Competition
Reviews
Dual-channel Microphone Preamplifier AEA have tweaked the design of their TRP ribbon-mic preamp, already something of a favourite, to create a device that’s much more versatile — and without compromising on quality.
Modular Audio Software [Mac/PC] AudioMulch’s unique take on music creation and sound design already has many loyal fans. Will the new version 2, which adds Mac compatibility for the first time, win it a fresh army of admirers?
Contact Mics For Drums The ability to mount mics on drum shells is nothing new, but actually being able to build them into the shells, as you can with the Finnish Ukko system, is not so common. Could this alternative method put an end to multi-miking of drum kits?
Harmonics-generating Capo
Headphone Amp & Monitor Controller The jobs done by DACS’ latest high-quality problem solver are essential, if not glamorous. Could the HeadMaster take charge of your studio?
Advanced Controller Instrument Its makers describe the Eigenharp as “the most revolutionary new musical instrument in 60 years”. Could this bold claim be justified?
Firewire Audio Interface Focusrite expand the Saffire range with their new Virtual Reference Monitoring technology.
Monitor Speakers JBL have a reputation for clinically precise monitors, but this time they’ve come up with something a little smoother...
MIDI Controller Keyboard The Axiom Pro showcases M-Audio’s controller keyboard know-how and debuts their brand-new Hyper Control technology, which is designed to make adjusting software parameters quicker and easier.
Ribbon Microphone Is this mic’s sonic performance as brilliant as its polished gold and chrome exterior?
Sample Library Steinberg’s one-stop piano shop gets an overhaul from the ground up.
Superior Drummer 2.0 Expander
Software Synthesizer Waldorf continue their Bond (Blofeld, etc) theme with their first software synth, Largo.
Plug-in Bundle [Mac OS/Windows] Waves’ latest plug-in collection attempts to bottle the genius of Eddie Kramer, for our benefit!
Sound Advice
17:32 mins Editor-in-Chief Paul White and Technical Editor Hugh Robjohns kick off with a look at hot topics in the November 2009 issue of Sound On Sound magazine, especially the Eigenlabs MIDI controller, before discussing more of the interesting recording gear from the AES New York show. Tips on bass recording, studio isolation and soundproofing complete this worthy podcast.
| People + Opinion
Legendary engineer on Thriller Bruce Swedien has been the engineer of choice for Michael Jackson and his producer Quincy Jones, among many others. In a rare interview, he lays bare the techniques behind some of the superstar’s biggest hits.
Leader Editor-In-Chief Paul White recommends we all keep that live vibe in our recordings...
Readers’ Music Reviewed With a backlog of recorded material to wade through, the intrepid SOS crew brandish their Strictly Come Dancing judges' outfits and proffer their personal verdicts on another bunch of masochistic readers' hard-crafted recordings...
Inside Track: Tinchy Stryder Producer and songwriter Fraser T Smith has made the unlikely journey from prog rock to grime. With Tinchy Stryder, his broad experience has paid off in the shape of three massive hit singles.
Jem Godfrey Vintage synthesizers: can you love them too much?
Technique
How to make your music pay As Apple and Spotify mark out the boundaries of the ‘sharing’ culture, copyright owners are still looking for ways to make their music pay in a digital age.
Audio Examples From Cubase Techniques November 2009 Links to Audio files which accompany this month's Cubase techniques article.
Cubase Notes & Techniques More than just a pitch-correction tool, Cubase’s VariAudio offers a means of extracting MIDI data from audio files.
Digital Performer Notes & Techniques When you need to tweak or re-work a track to produce alternative versions, DP has features that make it easy.
The SOS Guide To Recording & Producing Modern Metal Extreme metal music demands, and expects, extreme skills from producers and engineers. In Part 1 of this in-depth masterclass, we explain the techniques that go into crafting modern metal sounds.
Video interviews from Extreme Metal production masterclass [Part 1] The following video interviews accompany this month's Extreme Metal: Recording Metal Music (Part 1) masterclass.
Logic Notes & Techniques Part 1: Try out Logic 9’s show-stopper addition, Flex Time, which lets you manipulate audio timing as never before.
Audio Examples From Mix Rescue November 2009
Going beyong the mix Being a mix engineer isn’t only about mixing, as we show when revamping Bobby Nobody’s track, ‘Stitch Up’.
Sonar Notes & Techniques Sonar 8.5’s VX64 Vocal Strip offers new possibilities for vocal processing.
Intel’s new i5 and i3 CPUs Powerful CPUs seem to get cheaper by the day, as evidenced by Intel’s new i5 and i3 series, which promise enough grunt for even demanding musicians, but with a lower price tag than the popular i7 range.
Pro Tools Notes & Techniques The Region List in Pro Tools is easy to overlook, but provides the most powerful way to keep track of what’s in your Session.
Reason Notes & Techniques We help you to bring your old Reason songs into the Record era.
Producers: REM, Mitch Easter, Don Dixon REM’s first single wasn’t just an embryonic form of the style and sound that would later make them so successful, it was also a gem of the American new wave. But it took a long time coming...
Taming a reflective room This month, we tame a reflective room, tweak vocal compressors and slay the Blue Screen Of Death.
Music Business
TV Music From The Inside The global financial meltdown would never have happened if only KPMG had modelled themselves on KPM.
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