Tag: author_name|Terrence O'Brien
Archetype: Rabea is an all-in-one virtual guitar rig that’s also a synth
Neural DSP is best known for its high-quality amp models, whether that’s its $1,850 Quad Cortex floor modeler or plugins for your DAW. Its latest offering is the €139 (roughly $142) Archetype: Rabea plugin. The Archetype series is a collection of artist collabs where Neural builds out a set of…
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Solo Stove’s Fire Pit 2.0 fixes the original’s biggest flaw
Solo Stove’s fire pits have been a staple of Engadget buyers guides for a while now. They burn wood with incredible efficiency and minimal smoke. Plus, they’re nearly indestructible and come with a lifetime warranty. I personally purchased a Bonfire model last year and couldn’t be happier. My one complaint…
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Universal Audio’s amp sim pedals are an affordable route to convincing tube amp sounds
I bought my first tube amp last year, after playing guitar for about 25 years. Before then I’d been completely reliant on solid-state amps and digital models. It was a revelation. And then a few weeks ago I had an almost equally revelatory experience when I first plugged in one…
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Roland’s SP-404 MKII sampler gets powerful new sequencing features and effects
When I went hands-on with Roland’s SP-404 MKII back in October I said it was “becoming” my favorite sampler. Fast forward a few months and it is firmly entrenched in that spot. Of course, no piece of gear is perfect, and there’s always room for improvement. So Roland is pushing…
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Moog Mavis review: A surprisingly deep entry-level synth
The price of entry for a real-deal analog Moog synth isn’t particularly low. Other than the limited-run Werkstatt-01, the most affordable is the Minitaur, which will set you back $600. Now, that’s not unreasonably expensive but for those looking to dip their toes into the synth waters, it might be…
Read MoreThe best camping and backpacking gear for dads
We’ve finally fully emerged from winter and dad might be feeling a little cooped up. Now that the weather is getting warmer, he’s probably itching to get outside ASAP. If your dad or father figure is the type to wander off into the woods — perhaps for days at a…
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