April 2001 In This Issue
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Reviews 16-voice Analogue Synth Looking like a star cruiser, or something from the film 2001 (rather than just the year), Alesis' Andromeda is the first analogue polysynth that approaches the complexity of a digital workstation. But does analogue necessarily equate to quality? Gordon Reid cuts through the hype and investigates for SOS. Microphone Modeller Processor Hugh Robjohns checks out the new hardware incarnation of Antares' award-winning microphone-modelling software. Active Monitors Paul White tests ATC's T16 monitors, which combine space-age looks, solid engineering and a detailed, accurate sound at a surprisingly attractive price. Loop Composition Tool With its on-the-fly tempo-matching for sample loops, Acid put a new spin on an old way of making music on the PC. Now, at last, there's a similar Mac program. Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser try out Bitheadz' Phrazer. Analogue Synth Module (Retro) British computer peripherals manufacturer Cheetah ventured into the hi-tech music jungle in the 1980s and went down in budget gear history. David Harman goes on a synth safari with their MS6 analogue rack synth. Hard Disk Multitracker Derek Johnson & Debbie Poyser test Fostex's new eight-tracker, which once again lowers the entry-level price for the musician aspiring to digital. M Audio Audiophile 24/96 & Terratec BWX 24/96 Soundcards Many musicians with computer-based studios don't need lots of inputs and outputs, but that doesn't mean they're happy to put up with poor audio quality and design compromises of consumer soundcards. However a new type of affordable, high-quality soundcard is now emerging to meet this need. Martin Walker puts two or the leading candidates to the test. Recording Channel Hugh Robjohns twsts Millennia's flagship STT1 recording channel which offers elements of their entire product line all in one ultra-flexible box. Virtual Instrument Paul White explores Dynamo, a remarkable suite of virtual synths and drum machines from Native Instruments, offering all the tonality of their acclaimed Reaktor software, but without the complexity. Quested F11P Passive Monitor; Samson Q1 Back-electret Micropone Studio Essentials The SOS team check out two new bits of gear for your home studio. Modelling Guitar Amplifier Paul White studio tests Roland's versatile modelling guitar amplifier, which has applications both on stage and in recording. | People + Opinion Cutting Edge The audio industry is gearing up to fully embrace DVD but, as Dave Shapton argues, there could be a better way... FRED SPECKEEN (TC-HELICON): The Science Of Voice Modelling Interview | Manufacturer TC-Helicon's revolutionary VoiceCraft card for their VoicePrism processor allows the user to radically reshape the whole character of a vocal sound, adding tonal and inflectional changes that go way beyond the capabilities of current voice processors. Paul White talks technology with designer Fred Speckeen. PASCAL GABRIEL & JAMES SANGER: Recording Dido's 'Here With Me' Interview | Producer The standout track from Dido's debut album No Angel is known to millions as a TV theme, and is now a smash hit single in the UK. Sam Inglis talks to Pascal Gabriel, who co-wrote 'Here With Me' with Dido and his colleague Paul Statham, and programmer James Sanger, who helped to shape the final version. ROBIN MORLEY: Copyright Implications On The Net Sounding Off Many musicians bemoan the Net's implications for copyright but, as Robin Morley says, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones... Interview | Producer Over the last 30 years Tony Platt has engineered and produced albums by some of the biggest names in music, from rock to reggae. Tom Flint talked to him about his days at the pioneering Island Studios, his work with the legendary producer Mutt Lange and his vision of the future. Technique Advanced Gating Techniques, Part 1 Tips & Tricks Paul White explains that there's much more to gating than you might think. Atari Notes If you're looking for a cost-effective way into MIDI music making, the Atari is still a good option, as Derek Johnson explains. Digidesign's Pro Tools Explained, Part 3 Exploration Simon Price concludes his three-part series on Digidesign's flagship recording system with some power-user hints and tips. Q & A Q. How can I avoid digital repatching? Frequently Asked Questions Mike Senior answers more of those beginners' questions which prove to be not quite as basic as they seem. PC Notes Martin Walker looks at Intel's new Pentium 4 processor, and catalogues the Cubase 5.02 update debacle. Interactive Phrase Synthesizer Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques The Interactive Phrase Synthesizer is one of those parts of Cubase that most of us know exist, but which few have actually used. We take a look at what it can do, as well as offering some handy tips on setting up loops and introducing the idea of controlling your computer remotely... Apple Notes Paul Wiffen reports on some historic developments for Mac musicians, as Apple announce their official support for the mLAN interface standard, and also comes to the rescue of more readers seeking advice. Playback Readers' Music Reviewed Choyek * Amorius * Gary Rudd * Valve * P Turner * Gumbo * Toy * Alistair Bishop * Bex * Green Cat * Project 1 Digital Performer Notes Logic and Cubase owners have had their own dedicated SOS columns for several months — so we're now devoting space to another of the world's favourite sequencers, MOTU's Digital Performer. Long-standing DP user Robin Bigwood presents the first of this regular column. Practical Phrase Sampling For Modern Music Production, Part 1 Tips & Tricks The sampler has made its presence felt throughout modern music production, and phrase sampling in particular is the backbone of many musical styles. Oli Bell arms his loop points and explores some tricks of the trade. Synth Secrets, Part 24: Synthesizing Wind Instruments Tips & Tricks Gordon Reid embarks on a journey to synthesize convincing woodwind and brass. This month, he considers how these instruments make their sound in real life. Logic Notes We look at the creative potential of Logic's Touch Tracks feature and the corrective potential of the audio fade-in, as well as showing you what 'solo safe' is and why you need it. Understanding And Writing Lyrics, Part 5: Simile & Metaphor Tips & Tricks Sam Inglis demostrates how you might furhter enrich your lyric writing with the use of comparisons. Using A Second PC As A Standalone MIDI Soft Synth Tips & Tricks Modern software allows you to turn a spare PC into a synth of sampler that's perfectly tailored to the needs of your studio. Martin Walker tells you how. Net Notes The advent of digital television has opened the eyes of many more musicians to the possibility of working on music for picture. John Walden trawls the Net to see what advice is available for those who want to score. Music Business Big George's Guide To Commercial Success: Copyright Feature | Tips & Tricks This month, Big George starts another revolution, whether you like it or not... |
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