5 AAS Modelling Collections to be won!

Deadline: 2009-07-31

This month we have five Modelling Collection bundles, each worth £375, to give away. They comprise the latest editions of Tassman, Lounge Lizard, Ultra Analog, String Studio, Strum Acoustic and Strum Electric, to form an astonishingly useful sonic arsenal. They work on Mac and PC with VST, Audio Units and RTAS-format hosts, so if you have a computer in your studio, why not enter? www.applied-acoustics.com

AnaMod ATS1

Analogue Tape Recorder Simulator

Some say that nothing does analogue tape like analogue tape does, but AnaMod think they’re wrong — and are doing a pretty good job of proving it!

ART Voice Channel

Vocal Recording Channel & USB Audio Interface

This budget recording strip is certainly a jack of all trades, delivering a huge feature set for the price — but does it offer quality as well as quantity?

Audiofile Wave Editor 1.4

Audio Editing Software For Mac OS X

Audiofile Engineering’s elegant package offers impressive editing features at an affordable price.

Audix CX212

Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone

Audix’s acclaimed range of microphones is designed and built entirely at home in the USA — and it’s an approach that seems to be paying off...

Big Fish Audio South American Traditions & Elements: South America

WAV/REX/Apple Loops/Stylus RMX

Brainworx BX_dynEQ & Boom

Dynamic Equaliser Plug-ins [Mac/PC]

The dynamic equaliser can be a secret weapon for fixing faults at the mixing or even the mastering stage, and Brainworx’ innovative plug-in implementation offers novel M/S features.

EdgeSounds Native Russian Volume 2

Kontakt 2 Player/GigaStudio 3

Even Harmonic GTAK

MIDI Guitar Kontakt Script

Future Audio Workshop Circle

Software Synth [Mac/PC]

Future Audio Workshop’s debut soft synth offers versatile modulation possibilities, via an interface designed to be highly intuitive.

IK Multimedia Amplitube

Fender Amp Modelling Plug-in

Izotope Ozone 4

Mastering Plug-in [Mac/PC]

Izotope’s comprehensive suite of mastering tools continues to develop and mature, yet still offers excellent value for money.

Korg Microkorg XL

Synthesizer & Vocoder

The hugely popular Microkorg — the world’s best-selling synth for the past few years, according to its makers — has gained what Korg describe as a ‘big brother’. Will it repeat the success of its sibling?

MOTU BPM

Virtual Groovebox [Mac/PC]

MOTU’s BPM takes some obvious cues from Akai’s MPC range — but can a groovebox work in software?

Prodipe A1

Small-diaphragm Condenser Microphone

When you’re on a budget, you’ll need one mic to perform a range of duties — and this one seems to punch above its weight.

Samson Resolv A6 & 120A

Studio Monitors & Subwoofer

Samson’s new low-cost nearfields can produce a big sound, but do they measure up for serious mixing? We find out.

Siedlaczek Complete Classical Collection II

Sample Library

‘Complete Classical Collection’ is quite a claim. Can orchestral sampling pioneer Peter Siedlaczek’s latest library make good on it?

Studio Devil Virtual Bass Amp

Bass Amp Modelling Plug-in

USB IRCAM Solo Instruments

UVI Workstation & MachFive2

Yellow Tools Independence Pro

Software Sampler [Mac/PC]

This suite of sampling, effects and live performance software, with a bundled 65GB library, is feature-rich but also up against heavy competition. Can it make its mark?

Doves: Producing Kingdom Of Rust

Dan Austin & Jez Williams

Doves have overcome writer’s block, the perils of democracy and a silly studio name to produce an early contender for album of the year.

Listen With Your Eyes?

Leader

In this screen-driven world, it's easy to forget that we have ears with which to make quality judgements...

Playback

Readers’ Music Reviewed

More readers' tracks get the Juke Box Jury treatment from the SOS crew. Sponsored by breed-media.co.uk

Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Dylan ‘3D’ Dresdow

Black Eyed Peas

For their fifth album, The END, Black Eyed Peas main man will.i.am took the band — and their long-serving mixer Dylan Dresdow — in a new direction, with stunning success.

Short Cuts

People Making Waves With Music Technology

• Duncan Miller & Tom Rodwell: Nightmares On Wax?
• Jon Hopkins: Electronica Without MIDI

Simple Minds: Recording Graffiti Soul

Jez Coad & Simple Minds

Thirty years after their debut, Simple Minds returned to their roots as a live band and relit the old fires to record their most impressive album in years.

Sounding Off

Conor O'Brien

Will the recession have music going for a song?

Ableton Live: Warping Revisited

Ableton Live Notes & Techniques

Warping has changed entirely in Live 8. We show you how to get the most out of the new system.

Classic Tracks: The Moody Blues ‘Nights In White Satin’

Producer: Tony Clarke • Engineer: Derek Varnals

Thunderous reverbs, haunting vocals and Mellotron galore: we tell the story of recording the Moody Blues’ symphonic rock masterpiece, ‘Nights In White Satin’.

Future Of The Music Industry?

Apple Notes

News, tips and advice for Mac-based musicians.

Logic's Master Blasters

Logic Notes & Techniques

Part 1: Use Logic’s EQ and SubBass plug-ins to give some mastering polish to your mixes.

Mix Rescue: Punkdisco

Sparse Arrangements

We didn’t have to fight through competing walls of sound in this month’s Mix Rescue, but a sparse arrangement offers challenges of its own...

Mix Rescue: Punkdisco | Audio Files

Hear For Yourself

This page provides links to MP3 and WAV files that accompany July 2009's Mix Rescue article.

Multitrack Comping in Digital Performer

Digital Performer Notes & Techniques

Comping multitrack audio needn’t be a headache with new features in Digital Performer 6.

On-line Sessions: Remote Working | Audio Files

On-line Session Services Compared

If your music deserves the best musicians, the Internet provides the means to find them. We test the three leading on-line session services.

Quick Controls

Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

With even a basic hardware MIDI controller, Quick Controls make writing automation in Cubase much more convenient.

Quick Controls | Track Presets | Media Files

Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

Download a ZIP file of the Track Presets that accompany July 2009's Cubase Notes workshop on Quick Controls automation.

Remote Working

On-line Session Services Compared

If your music deserves the best musicians, the Internet provides the means to find them. We test the three leading on-line session services.

Sonar: Stereo Tools

Sonar Notes & Techniques

If you’re interested in M/S (Mid/Side) recording or stereo image tweaks, Sonar’s Channel Tools could be your best friend.

Studio SOS: Tom Hennessey

Recording on a tight budget

We show Tom Hennessey that as long as you have good ideas and a good ear, you can put together decent recordings and mixes on the smallest of budgets.

Tips For Beginners

Digidesign (Avid) Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

We continue our newcomer's guide to Pro Tools with a selection of techniques that every user should know.

Will Gigasampler Make A Comeback?

PC Notes

The ‘Giga’ sampling platform may be coming back from the dead, with the news that developer Gary Garritan has acquired it from Tascam. PC Notes reports.

Notes From The Deadline

TV Music From The Inside

Pitching for work is frustrating, time-consuming and, unless you’re very lucky, unpaid. But at least the best demo (usually) wins.

The Remix Business: Part 2

Getting Creative

We continue our insider’s guide to remixing with some practical tips on the creative decisions that will underpin your remix.

Q. How do crossovers work?

Q. Should I buy some ‘grot box’ speakers?

Q. What are filters and what do they do?