Terrence O'Brien

Contributing reporter

After a brief stint in the IT industry, Terrence made the transition to tech journalism over 15 years ago and hasn’t looked back. As managing editor of Engadget, he led an impressive team of reporters that explore how technology permeates our society. As a writer, Terrence has done everything from reviewing laptops and phones, to writing about the influence of tech on politics. These days, he specializes in music technology including synthesizers, guitar pedals and software. He’s appeared on RT, NY1, The Brian Lehrer Show, WSJ Radio and ABC Radio. In his downtime, Terrence collects hobbies at an alarming rate.

Articles by Terrence O'Brien

The 10 best things I saw at NAMM
The 2025 NAMM Show is over. Here are the 10 things that grabbed my attention the most.
The 16 best gifts for music lovers
Shop our list of the best gifts for music lovers and musicians that are perfect for this holiday season.
Election 2024: What will the candidates do about the digital divide?
Broadband access in poorer and more rural communities has been a major campaign issue since 2008. Bridging the digital divide was a key component of Barack Obama’s platform. And, while far from perfect, his administration did a lot of work to grow the nation’s fiber-optic infrastructure, free up wireless spectrum and expand access to subsidies for low-income families.
Election 2024: What are the candidates’ policies on EVs and clean energy?
While the environment and climate change are standard fare for elections, the 2024 campaign has put a surprising amount of focus on EVs. Cars and trucks are some of the biggest contributors to global warming, spewing millions of tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere every year. So it’s no shock many believe transitioning from traditional combustion engine vehicles to electric will be key to reining in climate change.
Election 2024: How will the candidates regulate AI?
While it might not garner the headlines that immigration, abortion or inflation do, AI is quietly one of the more consequential issues this election season. What regulations are put in place and how forcefully those rules are enforced will have wide ranging impacts on consumer privacy, intellectual property, the media industry and national security.
Election 2024: How will the candidates regulate big tech?
The Biden administration has been more aggressive than almost any in recent American history in its antitrust efforts. In the tech sector alone, it has ongoing cases against Apple, Meta, Google and Amazon, not to mention its battles with Ticketmaster, Microsoft, Kroger, CVS, Visa, Penguin Random House and more.
The best backpacking and camping gear for dads
Find the best outdoor gear gifts for dad ahead of Father's Day, including camping, backpacking and hiking gear.
AIAIAI Unit-4 review: Unique wireless portable studio monitors
The AIAIAI Unit-4 Wireless+ are basically the only game in town if you need portable studio quality monitors with low-latency wireless and long-lasting batteries.
The UwU Virtual Pet Buffer is a Tamagotchi in a guitar pedal
Ground Control Audio's UwU Virtual Pet buffer is a Tamagotchi in a guitar pedal that encourages you to practice to keep it healthy.
Embodme Erae II hands-on: A customizable MPE MIDI controller for your soft synths and analog gear
The Erae II takes the customizable MPE playing surface of the original and adds a more robust interface and tons of connectivity options.
Casio's Dimension Tripper lets you control your guitar pedals with your guitar strap
Casio showed up to NAMM 2024 with the Dimension Tripper: an experimental Bluetooth expression controller that you operate with your guitar strap.
The MicroKorg 2 hands-on: A stylish update to an iconic digital synthesizer
The MicroKorg 2 is still in the prototype stage, but it already feels like a polished and worthy sequel to one of the most popular synthesizers ever.
Aviate Audio Multiverse Player Edition is a $349 'pedal store in a stomp box'
The Aviate Audio Multiverse multi-effects pedal can be whatever you want, as long as its in the Multiverse Effects shop.
Positive Grid Spark Live is a 4-channel all-in-one PA and guitar amp
Positive Grid goes big for NAMM 2024 with the Spark Live, a 150-watt four-channel portable PA system.
Arturia Pigments 5 adds generative sequencing and external audio processing
Arturia Pigments is a free upgrade with new generative features, audio processing and much improved performance.
Boss VE-22 Vocal Performer is the latest high-powered effects pedal for singers
The Boss VE-22 Vocal Performer puts a studio's worth of effects at a singer's feet, including pitch correction and harmonization.
Korg Nu:Tekt DIY line gets a new mini synth and a Kaoss Pad
The Korg NTS-1 mk2 and NTS-3 Kaoss Pad are the newest members of the DIY Nu:Tekt line of devices.
Korg's MicroKorg 2 and KingKorg Neo are overdue updates to its virtual analog synthesizers
The 10-year-old KingKorg and 22-year-old MicroKorg virtual analog synthesizers get overdue modern sequels.
Roland Gaia 2 review: Roland finally delivers the hands-on synthesizer we’ve been begging for
Gaia 2 is a virtual analog synth that solves many of Roland's interface problems, but the sounds feel dated.
Rabbit R1 is an adorable AI-powered assistant co-designed by Teenage Engineering
The Rabbit R1 is a dedicated virtual assistant device with Teenage Engineering design DNA.

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