Sage Audio Articles

5 Great Ribbon Mics Pt. 1

Getting a killer mix and master starts with a great recording. Using the right mic plays a big role in getting that recording. Ribbon mics are great for their smooth tones and warm mid-range. Here are some top models worth investing in.

Getting Started With Ribbon Mics

Ribbon microphones are loved for their warm, natural mid-to-low range and clarity. If you aren't familiar with ribbons here's an overview of how they work and when you should use them.

4 Tips for Releasing Your Album

Album sales have been declining steadily for the past decade, but that doesn't mean you can't sell your new album. The key to a successful album release today is to offer to your fans what the streaming experience cannot. Here are four tips for doing just that.

Top Artists Experiment With Album Release

Two of the biggest acts in music this month have decided to release their albums in very different ways. U2's "Songs of Innocence" broke the record for largest album release ever by being offered free on iTunes. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift is banking the promotion of her new album "1989" on viral social media campaigns by throwing small house parties for her fans. Here's what these two extremes means for album sales.

The Top 3 Portable Recorders

If you want to be able to create high-quality recordings without lugging around your laptop, interface, hard drive, and mics, prepare to be amazed at what any of these three portable digital recorders can do. For $200 or less, you can create studio-quality recordings with a device that pits in your pocket. Here are the top three digital recorders worth investing in.

Album Sales Hit Record Low

Last week was historically bad for the music industry. Weekly album sales figures dropped to their lowest point since Nielsen Soundscan began been keeping record in 1991. It was also the first week on record that sales of albums dropped below 4 million units. While multiple factors are blamed for the record lows, streaming is the undeniable catalyst.

4 Masterpiece Albums You Should Study

One of the best ways to learn how to produce a great sounding mix and master is to listen to other great albums. By tuning your ears to some of the best mixes that have been produced, you will sharpen your sense of arranging / mixing and learn how your monitors behave at the same time. Here are four iconic albums that are considered by many to be examples of some of the best of music recording and production. Ignore them at your peril.

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts: Tracks & Groups

Are you using your mouse too much when recording and mixing? If yes, quit wasting time. Here are two of the simplest, yet fundamental, keyboard shortcuts you ought to learn today. Without a doubt, they'll boost your creating and mixing workflow.

The RIAA Releases its Mid-Year Report

The Recording Industry Association of America released its mid-year report recently, describing the trends of the music industry. While digital revenue sales have dropped, vinyl sales have spiked. Here are five key takeaways from the report as summarized by Billboard.

A Music Insider's Take On the Next 5 Years

The music industry is changing so fast these days that anyone who claims to know what it will be like in 5 years might seem crazy. However, when an entertainment lawyer for digital music entrepreneurs has some thoughts on the future of the business, it's worth at least hearing. Here's the takeaway from Steve Gordon's recent guest post on Billboard.

Apple's New Music Format

Apple is working on a new way to deliver and sell albums. According to TIME and Billboard, U2's Bono has been collaborating with Apple to work on a new "interactive" album format that will allow fans to "play with lyrics and get behind the songs." While no details have been released regarding new format, it's likely Apple's reaction to declining album sales over recent years to streaming.

The $5,000 Home Studio Pt. 2

Making the most of today's music tools, one can build a viable recording studio for under $5,000. In our first post, we recommended a DAW, interface and hard drive. In this post, we'll show you excellent options for monitors, room treatments, microphones and a MIDI controller that will cover more than your basic needs and still keep you on budget.

Bob Marley Album On Sale, Hits Top 10

After 30 years, Bob Marley's most iconic album, "Legend," has finally hit the top 10 on the Billboard 200 weekly list. The +1000% jump in sales was due to the album being made available for only $0.99 on the Google Play music store. The extreme discount of the album is part of a growing trend that seeks to boost album reach and concert sales.

The $5,000 Home Studio Pt. 1

Every year, it's becoming more and more affordable to build a professional-quality recording studio. Because of this, many artists are opting to record their music in their own homes rather than pay studio fees that can add up to the tens of thousands of dollars. We wanted to see what kind of studio could be built with $5,000 taking advantage of the latest technology. Here's what we came up with...

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts | Markers

One of the fastest ways to waste time in your studio is by not learning the keyboard shortcuts, or "hotkeys," of your DAW. You might be pointing and clicking hours down the drain from your projects. That's why we're doing a series on the essential keyboard shortcuts for recording, mixing and mastering. In this post, we're going to discuss markers.