Reviews
AFFORDABLE DIGITAL RECORDING ON THE PC
Microsoft MSS PC sound card and Voyetra Audioview Digital Audio Editor Panicos Georghiades and Gabriel Jacobs examine whether a new PC sound card and a Wave editor program could finally give the home musician affordable digital recording and editing.
Best Service B3 Barbara Dennerlein
Sample Library * Score = 4.5
Beyer MC834
Capacitor Microphone Beyer's new baby is a highly specified cardioid microphone, but unlike many large diaphragm models, it has a procltivity for truth rather than flattery. Paul White checks it out.
FELINE GROOVY
Kat DK10 Percussion Controller Musicians often shy away from percussion controllers, prefering to bang out drum parts on a keyboard rather than learn a new system. But this new, simplified controller from KAT could take away your fear of sticks - Paul D. Lehrman finds it's once beaten, forever smitten...
Groove Construction
Sample Library * Score = 3 and 3/4
MICRODEAL REPLAY 16
16-bit sampler for Atari ST Computers Take this budget sampling software and a Yamaha SY85 synth and you have a cheap way of down loading your own sound into your instrument's RAM. Derek Johnson reveals all...
OPEN & SHUT CASE?
Commander C80 Master Keyboard It may be completely dumb but it's a pretty smart cookie... Derek Johnson checks out an 88-key Italian MIDI master keyboard with more than just a few tricks up its sleeve.
PEAVEY PC1600
Peavey PC1600 MIDI Controller Peavey's range of MIDI products now extends from flagship synths and world-beating master keyboards to more mundane but welcome MIDI tools. Paul Ireson makes friends with the new PC1600 MIDI Controller.
PIPE DREAMS
Bars & Pipes Professional 2 Amiga Sequencing Software Bars & Pipes Pro2, in addition to its unusual graphic user interface, boasts a host of multimedia features you don't usually expect of a MIDI sequencer. Paul Austin can hardly contain his excitement about this Amiga wonder-package...
SADIE PC HARD DISK RECORDING SYSTEMS
SADiE PC Hard Disk Recording Systems Brian Heywood looks at this easy to use PC-based pro digital audio editor from Studio Audio & Video.
SIMPLY THE BEST?
Roland JD990 Synthesizer Module Just another expensive module, or Roland's best synth to date? Paul Ireson sees whether the JD990 has what it takes.
SMALL WONDER
TL Audio Mini Amp Amps, eh. We all need 'em to sit in a corner quietly making us loud, but we don't want to pay much for 'em... enter the TLA Mini Amp, a super-compact studio amplifier that delivers on both counts. Paul White takes the Mini out for a drive.
SPEAKERS CORNER
Tannoy PBM 6.5 Near-Field Monitors Tannoy's new, compact monitor combines low cost with a lively performance, but does it have what it takes to topple the industry standard near-fields? Paul White finds out.
STEINBERG: PC-MIDI interfaces; GAJITS: Sequencer One Plus
Tascam Porta 07
4-track Portastudio If you're in the market for a cassette 4-track, you'll have noticed that they're not exactly thin on the ground - which means that competition for your money is pretty fierce. Tascam are the acknowledged grandaddy of the Portastudio, and the latest in the Porta series aims to hit the right compromise between cost, facilities and performance. Paul White finds out if the 07 gets the balance right.
THE BIG PICTURE
Amek Big By Langley Mixing Console (Preview) Not only does Amek's Big by Langley mixing desk offer digital control and Super-True automation at an unprecedented price, it also boasts some innovative and surprising touches - including Talking Recall. Paul White previews Amek's most attainable professional console yet.
WIDGETS
C-Thru Music NoteTracker Harmony Aid C-Thru Music NoteTracker Harmony Aid.
WIDGETS
EMO E725 Phantom Power Supply Stand alone Phantom Power Supply.
WIDGETS
MTR GB2 Gain Brain Mic/Line Booster MTR GB2 Gain Brain Mic/Line Booster.
WIDGETS
The Complete Cubase Handbook The Complete Cubase Handbook.
WIDGETS
Hurford Studio Bug Gold Hurford Studio Bug Gold; sSmall Mic.
| People + Opinion
INSIDER FADING
Behind the design of the Soundcraft DC2000 Moving Fader Console; John Oakley & Jo Jenkins Paul White bypasses security at Soundcraft's R&D centre, where he quizzes John Oakley and Jo Jenkins about the design of their low-cost, moving fader DC2000 Automated Mixing Console.
LIVE END: National Music Day Part 2: The SOS guide to Festival Stage Management
Marco Perry & Dave Clayton: Have Fun & Be Creative When Making Music
Opinion | Music Production (Production Lines) Some people make music in the hope of findiing fame and fortune, while for others it's a means of self-expression. But whatever your reasons for making music, you should always be having fun, say producers Dave Clayton and Marco Perry. Here they explain why the need to get creative has pushed them into setting up their own record label.
MARCUS RYLE: Designing the Alesis Quadrasynth
Marcus Ryle: Designing The Alesis Quadrasynth From their early roots in affordable effects, Alesis have progressed so far that they now threaten to equip your entire studio - and even provide your keyboard. For their newest project, the Quadrasynth, Alesis have once more enlisted the expertise of Marcus Ryle, a designer with an impeccable background, including work on the great Oberheim synths. Paul White talks to him about his newest synth design.
MICHEL HUYGEM: Psychotronic Landscapes
Michel Huygen: Psychotronic Landscapes Catalan musician Michel Huygen is living proof that handsome rewards can be reaped from the often misconstrued world of electronic music - not to mention the Olympic City of Barcelona. Jonathan Miller reveals the art of the psychotronic entrepreneur.
Technique
AMIGA NOTES: Interface options
ATARI NOTES: Should ST owners upgrade to Falcon?
Dance Music Sequencing Techniques
DRUM PROGRAMMING: A series by Warren Cann, Part 14
Drum Programming: A Series By Warren Cann: Part 14 In the last part of this series, Drum Programming moves out of the studio and on to the road, as Warren Cann goes live.
MIDI MUTING
MIDI Muting Mixing Tips MIDI Muting is becoming more and more common as a standard feature on today's studio mixing consoles, and as well as performing routine mixing tasks, it has creative applications you may not have imagined. Paul White explains how MIDI muting works and how you can make best use of it.
Opcode; Musicshop; Edit One Librarian
Apple Notes Opcode; Musicshop; Edit One Librarian.
PERSONALISE YOUR DRUM MACHINE
Personalise Your Drum Machine Drum machines are cheap, convenient and easy to record, but their sounds are often either too identifiable or aren't exactly what you want. Paul White gives some tips on personalising your drum sounds.
SoundScap Hard Disk Recorder; MIDI & Electronic Music Show; The Music Zone
PC Notes
THE MELLOTRON: The Rime Of The Ancient Sampler
The Mellotron: The Rime Of The Ancient Sampler A new album from Voiceprint, The Rime Of The Ancient Sampler, is both a celebration of the Mellotron as well as a meeting of some of the best know users of the instrument. David Etheridge looks at the past, present and future world's first ever sample playback instrument.
THE SOUND OF MOTOWN
The Sound Of Motown The Motown sound has proved to be as influential as it is enjoyable, with classic Motown records still receiving regular airplay and hardly a year going by without a new release in the Motown style. Pauly and Joe Ortiz tell you the sounds and treatments you need to achieve an authentic feel and provide some patterns to spark off your own ideas.
USING PATCHBAYS
Using Patchbays Setting up a decent patchbay system for your studio can seem like a lot of hassle.Is it worth it? Paul White considers the ins and outs of patchbays, and concludes that the potential benefits far outweigh the initial effort.
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