Reviews | Nick Cesarz

Yamaha EAD10 Review: The Best Tool for Drum Content Creators

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.

Studio Furniture

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

★★★½☆ 3.6/5

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

Plugins & Software

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

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.

Effects Plugins

Soundtoys 5 Review: The Best Plugin Bundle?

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

Studio Gear

Focal Alpha 80 Studio Monitors Review

★★★½☆ 3.9/5

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

Compressors

Black Lion Audio Bluey Review

★★★★☆ 4/5

The Black Lion Audio Bluey is one of the first hardware analog compressors I picked up for my home studio. As per recommendation from a mixer friend, I had to try it out. It’s heavy, and that’s often a good sign in the world of audio equipment. Before diving into testing, my initial observations of […]

Audio Interfaces

Cranborne Audio 500ADAT Review

★★★★☆ 4.1/5

A hands-on Cranborne Audio 500ADAT review for producers needing ADAT expansion and 500 series workflow without upgrading interfaces.

Electronic Drum Sets

EFNOTE 5X Review

★★★★☆ 4/5

Four years of hands-on use on the EFNOTE 5X, a wood-shell e-kit built around acoustic realism. Here's what holds up and what doesn't.

Electronic Drum Sets

Alesis Nitro Max Review

★★★½☆ 3.3/5

The Alesis Nitro Max packs BFD sounds, Bluetooth, and all-mesh pads into a $400 kit. Here's what it gets right, where it cuts corners, and who should buy it.