July 2001 In This Issue
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Reviews Amtech Age Pro Guitar Echo Unit Paul White tests a specialised analogue delay unit, designed to emulate the unique warm sound and complex echo patterns of its vintage, tape-driven ancestors. TC Works Spark XL v2 Mac Audio Editor Version 2 of TC Works' Spark XL stereo audio editing software offers several unique new features and a very fast new Virtual File Engine that should speed up the operation of the program with large files. Paul White fires it up... Yamaha DX200 FM sequencing Workstation It looks like a groovebox, but inside it's a powerful FM synth, fully editable via bundled software. Derek Johnson & Debbie Poyser modulate those frequencies... Advanced Subtractive Performance Synthesizer Clavia's new third-generation Nord Lead synthesizer augments its familiar virtual analogue modelling with enhanced FM synthesis capabilities, and introduces a striking new visual twist to the usual controller-rich Nord user interface. Simon Trask trips the light fantastic with Clavia's new Lead... M&K MPS Speaker System Hugh Robjohns tests an innovative full-range speaker system, which somehow manages to get 12 separate drivers working in harmony. Emagic EVP88 Electric Piano Virtual Instrument Plug-In For Logic Audio More and more vintage hardware instruments are now being modelled as virtual instrument plug-ins. With EVP88, Emagic have turned their attention to electric pianos, producing a Logic-only plug-in which models several different piano types. Paul White discovers that the tines they are a-changin'... MOTU 828 FireWire Audio Interface For Mac And PC Paul White tests MOTU's new FireWire-based multi-channel audio interface for Mac or PC. Digital Recording Studio If eight tracks feels a little cramped, but 16 is just too expensive, then maybe 12 is the answer. John Walden investigates the new Korg D12. Hoontech Soundtrack Audio DSP24 & ADC/DAC2000 PC Recording Interface Hoontech may be a new name to most SOS readers, but those interested in affordable multi-channel digital audio cards for Windows platforms may want to get to know them better. John Walden puts their Soundtrack DSP24 and ADC/DAC2000 package to the test. Valve Microphone Rode have brought down the cost of their celebrated large-diaphragm valve microphone technology still further with their new NTK model. Paul White warms it up. Sherman Filterbank 2 Processor Four years on from its launch, Sherman have updated their innovative Filterbank analogue filter unit. Paul Nagle checks out all the weird and wonderful new features. Studiomaster 162BP Rackmount Mixer If you need an affordable compact mixer with a decent audio path, a simple to use layout and no unnecessary complexity, be sure to check out this new rackmount model from Studiomaster. Paul White evaluates the 162BP. Crumar Spirit Analogue Monosynth (retro) If the Crumar Spirit is one of the best analogue monosynths the world has ever known, how come you've never heard of it? Gordon Reid explains... Trident MTA 'A'-range Dual Discrete Channel Continuing the trend for reinventing the classics, this reworking of the original Trident 'A'-range input module seeks to recreate the sound of the '70s. Hugh Robjohns steps back in time. | People + Opinion Computer Storage As technological progress continues to make digital storage devices bigger, RAM cheaper, and processing faster, hitherto outlandish ideas come closer to being realistic possibilities. This month, Dave Shapton thinks about teaching his computer to Name That Tune... Flightcrank - Joe Morena; Building Leeroy Thornhill's Home Studio How do you follow 10 years in The Prodigy, one of the most successful bands of the last decade? By recording a solo album in an outhouse adjoining a disused windmill, naturally. Matt Bell meets former Firestarter Leeroy Thornhill and his studio designer Joe Morena to discuss the making of a recording facility in a former double garage. Producer Chris Tsangarides & Rainmaker Studio Over the last three decades Chris Tsangarides has produced some of the biggest names in heavy rock and has perfected the art of capturing the excitement of a loud, live band on record. Tom Flint finds out about some of his trademark production and engineering techniques including his work on the latest Gary Moore album, Back To The Blues. Producer Gus Dudgeon Best known for his collaborations with Elton John, Gus Dudgeon is one of the most successful British record producers ever. He talks to Sam Inglis about his work. Paul Ward wonders whether 'classic' always means 'good'... Paul Ward wonders whether 'classic' always means 'good'... Technique Improving Your Musical Skills with Ear Training Ear training - learning to intuitively recognise note intervals, chords and progressions, and even absolute pitches - is something that many musicians could benefit from, although few actually attempt it. Richard Leon explains the skills involved, and rounds up some software which can help you improve in this area. Bass Devils Playback | Readers' Music Reviewed Jake & The Electric Nudes * Steve Cash * Cyon * Smoothcheeseboard * DJ Invicta * Andrew Scott * The Absolute Darlings * Danny Hogan * Life Support Machine Atari Notes Your Atari can connect to loads of peripherals you might not expect it to be able to use, including removable hard drives, DVD-RAM drives, and CD writers. Derek Johnson plugs in. PC Notes Like a phoenix from the ashes, Martin Walker's PC rises once again, in a new (and hopefully more robust) configuration. Equalisers Explained EQ is a vital tool in modern music production, and an understanding of how each type of equaliser works is important if you are to choose the most effective one for each situation. Paul White and Mike Senior explain the basic principles of equalisation and the different practical implementations. Giving Your MIDI Tracks A Live Feel: Part 1 Do you find that your MIDI tracks lack the magic of real performances? Simon Millward looks at the inner workings of one of James Brown's most famous songs and shows you how the musicians' techniques can be used to improve the feel of your own sequences. Audio Recording Using A PC Soundcard: Basic Principles As with any recording system, the first goal of recording on a PC is to preserve as faithful a copy of the source sound as possible. Achieving this, however can be a complicated business. Martin Walker goes back to basics. Compression Techniques This month, we show you a powerful compression technique available in Logic, as well as describing a workaround which increases the bank range of your Multi Instruments. Also, there are instructions on how to control a large range of Logic's parameters in real time from your MIDI master keyboard's mod wheel. Apple Notes There are dark mutterings against Steve Jobs on planes, trains and automobiles, as Paul Wiffen continues to struggle with phantom crashes and difficult reboots of OS9.1 since installing OS X on his computer... Matching The Phase Of Mic & DI Signals Sound Workshop Craig Anderton shows you how to get the best results when combining miked and DI'ed feeds from a bass guitar. Songwriting Resources Online Want to write really great songs, sell millions of records and discover that money can't buy you happiness? There are plenty of sites on the web that aim to help you be a better songwriter, but there's also a lot of worthless rubbish out there. Sam Inglis tries not to waste too much time... Memory Cycle Function More invaluable MOTU-related user tips, including effective mix automation and the use of grouped controls, as well as customised Mixing Board layout editing, plus loop editing and crossfading. Part 27: Roland SH101/ARP Axxe Brass Synthesis * Gordon Reid concludes his attempts to adapt an idealised analogue brass patch so that it can be programmed on real synths. This month, he looks at the Roland SH101 and ARP Axxe. Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques This month we focus on the score editor in Cubase VST Score and Cubase VST/32, and offer a handy tip for recovering corrupt Songs. Music Business Big George's Guide to Commercial Success; Staying Cool Under Pressure Big George explains how to stay cool under pressure... Sound Advice Can you help me make the most of my studio work experience? * How can I access all the sounds in my SW1000XG? * Why won't my VST instruments run in Logic? * How do sequencers work? * What's the best way to mic a classical chamber trio? * Why won't my edit Can you help me make the most of my studio work experience? * How can I access all the sounds in my SW1000XG? * Why won't my VST instruments run in Logic? * How do sequencers work? * What's the best way to mic a classical chamber trio? * Why won't my editor/librarian talk to my sequencer? * How can I timestamp audio files? |
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