Reviews
ABLETON LIVE
Ableton Live Performance Loop Sequencing Software For Mac & PC Ableton's Live allows the user to create and record musical performances by combining sampled loops in real time, with high-quality pitch-shifting, time-stretching and audio effects.
Alesis HD24
Multitrack Recorder The new tapeless ADAT provides 24 tracks of hard disk recording at less than the price of the original eight-track.
APHEX MODEL 204
Aphex Model 204 Aural Exciter Aphex update their famous Aural Exciter and Big Bottom processes for the 21st century.
Big Briar Moogerfoogers
Pedal-based Voltage-controlled Processing System Since 1999, Bob Moog's Big Briar company has been making analogue filters and effects pedals based on his original Moog module designs. Now, there's a central control unit, so that you can use them all together as a complete processing system.
BLUE Dragonfly
Cardioid Capacitor Microphone Not only is this new cardioid condenser microphone extremely striking to look at, but it also boasts performance which is well out of the ordinary.
DACS AUDIO FREQUE II
DACS Audio Freque II Ring Modulator & Frequency-shifter Flying in the face of the 'digital all-in-one' trend, the Freque II unashamedly provides specialist analogue processing for the audiophile.
FRENCH CONNECTION
Analogue Systems French Connection Analogue Keyboard Controller The Ondes Martenot was one of the earliest 20th-century electronic musical instruments, and found favour with composers of avant-garde orchestral works for many years. Now, thanks to Cornish company Analogue Systems, it's getting a new lease of life...
KOCH PEDALTONE
Koch Pedaltone Tube Guitar Preamp Koch Pedaltone Tube Guitar Preamp.
Korg M1
Digital Synth Workstation (Retro) The all-time best-selling synthesizer, Korg's M1 laid the groundwork for synths that followed. We go behind the scenes to reveal the secrets of its success.
Line 6 Echo Pro
Modelling Effects Processor Line 6's acclaimed Delay Modeler pedal gets a rackmount makeover.
M AUDIO DELTA 410
M Audio Delta 410 Soundcard For PC & Mac Affordable, surround-capable equipment is at last starting to appear, and the latest addition to M Audio's Delta series of soundcards provides eight discrete analogue outputs for £249.
M AUDIO SP5B
M Audio Studiophile SP5B Nearfield Monitors M Audio's first foray into active nearfield monitors is certainly extremely affordable, but could it be a false economy for the home recordist?
PLUG-INS FOLDER
DFX Super DestroyFX DFX Super DestroyFX - Mac and PC VST, Mac OS X
PLUG-INS FOLDER
Steinberg TL Audio EQ1 Steinberg TL Audio EQ1 - Mac and PC VST
Product Review
Silverspike Reverb.It Silverspike Reverb.It - Mac and PC VST
Product Review
Wave Arts MasterVerb DX Wave Arts MasterVerb DX - PC DirectX
RATOC FIREDOCK
RATOC Firedock Removable Firewire/IDE Hard Drive Mounting System Until now, removable hard drives have been an expensive luxury, but RATOC's Firedock brings them within the reach of almost any musician.
RME DIGI 96/8 PAD
RME DIGI 96/8 PAD Soundcard For PC & Mac RME's DIGI range of soundcards offers comprehensive cross-platform support, high audio quality and lots of extras, such as digital format conversion.
ROLAND FANTOM
Roland Fantom FA76 Keyboard Workstation Korg's Triton has dominated the workstation synth market for several years, but the past 12 months have seen challenges to this position firstly from Yamaha, with their Motif, and now from Roland. Does the new Fantom have what it takes?
ROLAND SPD6
Roland SPD6 Percussion Controller Roland SPD6 Percussion Controller.
SOFT SAMPLE CELL
Digidesign Soft Sample Cell Software Sampler For Macintosh Although the original hardware Sample Cell system has been around for years, there has until now been no software sampler that would integrate with Pro Tools systems.
SPL KULTUBE
SPL Kultube Stereo Compressor SPL's new surround-ready stereo compressor offers clever programme-adaptive compression, as well as decompression and tube-saturation functions.
WALDORF ATTACK
Waldorf Attack VST Percussion Synthesis Plug-in For Mac & PC Why use samples of analogue drum modules when you can have a proper drum synth in your sequencer, giving you complete control over your percussion sounds? Waldorf's Attack makes it all possible...
| People + Opinion
CUTTING EDGE
Crusoe chip; Sony Vaio PC; Bluetooth Tiny portable hardware sequencers have been available for several years, but the clever Crusoe chip is now making possible incredibly portable software studios, running on pocket-sized PCs.
DAVID VORHAUS
David Vorhaus One of the original pioneers of electronic music in Britain, David Vorhaus has remained at the cutting edge of the genre for over 30 years.
GOING SOFT
Django Bates' Human Chain: Soft Samplers For Live Music Software samplers are revolutionising studio recording, but can they replace their hardware counterparts in live performance? Jazz keyboardist Django Bates is in the process of finding out...
SOUNDING OFF
Is modern music more concerned with good sounds than with good ideas? By Mark Wherry Is modern music more concerned with good sounds than with good ideas?
Technique
ADDING FEEL
Adding Feel To Your Rhythm Parts Try these tips and techniques for creating more convincing programmed rhythm parts in a sequencer.
Controller Editor
Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques Cubase's Controller Editor provides quick and easy tools for modifying synth parameters in real time, not to mention automating mixes and effects.
LOCATION RECORDING
Recording On Location Cheshire Youth Orchestra Recording a large orchestra can be fairly tricky, even in the most well-equipped of studios, but trying to get a great sound on location, using only the gear you can fit into your car, adds challenges all of its own.
LOGIC NOTES
Custom Groove Templates A step-by-step guide to generating custom Groove Templates from your drum loops, plus advice on notating note clusters. And, of course, the usual power-user tips.
MacExpo; AES; Apps
Apple Notes The word is in from MacExpo and the AES show, and the word is that the OS10.1 apps are coming...
Mixing & Automation
Digidesign (Avid) Pro Tools Tips & Techniques Fix it in the mix, with our useful Pro Tools mixing and automation tips.
NET NOTES
RSI Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) could curtail your musical career, so it's well worthwhile taking a look at these web sites to find out how you can avoid it.
PERFORMER NOTES
Drum Editor; VST Wrapper v3 Performer Notes moves on to the more advanced features of DP3's Drum Editor, plus more useful Performer-related tips, techniques and news.
PLUG-IN PLUMBING
Plug-in Plumbing: Using Plug-ins The flexibility of the effects assignment in modern MIDI + Audio sequencers can be daunting, so here's some advice on how to sort out the routing and order of your plug-ins for common recording and mixing tasks.
Q&A
What causes soft-synth latency? * Can I ensure that my CDs will play on all hi-fi systems? * What's the best thing to do when my old gear begins to wear out? * What extra gear should I buy to make dance music? How can I stop my music annoying my Neighbo What causes soft-synth latency? Can I ensure that my CDs will play on all hi-fi systems? What's the best thing to do when my old gear begins to wear out? What extra gear should I buy to make dance music? How can I stop my music annoying my Neighbour?
SONAR NOTES
DX Instruments, Tape Sim More tips on using DX Instruments, and some nifty things you can do with the Tape Sim plug-in. In addition, a great way to audition audio loops before you import them, along with advice on how to create audio crossfades.
SYNTH SECRETS
Practical Bass Drum Synthesis Moving from last month's theoretical bass drum synth patch to its practical application on affordable analogue synths, we also take a look at how the world's most famous drum machines produce this fundamental rhythm sound...
Tim Wyatt
Playback | Readers' Music Reviewed Mark Barnwell * Jules * Fat Tuesday * Muffin * Stress Technology * Wayne Rowley * SSOTS * Pleasant Stitch * Surf Babies
VAZ 2001
PC Notes There are now so many versions of Windows that choosing the best one for your needs can be difficult. This overview places them all in context.
WINDOWS XP
Windows XP: Is It Suitable For Music? Windows XP is probably the most important PC operating system upgrade since Windows 95, but as always, its new features come at a cost. Should you upgrade your computer? Here's the definitive guide...
YOU ARE SURROUNDED
Surround Sound Explained - Part 7 This month, we consider some of the pros and cons of mixing in surround, and hear how experienced surround producers take advantage of the format, and tackle the problems.
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