News, Reviews & Resources
Welcome to Factory Sound News & Resources. With a mixture of deep-dive product reviews, a series of “how-to” articles and news blogs, you’ll find that it’s informative, and sometimes unscripted.
When our camera is rolling, we’ll also try to find out who is doing what for our entertainment industry.
Latest from our blog
Need help with school and EDU licenses for Pro Tools and Sibelius? Factory Sound will make sure you get looked after
Need help with school and EDU licenses for Pro Tools and Sibelius? Factory Sound will make sure you get looked after
The failure of our Melbourne summer to launch has led to harder work on our studio tans – here are some studio specials to celebrate!
The failure of our Melbourne summer to launch has led to harder work on our studio tans – here are some studio specials to celebrate!
It’s a double-whammy of Public Holidays in Victoria this week, so our showroom will be closed on Thurs 22nd and Fri 23rd Sept…
It’s a double-whammy of Public Holidays in Victoria this week, so our showroom will be closed on Thurs 22nd and Fri 23rd Sept…
Since 1995, the German-born Cordial has been making robust cables for all kinds of interconnect purposes. AV cables you can trust It took us a little while to cotton on to just how good the range of pre-made Cordial cables actually are, but since 2014, we’ve been big fans. Cordial’s range of 3.5mm stereo mini-jack […]
Since 1995, the German-born Cordial has been making robust cables for all kinds of interconnect purposes. AV cables you can trust It took us a little while to cotton on to just how good the range of pre-made Cordial cables actually are, but since 2014, we’ve been big fans. Cordial’s range of 3.5mm stereo mini-jack […]
Latest reviews
For a microphone manufacturer to be still ‘kicking goals’ for over 80 years, something must be working right! Natural Sound Handmade in Sweden since 1941, Pearl Microphones are the first choice for many ‘classical’ venues around the world. We have been particularly impressed with the ELM-Series. The elongated (7:1) capsule and natural sound has (in […]
For a microphone manufacturer to be still ‘kicking goals’ for over 80 years, something must be working right! Natural Sound Handmade in Sweden since 1941, Pearl Microphones are the first choice for many ‘classical’ venues around the world. We have been particularly impressed with the ELM-Series. The elongated (7:1) capsule and natural sound has (in […]
There is a lot more history than what you may realise, in these hand-crafted European pencil condenser microphones. With nearly 100 years of microphone innovation emanating from Europe, let’s dig into some key moments that our favourite manufacturers have provided – including inventing phantom power – something we all now take for granted. Here is […]
There is a lot more history than what you may realise, in these hand-crafted European pencil condenser microphones. With nearly 100 years of microphone innovation emanating from Europe, let’s dig into some key moments that our favourite manufacturers have provided – including inventing phantom power – something we all now take for granted. Here is […]
Over the past couple of decades, the shape of microphones for guitar cabs has really settled nicely into the classic side-address form, made famous by the now-legendary Sennheiser MD409. Early model – The table microphone, MD 407, was the original model from which the MD 409 arose. Form factor: snug Both of these guitar amp […]
Over the past couple of decades, the shape of microphones for guitar cabs has really settled nicely into the classic side-address form, made famous by the now-legendary Sennheiser MD409. Early model – The table microphone, MD 407, was the original model from which the MD 409 arose. Form factor: snug Both of these guitar amp […]
RCF powered, portable PA speakers are already trusted by working professionals – and have been since the first ART300A rolled out of the factory door back in 1996. They have now ratcheted things up another couple of levels with the introduction of the top-of-the-tree D-Line series speaker – HDM45A. Powerful, Portable Point Source It’s not […]
RCF powered, portable PA speakers are already trusted by working professionals – and have been since the first ART300A rolled out of the factory door back in 1996. They have now ratcheted things up another couple of levels with the introduction of the top-of-the-tree D-Line series speaker – HDM45A. Powerful, Portable Point Source It’s not […]
Shure MV7 is foremost a USB microphone designed for voice, and it does a great job. Let’s take a look at why it’s so often recommended for content creation, gaming, podcasts, voice overs and more. USB for now, XLR for later Yes, MV7 has all the classic features of a USB microphone – including a […]
Shure MV7 is foremost a USB microphone designed for voice, and it does a great job. Let’s take a look at why it’s so often recommended for content creation, gaming, podcasts, voice overs and more. USB for now, XLR for later Yes, MV7 has all the classic features of a USB microphone – including a […]
There are a few choices for battery-operated, portable PA speakers out there, so what makes HK Audio MOVE 8 stand out from the crowd? Hint: It’s the sound level – there is lots of it. Before we get to the really nice features – like the multiple input on-board mixer with effects, iOS or Android […]
There are a few choices for battery-operated, portable PA speakers out there, so what makes HK Audio MOVE 8 stand out from the crowd? Hint: It’s the sound level – there is lots of it. Before we get to the really nice features – like the multiple input on-board mixer with effects, iOS or Android […]
Plenty of us play with microphones when we’re not ‘on the clock’ at Factory Sound. On a recent drum recording session, we tried out Sennheiser e906 on a tom tom (rack 1), right next to the old faithful MD421-II on rack tom 2. The results were quite eye opening, and ear pleasing! MD421-II is well […]
Plenty of us play with microphones when we’re not ‘on the clock’ at Factory Sound. On a recent drum recording session, we tried out Sennheiser e906 on a tom tom (rack 1), right next to the old faithful MD421-II on rack tom 2. The results were quite eye opening, and ear pleasing! MD421-II is well […]
In recent months, there has been a veritable slew of new products released by RØDE. Because we love a good list, here’s our attempt to rank the recent additions – by the level of staff excitement for each product. #1 – AI Micro A clear “number 1”, the tiny AI-Micro has taken function and flexibility […]
In recent months, there has been a veritable slew of new products released by RØDE. Because we love a good list, here’s our attempt to rank the recent additions – by the level of staff excitement for each product. #1 – AI Micro A clear “number 1”, the tiny AI-Micro has taken function and flexibility […]
NEW in October 2021 – the PRO X series from Beyerdynamic has a few differences between the classic DT700-PRO and DT990-PRO. DT700 PRO X and DT 900 PRO X are now in stock, so let’s unpack! The Look, The Feel Of course, the headphone sound is paramount, but let’s firstly describe what you’ll see and […]
NEW in October 2021 – the PRO X series from Beyerdynamic has a few differences between the classic DT700-PRO and DT990-PRO. DT700 PRO X and DT 900 PRO X are now in stock, so let’s unpack! The Look, The Feel Of course, the headphone sound is paramount, but let’s firstly describe what you’ll see and […]
Usually this section is reserved for a product review.. but since the newly released RCF ART9 Series won’t hit us until middle of September, we’ll run with a PREview instead. RCF ART9 Series – a long time in the making There’s plenty of history – and innovation – built into this latest, flagship ART 9 […]
Usually this section is reserved for a product review.. but since the newly released RCF ART9 Series won’t hit us until middle of September, we’ll run with a PREview instead. RCF ART9 Series – a long time in the making There’s plenty of history – and innovation – built into this latest, flagship ART 9 […]
Latest tips and help
There’s an important piece of equipment that every FOH (front of house) engineer should take to a gig. Your talkback mic: Of course, there are a heap of different options out there, but really, we’ve done the ‘hard’ work for you and chosen one. Far-and-away the most requested engineer’s talkback mic (as asked for by […]
There’s an important piece of equipment that every FOH (front of house) engineer should take to a gig. Your talkback mic: Of course, there are a heap of different options out there, but really, we’ve done the ‘hard’ work for you and chosen one. Far-and-away the most requested engineer’s talkback mic (as asked for by […]
Earplugs for music and potentially loud environments. When it comes to hearing, let’s not do too little, too late. Ahead of the most recent World Hearing Day (3rd March 2022), WHO released this news article, with the ‘slightly’ concerning opening sentence: Over 1 billion people aged 12 to 35 years risk losing their hearing due […]
Earplugs for music and potentially loud environments. When it comes to hearing, let’s not do too little, too late. Ahead of the most recent World Hearing Day (3rd March 2022), WHO released this news article, with the ‘slightly’ concerning opening sentence: Over 1 billion people aged 12 to 35 years risk losing their hearing due […]
Which microphone stand is the best? The answer to that question is always going to depend on what you’re intending to use it for – but when it comes to stands, we’ve got a massive chunk of real-world experience, so let’s dig in and have a look at the best options for stage, studio and […]
Which microphone stand is the best? The answer to that question is always going to depend on what you’re intending to use it for – but when it comes to stands, we’ve got a massive chunk of real-world experience, so let’s dig in and have a look at the best options for stage, studio and […]
Following on from our Guide to choosing headphones (Part 1): Studio and Live Sound article, we explore some nice choices for a bunch of other pro audio applications, including field recording, filming, podcasting plus DJ. But first…sometimes it feels like all the headphone adaptors run off together for a secret meeting – just at the […]
Following on from our Guide to choosing headphones (Part 1): Studio and Live Sound article, we explore some nice choices for a bunch of other pro audio applications, including field recording, filming, podcasting plus DJ. But first…sometimes it feels like all the headphone adaptors run off together for a secret meeting – just at the […]
Need some headphones? You’ve come to the right place. We’re going to try and simplify headphone choices – by focusing mainly on the BIG 3 (Audio Technica, Beyerdynamic & Sennheiser), to work out which models fit best for a whole bunch of pro audio tasks. One size fits all No it doesn’t.. well, at least […]
Need some headphones? You’ve come to the right place. We’re going to try and simplify headphone choices – by focusing mainly on the BIG 3 (Audio Technica, Beyerdynamic & Sennheiser), to work out which models fit best for a whole bunch of pro audio tasks. One size fits all No it doesn’t.. well, at least […]
The humble microphone lead is far from the most glamorous part of your kit, but it’s nevertheless essential. Before we dive into anything too technical, let’s just answer the oft-asked question – “do expensive microphones leads make a difference?” In a word: No. You won’t hear the difference. Unless the cheap one is broken. Microphone […]
The humble microphone lead is far from the most glamorous part of your kit, but it’s nevertheless essential. Before we dive into anything too technical, let’s just answer the oft-asked question – “do expensive microphones leads make a difference?” In a word: No. You won’t hear the difference. Unless the cheap one is broken. Microphone […]
Choosing the right microphone There’s way more to recording vocals than ‘just’ choosing the right microphone for the job. That being said, let’s pick two for now, right up the top of this check-list. This is a First Step article, so we’re not shovelling all the money into a great microphone just yet. Rather, we’ll […]
Choosing the right microphone There’s way more to recording vocals than ‘just’ choosing the right microphone for the job. That being said, let’s pick two for now, right up the top of this check-list. This is a First Step article, so we’re not shovelling all the money into a great microphone just yet. Rather, we’ll […]
Batteries, Maths & Landfill When it comes to the best way to power your wireless systems – alkaline battery or rechargeable – there are many factors to consider. Let’s dive into a few in an attempt to un-muddy the waters. Less is more Much as we want to cut straight to the heart of it […]
Batteries, Maths & Landfill When it comes to the best way to power your wireless systems – alkaline battery or rechargeable – there are many factors to consider. Let’s dive into a few in an attempt to un-muddy the waters. Less is more Much as we want to cut straight to the heart of it […]
Like our first two theatre & wireless help articles – Simple Wireless Tips and Advanced Wireless Tips: Antennas – this one is aimed at either school musical productions or amateur theatre groups. We’ll focus on what to consider when you’re trying to keep microphones hidden for theatre performance. An incredible amount of research, design and […]
Like our first two theatre & wireless help articles – Simple Wireless Tips and Advanced Wireless Tips: Antennas – this one is aimed at either school musical productions or amateur theatre groups. We’ll focus on what to consider when you’re trying to keep microphones hidden for theatre performance. An incredible amount of research, design and […]
Following our Simple Wireless Tips article, where Rule #1 was ‘Scan, Scan, Scan’, we’d like to dig a little deeper to focus on a successful, hassle-free integration of multiple wireless systems. Antennas are the focus here, with antenna type, placement, cable and splitters all being important parts to a happy RF world. Antenna Splitter When […]
Following our Simple Wireless Tips article, where Rule #1 was ‘Scan, Scan, Scan’, we’d like to dig a little deeper to focus on a successful, hassle-free integration of multiple wireless systems. Antennas are the focus here, with antenna type, placement, cable and splitters all being important parts to a happy RF world. Antenna Splitter When […]