December 2000 In This Issue
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Reviews Exploration In the final part of our two-part Retrozone, Gordon Reid charts EMS's further achievements, the reasons for their decline in the '70s and the company's phoenix-like rebirth in the '90s. Multi-effects Processor Is it an amp simulator? Is it a multi-effects unit? Is it a mastering tool? John Walden tries out the Boss VF1 and is surprised at how much jumps out of the box. 128-voice Virtual Orchestra Continuing their tradition of themed rackmount modules, Emu have unleashed a 128-voice virtual orchestra in a box. A virtuoso endeavour, or virtual insanity? Dave Stewart auditions the Virtuoso 2000 and tries to decide. VST Plug-in Instrument Paul White cruises down memory lane in style, with the bargain-priced M-Tron Mellotron soundalike VST Instrument plug-in. Digital Audio Seqencer/Sampler Bucking the trend for elaborate 'virtual studio' graphic interfaces and bloated feature sets, Making Waves is designed to allow you to get into making music quickly and straightforwardly, on even a modestly specified PC. John Walden puts it through its paces. MIDI + Audio Recording Software Nicholas Rowland tries out the new features in MOTU's ever-evolving flagship Macintosh sequencing package. Tube Studio Condenser Microphone Neumann have rejuvenated one of their most celebrated capsule designs, allowing Hugh Robjohns to bask in that unmistakable glow... Modelling Workstation The Supernova modelling workstation earned a pile of accolades for its excellent 'analogue' sounds, superb multitimbral effects, and its user-friendly, knobular interface. But Novation have now withdrawn the original and replaced it with the Supernova II. Can something so good get better still? Paul Ward finds out... Producer Box The characteristic sound of vintage valve equipment is well known, but interest is now growing in early op-amp designs too. One example is the Trident Series 80 console from the 1970s, which has recently been reincarnated in the form of the Oram S80 Producer Box. Hugh Robjohns relives those heady days... CD-Writer Gordon Reid tries out Philips' updated dual-deck CD recorder, and finds that a number of improvements have now made the machine more useable in the studio. V-guitar System Ever imagined what a guitar with a resinator body would sound like with a humbucker-style pickup, played at the 12th fret through a Marshall stack? John Walden creates just such a virtual instrument, with the help of Roland's VG88 V-Guitar System. Computer Recording System Many musicians recording with teir computer find that they need to buy — and wire up — separate mic preamps, guitar preamps and monitor mixers as well as their soundcard. Martin Walker tries out a products that aims to combine all of these elements in one system. Dynamics Processor Paul White tests TC's new multi-mode approach to dynamics, and finds that it's as easy as CCC. Digital Mastering Limiter Paul White lives life to the max with the new Waves L2, a mastering limiter with all the trimmings. | People + Opinion DAVE WRIGHT: The Case For Noise Sounding Off Dave Wright puts forward the case for noise, genuine old hiss, interference, wind and grind — the full mechanics of the recording process captured in all their glory... International Broadcasting Conference Cutting Edge This month Dave Shapton reports on the latest in broadcast video, from the International Broadcasting Conference in Amsterdam, and predicts how these innovations will be used by musicians as promotional tools. He also takes a look at the future of software-only video editing. JAY KAY: Jamiroquai's Chillington Studio Interview | Artist Can an Englishman's home be both his castle and his studio — or is it better to keep business and pleasure apart? Jay Kay of Jamiroquai clearly feels that building his own facility has paid off. Sue Sillitoe heads for his Chillington studio in Buckinghamshire to find out more... STEVE LEVINE: Recording 'So Far Away' Interview | Producer Sound On Sound's May 2000 SAE/MPG competition offered readers the chance to win a recording session in a London studio with a top producer. Tom Flint talked to the lucky winners about the recording of their demo — and to producer Steve Levine, who took on the job of transforming it into a potential chart-topper. UNDERWORLD: The Making Of Everything, Everything Interview | Band How can an electronic band produce exciting, spontaneous, unpredictable and visually engaging perfomances? And if they do, is it really possible to capture the experience of being there in a recording? Rick Smith and Karl Hyde of Underworld believe they have the answers, as Paul Tingen discovered. Technique Advanced Compression Techniques, Part 1 Tips & Tricks Paul White looks at different gain-control elements and their effect on audio. Broadcasting Your Audio, Part 2 Net Notes In the final part of this two-part Net Notes about broadcasting your audio and video on the Internet, Dave Shapton discusses error correction and quality control, helps you to prepare for your webcast and suggests some solutions for broadcasting live events. Logic Notes Paul White looks at how to customise Multi Instruments for a faster and more creative sequencing experience. Expanding Your Effects Horizons, Part 2 Tips & Tricks In the final part of his short series on pushing back the boundaries of effects processing, Paul White explores many different applications of audio filters, as well as exploring the possibilities of granular synthesis. Exploring The Exotic Instruments In GM/XG/GS Sound Sets Exploration The GM, XG and GS sound specs are frequently derided for imposing boring uniformity on the synth universe — but in fact they contain many unusual sounds. Dave Stewart, a man who knows a gopi-yantra from gankogwe, sheds light on some of the lesser-known instruments in the General MIDID set, and provides some useful playing tips. Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques This month's Cubase tips column focuses on one of the sequencer's most powerful but under-used features, the Logic Edit function. Paul Sellars begins a two-part explanation of its operation. Apple Notes This month Vic Lennard has a first look at Mac OS X and the public preview of QuickTime 5... Atari Notes The MbooM commercial VST-compatible Mac sequencer is creating a bit of a buzz at the moment, but did you know that it originated on the Atari and is now a free download for the platform. Derek Johnson finds out more... Optimising G-series Macs Powerbooks, iMacs & iBooks,, Part 2 Tips & Tricks Last month, Paul Wiffen explained how to get MIDI into and out of your new-style Macintosh. This month, he turns his attention to the tougher problem of audio... Playback Readers' Music Reviewed Danny Cope * Empire Monkey * The Conspiracy * Wisdumb Of 3 * Capra * Gerry Dickson * Smartbomb * Matthew Jones * Ashley J Tidball * Untamac * Mark Flanagan Q & A Q. Why aren't my SB Live! and Emu APS soundcards compatible? Tips & Tricks Your PC can be a hugely powerful tool — but if it's not set up properly, the number of hoops you have to jump through before you actually get to do any recording can be intimidating. Martin Walker explains how to smooth the path. Synth Secrets, Part 20: Introducing Polyphony Tips & Tricks Having explored the way monophonic and duophonic analogue keyboards work, Gordon Reid puts away his Minimoog and Odyssey and descends into the complex world of polyphonic synths to a florish of complex jazz chords. Understanding & Writing Lyrics, Part 1 Tips & Tricks Writing the words to songs is often thought of as a process of pure intuition, but there's a lot more to it than that. In the first part of a new series, Sam Inglis suggests an alternative way of going about it. Windows ME (Millennium Edition) PC Notes Martin Walker finds out what's new in Windows Millennium edition and explores the latest version of Native Instruments' Pro-five VST Instrument, renamed the Pro52. Music Business Big George's Guide To Commercial Success: Christmas Wish List Feature | Tips & Tricks Ho ho ho. This month, Big George gives Santa Claus a piece of his mind. Sound Advice Frequently Asked Questions VST Instruments can create a huge variety of sounds from the comfort of your MIDI + Audio sequencer, but can also be asource of confusion for many computer users. Martin Walker answers the most common questions, and provides advice about automation, timing, and sound quality. |
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