3 x Eigenlabs Eigenharp Pico controllers to be won

Deadline: 2009-12-31

It's no mean feat designing a new instrument from the ground up, but that's exactly what Eigenlabs decided to do. We have 3 Eigenharp Picos up for grabs.
Prize kindly donated by Eigenlabs +44 (0)1392 823000 www.eigenlabs.com

Subscribe & Win Cakewalk VS700 + Sonar 8.5 + Softsynths

Deadline: 2009-12-31

SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY (Feel free to subscribe and then enter.) We've got a Cakewalk VS700 system, complete with the company's Dimension Pro, Zeta and Rapture software instruments and the latest version 8.5 of Sonar to give away to one very lucky subscriber.

Adam S3XV

Studio Reference Monitors

Adam make the leap to a three-way speaker design that seems to pay dividends in clarity and separation.

Audient Zen

Analogue Mixing Console With Fader Automation

Audient’s latest analogue console has turned the DAW-controller concept on its head, taking advantage of mainstream DAW software to provide fader automation and recall.

Audix Cab Grabber

Cabinet-mounted Microphone Stand

Benchmark MPA1

Dual-channel Microphone Preamplifier

Benchmark strive to make their products exactly that: something against which the competition should be judged. So how does their new preamp measure up?

Celemony Melodyne DNA Editor

Pitch & Time Processing Software For Mac & PC

In its new Direct Note Access, the latest version of Celemony’s Melodyne introduces what might just be the most hotly anticipated piece of music technology ever. Will mixing and remixing ever be the same again?

Celemony Melodyne DNA Editor | Audio Examples

From Celemony Melodyne Editor December 2009

Inta Audio i5 Pro Music PC

Music Computer

Inta Audio’s i5 system offers high performance and very low acoustic noise levels at a competitive price.

Korg Microsampler

Sampler

The phenomenally successful Microkorg brought simple, affordable synthesis to the masses. Can Korg’s Microsampler do the same thing for sampling?

Loopmasters Delicious Allstars Funk Constructor

Multi-format

Maroon Audio MT100 & MC200

Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphones

We put this good-looking brace of mics from new UK company Maroon Audio to the test.

Moog MIDI MuRF

Multi Resonant Filter Pedal

The latest Moogerfooger pedal combines the two previous MuRFs and adds MIDI.

Nine Volt Audio Textured Guitars

Multi-format

Novation Launchpad

Control Surface

Novation have brought their control surface expertise to bear on Ableton Live. The result is the Launchpad: a low-cost, colourful and pleasingly idiosyncratic way to get hands-on with Live.

Plug-in Folder

3 worthy plug-ins tested

• Softube Spring Reverb & Tube Delay
• Audio Ease Speakerphone 2
• Ametrine Audio Ravernator

Rainger FX Dr Freakenstein Fuzz & El Distorto

Guitar Effects

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5014

Stereo Field Editor

We’ve already reviewed a few of Mr Neve’s Portico devices in SOS, and have been impressed by the quality — but as well as offering some of the designer’s distinctive sonic flavour, this unit also gives you something a bit different.

Sibelius 6

Score-writing Software[Mac OS/Windows]

The latest and greatest version of the popular score-writing package incorporates some advanced concepts from modern word processors, plus a healthy dose of magnetism...

Ueberschall Electrolines

Liquid Instrument

Wavelore Pedal Steel

Kontakt 2/3/4

All I Want For Christmas

Leader

Where did this year go?

Imogen Heap - Recording Ellipse

Making An Album Solo

Imogen Heap travelled the world to write songs for her new album — and recorded it in her childhood playroom, with the help of some unusual toys!

Playback

Readers’ Music Reviewed

The editorial team audition another crop of your submitted tracks. Is yours one of them?

Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Young Guru

Inside Track: Jay Z's The Blueprint 3

Behind every rap megastar, there’s a very talented engineer. Young Guru was at the desk throughout the recording and mixing of Jay-Z’s latest smash-hit album, The Blueprint 3.

Sounding Off: Is New Gear Better?

Ethan Winer

When it comes to gear, old is good, but new is better.

A Beginners’ Guide To Acoustic Treatment

Treat Yourself

An account of an acoustic newbie’s journey from bare walls to a well-balanced, sonically pleasant space.

Cubase Techniques | Audio

Audio Examples From Cubase Techniques December 2009

Digital Performer 7: Guitar Greats

Digital Performer Notes & Techniques

DP7 includes enticing new features ideal for guitarists. Here’s a quick-start guide to the best of them.

Logic: Using Flex Time On Multitracked Drums

Logic Notes & Techniques

Part 2 focuses on using the magic of Flex Time for easier quantising of multitracked drums.

Mix Rescue: Ollie Wright

Getting fit for the mix

Getting your recordings fit for the mix is crucially important, but it is something that nearly all Mix Rescue candidates seem to overlook to a greater or lesser extent.

Mix Rescue: Ollie Wright | Audio

Audio Examples From Mix Rescue December 2009

Hear for yourself the before and after mix elements.

Mixing Metal

The SOS Guide To Extreme Metal Production: Part 2

In the second part of our masterclass on the production of modern metal music, we explain what makes a great metal mix.

Mixing Metal | Audio Examples

From Mixing Metal December 2009

MP3 audio files to accompany this month's Mixing Metal (Part 2) article.

New York Dolls ‘Personality Crisis’ | Classic Tracks

Producer: Todd Rundgren • Engineer: Jack Douglas

The fact that they achieved little commercial success didn’t stop the New York Dolls from making one of the most influential albums in the history of pop music.

Region Variations

Digidesign (Avid) Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

We delve once more into the power hidden in Pro Tools' unassuming Region List window.

Replacing Drums With Groove Agent One

Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

We examine the potential of Cubase's Groove Agent One for drum replacement.

Solid-state Drive Performance

Apple Notes

Have you wondered how well Apple’s solid-state drive option for their MacBook Pro and MacBook Air actually performs? This month we put it to the test.

Sonar: Matrix Magic

Sonar Notes & Techniques

We explain some of the tricks and composition methods opened up by Sonar 8.5’s new Matrix view.

Using Laptops for Live Music

Live & Dangerous

Some tips to help you and your laptop survive in the brutal world of live music.

Windows 7

PC Notes

To buy or not to buy? That's the question, as Windows 7 finally makes its debut.

Notes From The Deadline

TV Music From The Inside

As they say oop north: where there’s virtual brass, there’s muck.

Q. Are matched pairs really that important?

Q. Do I need to use a DI box with a guitar pedal?

Q. Which audio interface format is best for low latency?

Q. Why did my mixes sound bad on a car stereo?

SOS Podcast 019

21:00 mins

Paul and Hugh chat about setting the correct gain structure in a DAW, and the tendency of many engineers to record too hot in the digital domain. News Editor Julian G Harding talks about the future of multi-touch screen technology, plus Features Editor Sam Inglis discusses the Extreme Metal article in SOS December magazine, and the exciting world of forensic audio.

SOS Podcast 020

19:00 mins

In this pre-Christmas holiday podcast, Editor in Chief Paul White and Technical Editor Hugh Robjohns comment on gear they are currently testing for coming editions, and in the Sound Advice section pass on Recording Vocals tips about mic choice, positions, processing and acoustics. News Editor Jules Harding highlights recent new product announcements like VOG and Hollow Sun's sampling of the 70-year-old Hammond Novachord, plus Features Editor Sam Inglis introduces what's in the forthcoming magazine.