Katie Anderson
Katie learned the ropes mixing bands in Southampton's pubs and clubs, a port city used to a steady churn of touring acts. Years behind the desk gave her a practical, no-nonsense understanding of how live sound actually works. She writes about PA, live sound and stage gear.
Aston Microphone for Beginners: A Complete Guide
For most beginners, the Origin is the right starting model. This guide covers everything you need to connect it, set the gain correctly, position it and record a clean take in a home environment.
The Best Behringer X32s for the Money
Every Behringer X32 shares the same processing core. Here's which model actually suits your budget and workflow, tier by tier.
The Best Studio Racks for the Money
Value in rack enclosures comes from threaded strips, adequate depth, solid construction and sensible sizing — this guide identifies what separates good value from poor.
Brushes Drum for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Learning drum brush technique is systematic. This guide takes you from first sweep to a working jazz pattern with practical advice at each step.
Common Pa System Mistakes to Avoid
Most live sound problems come down to a short list of repeatable errors. This guide covers the six most common PA system mistakes and how to avoid each one before they happen.
Gaming Microphone for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A gaming microphone is simpler to set up than you might think — and the difference it makes to your stream or gaming chat is immediate. Here's where to start.
The Complete Guide to Mixing Panel
A mixing panel combines multiple audio signals, applies processing, and routes sound to speakers or recording devices — the central hub of any professional audio setup.
Common Drum Key Mistakes to Avoid
Most drum tuning problems trace back to a handful of predictable drum key mistakes — here is a clear look at what they are and exactly how to avoid them.
Shure: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Stop thinking about the badge and start thinking about the job. Here's how to buy the right Shure microphone for what you actually need.
Common Bongo Drumming Mistakes to Avoid
The most common bongo drumming mistakes are habits, not talent problems. Here is what to catch early, and the simple fix for each one.
Agogo Bells for Beginners: A Complete Guide
No music reading required: here is a gentle, encouraging way into agogo bells, from the basic grip to your first simple pattern and a realistic practice routine.
The Ultimate Guide to Active Monitor
Active, powered, true active — the terms get used loosely. Here's what actually separates them, and what matters once the speakers are on your desk.
The Best Steel Tongue Drums for the Money
Not a single winner — a straight, use-case-by-use-case guide to which steel tongue drum actually earns its keep.
Shure Sm58 for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A calm, step-by-step start with your first Shure SM58: setup, distance, technique and the mistakes worth avoiding early on.
The Ultimate Guide to Metal Snare Drum Comparison
Metal snare drums deliver cutting attack and strong projection prized in rock, metal and funk. This guide explores different metal types, tonal characteristics and how to select the perfect instrument...
Common Yamaha Dm3 Mistakes to Avoid
Most Yamaha DM3 mistakes aren't about the console being difficult — they're about assumptions and overlooked habits. Here are the ones that catch engineers out most often.
Common Drum Pad Mistakes to Avoid
From a soundcheck perspective: the drum pad mistakes I see most often, and the quick fix for each one before they cost you on stage.
Common Ride Cymbal Mistakes to Avoid
Most ride cymbal problems trace back to the same handful of mistakes. Here's what they are, why they happen, and how to correct them.
The Best Marshall Earbuds for the Money
Two models, two very different jobs. Here's which Marshall earbuds actually earn their price depending on how and where you listen.
Soundproofing Panels for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Installing soundproofing panels for the first time starts with sealing gaps around doors and windows before adding mass to the walls — in that order.
Common Zildjian S Family Cymbals Mistakes to Avoid
The honest list of where owners and buyers most often trip up with Zildjian S Family Cymbals cymbals, and how to sidestep every one of them.
The Complete Guide to Timbale Drums
Timbale drums are the bright, punchy heart of Latin and Afro-Caribbean music, essential to salsa, mambo and beyond. Discover what makes them distinctive and how to get started.
Everything You Need to Know About Audio Technica At2020
The AT2020 is a side-address condenser that has earned its place in home studios — here is a clear-eyed look at what it is and what it actually does.
The Best Stick Bags for the Money
The best stick bag depends on how often you gig, how much you carry, and how hard your gear gets treated. Here are the picks that genuinely deliver at each price point.
What Katie Anderson covers
Bass Preamp
Bass preamps shape tone, gain and output for live use, recording and pedalboard-based rigs.
2 topics
Drums & Percussion
The full family of drums and percussion — acoustic and electronic kits, hand drums, pitched mallet instruments, and ever...
118 topics
Marshall Earbuds
Portable in-ear listening for commuting, travel and everyday music playback.
Marshall Headphones
Stylish everyday headphones for travel, home listening and music enjoyment.
1 topic
Yamaha Dm3
Compact digital mixing for live sound, venues and rehearsal spaces. A yamaha dm3 offers modern control in a small format...
Yamaha Hs5
Compact and accurate, the Yamaha HS5 is ideal for small studios, mixing, editing and critical nearfield monitoring.
Yamaha Hs7
The Yamaha HS7 offers accurate monitoring, stronger low end and dependable performance for project and home studios.
Yamaha Hs8
Designed for larger spaces, the Yamaha HS8 delivers powerful, accurate monitoring with strong low-end detail.
