WIN Peluso 2247SE Mic worth $1672

Deadline: 2007-10-31

Prize kindly donated by Peluso Microphone Lab +1 540 789 4100.
www.pelusomicrophonelab.com

Allen & Heath ZED14

USB Audio Mixer

We find out if the most competitively priced Allen & Heath mixer yet lives up to its heritage.

Digidesign Structure

Sampler Plug-in For Pro Tools

Digidesign pioneered the integration of sampling and recording software. Sixteen years later, their Structure sampler promises to revolutionise the sampling experience for Pro Tools users.

Digidesign RM2

Professional Reference Monitors

Digidesign may be better known for Pro Tools, but the RM-series speakers are every bit as 'pro' as their heritage suggests.

Focusrite ISA828

8-channel Mic & Line Preamp

Eight top-class preamps priced within reach of the serious project studio...

Guitar Technology

Boss RE20 Pedal

• Boss RE20 Tape-delay Modelling Pedal
• Screening your guitar's electronics

Hot Sample Libraries

Sample Library

Humanoid Systems Scanned Synth Pro

Software Synth For Windows

Is ‘scanned synthesis’ the best thing since sliced bread, or a triumph of hype over substance? We put Humanoid Sound Systems’ Windows soft synth on the test bench to find out.

Prodipe STC3D

Multi-pattern Studio Microphone

This versatile large-diaphragm condenser offers good performance at a very reasonable price.

Radial J48 & JPC

Direct Injection Boxes

The DI box is a crucial but often-overlooked part of many signal chains — and, as we found out, it really is worth investing in quality.

Roland MV8800

Production Studio

Have Roland finally outgunned Akai's renowned MPC series in the battle for the hip-hop market?

SSL XLogic X-Rack

Modular Hardware Processors

The X-Rack system makes SSL's large console technology much more accessible - so much so that we were reluctant to send it back!

Streetly Mellotron M4000

Tape-based Keyboard

It's over 40 years since its inception, but the Mellotron has proved to be surprisingly enduring. We meet the men who resurrected the original sampler and review the most technologically sophisticated Mellotron ever, the brand-new M4000.

Terratec Axon AX50 USB

MIDI Guitar System

Is this the perfect marriage to date of guitar and MIDI?

Vir2 VI One

Sample Workstation For Mac & PC

A number of large 'all-in-one' sample library products are now available. Is Vir2's VI One the one to buy?

Yamaha Motif XS7

Workstation Synthesizer

The new Motif XS range is top of the pile when it comes to Yamaha synth workstation technology, and thus will be going head-to-head with flagship contenders from other big-name manufacturers. Does the XS have what it takes?

Crosstalk

Your Feedback

Reader feedack.

Darren Hayes & Justin Shave

Recording This Delicate Thing We’ve Made

Former Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes has turned his back on major labels and hit factory songwriters to pursue his love of electronica — with help from producer Justin Shave, a vintage Fairlight and a unique computer-based instrument.

Playback

Readers’ Music Reviewed

More SOS readers offer up their recordings for written assessment (and the occasional bit of punishment)...

Richard Hawley

Colin Elliot & Richard Hawley: Recording Lady’s Bridge

Richard Hawley has achieved his high profile in the 21st century by harking back to an age before the Beatles. Hawley and engineer Colin Elliot document the recording of his new album Lady’s Bridge.

Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Joe Chiccarelli

The White Stripes

When they hired Joe Chiccarelli to record their latest album, the White Stripes set him a stiff challenge: to create a modern, punchy, heavily edited sound, without leaning on modern digital tools.

Sounding Off

Digital Rights Management

DRM: Daft and Rather Meaningless?

What The '60s Did For Us

Paul White's Leader

Should we simply record another take and play it again, rather than resorting to digital copy-n-paste?

Affordable Synchronisation For Multiple DAWs

Digidesign (Avid) Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

In sound for picture, there's often a need to lock multiple Pro Tools rigs together. We uncover a neat way to obtain professional sync facilities for a fraction of the price of conventional systems.

Audio Editing In Logic's Arrange Window

Logic Notes & Techniques

It's now possible to carry out most of your audio editing exclusively in one Logic window. We take a look at the improved Arrange window functionality and discover how it can transform your editing experience.

CLASSIC TRACKS: Ian Dury & The Blockheads

Track: 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'

The story of how a characteristically chaotic and unorthodox 1978 recording session took Ian Dury & The Blockheads to the top of the UK charts.

DIY Effects In Reason

Reason Notes & Techniques

Reason 4 may be nearly upon us, but there's still plenty of experimenting to be done in version 3 - creating your own effects devices, for example...

House Music

Rediscover Your Sampling Mojo

If you're stuck in a creative rut with sample libraries, why not look for inspiration in your own home?

Managing Audio Plug-ins In Digital Performer

Digital Performer Notes & Techniques

DP supports a wide range of plug-in and virtual instrument formats, which is great for flexibility and variety but sometimes not so good when it comes to trouble-free operation. We explain how to take the pain out of plug-in management.

Mix Rescue

Hamlet Sweeney: 'Perfect Day'

We get weeding this month, to thin out a busy mix without sacrificing the big sound.

Mix Rescue: Audio Files

Hear for yourself

Here are links to the audio files from October 2007's MIX RESCUE article, for those readers who buy the magazine from the newsagent and don't wish to type in all the long URLs.

New iMac, GarageBand, iWork & Mac Mini

Apple Notes

A recent Apple special event saw the launch of a new iMac, a new version of GarageBand and a new iWork suite — plus a new Mac Mini is waiting in the wings. Read on for more...

Object-oriented Editing In Sonar

Sonar Notes & Techniques

Working directly with 'objects', such as MIDI or audio clips of any length from a few milliseconds upwards, opens up a non-linear approach that can provide creative opportunities and also save you CPU resources.

PC Notes

Avoiding Virus Checker Problems

Many of us need to regularly use virus checkers, but we don't want them interfering with PC music performance. Fortunately, there are ways to make sure that doesn't happen.

Studio SOS

The Hatch Studio

This month we play the role of studio design consultants... and leave the heavy work to the studio owners!

The SOS Guide To Data Protection For DAWs

Sound Workshop

If you record music on a computer, you have a huge amount of irreplaceable data that needs to be backed up. However, traditional data protection strategies have been expensive or tedious to operate. The solution? RAID on...

Using Reverb & Delay

Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

Reverb and delay are vital tools for mixing. We explain how to get the best from Cubase's bundled plug-ins.

Q. Do I need to use a DI box?

Q. How do I copy Thom Yorke's vocal sound?

Q. How do you record Upright Piano?

Q. Should I EQ first or compress first?

Q. What PC recording setup should I start with?