<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0">
    <channel>
        <title>Tubes and Code- Guitars and Technology for Musicians</title>
        <description>Essays on guitars, amps, software, and music technology, written from the perspective of a working developer and lifelong musician.</description>
        <link>https://tubesandcode.studio</link>
        <atom:link href="https://tubesandcode.studio/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
        <lastBuildDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:47:18 +0000</lastBuildDate>
        <language>en</language>
        <generator>Feedamic: the Atom and RSS Feed generator for Statamic</generator>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Are Metal Distortion Pedals a Distraction?]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/are-metal-distortion-pedals-a-distraction</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/are-metal-distortion-pedals-a-distraction</guid>
            <pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Plug in your guitar and try our live NAM demo. Compare a Boss ML-2 against a tube amp + TS + EQ setup to see if high-gain pedals are actually redundant.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Most Important Thing Guitar Gear Reviews Ignore: Firmware Updates]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/the-most-important-thing-guitar-gear-reviews-ignore-firmware-updates</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/the-most-important-thing-guitar-gear-reviews-ignore-firmware-updates</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Guitar gear reviews understandably usually focus on tone, but firmware updates can make or break digital gear. Here's what to look for before you buy.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[High Gain Mic Position Demo: Sennheiser e609 (w/Playable Rig Captures)]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/high-gain-mic-position-demo-sennheiser-e609-wplayable-rig-captures</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/high-gain-mic-position-demo-sennheiser-e609-wplayable-rig-captures</guid>
            <pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[How mic placement affects guitar tone: testing a Sennheiser e609 on a Marshall DSL5CR, with playable NAM captures you can try yourself.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Playable Guitar Gear Articles are here and They're a Blast!]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/playable-guitar-gear-articles-are-here</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/playable-guitar-gear-articles-are-here</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Explore guitar tones while you read. Tubes & Code articles now include playable Neural Amp Modeler sims so you can try the sounds discussed in the browser.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[One per Board? Boss 200 Series Offers Great Power in Moderation]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/one-per-board-boss-200-series-offers-great-power-in-moderation</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/one-per-board-boss-200-series-offers-great-power-in-moderation</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Boss' 200 series of pedals are powerful and feature packed. What makes them powerful? Is it overkill to have multiple on a board?]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[WebAssembly Brings Real Music Software to Web Browsers]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/webassembly-brings-real-music-software-to-web-browsers</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/webassembly-brings-real-music-software-to-web-browsers</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Explore how Wasm is revolutionizing music tech by bringing industry-standard DSP and amp modeling directly to the browser without any installation process]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[With NAM A2 around the Corner, is it a Good Time to Buy NAM Hardware?]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/with-nam-a2-around-the-corner-is-it-a-good-time-to-buy-nam-hardware</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/with-nam-a2-around-the-corner-is-it-a-good-time-to-buy-nam-hardware</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[It’s a great time to buy NAM hardware but a bad time to overcommit. Here’s how A2, conversion pipelines, and vendor firmware history should shape your decision.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[SEO for Musicians: Think about Systems and Goals]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/seo-for-musicians-think-about-systems</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/seo-for-musicians-think-about-systems</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Should musicians care about SEO? Usually not obsessively, but ignoring search can cost you credibility and control. Here’s how to think about it strategically.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Beef up your Combo Amp with NAM Power Amp Models]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/beef-up-your-combo-amp-with-nam-power-amp-models</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/beef-up-your-combo-amp-with-nam-power-amp-models</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Combo amps aren’t limited. Add NAM power amp modeling to your FX loop + IR setup for true modular tone.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Gear is Data; Data is Gear]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/gear-is-data</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/gear-is-data</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Does modeling threaten the amp industry, or do we need amps more than ever to train models on them? A look at our changing relationship with gear and utility]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[NAMM 2026: Blackstar Calls out "Walled Gardens" by Unveiling Practice Amp Powered by NAM, Tone3000]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/namm-2026-blackstar-calls-out-tone-walled-gardens-by-unveiling-practice-amp-powered-by-tone3000</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/namm-2026-blackstar-calls-out-tone-walled-gardens-by-unveiling-practice-amp-powered-by-tone3000</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Blackstar's recently announced Beam Mini shows the strength of Neural Amp Modeler even as other brands continue to lean into proprietary digital tech.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Case Study: Buying Your First Superstrat at Two Price Points]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/case-study-buying-your-first-superstrat-at-two-price-points</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/case-study-buying-your-first-superstrat-at-two-price-points</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[A real-world case study on Floyd Rose guitars: Special vs 1000, reliability tradeoffs, resale liquidity, and why modding cheap guitars can backfire.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Sonicake Pocket Master Review: Best Starting Point for NAM Hardware?]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/sonicake-pocketmaster-review-budget-nam-hardware</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/sonicake-pocketmaster-review-budget-nam-hardware</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[A deep review of the Sonicake Pocket Master: an affordable multi-effects unit with Neural Amp Modeler support, surprising tone quality, and clear tradeoffs.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The New ESP LTD JD-1 Looks Cool but Minimalist]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/the-esp-ltd-jd-1-looks-cool-but-its-very-minimalist</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/the-esp-ltd-jd-1-looks-cool-but-its-very-minimalist</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[We've been waiting to see what kind of a guitar release would come from Joe Duplantier joining ESP, and they've now shown off a clean-looking offset in the JD-1]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Scarlett Solo vs 2i2: Which Focusrite Interface Should You Buy First?]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/scarlett-solo-vs-2i2-which-focusrite-interface-should-you-buy-first</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/scarlett-solo-vs-2i2-which-focusrite-interface-should-you-buy-first</guid>
            <pubDate>Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Not sure which Focusrite "2-in, 2-out" interface to buy? A real comparison of the Scarlett Solo vs. 2i2 for guitarists, bassists, and home recording beginners]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Microphones and Guitars are Political Communications Technologies. Let's use them!]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/microphones-and-guitars-are-political-communications-technologies-lets-use-them</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/microphones-and-guitars-are-political-communications-technologies-lets-use-them</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[How music organizes people against authoritarianism, drawing on political science, protest history, and case studies from the USSR, Brazil, and beyond.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The AI Tension Inside Slipknot is Actually a Good Sign. How it got covered? Not so much.]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/the-ai-tension-inside-slipknot-is-actually-a-good-thing-coverage-bad</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/the-ai-tension-inside-slipknot-is-actually-a-good-thing-coverage-bad</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Shaun Clown Crahan has embraced AI as his professor. Is this compatible with human authored-music? And is AI slop killing music journalism?]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Bluesky: Great for Social Media as Artist Infrastructure]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/bluesky-great-for-social-media-as-infrastructure</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/bluesky-great-for-social-media-as-infrastructure</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Bluesky is based on letting you control your data and applications. Here are some features that musicians and music retailers should look at.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[You’re Already Optimizing for Attention]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/youre-already-optimizing-for-attention</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/youre-already-optimizing-for-attention</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Music is about winning the attention of an audience. Here are 2 pillars for strategizing for that when social media can be both an opportunity and a distraction]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Selling Guitars Across Channels (like Reverb) Doesn’t Have to Be Manual]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/selling-guitars-across-channels-doesnt-have-to-be-manual</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/selling-guitars-across-channels-doesnt-have-to-be-manual</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Selling guitars across Instagram, websites, and Reverb creates hidden busywork. Learn how APIs and small integrations can help shops stay in sync.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Archetype John Mayer X Review: can Neural DSP Deliver Superior Tone and Playability?]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/archetype-john-mayer-review</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/archetype-john-mayer-review</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[A hands-on review of Archetype: John Mayer X by Neural DSP, focusing on playability, presets, mix performance, and whether it’s worth $200.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[3 Pedals that are Great with both Amps and Interfaces]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/3-pedals-that-are-great-with-both-amps-and-interfaces</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/3-pedals-that-are-great-with-both-amps-and-interfaces</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Three guitar pedals that work equally well with amps and audio interfaces, focusing on workflow, headroom, and control, not just tone.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Record out of Your Amp's FX Loop with an Interface]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/record-out-of-your-amps-fx-loop-with-an-interface</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/record-out-of-your-amps-fx-loop-with-an-interface</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 25 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Learn about using the FX loop of an amp to record guitar without a microphone, giving you the flexibility to try out different impulse responses.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Fender 'Arm the Homeless Guitar' is Short-circuiting Everyone's Brains]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/the-fender-arm-the-homeless-guitar-is-short-circuiting-everyones-brains</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/the-fender-arm-the-homeless-guitar-is-short-circuiting-everyones-brains</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Fender's Tom Morello 'Arm the Homeless' guitar has been controversial. I think it's a funny example of the different factors people use to value guitars.]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Musicians, Need a Website? Lean on your Guitars for Design Inspiration!]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/web-design-tip-for-guitarists-and-bands-lean-on-your-guitars-for-inspiration</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/web-design-tip-for-guitarists-and-bands-lean-on-your-guitars-for-inspiration</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[If you need to design a website for your musical project, your guitars can actually be great inspiration! Come find out more!]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[DLC Guitar Pedals, AI, and Tube Amps: Where Does Technology Leave the Modern Guitarist?]]></title>
            <link>https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/dlc-guitar-pedals-ai-and-tube-amps-where-does-technology-leave-the-modern-guitarist</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="true">https://tubesandcode.studio/posts/dlc-guitar-pedals-ai-and-tube-amps-where-does-technology-leave-the-modern-guitarist</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The guitar world feels like it is thriving and facing existential threats at the same time. What gives?]]></description>
            <author>Alex Kraieski</author>
        </item>
    </channel>
</rss>
