December 2005 In This Issue
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Competition WIN Berklee College of Music Production Course Deadline: 2005-12-31 his month we've teamed up with Berklee College of Music to offer SOS readers the chance to win the Production course of your choice, worth up to $1300 including registration fee and required books, through Berkleemusic.com. Reviews Modelled Analogue Synth
Stereo Ribbon Microphone This new monster mic incorporates two separate ribbon diaphragms, allowing you to use either Blumlein or M&S stereo recording configurations. Patchable Analogue & Digital Synthesizer
MIDI + Audio Sequencer [Windows] The new version 5 sees Cakewalk's Sonar becoming a more complete production package than ever, with the addition of new synths, a convolution reverb, 64-bit support and Roland's celebrated Variphrase vocal processing technology. Digital Guitar Effects Pedals These new pedals model celebrated guitar tones, including those of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, in unprecedented detail. 192kHz Audio & MIDI Interface For PC
Active Monitors Despite their diminutive size, these new nearfield monitors still share the Genelec family sound. Workstation Synth
Instrument Preamp Aimed at professionals, the Multi Z PIP combines premium DI box, mixer, and re-amping device in a single small unit. Control Surface For Apple GarageBand 2
Hot Releases Assessed We check out the latest sample libraries on the block: Mastering Limiter Plug-in For Pro Tools Like many of Sony Oxford's plug-ins, their new limiter takes a familiar concept and applies a novel twist. Valve Mixer
Valve Recording Channel & Multi-band Compressor These two new valve units offer unusually powerful processing for professional studio use. Live Sound Acoustic Instrument Amplifier AER's Acousticube has been at the pinnacle of acoustic instrument amps since 1992. Does the latest revision live up to the legacy? Instrument Microphones The new Crystal Clear Sound range of mics includes two models intended for instrument miking. They've got the prestigious AKG name, but they won't break the bank. Hand-held Capacitor Microphone M-Audio are perhaps better known for their studio and computer-based peripherals, but they now have a microphone range, to which has just been added a stage-specific model. We put the Aries through its paces. Jonathan Lucas : Freelance Engineer As well as doing regular stints at Camden's Barfly and other London venues, Jonathan Lucas engineers for a successful gigging band, whom he also records in the studio. We find out how it all came together. Power & Electrical Safety on stage Staying safe on stage is more than a matter of simply making sure that willing hands are available before taking a dive. Knowing how to properly handle the mains power we all need is also crucial to performance health... Active PA Speakers Italian company RCF have a good pedigree. They helped design and manufacture for Mackie when the latter first entered the live sound market. We check out RCF's own entry in the portable powered PA stakes. Stage Monitoring & Monitor Mixing Workshop Although monitor engineering is often thought of as subordinate to handling the FOH sound, in reality it's at least as important. We take a tour around this most crucial of live sound subjects. Active PA Speakers The PA market isn't short of powered 'plastic' cabinets at the moment, but not many use the coaxial speaker design approach — which is what sets apart this Italian-made model. | People + Opinion Harry Gregson-Williams
Toby Wright He took an unusual and unhurried career path, but Toby Wright has helped to create some of the most influential hard rock records of the last 20 years, including Metallica's definitive ...And Justice For All, and is now one of America's most sought-after engineers and producers. Technique Digidesign (Avid) Pro Tools Tips & Techniques We all know that Beat Detective can be used to fix up dodgy drumming. But how about creating a tempo map from a freely played keyboard part? Or replacing a piano track with note-for-note accuracy? You can achieve amazing results when you know how... Audio Interface Manufacturers' Round Table PC Musician With interface standards and user requirements changing all the time, the audio interface marketplace is a volatile one. We catch up with representatives of eight leading manufacturers for the inside track on the future of audio I/O hardware. CLASSIC TRACKS: The Pixies 'Monkey Gone To Heaven' Producer/Engineer: Gil Norton With their oblique, short and often brutally noisy songs, The Pixies reinvented rock music at the turn of the '90s, and influenced almost everyone who picked up a guitar in the following decade. Producer and engineer Gil Norton helped them to shape their breakthrough single. Apple Notes Christmas came slightly early this year for Mac enthusiasts, with significant product announcements, including new dual-core, dual-processor Power Mac G5s. But just what do the new high-spec computers mean for musicians? How It Works & Ways To Use It Granular synthesis is the core technology behind the latest time-stretching and pitch-shifting algorithms, but it can also be used to generate extraordinary evolving soundscapes. We explain how the process works and show you how to get the best from the software that uses it. Making A Living From Music For Picture: Part 1 Getting A Break Writing music for picture seems like the ideal career. You get to work in your studio for a living, you can earn good money, and there's so much potential work: action films, travel and nature documentaries, romantic comedies, cartoons, low-budget sci-fi, even breakfast cereal ads. But how do you break into this lucrative world? As we find out in the first part of this new series, the first thing you need is determination... Mixing Live Recordings In Logic Logic Notes & Techniques Mixing live band recordings within Logic presents a unique set of challenges, so we show you how to get great results with the minimum hassle. Streamlining Your Workflow In Ableton Live Ableton Live Notes & Techniques We begin this new series on using Ableton Live by examining how you can increase your productivity whilst using the program as a writing tool. Dave Rogers This SOS reader was having trouble with his monitoring, so the SOS team sped over to his home studio in Bristol, England to sort things out. Part 5 Nearly all modern samplers have powerful synth engines concealed inside them — and sometimes they're so well hidden that their users are unaware of their existence. But then why would you want a synth in your sampler? Let's find out... Reason Notes & Techniques Can't quite get your Reason rhythm section kicking with the rest of the track? If you've never considered tuning your drum samples and loops to help create a tight and harmonious mix, now may be the time to try it... Using Digital Performer With External Hardware Digital Performer Notes & Techniques Few of us use our software sequencers in isolation — we all need associated hardware, such as monitors, external effects, and favourite MIDI synths. This month we take a look at using DP with such hardware. Using MIDI Functions In Sonar 5 Sonar Notes & Techniques Cakewalk have strengthened the MIDI side of Sonar 5 considerably, in recognition of the rise of software synths that benefit from enhanced MIDI controllability. We run through some of the new features and suggest how you might want to use them, as well as rounding up the usual Sonar news and background info. PC Notes The 64-bit Windows XP x64 edition is on the shelves, but musicians should stick with their trusty 32-bit OS for the moment. PC Notes explains why, as well as offering some constructive soundcard feature suggestions to manufacturers. Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques This month we take a look at building tempo maps for writing to picture in Cubase, using Markers, Time Warping and the Process Tempo command. Music Business Everything You Wanted To Know (But Were Afraid To Ask) If you want to make money as a songwriter, composer or lyricist, the obvious answer is to find yourself a publisher. But what do music publishers actually do for their clients? Why do you need one, and how can you find the right one? Sound Advice
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