Win Schertler A-Dyn Set Worth 1,365 GB Pounds.

Deadline: 2011-02-11

Swiss transducer manufacturers Schertler are well-known for the quality of their acoustic instrument pickups and amplifiers. This month, Schertler are kindly offering an A-Dyn set comprising their top-of-the-range A-Dyn contact mic, the A-Pre preamp, and a range of accessories!

Apple MacBook Air

Laptop Computer

If you were to cross a MacBook with an iPad, would the offspring provide the mobile musician with a powerful convenience or a crippled luxury?

Arturia Analog Experience The Player & The Factory

Synth Keyboards

Arturia's Analog Experience range pairs tweakable preset soft synths with dedicated controller keyboards. We put the first two to the test...

Avid Pro Tools 9

Digital Audio Workstation Software

For the first time ever, Avid have made the full Pro Tools feature set available on native systems — and you don't even need one of their interfaces to run it!

Big Fish Audio | Bone Crushing Drums

Sample Library

836 live drum loops: a cross between the Sex Pistols and The Who.

CAD Equitek E100S

Supercardioid Capacitor Microphone

CAD's E100 impressed us, but it's been revamped to create a mic with one of the lowest self-noise figures in its class — or any other, for that matter!

CAD Equitek E100S | Media

Supercardioid Capacitor Microphone

These audio files accompany the CAD Equitek E100S review that featured in SOS January 2011.

Egnater Tweaker

15W Valve Guitar Amplifier

With its tweakable tones, could this be the ideal studio guitar amp?

Genelec 8260A

Three-way DSP Reference Monitors

They may have the familiar Genelec appearance and family sound, but these big beasts bring some new ideas to the table.

Original Music | Live Acoustic Drums, Loops & Hits

Sample Library

3*

OTO Machines Biscuit

8-bit Effects Processor

The Biscuit is as crunchy an 8-bit processor as anyone could wish for, but there's much more to it than that...

Primacoustic Vox Guard

Microphone Acoustic Shield

Matt Houghton shouts, clicks and pops... all in the name of product testing!

RME Fireface UFX

USB & Firewire Audio Interface

RME have established a solid pedigree for their extensive range of digital interfaces. Their latest model offers powerful functionality, and promises an unexpected extra for the future...

SADiE 6

Digital Audio Workstation

One of the world's best high-end audio editing and mixing packages has undergone a radical overhaul, and now works with any third-party audio hardware. Its name? SADiE...

Sound Skulptor STS

Analogue Tape Simulator

Available ready-made or in kit form, the STS is more affordable than the competition... but is it any good?

Sound Skulptor STS | Media

Analogue Tape Simulator

These audio files accompany the Sound Skulptor STS review that featured in SOS January 2011.

SoundOut

Online Evaluation Music Service

We all want to know what the man on the Clapham Omnibus really thinks of our music. Now we can find out — and have his opinions statistically analysed into the bargain.

Steinberg Halion Sonic

Virtual Sound Module

Steinberg's new sound module software features a rich sound library, a powerful synth engine and the benefit of parent company Yamaha's workstation wisdom...

Super Vee Blade Runner

Guitar Vibrato System

Paul White checks out a new addition for your Fender Strat.

Tascam DP008

Portable 8-track Recorder

Tascam's latest 'Portastudio' boasts more hands-on controls than most such recorders.

Ueberschall | Score Elements

Sample Library

4*

Wishbone Workshop Wishbone

Mic Hanger For Guitar Amps

Dave Lockwood sees one alternative to miking amps with a stand, and makes a wish...

Yamaha Motif XF7

Workstation Synthesizer

Yamaha's long-lived Motif range continues to go from strength to strength. Could the latest model be the best Motif yet?

Zero-G | Nexus Experimental Drum & Bass

Sample Library

3*

Zoom R24

Recorder, Interface & Controller

Zoom have launched a sibling for their R16, adding a further eight tracks and some neat loop-sampling and rhythm-track features.

Edwyn Collins: Recording Losing Sleep

Interview | Artist

In 2005, a stroke left Edwyn Collins paralysed and unable to remember how to use any of his amazing collection of vintage gear. Together, he and his recording partner Seb Lewsley relearned the studio from scratch.

Future Gazing

Leader

Paul White gazes into his crystal ball to see the future of handheld technology...

Phil Collins | 'Going Back'

Inside Track | Secrets Of The Mix Engineers

Phil Collins began recreating the classic Motown sound as a form of therapy. With the help of engineer Yvan Bing, the results gave Collins his first number one album in 17 years.

Playback

Readers' Music Reviewed

Alice Rock * John Spanyol * Sara Mitra * Aldo Cruickshank * Deadly Circus Fire *

Stevan Krakovic: Credit Where Credit's Due...

Sounding Off

Engineer, producer & director of the Music Producers Guild (MPG) Stevan Krakovic laments the number of uncredited artists on digital records.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions 'Oliver's Army'

Classic Tracks

A song named for Christmas-cancelling regicide Oliver Cromwell may seem like an unlikely hit, but the infectious ebullience of 'Oliver's Army' provided Elvis Costello with his biggest-selling single...

GarageBand & Logic

Apple Notes

Has the recent update to GarageBand narrowed the gap between the bundled music software and its professional sibling, Logic?

Graphics Cards

PC Notes

Not every enhancement to your audio PC is worth the money — and top-spec graphics cards are a case in point...

Hiding The Edit

Cockos Reaper Tips & Techniques

Make sure your edits go unnoticed with Reaper's audio editing features.

Hiding The Edit | Editing Walkthrough

Cockos Reaper Tips & Techniques

This audio editing walkthrough accompanies the Reaper Techniques column that featured in SOS January 2011.

Hiding The Edit | Media

Cockos Reaper Tips & Techniques

These audio files accompany the Reaper Techniques column that featured in SOS January 2011.

Introducing Dr OctoRex

Propellerhead Reason Tips & Techniques

Get some 8-way sample action with Reason's new loop player!

Making The Most Of Plug-in Presets

Tips & Techniques

If you know what you're doing, plug-ins are best set by ear — but if you lack experience and take care to avoid rookie mistakes, dialling in an off-the-peg preset can still prove effective...

Managing Backups, Part 2

Cakewalk Sonar Tips & Techniques

Having looked at routine backups last month, the second of this two-part series explores the more arcane art of archiving.
Read Part 1.

Mix Rescue: Johnny Lokke

Mixing & Recording Advice

This month, we hunt out the devils in the detail of a metal mix!

Mix Rescue: Johnny Lokke | Media

Mixing & Recording Advice

These audio files accompany the Mix Rescue article that featured in SOS January 2011.

Presets

Ableton Live Tips & Techniques

All you need to know about Live's idiosyncratic preset management...

Stereo Width

Apple Logic Tips & Techniques

Logic's processing tools can be used to manipulate stereo width, adding interest to your mixes.

Studio SOS

Your Studio Problems Solved

Spending thousands on fancy gear won't get you anywhere — at least, not unless you spend some time sorting out and getting to know your listening and recording environments...

Switching To 64-bit?

Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

John Walden considers the leap from 32 to 64.

Tempo Maps

Avid Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

We explain how to create a tempo map in Pro Tools that will follow your musicians wherever they decide to go!

TV Music From The Inside

Notes From The Deadline

Where there's a newly independent republic struggling to establish itself on the world stage, there's an opportunity...

Gear To Get You Filming Fast

5 Best Buys

New to the world of video production and unsure what gear to buy? Our guide to the five best options in three categories will get you started.

Grass Valley Edius 6

Non-linear Editor For Windows

Grass Valley's Edius has always been a capable and versatile NLE. Can version 6 bring it the popularity it deserves?

The Price Is Right

Video Software On Budget

If you want to get into video editing but not spend a fortune, there are plenty of wallet-friendly NLEs and other tools to get you started.

Waves W43

Noise-reduction Plug-in

Video makers need to reduce noise too — and W43 lets them do it in time-honoured style...

Q. How can I learn to create drum parts?

Q. How can I make my masters louder?

Q. What are the characteristics of vintage mics?

Q. Which sub-$230 audio interface should I buy?