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Music
17
items My favorite gear and plug-ins for recording, mixing, and mastering music!
Sections
2
Analog
Digital
Analog
If I could only own one compressor, this would be it, and I say that as someone who owns a Tube-Tech CL-1B. I use the Distressor primarily on rap and singing vocals. It’s incredibly versatile and consistently adds warmth and thickness without killing...
Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Compressor/Limiter
I love this preamp for vocals. It works equally well for rap and singing. It’s a Neve 1073–style design, and unless you’re ready to spend $3,000+ on a “better” option that isn’t necessarily better, this gets you where you need to be. A smart, budget-...
Heritage Audio HA73EQ ELITE Microphone Preamp & EQ
This is another excellent vocal preamp with a Neve 1073–style foundation, but a cleaner, more modern character. Some of my rap and singing clients actually prefer it over a traditional 1073. At this price point, it’s very hard to beat.
Great River ME-1NV Desktop Microphone Preamp
This is one of the best vocal compressors money can buy. Pick a major artist, and there’s a good chance this compressor is part of their vocal chain. I use it on both singing and rap vocals. If it’s outside your budget, the Distressor is an excellent...
Tube-Tech CL 1B Tube Optical Compressor
I use the SSL THE BUS+ Compressor for mastering, and it does exactly what I need it to do. It’s been used on countless hit records for a reason and remains a true classic. Transparent, punchy, and dependable when it matters most.
Solid State Logic Bus+ 2-channel Bus Compressor
This is my main vocal microphone. I also own a Neumann U87 Ai, but I prefer the Pearlman TM-1, even at roughly half the price. It’s a U47-style design with a thick, warm, full, and detailed sound that flatters vocals immediately. A serious microphone...
Pearlman TM-1 Tube Condenser Microphone with German Tube
I love this Switchcraft Studio patch bay. It’s extremely well built with solid, reliable connections. Perfect for integrating analog gear properly. Cheap patch bays will degrade your signal—so don’t settle. If you’re already investing in analog equip...
Switchcraft Studio Patch 6425 64-point TT - DB25 Patchbay
If you’re looking for an 1176-style compressor, the WA76 is the one I recommend. I’ve already recommended a solid 1176 plugin (Softube FET Compressor Mk II), but if you want to go analog, this is the smart buy. It’s a budget-friendly option, and I do...
Warm Audio WA76-D Discrete FET Compressor/Limiter
The Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball is essential for post-production work. Audio and video editors rely heavily on precise knob and slider adjustments, and a trackball makes that control faster and far more accurate. If you’re still using a regu...
Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball
The Pete's Place BAC-500 is a relatively less-known compressor that is absolutely amazing. Don't let it's low price fool you, it definitely has a heavy and high quality sound. It has a thick and darker color that sounds incredible on vocals. Many thi...
Pete's Place BAC-500 Series FET Compressor
Digital
Cytomic The Glue is a software emulation of the SSL Bus Compressor, and for a plugin, it sounds excellent. It delivers the glue and control you expect at a fraction of the cost of the analog unit. If you’re looking for a solid plugin compressor for m...
The Glue
The Empirical Labs Arousor is an excellent compressor plugin and extremely versatile. It’s modeled after the Distressor, and as someone who owns both the plugin and the hardware, they’re similar, but not the same. Arousor offers more control and flex...
Empirical Labs Arousor Rev 3.0 Plug-in
The Softube FET Compressor Mk II is an 1176-style plugin, and I’ll be blunt: I prefer it to the hardware. I used to own an actual 1176 and sold it because this plugin simply worked better for me. Fast, musical, and an essential in my workflow.
Softube FET Compressor Mk II
FabFilter Pro-L 2 is my go-to limiter for mastering. The different modes (especially Transparent, Punchy, Modern, and Dynamic) make it incredibly flexible. I often use multiple limiters to share the workload, each in a different mode. Clean, controll...
FabFilter Pro-L 2 Brickwall Limiter Plug-in
Oeksound soothe2 is a lifesaver for dealing with harshness and unwanted artifacts in recordings or samples. It has a unique way of smoothing problem frequencies without dulling the sound. Any time something feels harsh in a mix or master, this is one...
Oeksound soothe2 Dynamic Resonance Suppressor Plug-in
Soundtoys EchoBoy is my go-to delay plugin. The variety of delay styles makes it incredibly flexible, and the ability to shape the groove and feel lets the delay lock into the rhythm of the track without sounding too clinical. It simply sounds great....
Soundtoys EchoBoy Analog Echo Plug-in
Audio Ease Speakerphone 3 is my go-to plugin for telephone, megaphone, and distortion effects. The emulations sound convincingly real, not gimmicky. Any time I want to add character or a standout effect—especially on vocals, this is the plugin I reac...
Audio Ease Speakerphone 3 Speaker Sound Design Plug-in