Win HK Audio Soundcaddy One Worth £2,099 GBP

Deadline: 2012-01-11

The Soundcaddy One combines the line-array technology found in the HK Elements PA with a high degree of convenience and portability. Its mid-range/high-frequency unit features six custom speakers designed to deliver linear sound with wide horizontal dispersion and controlled vertical dispersion, helping everyone in the audience to hear the performance clearly.

Win JZ Vintage 12 Worth $1,800 USD

Deadline: 2012-01-11

Up for grabs in this month's SOS competition is JZ's AKG-inspired model, the Vintage 12. An homage to AKG's C12, the Vintage 12 is a large-diaphragm condenser that employs JZ's own GDC12 capsule: a design based on the AKG CK12, but enhanced with a proprietary gold-sputtering technique on the diaphragm which JZ call 'Gold Drop'. The Vintage 12 employs solid-state electronics (rather than valves, as the CK12 did), and in true JZ fashion it has distinctive styling that combines vintage looks with a hint of modernity.

Alesis QX49

Controller Keyboard

It’s cheap, but is it cheerful? We examine the latest controller keyboard from Alesis.

App Works

Making Music On The Move

JG Harding checks out the Fostex AR4i portable audio interface for iPhone 4 & 4S, and the Blip Interactive Nanostudio sequencer for iOS.

Big Fish Audio | Modern Rock Guitar & Bass Loops

Sample Library

3*

Cloud Microphones JRS 34 & JRS 34P

Ribbon Microphones

These retro-styled ribbon mics have a lineage going back to legendary models from RCA, and are completely hand-built in the USA.

Cloud Microphones JRS 34 & JRS 34P | Media

Ribbon Microphones

These audio files accompany the Cloud Microphones review that featured in SOS December 2011.

Demeter RVB1 Reverbulator

Spring Reverb Pedal

Chris Korff reviews this pedal-format spring reverb derived from the Demeter rackmount units, which uses real springs rather than an emulation circuit.

Focal CMS40 & CMS Sub

Active Monitors

Focal’s CMS range of active monitors has been expanded with the compact CMS40s and the sizeable CMS Sub. Do they work well as a team?

Freshtone Samples | Lost Tapes Vol. 1

Sample Library

5*

Graph Tech Ghost

MIDI System For Acoustic Guitar

Graph Tech show us that MIDI pickups and guitar synthesis needn’t be solely the preserve of the electric guitarist.

Inward Connections Vogad

VCA Compressor-Limiters

The original VOGAD compressors may not have been developed with music in mind, but listening to this one you wouldn’t know that!

Neo Instruments Ventilator

Rotary Speaker Simulator

There have been plenty of Leslie emulators over the years, but is the Ventilator the one that finally nails ‘that’ sound?

Neve 1073LB & 1073LB EQ

500-series Microphone Preamplifier & Equaliser

Neve’s venerable 1073 preamp and equaliser are both now available in API’s popular ‘Lunchbox’ format. Were they worth waiting for?

NI Maschine Mikro

Groove Workstation

Mouse-free, wallet-friendly groove production is the order of the day as Native Instruments miniaturise their Maschine.

NI Session Strings Pro

String Sample Library

Huge, elaborate orchestral sample libraries are all the rage right now, but for more modest requirements and lower budgets, Session Strings Pro could be just the ticket.

Nine Volt Audio | Shimmer & Shake

Sample Library

5*

Palmer Drei

Triple Single-ended Guitar Amplifier

When it comes to recording, this might just be the most versatile valve guitar amp we’ve seen...

Plug-in Folder

Plug-ins

Alan Tubbs reviews the Cakewalk Z3TA+ 2.1 plug-in for PC VST, Sam Inglis takes a look at the Dada Life Sausage Fattener plug-in for Mac AU & VST and Windows VST as well as the Waves The King's Microphones plug-in for Mac AU, Mac & PC VST & RTAS.

Presonus Studio One 2.0

Recording, Mixing & Mastering Software

Version 2 of Studio One offers unprecedented levels of integration with third-party software — or, in other words, built-in Melodyne!

Soniccouture | The Conservatoire Collection

Sample Library

4.5*

Sonokinetic Tutti

Orchestral Effects Library

Sonokinetic's Tutti eschews the approach taken by most orchestral sample libraries, offering, instead, a selection of effects designed to bring your pieces to life...

SontronicsDM1B, DM1S & DM1T

Drum Microphones

Sontronics’ DM-series mics are specially designed for close-miking of drum kits. How do they perform in a real-world session?

Steinberg RND Portico

EQ & Compressor Plug-ins

After much hard work, Yamaha and Steinberg persuaded Rupert Neve that they could faithfully model his latest hardware in plug-in form. We pit the virtual Porticos against the real things...

Steinberg RND Portico | Media

EQ & Compressor Plug-ins

These audio files accompany the Steinberg RND Portico review that featured in SOS December 2011.

Waves H-EQ

EQ Plug-in

Waves’ latest equaliser can be five different virtual analogue designs at once — and it has some other neat tricks up its sleeve too.

Alto Truesonic 115A

Active Loudspeaker

Alto’s modestly priced all-rounder can serve as either a main PA speaker or a monitor. How does it fare on stage?

Earthworks SR40V

Live Vocal Capacitor Microphone

The SR40V has an impressive pedigree and high-end sound — but do they justify the price tag?

Matt Cox: MIDI Tech For The Chemical Brothers

Interview | Engineer

The Chemical Brothers bring more gear on stage than most of us have in our studios. Matt Cox is the man who has to make sure it all works come showtime!

TC Helicon VoiceLive Rack

Rackmount Live Vocal Processor

TC Helicon’s latest live vocal processor squeezes plenty of powerful processing into a 2U rackmount space, and comes with a free microphone too.

Alex Da Kid: From Football To Music Recording

Interview | Songwriter & Producer

Ambition and talent can take you a long way, as Alex Da Kid has discovered on his journey from the football pitch to the recording studio.

Alex Marten: Too Many Sonic Possibilities

Sounding Off

The modern producer has a vast array of sounds at his command, but does that make for musical misery?

Fabian Marasciullo: Recording Lil Wayne's 'How To Love'

Inside Track | Secrets Of The Mix Engineers

Fabian Marasciullo’s mixes for the latest Lil Wayne album were so valuable he had to guard them at gunpoint.

Playback

Readers' Music Reviewed

The Unknown Stuntman * Steve Nicholls * Permanent Déjà Vu * Stus Rollins

Set The Controls

Leader

Paul White's leader.

Device Racks

Ableton Live Tips & Techniques

Explore some creative uses for Live’s Device Racks.

FX Chains

Cakewalk Sonar Tips & Techniques

Create virtual multi-effects with Sonar X1e's FX Chains 2.0

How To Build Tracks Around Sampled Tunes

Tips & Techniques

Sampling a record may be child’s play, but using such samples effectively in your own compositions requires plenty of skill and finesse.

How To Build Tracks Around Sampled Tunes | Media

Tips & Techniques

These audio files accompany the How To Build Tracks Around Sampled Tunes feature that featured in SOS December 2011.

Improving PC Performance

PC Notes

Keeping your music PC hooked up to the Internet, with security software active, has a surprisingly small impact on performance...

Mix Rescue: Igor Zinken

Mixing & Recording Advice

This month, we figure out how to pack some much-needed punch into an interesting instrumental track.

Mix Rescue: Igor Zinken | Media

Mixing & Recording Advice

These audio files accompany the Mix Rescue article that featured in SOS December 2011.

Mix Tricks For Reason 6

Propellerhead Reason Tips & Techniques

Reason’s new mixer has useful features you may not have noticed...

Pitch-correction Plug-ins

Avid Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

Pitch-correction plug-ins are the key to the current trend for weird vocal effects. Here’s how to achieve them in Pro Tools.

ReaVerb, Part 1

Cockos Reaper Tips & Techniques

In the first of a two-part series on using impulse responses in Reaper’s ReaVerb, we look at the basics: selecting, loading and editing.
• Read Part 1

ReaVerb, Part 1 | Media

Cockos Reaper Tips & Techniques

These audio files accompany the Reaper Techniques column that featured in SOS December 2011.

Steve Jobs Tribute

Apple Notes

Following the death of Steve Jobs, we reflect on the life of one of the most influential technology pioneers of our generation.

Studio SOS

Your Studio Problems Solved

The SOS team head out to singer/songwriter and media composer Olivia Broadfield’s studio, to solve her monitoring issues.

The Buggles 'Video Killed The Radio Star'

Classic Tracks

The Buggles' JG Ballard-inspired 'Video Killed The Radio Star' hit the number one spot in no fewer than 16 different countries, and confirmed Trevor Horn in his career as a producer in the process.

The Mix Review | December 2011

Analysing Commercial Productions

• Calvin Harris 'Bounce'
• Arctic Monkeys 'Spangled Shalalala'
• DJ Fresh 'Louder'
• Bon Iver 'Calgary'
• Pitbull 'Give Me Everything'

Ultrabeat Syncing

Apple Logic Tips & Techniques

Ultrabeat isn't just a drum machine: it's great for tempo-synced effects.

Using Outboard Gear

Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

Recording and mixing with outboard gear in Cubase 6.

Notes From The Deadline

TV Music From The Inside

Unless you’ve worked in today’s television business, you can’t hope to understand the true meaning of job satisfaction.

Off The Record (US Edition Only)

Music & Recording Industry News

** This article was originally printed in the US Edition of Sound On Sound only, but is available online to all subscribers. **
Franchises like the X Factor, and Dr Dre's new range of headphones, show that consumer tactics may have a role to play in the world of pro audio.

Q. Can you help me with my viola recording setup?

Q. How can I automate the level of vocals against a backing track?

Q. How do I understand a VU meter correctly?

Q. Is there a monitor controller that won’t colour the sound?

Q. Should I buy a stand-alone master clock?