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December 2009 In This Issue

To open articles, click title links

Reviews

eSub Adam S3XV

Studio Reference Monitors

Adam make the leap to a three-way speaker design that seems to pay dividends in clarity and separation.

eSub Audient Zen

Analogue Mixing Console With Fader Automation

Audient’s latest analogue console has turned the DAW-controller concept on its head, taking advantage of mainstream DAW software to provide fader automation and recall.

Audix Cab Grabber

Cabinet-mounted Microphone Stand

eSub Benchmark MPA1

Dual-channel Microphone Preamplifier

Benchmark strive to make their products exactly that: something against which the competition should be judged. So how does their new preamp measure up?

eSub Celemony Melodyne DNA Editor

Pitch & Time Processing Software For Mac & PC

Thumbnail for article: Celemony Melodyne DNA Editor

In its new Direct Note Access, the latest version of Celemony’s Melodyne introduces what might just be the most hotly anticipated piece of music technology ever. Will mixing and remixing ever be the same again?

Celemony Melodyne DNA Editor | Audio Examples

From Celemony Melodyne Editor December 2009

eSub Inta Audio i5 Pro Music PC

Music Computer

Thumbnail for article: Inta Audio i5 Pro Music PC

Inta Audio’s i5 system offers high performance and very low acoustic noise levels at a competitive price.

eSub Korg Microsampler

Sampler

The phenomenally successful Microkorg brought simple, affordable synthesis to the masses. Can Korg’s Microsampler do the same thing for sampling?

Loopmasters Delicious Allstars Funk Constructor

Multi-format

eSub Maroon Audio MT100 & MC200

Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphones

Thumbnail for article: Maroon Audio MT100 & MC200

We put this good-looking brace of mics from new UK company Maroon Audio to the test.

eSub Moog MIDI MuRF

Multi Resonant Filter Pedal

The latest Moogerfooger pedal combines the two previous MuRFs and adds MIDI.

eSub Nine Volt Audio Textured Guitars

Multi-format

eSub Novation Launchpad

Control Surface

Thumbnail for article: Novation Launchpad

Novation have brought their control surface expertise to bear on Ableton Live. The result is the Launchpad: a low-cost, colourful and pleasingly idiosyncratic way to get hands-on with Live.

eSub Plug-in Folder

3 worthy plug-ins tested

• Softube Spring Reverb & Tube Delay
• Audio Ease Speakerphone 2
• Ametrine Audio Ravernator

eSub Rainger FX Dr Freakenstein Fuzz & El Distorto

Guitar Effects

eSub Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5014 & 5016

Stereo Field Editor & Mic Preamp/DI

Thumbnail for article: Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5014 & 5016

We’ve already reviewed a few of Mr Neve’s Portico devices in SOS, and have been impressed by the quality — but as well as offering some of the designer’s distinctive sonic flavour, this unit also gives you something a bit different.

eSub Sibelius 6

Score-writing Software[Mac OS/Windows]

The latest and greatest version of the popular score-writing package incorporates some advanced concepts from modern word processors, plus a healthy dose of magnetism...

eSub Ueberschall Electrolines

Liquid Instrument

eSub Wavelore Pedal Steel

Kontakt 2/3/4

Competition

3 x Eigenlabs Eigenharp Pico controllers to be won

Deadline: 2009-12-31

It's no mean feat designing a new instrument from the ground up, but that's exactly what Eigenlabs decided to do. We have 3 Eigenharp Picos up for grabs.
Prize kindly donated by Eigenlabs +44 (0)1392 823000 www.eigenlabs.com

Subscribe & Win Cakewalk VS700 + Sonar 8.5 + Softsynths

Deadline: 2009-12-31

SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY (Feel free to subscribe and then enter.) We've got a Cakewalk VS700 system, complete with the company's Dimension Pro, Zeta and Rapture software instruments and the latest version 8.5 of Sonar to give away to one very lucky subscriber.

Sound Advice

Q. Are matched pairs really that important?

Q. Do I need to use a DI box with a guitar pedal?

Q. Which audio interface format is best for low latency?

Q. Why did my mixes sound bad on a car stereo?

People + Opinion

All I Want For Christmas

Leader

Where did this year go?

eSub Imogen Heap

Recording Ellipse

Imogen Heap travelled the world to write songs for her new album — and recorded it in her childhood playroom, with the help of some unusual toys!

Playback

Readers’ Music Reviewed

The editorial team audition another crop of your submitted tracks. Is yours one of them?

eSub Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Young Guru

Inside Track: Jay Z's The Blueprint 3

Thumbnail for article: Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Young Guru

Behind every rap megastar, there’s a very talented engineer. Young Guru was at the desk throughout the recording and mixing of Jay-Z’s latest smash-hit album, The Blueprint 3.

Sounding Off: Is New Gear Better?

Ethan Winer

When it comes to gear, old is good, but new is better.

Technique

eSub A Beginners’ Guide To Acoustic Treatment

Treat Yourself

An account of an acoustic newbie’s journey from bare walls to a well-balanced, sonically pleasant space.

eSub Apple Notes

Solid-state Drive Performance

Have you wondered how well Apple’s solid-state drive option for their MacBook Pro and MacBook Air actually performs? This month we put it to the test.

eSub Classic Tracks: New York Dolls ‘Personality Crisis’

Producer: Todd Rundgren • Engineer: Jack Douglas

Thumbnail for article: Classic Tracks: New York Dolls ‘Personality Crisis’

The fact that they achieved little commercial success didn’t stop the New York Dolls from making one of the most influential albums in the history of pop music.

Cubase Techniques | Audio

Audio Examples From Cubase Techniques December 2009

eSub Cubase: Replacing Drums with Groove Agent One

Cubase Notes & Techniques

We examine the potential of Cubase’s Groove Agent One for drum replacement.

eSub Digital Performer 7: Guitar Greats

Digital Performer Notes & Techniques

DP7 includes enticing new features ideal for guitarists. Here’s a quick-start guide to the best of them.

eSub Logic: Using Flex Time On Multitracked Drums

Logic Notes & Techniques

Part 2 focuses on using the magic of Flex Time for easier quantising of multitracked drums.

eSub Mix Rescue: Ollie Wright

Getting fit for the mix

Getting your recordings fit for the mix is crucially important, but it is something that nearly all Mix Rescue candidates seem to overlook to a greater or lesser extent.

Mix Rescue: Ollie Wright | Audio

Audio Examples From Mix Rescue December 2009

Hear for yourself the before and after mix elements.

eSub Mixing Metal

The SOS Guide To Extreme Metal Production: Part 2

In the second part of our masterclass on the production of modern metal music, we explain what makes a great metal mix.

Mixing Metal | Audio Examples

From Mixing Metal December 2009

MP3 audio files to accompany this month's Mixing Metal (Part 2) article.

eSub Pro Tools: Region Variations

Pro Tools Notes & Techniques

We delve once more into the power hidden in Pro Tools’ unassuming Region List window.