SAMPLED#studio gear
7 stories
Stories tagged #studio gear on Sampled — sound, style, and scenes, all in one place.
What Headphones Do Studio Engineers Use? Why It Is Still the Sony MDR-7506
Born from the 1985 MDR-V6 and sold through Sony's pro division since 1991, the MDR-7506 is in more studios, news trucks, and film sets than any other headphone. Here is why it stuck.
Which Sampler Should You Buy in 2026?
Three hardware samplers built for making beats away from a computer: the SP-404MKII effects box, the battery-powered Akai MPC Sample, and the EP-133 K.O. II with 128 MB and 999 sample slots.
What Is the Best Condenser Mic for Vocals? AT2020 vs NT1 5th Gen vs LCT 240 Pro
Three condenser mic bundles for three budgets: the AT2020 starter kit with boom arm and pop filter, the dual-output RODE NT1 5th Gen, and the Lewitt LCT 240 Pro vocal pack.
Which Nektar MIDI Keyboard Is Right for You? SE61 vs Impact LX Mini vs GXP61
Three Nektar controllers for three different desks: the plug-and-play SE61, the travel-sized Impact LX Mini and the semi-weighted, aftertouch-equipped Impact GXP61.
What Are the Best Studio Monitors to Buy in 2026?
Four nearfields cover almost every real-world room and budget: the KRK ROKIT 5 G5, Yamaha HS5, JBL 305P MkII and PreSonus Eris 3.5. Here is how they differ and which one fits which desk.
What Are the Best Studio Headphones? ATH-M50x vs MDR-7506 vs DT 770 Pro
Three closed-back monitors have survived every trend in studio gear. Here is how the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, Sony MDR-7506 and Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro actually differ, and which one belongs on which job.
Why Does Every Studio Still Keep Sony MDR-7506 on the Mic Stand?
Introduced in 1991 and still on every tracking-room mic stand, the MDR-7506 is the closed-back monitor that outlived three decades of wireless flagships. From the records Andrew Scheps mixed for Adele and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to the film sets that made it a location-sound standard, here is the history, the specs and why engineers never replace it.