Grails

Tier lists of our favorite instruments and pro audio gear at every price point.

Grails | Analog Synthesizers

Synthesizers hold a special fascination among many producers and musicians due to their potential for shaping unique and versatile sounds. Among them, analog synths possess a legendary status, prized for their warm, dynamic, and often unpredictable character. Within the vast landscape of analog synths, certain instruments have achieved a mythical status as 'holy grails.' These coveted synths are often:

• Vintage and Rare: Many of these synths were produced in limited numbers during the golden age of analog synthesizers (1960s-1980s) and are no longer manufactured.
• Iconic: These grails possess a unique and unmistakable sound that has shaped countless genres of music and can be heard across countless songs.
• Highly Sought After: Due to their rarity and iconic status, these synths can fetch high prices on the vintage market, becoming prized possessions for serious collectors and musicians.

Grails | Microphones

Although this chart is titled 'Grails,' in reality, there is no one 'Holy Grail' of microphones. There are simply too many varied situations and applications where different types of microphones excel. When selecting mics for your studio, make sure they meet the particular needs of your recording setup. Unless you typically record vocals or more delicate instruments like strings or woodwinds, you likely won't ever have a need for any of the mics in the higher tiers of the list (even if they're fun to look at).

Note: If you plan on recording in stereo, you can purchase a matched pair to ensure your mics are phase-aligned and have a consistent frequency response.

Grails | Audio Interfaces

When picking out an audio interface, you should consider what your studio actually needs. While it's great to have a few extra channels around just in case, unless you're working on large mixes or tracking an entire orchestra, a 64-channel, top-of-the-line interface might be overkill. If you typically record directly into the interface with an electric guitar or bass, or you record in mono with a single microphone, there are a bunch of great 'desktop' style audio interface options available at lower price points.

Note: If you ever record in stereo, make sure you get an interface with at least two channels.

Grails | Preamps + Channel Strips

Mic preamps aren't just for boosting a signal up to line level. High-end microphone preamps can add a unique character and warmth to recordings that's difficult to replicate in the box. But before you go and fill an entire 500 series rack with expensive analog preamps, it's important to consider whether you really need them for most recording situations. In many cases, the built-in preamp on your audio interface will work just fine.

Note: If you want to add more analog flavor to your recordings, you could also consider purchasing a channel strip. Channel strips typically have built-in EQ and compression on top of the preamplifier.