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March 2024 Magazine Contents

SOS (US Edition) March 2024

REVIEWS: UDO Audio Super Gemini polysynth [front cover] • Soniccouture AC-DR drum instrument • Spotlight: High-end Mixing Headphones • Icon Pro Audio V1-M/V1-X control surfaces • sE Electronics BL8 boundary mic • AEA TRP3 & RPQ3 ribbon mic preamps • Moog Mariana bass softsynth • Teenage Engineering EP-133 KO II sampler • Rode Rodecaster Duo • Synchro Arts Revoice Pro 5 • Accentize dxRevive Pro • Harrison MPC Channel Strip plug-in • Waves Online Mastering • CEntrance The English Channel • NI Kontrol S88 • NI Guitar Rig Pro 7 • Heavyocity Gravity 2 library • Donner Essential B1 groovebox • Sample Libraries — and plenty more!
TECHNIQUES + PEOPLE: Mark Lippett & XMOS • Mix Rescue: Adding Presence • Solving USB Problems • Inside Track: Jack Harlow 'Lovin On Me' • Producing Norwegian Black Metal: Part 2 • How I Got That Sound: Doug Showalter/Harry Styles • Why Specifications Matter: Distortion • Talkback: Noema Te Hau III • DAW Tips: Cubase Pro, Digital Performer, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Studio One... and lots more!

Reviews

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    Abacus C‑Box Series

    Active Monitors

    Can these small two‑way monitors really deliver accurate sub‑bass information at the mix?

    Reviews .
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    Accentize dxRevive Pro

    Dialogue Restoration Plug-in

    Can cleaning and enhancing dialogue really be this easy?

    Reviews
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    AEA TRP3 & RPQ3

    Dual-channel Microphone Preamplifiers

    Designed to get the very best out of passive ribbon mics, AEA’s preamps offer way more gain than most. But they’re not just for ribbons...

    Reviews .
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    Anatal Electronics XBay 256

    Digitally-controlled Analogue Routing Matrix

    Software‑controlled ‘patchbays’ are invaluable for recall and routing in hybrid studios. Is this the right one for you?

    Reviews .
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    Auddict Broken Heartstrings Piano

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: 4.5/5 Stars. For his latest release, Auddict CEO Dorian Marko dusts off his concert pianist chops and invites us to get our hands on his Steinway Model D concert grand.

    Reviews
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    CEntrance The English Channel

    Modular Recording Channel

    This compact, versatile channel strip boasts SD card recording, USB audio interfacing and mix‑minus phone integration.

    Reviews .
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    Donner Essential B1

    Analogue Synthesizer & Sequencer

    Fatboy Slim’s dream of universal 303 ownership inches a little closer with this cut‑price acid box.

    Reviews .
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    Electro-Harmonix Pico Deep Freeze

    Sound-sustaining Effect Pedal

    Many of EHX's Pico pedals are stripped‑back versions of their larger counterparts, but the Deep Freeze combines features of their Freeze and Superego pedals.

    Reviews
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    Error Instruments Brinta

    Eurorack Module

    Welcome to another joyfully peculiar Error Instruments protrusion into normal space. It arrives in the form of a porridge‑inspired granular sampler that’s as brilliant as it is baffling.

    Reviews
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    Gig Performer 4

    Live Performance Software

    Gig Performer is a live plug‑in platform that’s as configurable as it is crash‑proof.

    Reviews .
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    Harrison MPC Channel Strip

    Channel Strip Plug-in

    Harrison’s console‑derived channel strip plug‑in majors on speed and immediacy.

    Reviews .
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    Heavyocity Gravity 2

    Sample Library

    Heavyocity’s supercharged sequel rockets into orbit.

    Reviews .
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    High-end Mixing Headphones

    Spotlight Round-up

    In this month’s Spotlight, we take a look at a selection of headphones that have been designed to tackle serious mixing and mastering tasks.

    Reviews
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    Icon Pro Audio V1-M & V1-X

    DAW Control Surfaces

    Are Icon’s latest range of control surfaces the perfect interface between human and DAW?

    Reviews .
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    Mixwave Coil Audio CA-70S

    Saturation Plug-in

    Coil Audio’s CA‑70 valve preamp is based on classic Western Electric and RCA designs dating back as far as the 1930s.

    Reviews
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    Moog Mariana

    Software Bass Synthesizer

    Moog’s new bass soft synth goes deep. Really deep...

    Reviews .
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    Naroth Audio Guitar Odyssey

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 4/5 Stars. Guitar Odyssey isn’t about creating conventional guitar sounds, but rather about creating entirely new sounds that use guitar recordings as the initial sound source.

    Reviews
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    Native Instruments Guitar Rig Pro 7

    Amp, Cab & Effects Modelling Plug-in

    With new models, new effects, an IR loader and the return of the looper, this latest version of Guitar Rig has plenty to offer guitarists and producers alike.

    Reviews .
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    Native Instruments Kontrol S88

    Controller Keyboard

    NI’s latest 88‑note controller introduces a keyboard with hammer‑action polyphonic aftertouch and a lot more besides.

    Reviews .
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    Neuzeit Instruments Warp

    Eurorack Module

    In one sense it’s understandable to call the Warp an oscillator, but in reality it’s a self‑contained, fully-fledged synthesizer.

    Reviews
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    Rode Rodecaster Duo

    Audio Production Workstation

    Does this new compact Rodecaster achieve the same balance of flexibility, power and ease of use as the larger Pro II?

    Reviews .
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    sE Electronics BL8

    Boundary Microphone

    We follow sE Electronics on the highway to the pressure zone.

    Reviews
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    sE Electronics BL8 | Audio Examples

    Hear For Yourself

    These audio examples accompany our review of the BL8 Boundary Mic from sE Electronics.

    Reviews
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    Soniccouture AC-DR

    Acoustic Drum Machine Software

    Soniccouture have combined acoustic and electronic percussion to create something truly original.

    Reviews
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    Soniccouture Waterphone

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. With its bizarre appearance and endearing‑but‑creepy sound, the acoustic instrument known as a waterphone has become a firm staple of the horror and soundtrack worlds.

    Reviews
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    Sound Dust DRIFT003

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 4/5 Stars. The majority of the sounds in DRIFT003 were created from AI vocal generators, though we’re told there is a small amount of actual mouth‑generated sound in there too.

    Reviews
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    Steinberg Cubasis 3.6

    DAW Software For iOS & Android

    Steinberg’s mobile DAW just keeps getting better.

    Reviews
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    Steven Slate Audio VSX

    Virtual Monitoring System

    Can headphones and modelling software really replace a professional mix room?

    Reviews .
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    Synchro Arts Revoice Pro 5

    Vocal Alignment & Pitch Correction Software

    As this vocal production powerhouse evolves, it’s not only growing more powerful — it’s also becoming quicker and easier to use.

    Reviews .
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    Teenage Engineering EP-133 KO II

    Sampler & Sequencer

    Teenage Engineering’s portable workstation offers retro styling and an equally old‑school approach to sampling.

    Reviews .
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    UDO Audio Super Gemini

    Polyphonic Synthesizer

    If you thought the age of hugely ambitious polysynths was over, think again...

    Reviews .
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    Waves Online Mastering

    AI-assisted Mastering Service

    Waves' mastering service uses modelling and machine learning to draw on the gear, ears and decision making of award‑winning mastering engineer Piper Payne.

    Reviews

Techniques

Sound Advice

People

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    Afrodeutsche

    Afrodeutsche | Podcast

    A Journey Through Music

    Henrietta Smith-Rolla, known professionally as Afrodeutsche, gives Caro C insights into her musical journey, from her introduction to the music industry in Manchester, signing to Skam Records and becoming a BBC 6 Music DJ.

    People
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    Cloud Busting

    Leader

    Having teenage children is a great way to stay in touch with the next generation. So imagine my surprise when my eldest’s number one request for Christmas 2023 was... a CD player!

    People
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    Guy Massey Engineer

    Guy Massey - Engineer Producer | Podcast

    The MixBus Interview

    Guy Massey talks about his training at Abbey Road, how this gave him the confidence and experience to become freelance, and how he enjoys blending new technology with traditional recording spaces.

    People
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    Mark Lippett & XMOS

    Core Values

    Most audio interface designs are based around technology from British innovators XMOS. What makes the xcore platform so ubiquitous, and what does it mean for musicians?

    People .
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    Modular Profile: Thomas Hutmann & Modular News

    Neuzeit Instruments

    As Neuzeit Instruments, German designer Thomas Hutmann is creating marvellous, original designs for Eurorack.

    People
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    Talkback: Noema Te Hau III

    Producer & Songwriter

    Kiwi producer and songwriter Noema Te Hau III is based at Big Fan Studios in Auckland, New Zealand.

    People
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    Why I Love... Modern Pop Production

    Ringo Jedlic

    The adoption of the DAW as the central creative instrument in pop music represents a new era of using the studio musically and expressively.

    People

Videos

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    NAMM 2024 Video Reports

    SOS VIDEO FEATURE

    If you couldn’t be at this year’s NAMM Show yourself, fear not. Sound On Sound tramped the halls of the Anaheim Convention Center to bring you all that’s new in the world of music technology.

    Videos
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