Real gear.Clear answers.
Reviews and buying guides for guitars, keyboards, synths, recording gear and live sound. Who each piece suits, what the specs mean in practice, and the best price to pay.
Find gear for how you play
Pick your instrument or setup, then compare by budget, size and the sound you are after.
Spec sheets, decoded
How to choose an audio interface: number of inputs, preamps, phantom power, instrument inputs, sample rate, latency, monitoring and connections.
How to choose a first DJ controller: two vs four channels, jog wheels, pads, software, standalone vs laptop controllers and the connections you need.
How dynamic and condenser microphones differ, which suits vocals, podcasts, guitar amps and drums, and why your room matters as much as the mic.
- 04
Electronic Drum Kit Buying Guide: Mesh Pads, Modules and Noise
Drums
- 05
Guitar String Gauges Explained: 9s vs 10s vs 11s and More
Strings
- 06
How Many Keys Do You Need? 25, 49, 61 or 88 Keys Explained
Keys explained
- 07
How to Choose a Guitar Amp: Tube, Solid State and Modeling
Amps
- 08
How to Choose Your First Electric Guitar: A Beginner's Guide
First instrument
- 09
How to Set Up a Home Recording Studio: The Essential Gear
Home studio
Music Gear questions, answered
Do I need an audio interface to record?
To record microphones or instruments with good quality, yes. An interface converts analog signals into digital audio, powers condenser microphones and lets you monitor with low delay. USB microphones are an alternative for simple voice recording.
Read: Audio Interface Buying Guide →Do I need a laptop to DJ?
Most controllers need a laptop running DJ software. Standalone controllers have a built-in screen and can play music from USB drives or streaming services without a laptop.
Read: DJ Controller Buying Guide for Beginners →Is a condenser or dynamic mic better for vocals?
In a quiet, treated room, a condenser captures more detail. In an untreated or noisy room, a dynamic mic often sounds better because it picks up less of the room.
Read: Dynamic vs Condenser Microphones →Are electronic drums quiet?
The sound comes through headphones, so they are much quieter than acoustic drums, but not silent. Hitting pads and especially the kick pedal makes thumping that carries through floors. Mesh heads and a riser or isolation platform help.
Read: Electronic Drum Kit Buying Guide →What gauge strings should a beginner use?
Lighter gauges are easier on the fingers: 9s or 10s on electric, and custom light (11s) or light (12s) on acoustic.
Read: Guitar String Gauges Explained →Can I learn piano on 61 keys?
You can start, but you'll soon run out of range for two-handed classical and many pop pieces, and unweighted keys won't build the finger strength a real piano needs. If piano is the goal, 88 weighted keys is worth it.
Read: How Many Keys Do You Need? 25, 49, 61 or 88 Keys Explained →Straight talk about gear
We explain which specs change your sound or workflow and which are marketing, using the manufacturer's own documentation.
Each review says who the gear suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to know before you buy. No filler, no hedging.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product changes.
The music gear index
- 01Guitars & bassElectric and acoustic guitars, basses, amps and pedals.3 pages
- 02Keys & synthsDigital pianos, keyboards, synthesizers and MIDI controllers.2 pages
- 03Studio & recordingAudio interfaces, microphones, studio monitors and headphones.4 pages
- 04Drums & DJElectronic drum kits, pads, DJ controllers and live sound.2 pages