's contemporary label is extending its clean, modern aesthetic into a first women's shoe collection under a new licensing partnership with Caleres.