Kyle Novak works for American Musical Supply as a contributing author and technical writer and is excited to share his knowledge with you. He plays clarinet, saxophone, flute, and keyboards, and is a composer, arranger, and producer, with live performance experience in a multitude of musical genres ranging from classical, jazz, popular styles, and everything in between. For over thirty years, music has been his ultimate creative travel agent. Bands, solo projects, a private music studio, collaboration with community arts groups, venue management – he has been fortunate to work in all of these areas alongside so many wonderful colleagues from around the Midwest.
Kyle is also a freelance professional sound engineer in rural Minnesota, specializing in portable on-location live sound and live recording. His work and experiences in this arena have fueled a growing love for sound, production, and recording equipment, while guiding him to always be learning. New gear, vintage gear, tried-and-true techniques, experimentation – it’s all about being intentional with equipment, staying flexible, and seeing how you can best bring out the capabilities you want for yourself.
When he’s not writing, on stage, or behind the mixing desk, Kyle can be seen with his daughter Marion cheering on his wife Maria’s visual arts and performance projects, as well as playing with his two dogs Coda and Tempo.
Running live sound takes a lot of gear. But you better not leave the house without these six absolute essentials. Here are the key pieces of gear every live sound expert needs.
Every artist needs a good mixer. But which is right for you? Learn the difference between analog and digital mixers to find which fits your musical needs.
Wherever future endeavors may take you - the stage, the studio, the comfy living room couch - the first step in embarking on a wonderful journey is purchasing a guitar.
Not sure what to get that musician on your list for the holidays? We have you covered! Check out the 2024 AMS Holiday Gift Guide to point you in the right direction.
Wiki wiki what’s up!? So, you want to be a DJ but don’t know where to start? That’s okay. Whether you want to blend, mix, create, or simply play all sorts of prerecorded music, here's what you need to become the best DJ in town.
Want to get weird with your guitar tone? Here are our top 10 favorite "crazy" guitar pedals to add some wild to your tone — and some of these are REALLY crazy...
It's not easy to buy a gift for a musician. There's so much gear out there! That's why we put together ten of the best products (and most useful) that'll definitely make your favorite musician's day when they open it.
We were tired of bad recordings, so we went to visit Kevin Antreassian at Backroom Studios for some tips. Want to take your recordings to the next level? Here's how.
Studio time is a big deal, and it's important to be prepared. That's why we asked Kevin Antreassian, owner/producer of Backroom Studios, what he wishes his clients knew before getting into the studio. Are you ready for your studio time?
It was definitely hot when we interviewed Chris and Ryan from Hot Mulligan — the weather wasn't friendly... But we still got to talk all about their time at Warped Tour, the rebirth of emo, and of course their signature Reverend guitars.
Gibson has officially opened their vault. What treasures lay inside? All the most influential guitars of the 20th century — and we got to check it out FIRST! You won't believe what we saw.
Ever wonder what a battle between a plane, tank, and submarine would look like? So do we! That's why we caught Tigers Jaw before their show to ask them. It's a fun interview you don't want to miss.
It takes a lot to build some of the best acoustic guitars in the game? What does it take exactly? Well, we went and asked one of the top builders in the business: Bob Taylor himself! If you like acoustic guitars, you don't want to miss this interview.
Ready to rock the turntables and get everyone out on the dance floor? Check out the ultimate DJ buyer’s guide to learn everything you need to know about becoming a DJ.
It’s not easy to build the perfect live sound setup, but we’re here to make it at least a little bit easier with the AMS ultimate live sound buying guide.
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