Reviews | Nick Cesarz

Best Drum Mic Kits for Recording Drums (and the Mics I Actually Use)

September 4, 2026

The best drum mic kit is not always the one with the most microphones. These six packages cover everything from a $369.99 starter set to a $2,999 professional system, including the mics I would build around first.

Gear guide

Best 8-Channel Audio Interfaces for Recording Drums (2026)

September 4, 2026

Compare eight options for recording a full drum kit, from $229 to $3,199. I ranked them by workflow, driver support, expansion and value.

Nick Cesarz playing the Alesis Strata Prime electronic drum set, the top pick in this guide to the best Alesis kits

Gear guide

Best Alesis Electronic Drum Sets in 2026

September 1, 2026

Every Alesis electronic drum kit ranked, from the Strata Prime down to the $249 Turbo Max, with an honest look at where the price jumps are worth it.

Nick Cesarz playing a Roland V-Drums kit while testing the VH-14D digital hi-hat and digital snare pad

Gear guide

Best Roland Electronic Drum Sets in 2026

August 29, 2026

Five Roland V-Drums kits ranked from the TD-516 down to the entry-level TD-02KV, with an honest look at where the money actually goes and which one to skip.

Review

Yamaha EAD10 Review: The Best Tool for Drum Content Creators

★★★★☆ 4/5 April 13, 2026

Two years after receiving the EAD10 as a sponsored review unit, it is still in my setup. Here is why it is the best tool for drummers making social media content.

Review

EastWest ComposerCloud+ Review: The Best $19.99 Orchestral Library Subscription?

April 11, 2026

EastWest ComposerCloud+ delivers massive orchestral libraries for only $19.99/month. After nearly a decade of use, here's why it's still a killer value.

Review

Acme Eleazar Studio Desk Review: A Great-Looking Gamble for Budget Studios

★★★½☆ 3.6/5 April 11, 2026

Affordable and stylish, the Acme Eleazar studio desk offers great functionality, but shipping damage and QC issues make it a risky buy.

Review

Focal Alpha 80 Studio Monitors Review

★★★½☆ 3.9/5 April 11, 2026

Focal Alpha 80s offer tight lows, clear highs, and studio-ready power. Ideal for upgrading from KRKs. Full review.

Review

Soundtoys 5 Review: The Best Plugin Bundle?

April 11, 2026

Is Soundtoys 5 the ultimate plugin bundle for producers? Here's why it's been a staple in my sessions for years.

Gear guide

Best Drum VST Plugins

March 31, 2026

Drum VSTs have been central to my production workflow for over a decade. These are the ones that hold up in professional projects.