Win MXL microphones worth over 1000 GBP

Deadline: 2010-02-28

3 superb prizes: (1st) MXL Genesis tube condenser; (2nd) MXL V89 large-diaphragm condenser; (3rd) MXL 550/551R mic bundle. Prizes kindly donated by Musictrack, the UK distributor of MXL products: www.musictrack.co.uk

Big Fish Audio Studio Guitars

Multi-format

Blue Sky Sat 8 & Sub 212

2.1 Monitoring System

If you demand brutal and revealing precision from your monitors, read on...

Clavia Nord C2

Digital Combo, Tonewheel & Pipe Organ

The Nord C2 takes the Hammond, Farfisa and Vox emulations of its C1 predecessor and plunges headlong into the Baroque with a very impressive pipe organ.

Empirical Labs EL9 Mike-E

Microphone Preamplifier & Compressor

Empirical Labs, purveyors of some of the most versatile compressors around, apply their dynamics expertise to a mic preamp.

Evol Audio Fucifier

Mic Preamp & Distortion Processor

Hell-bent on achieving truly demonic distortion, we put Evol Audio’s oddball processor through its paces.

Ian Boddy Airwaves

WAV & Kontakt 2/3

Intelligent Devices Effects Plug-ins

For Mac OS & Windows

The inventive spirit of one of the industry’s true individuals, Stephen St. Croix, lives on in Intelligent Devices’ unique effects plug-ins.

MakeMusic Finale 2010

Notation Software [Mac OS/Windows]

MakeMusic’s popular notation package strides forward into a new decade, adding a host of useful features.

Max For Live

Real-time Programming Toolkit For Ableton Live

Ableton Live’s ‘devices’ offer powerful tools for mangling sounds in live performance. But what if you could mangle the devices themselves?

Modartt Pianoteq 3.5

Modelled Virtual Piano

Pianoteq tackles the virtual piano problem in megabytes rather than gigabytes, and offers flexibility that its multisampling competitors can’t match.

Native Instruments Kontakt 4

Software Sampler

It’s got a bigger sample library and some whizzy new features, but what Kontakt 4 really wants to do is make your life easier...

Plug-in Folder

3 vital plug-ins

• Elysia Mpressor • GSI VB3 • PSP Old Timer

SE Electronics X1 Bundle

Microphone & Acoustic Shield

SE aim to deliver a complete vocal recording package for the project studio on a budget — do they deliver?

Soniccouture Glass Works

Kontakt Player

Sony Sound Forge Pro 10

Audio Editing Software For Windows

Sony’s heavyweight audio production package celebrates reaching double figures with the addition of DAW-style ‘event editing’ and CD compilation.

Submersible Music Drumcore 3

Virtual Drum Instrument

Drumcore’s come a long way, and version 3 makes it easier than ever to use pro drummer performances on your tracks.

Ueberschall Elastik Minimal Electro Vibes

Elastik Loop Library

VSL Vienna Ensemble Pro

Software Instrument Host

Ensemble Pro opens up VSL’s hosting technology to third-party instruments and allows 32-bit and 64-bit Mac and Windows systems to communicate over a network, spreading the software instrument load.

Josh Homme

Producing Arctic Monkeys

As frontman with Queens Of The Stone Age, Josh Homme is arguably the biggest name in rock music. So how would he tackle a move into the producer’s chair with British indie superstars Arctic Monkeys?

Playback

Readers’ Music Reviewed

Small Miracles

Leader

Editor-in-Chief Paul White ponders where 2010's new tools will lead us...

Sounding Off

Adrian Keefe

Music technology forums: the case against.

Analogue Warmth

The Sound Of Tubes, Tape & Transformers

Analogue warmth seems to be the Holy Grail in these digital days. But what is it, why does it hold such appeal, and how can you use it to enhance your recordings?

Automation

Digidesign (Avid) Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

Automation in Pro Tools goes way beyond the usual volume, pan and mute controls. We look at what else you can automate, and what's changed in Pro Tools 8.

Building Your Own Multi-articulation Instrument

Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

Last month, we introduced Cubase’s VST Expression facility. Now it’s time to build your own multi-articulation instrument.

Cubase: Multi-articulation | Audio

Audio Examples From Cubase Techniques February 2010

Digital Performer 7: Guitar Heroes

Digital Performer Notes & Techniques

DP7’s new guitar plug-ins offer a fresh set of tones, and a contrasting approach to third-party alternatives.

Exporting Logic Multitrack Files

Logic Notes & Techniques

There are sure to be times when you need to export multitrack Logic files to other platforms. We explain the options.

Finding Synth Presets; Music From Images

PC Notes

Find that elusive synth preset when you can’t remember its name, generate music from your own images, and catch up with the latest PC news bites.

Guitar Technology

Technique: Bass Guitars In The Mix

10 concise tips to achieving a better bass sound in your mixes.

iPhone Music Apps

Apple Notes

Some of the musical iPhone apps now available are much more useful than their tiny prices suggest...

Joan Jett ‘I Love Rock & Roll’ | Classic Tracks

Producers: Ritchie Cordell, Kenny Laguna, Glen Kolotkin • Engineer: Glen Kolotkin

Joan Jett’s heartfelt reworking of the Arrows’ ‘I Love Rock & Roll’ became an international hit in 1982 and turned her career around. Glen Kolotkin tells us how it happened.

Mix Rescue: Preslin Davis

Mixing & Recording Advice

We go hip-hop this month, as we aim for a Dr Dre-style sound with Preslin Davis' track 'Side Effects', and highlight the importance of artist-engineer dialogue.

Mix Rescue: Preslin Davis | Media

Mixing & Recording Advice

These audio files accompany the Mix Rescue article that featured in SOS February 2010.

Reason: Delaying Tactics

Reason Notes & Techniques

Build sophisticated multi-tap and modulated delay treatments using Reason’s flexible devices.

Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Mark ‘Spike’ Stent

Inside Track: Muse 'The Resistance'

Britain’s biggest name in mixing, Mark ‘Spike’ Stent has achieved international success in almost every genre. With Muse’s latest album, The Resistance, he was dealing with rock at its most epic.

Sonar: Recording a Solo Performer

Sonar Notes & Techniques

Recording a solo performer requires a different approach from recording a band, and different ways of using Sonar.

Studio SOS: Dominik Johnson

EQ, Compression & Reverb

This month, we tame a strange space, record a sitar and dispense a little wisdom on EQ, compression and reverb, as we sort out Dominik Johnson’s home studio.

Notes From The Deadline

TV Music From The Inside

It doesn’t do to get too precious about audio quality. In fact, sometimes a bit of lossy compression might be just what your music needs.

Q. How can I create the sound of a crowd?

Q. Is phasing affecting the sound of my double-tracked vocals?

Q. What exactly is ‘headroom’ and why is it important?

Q. What’s the best way to organise samples and effects?

SOS Podcast 021

22:56 mins

The team gaze into their crystal ball for our first podcast of the new decade and highlight some personal favourites from new gear released at winter NAMM 2010. Paul and Hugh offer sound advice on analogue warmth, choosing microphones, reverb usage and preamp quality, while Sam Inglis rounds things off with a teaser demo of the Intelligent Devices plug-ins.