Reviews
4 TOP
Soundcraft Spirit Folio 4 Mixing Console As soon as it was launched, the original Folio became a popular choice for low-cost but good quality stereo mixing; now Soundcraft have addressed the needs of multitrack users with the Folio 4. Derek Johnson checks it out.
Bob Clearmountain Drums II
Sample Library * Score = 4
BREAK POINTS
Gajits Breakthru Sequencer for the Atari ST This British-designed package won't break the bank - and is capable of giving more expensive sequencers a run for their money. Derek Johnson boots it up and checks it out.
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY VKP1
Energy Technology VKP1 Valve Keyboard Preamp Originally designed to add that authentic growl to rock organ sounds, the VKP1 is far more flexible, as Paul White discovers.
INFINITY
Infinity DSP Sample Looping Tools for Macintosh Could this be the first time that a software manufacturer has treated the subject of sample looping with the thoroughness it deserves? Mike Collins thinks so...
Korg I3
Interactive Music Workstation When is a home keyboard not a home keyboard? When it's an Interactive Music Workstation with serious sound possibilities and a low co-efficient of naffness, says Julian Colbeck...
Peter Siedlaczek's Classical Choir
Sample Library * Score = 5
SENNHEISER MD SERIES MICROPHONES
MD11; MD12; MD15 & MD16 By introducing new materials and new manufacturing methods, Sennheiser have managed to develop a budget microphone worthy of the Sennheiser name. Paul White puts the new MD range through its paces.
Vince Clarke Lucky Bastard
Sample Library * Score = 3
VISCOUNT EFX1 & 2
Viscount EFX1 & 2 Digital Effects Processors It's pretty well rare to find a programmable multi-effects unit for under £240 - or a preset unit for under £140 - but Italian Manufacturers Viscount have launched both onto the UK market. Derek Johnson and Paul White find out whether they're cheap and cheerful, or just cheep...
WIDGETS
Tech 21 Sansamp GT2 Guitar Amp Simulator Sansamp GT2 Guitar Amp Simulator.
WIDGETS
Easel Junior Sound Canvas Editor Accessory for Atari ST Easel Junior Sound Canvas Editor Accessory for Atari ST.
WONDER STUFF?
Miracle Piano Teaching System Can the game-style approach and novel graphics of this software piano tutoring system really help you play with more than two fingers? John Cleary finds out...
| People + Opinion
ALAN PARSONS: 20 years of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon
Alan Parsons: 20 Years Of Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon It's estimated that one in five British households owns a copy of Dark Side of the Moon. This influential 1973 LP has sold around 25 million copies worldwide and way recently remastered; sitting in on the process was original engineer Alan Parsons. Paul White caught up with him to chat about Time, Money, and technology.
DESIGNS ON THE FUTURE
Roland Desktop Media Conference 1993 At Roland's recent press conference, president Ikutaru Kakehashi was guest of honour. Apart from launching new products, the purpose of the event was to reveal the future direction of one of the hi-tech music's favourite companies. Julian Colbeck was our man on the spot.
Nick Davis: British Music Should Be Magic
Opinion | Music Production (Production Lines) Producer Nick Davis speculates on how British music could recapture some of the magic he feels it's lost.
ON THE RECORD: DIY MUSIC:
All you need to know about making your own records If you've decided to take the independent route to getting your music heard by the public, your first step will be to produce your own release - and it can be a daunting prospect. Tony Batchelor, of mastering and duplication facility TAM, covers the various stages involved in vinyl, CD and cassette production.
ON THE RECORD: IAN BODDY: Space Cadet
ON THE RECORD: STATE OF INDEPENDENCE Dave Stewart on going it alone in the music biz
ON THE RECORD: THE DMC STORY: Tony Price & The disco Mix Club
ON THE RECORD: What Producers and A&R want from your Demo
SWITCHED-ON CARLOS
Wendy Carlos Craig Anderton talks to Wendy Carlos, one of the world's foremost exponents of the synthesizer art. The result is an insight into the working methods, philosophies and frustrations of this unique musician.
Technique
AMIGA NOTES: Amiga v Atari ST
Cosmos
Apple Notes Kendall Wrightson discovers an on-line future... Cosmos.
INCREASE YOUR OUTPUT
Alesis D4 Drum Processing Tricks Paul Ward offers a lateral approach to using the four outputs on a D4 drum module, or similar instrument, to provide an ingenious and flexible effects send system which can also be automated if you're working with a sequencer.
ON THE RECORD: Mastering at home
PC Accessories
PC Notes Brian Heywood looks at updates to an unusual music program and rounds up some useful PC accessories.
PRACTICAL STUDIO DESIGN: Part 4
Practical Studio Design: Part 4: Floors And Ceilings Having dealt with walls and floors, Paul White moves on to the floors and ceilings of the studio, with a view to reducing sound leakage even further.
SIGNAL PROCESSING WITH SEQUENCERS
Signal Processing With Sequencers You can use your computer sequencer for lots more than sequencing - how about augmenting your effects processor with some unique sequenced effects? Craig Anderton shows you how.
USING COMPRESSION
Using Compression Next to reverb, compression is arguably the most important studio process and can enhance most recordings. Paul White explains how compressors work and gives some practical tips on using them.
WOT, NO KEYBOARDS?
The Alternative MIDI Controllers Session: Part 3: Roger Beaujolais; Bill Bland; Winston Clifford; Paul Jayasinha; Roland Perrin In the final part of the series, Simon Zargorski takes us through the last two MIDI controller sessions; now all that remains is the trivial task of editing the resulting MIDI data....
Writing Your Own SysEx Dumps In HiSoft
Atari Notes This month, Martin Russ looks at a real-world problem and its technical solution. It all starts with a letter from a reader...
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