May 1999 In This Issue
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Reviews Active Powered Monitors The cost-effective M1 Active nearfield monitors are the first active speakers Alesis have produced. Paul White puts them to the test. Behringer MDX2200 Composer Pro Multi-function Dynamics Processor The latest version of Behringer's Composer dynamics processor appears to provide all the facilities anyone could ask for, with a separate expander/gate, compressor and limiter for each of its two channels. Hugh Robjohns checks it out. Creative Labs SoundBlaster Live! PCI Soundcard Over the years many musicians have got started with a low-cost Creative Labs soundcard, but the latest upmarket Soundblaster Live! model is even more tempting. Martin Walker checks out the specs. Pro Tools Hardware Control Surface Pro Tools is virtually an industry standard for music production and post-production, even though its powerful mixing and signal processing capabilities have previously only been fully accessible through a computer screen. The recent introduction of Digidesign's own ProControl addresses that problem. Hugh Robjohns just loves being in control... 2-channel Dynamics Processor Paul White gets inside Focusrite's new compressor to find out what really makes it tick. Keyboard Workstation Italian firm Generalmusic have made their reputation in the home keyboard market, but their new Equinox is an extremely well-specified professional workstation. Paul Nagle is suitably impressed. CD-R/CD-RW Recorder HHB's new CD-R appears to offer all the features we've always wanted in an affordable standalone CD recorder. Hugh Robjohns finds out if it delivers. Stereo Compressor JoeMeek combine the old and the new in their opto-electronic analogue compressor with 24-bit digital I/O and M&S signal path. Paul White tries it out. Digital Multitrack Interface Designed to interface the Kurzweil K2000/K2500 synths directly with digital recording equipment, the DMTi also has a role as a general-purpose digital format convertor. Hugh Robjohns checks it out. Mixer & Format Convertor Midiman have a reputation for niche products at reasonable prices, and their latest, SAM, could do a number of useful jobs in the ADAT-based studio. Bob Dormon makes the connections. Synthesizers (Retro) Most US synthesizer manufacturers followed the now all-too-familiar corporate history of rapid growth in the 1970s followed by acrimonious dissolution in the 1980s. What happened to Octave, however, was a little different as Gordon Reid describes. Portable Digital Multitrack Recorders Buyer's Guide With almost 20 self-contained digital multitrackers on the market, either new or second-hand, it can be hard to decide which one is for you. Debbie Poyser & Derek Johnson discuss the options and round up the available models. Valve Microphones In which our hero Paul White puts an Antipodean valve studio mic through its paces to ascertain whether it is Nice To Vocals. Sibelius Scorewriting Software Most MIDI sequencers now include some notation facilities, however, these fall some way short of the needs of the scorewriting professional. Arranger and conductor Mike Crofts checks out one of the few dedicated scorewriting programs. Cardioid Condenser Microphone A new studio microphone from Shure is always well worth investigating. Hugh Robjohns checks out the KSM32 cardioid mic. Modular Synthesizer Last month, Gordon Reid reviewed the babies of the Technosaurus range, the Microcon synthesizer and Cyclodon sequencer. This month, he tackles their (very) big brother, the Selector modular synthesizer... | People + Opinion Interview | Musician American keyboard player George Duke was at the forefront of the jazz-rock movement of the 1970s. Since then, he's been a prolific songwriter, producer, and recording artist in his own right. Paul Tingen ventures into the Duke's Hollywood residence... How to Become a Recording Engineer, Part 2 Tips & Techniques In order to become a professional music recording engineer, you have to start at the bottom and work up. But in such a competitive business, how do you even get in at the bottom? David Mellor explores various possibilities. IAN STEWART: Boring Music? Don't Blame Technology! Sounding Off It's true that too much music sounds predictable and boring, says Ian Stewart, but it's too easy to blame technology the real reasons lie elsewhere. MIRIAM STOCKLEY: Recording Session Singing Interview | Artist Miriam Stockley is one of the premier session singers in the UK; but it's taken her until now to record an album of her own. She talks to Sue Sillitoe about recording the album in her new home studio. TOMMY D: Recording Catatonia's 'Dead From The Waist Down' Interview | Producer Catatonia's rise from indie obscurity to pop dominance seems unstoppable and, with the first single from their new album, they're even targetting Radio 2 listeners. Matt Bell talks to producer Tommy D about the track's transformation from Akai DPS12 demo to Top Ten hit. Technique Avoiding Equipment Battery Failure Tips & Tricks It seems everybody is talking about the millennium bug, but a far greater threat to the operation of our studios is already ticking away inside our effects units and synthesizers. Paul White gives a battery health warning. Connecting Audio + MIDI Signals Inside PC Music Software Feature | Tips & Tricks Multiple inputs and software-based mixers allow both audio and MIDI signals to travel some convoluted routes inside the PC. Martin Walker untangles his virtual cables to how best to get them out at the other end. DirectX 6.1, DirectMusic; Yamaha CRW4260S; Pentium III PC Notes This month sees Martin Walker meeting the men from Microsoft, burning CDs faster, listening to new SoundFonts and testing out utility software. Does he ever sleep? Faking Ensemble Backing Vocals Tips & Tricks Paul White comes up with a few tips for using the processing power of your computer audio sequencer to turn one or two voices into a complete backing ensemble. Playback Readers' Music Reviewed The Gator Brothers * Eric Amarillo * Slick Wicked Nation * Dream Phoenix * The Baby Buddahs, * Andy & Pete Parsons * Trace * Sinaptic Gap * Alan Allen * Andrew Bowring * Jon Gooch * Unsigned Allsorts Apple Notes Martin Russ brings you more information about Mac plug-ins, and downloads two Software Development Kits. Quinsoft Mixer Maps; Electronic Cow Charming Chaos; Pravda Atari Notes Studio management software, Cubase mixer maps, sounds and editor/librarian programs for a range of older synths are all up for grabs as an Atari developer posts his previously commercial work for free on the Internet. Derek Johnson tells you what's available and keeps an eye on the Atari news scene. Tips & Tricks The piano comes in a variety of forms and is used in many different roles as part of ensembles and as a solo instrument. Many engineers regard the piano as the hardest instrument to record. Hugh Robjohns offers some practical hints and tips for getting the right sound. Synth Secrets, Part 1: What's In A Sound? Exploration In the first part of this new series exploring the world of subtractive synthesis, Gordon Reid goes right back to basics. What are waveforms and harmonics, where do they come from, and how does the theory relate to what we actually hear? Web Browsers: Synth Zone; Microsoft Explorer Net Notes Tracking down the information you need on the Internet can be a joy or a nightmare, depending on whether you're idly browsing or desperately searching for a small specific piece of information. In this month's Net Notes, Martin Walker passes on a selection of basic tips to make browsing easier. Sound Advice 20 Tips On Smooth Studio Operation Tips & Tricks Paul White presents 20 ways to ensure your studio runs smoothly. If only he'd taken notice of them himself, he might be managing Abbey Road by now! |
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