Reviews
Software Synthesizer There was always something quite special about Roland's classic Jupiter 8 analogue megasynth, but can Arturia capture that magic with their emulation?
Acoustic Panels These panels offer a very different approach to acoustics than the usual absorbent foam, so we decided to take a closer look.
Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone This new Beyer model doesn't sacrifice quality in its quest to be a truly versatile all-rounder.
Mastering EQ Plug-in [Mac OS X & Windows] Middle & Sides processing offers unique mastering possibilities, such as the ability to de-ess a centrally panned vocal without affecting panned cymbal sounds. Brainworx's new plug-in combines an innovative M&S matrix with mastering-quality EQ and processing.
USB Digital Mixer This new USB-equipped mixer has a control surface and a separate I/O unit, but are two boxes better than one?
Acoustic Guitar Microphone After vocals, acoustic guitar must be the most popular thing to poke a mic at — at least in a typical home studio — yet it isn't always the easiest instrument to record, because as soon as you find that magic sweet spot, the player moves! Does SE's latest mic offer a solution?
Compact Studio Monitors These monitors may be small, but they punch well above their weight.
Workstation & Sampler Keyboard workstations have always been something of a Korg speciality, ever since they created the concept almost 20 years ago with the M1. Does their latest offering, the M3, live up to its pedigree?
More hot plug-ins under evaluation •Rob Papen Albino 3
•SSL Drumstrip
•Starplugs Admiral
Quad Core Music Computer This Rain Recording model is the fastest PC ever reviewed in SOS, and also one of the quietest. Let's take a closer look...
Firewire Audio & MIDI Interface RME pass down some of the excellent features of their Fireface 800 to the more affordable 400 model, but have they cut any corners in doing so?
5042 & 5043 Dynamics Processors We take another look at the impressive Portico range, focusing on a compressor-limiter and a unique tape-emulation processor.
Sample Libraries • Zero-G Soundclash
• SonicCouture E-bow Guitar
• Ueberschall 60s A GoGo
Loop-based Recording Software [Mac OS X & Windows] Steinberg have drawn on some of the technologies they pioneered in Cubase 4 to create a new entry-level sequencing package.
Audio & MIDI Interfaces For Mac & PC The selection of USB 2.0 interfaces widens with the launch of these new models from Tascam.
Virtual Drum Instrument [Mac OS X & Windows] Is it really necessary to give up an entire hard drive in order to get your hands on a good-sounding drum library? XLN Audio think not.
Competition
Deadline: 2007-07-31 At the start of 2007, AKG celebrated their 60th anniversary and, to mark it, they released a limited edition of the C414, the C414 LTD, of which there are only 2007 in the world. This month, a lucky Sound On Sound reader will win one, thanks to our friends at Harman Pro UK. Prize kindly donated by Harman Pro UK. Call +44 (0)1707 668222 www.harmanprouk.com
Sound Advice
| People + Opinion
Hip-Hop Producer He may be the East Coast's biggest name in hip-hop production, but DJ Premier still creates his tracks with an ancient Akai MPC60 and S950 sampler.
Leader Editor In Chief Paul White chews the sonic fat over another thorny issue...
Inside Track: Justin Timberlake's Sexyback Megastar Justin Timberlake shot back into the charts last year with 'Sexyback', a hugely successful — and highly unusual — collaboration with hot-shot producer Timbaland. Jimmy Douglass was behind the desk.
Paul Farrer Controversial TV-music royalty changes are debated this month by composer Paul Farrer and the Performing Right Society (PRS).
Scott Leif What's next for data storage? [US edition]
Technique
Masterclass If there's one thing most of us would like to know, it's how to make some extra money — and if we can do it through making music or producing audio, so much the better!
Sonar Notes & Techniques Why wait to fix it in the mix when you can mend MIDI tracks while you're recording them? Sonar's MIDI plug-ins allow you to automatically fix anything from incorrect timing to inconsistent velocities - and more.
Pro Tools Notes & Techniques Backups may be boring, but if you get your backup strategy right now, there will come a time when it saves your life!
Producer: Alan Mair • Engineers: John Burns, Robert Ash Although never a commercial success, the Only One's 'Another Girl, Another Planet' has proved to be massively influential; and nearly 30 years after its original release, it's finally getting the recognition it deserves.
Ableton Live Notes & Techniques Clip Launch modes and Follow Actions are two of the most powerful and creative feature sets for composing and performing with Live, but they're also among the least well known. Let's investigate...
What Dub Mixing Is & How To Do It There are lots of reasons to teach yourself the art of dub mixing. It's fun, it's creative, it puts your engineering skills centre stage — and it might even make you some money!
Apple Notes Installing a MIDI interface to work with your Mac should be an easy task, but what happens if it doesn't want to play ball? Apple Notes is here to help.
Sound Workshop We made things a little harder by tackling this month's Mix Rescue before a student audience.
For newsstand (non-subscriber) readers To avoid newsstand buyers of the magazine from having to key in long URLs by hand, here are the links to the various MP3 files that accompany the JULY 2007 instalment of Mix Rescue. NOTE: for the first 8 months after publication, the online text/images article itself is available only to paid subscribers, but the audio files are accessible to everyone.
Hints & Tips To analogue synth fanatics, the Matrix Pattern Sequencer is one of the highlights of Reason's toolbox.
Masterclass Recording a rock band playing 'live' in the studio presents a unique set of challenges, but it is still possible to achieve a good result.
Film Music & The Future Of The Sampled Orchestra Creating the score for Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End required an incredible amount of music technology, and demonstrated why 64-bit computing offers new levels of realism for orchestral sample libraries.
PC Notes An AMD-Intel price-cutting war spells savings for the consumer on speedy processors. We consider what you should do now if you're in the market for a new CPU, as well as bringing the latest news from the PC music world.
Acoustics & Ergonomics Workshop The SOS crew go hob-nobbing at a stately home this month, and get to grips with the acoustics of a large and lively room.
PC Musician If the transition to Windows Vista is a matter of concern for PC-based musicians, imagine how serious it must be to music hardware and software developers. Our Round Table gives some of them the chance to air their views about the new OS and the problems and opportunities it presents.
Cubase Notes & Techniques Love it or loathe it, computer-based recording has made compiling the perfect performance a whole lot easier than with that pesky tape. We look at 'comping' techniques in Cubase 4.
Logic Notes & Techniques Working to moving images in Logic is now easier than ever, given its improved editing tools and Global Track functionality. We explore how these features can enhance workflow and offer some tips for making the most of your audio-visual experience.
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Gear Reviews
