August 1996 In This Issue
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Reviews Mini Digital Effects Unit This is the smallest and least costly reverb unit Alesis have ever produced. Paul White finds out whether you can mind the quality and still feel the width! Single-Channel Valve Compressor Famous for their Aural Exciters, Aphex continue to diversify. Paul White takes a look at the US company's new valve-based compressor. Modular Analogue Synthesis System (Retro) The ARP 2500 is so rare that most of the existing examples are in private collections. Though few of us will ever get to play with one, the story of this modular monster remains fascinating. Lucky 2500 owner Robert Alexander relates the tale... Valve Mic Preamp Digitech's VTP1 seeks to outpace the competition in the crowded valve mic preamp market by offering built-in 4-band EQ and a digital output. Paul White sees how it runs... Electrovoice RE1000, RE2000 & RE200 Capacitor Microphones Best known in the microphone world for their high-quality dynamic mics, Electrovoice are now hoping to raise their profile as a manufacturer of capacitor models with the release of three additions to their RE range. Paul White listens in. Stereo Compressor Paul White studio tests the JoeMeek Stereo Compressor to find out whether nostalgia really is what it used to be... Intelligent Harmoniser Korg have added a vocal harmony generator to their i-series of intelligent arranger workstations, taking advantage of the same harmonising technology that's behind Digitech's market-leading Vocalist series. Gordon Reid finds out whether the new unit has anything surprising up its sleeve... ROM/RAM Cards If you think Korg have been neglecting their Prophecy monosynth in favour of the numerous Trinity add-ons they're producing, think again. Gordon Reid heralds the arrival of two new Prophecy patch banks. 14-channel Compact Mixer Mackie's enormously successful 1604 and 1202 mixers have inspired a fleet of imitations, all keen to get a slice of the action. Sound Engineer Steve Brodie checks out Peavey's take on the compact mixer concept... Groovebox Roland once stated that they would never bring out a follow-up to their now terminally trendy TB303 Bassline. However, the success of other manufacturers' TB clones and the inflated price of the original have made them think again. Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser are proud to present the UK's first in-depth review of the new MC303. Personal Music Assistant Is it a Filofax? Is it a Stylophone? No... it's Roland's answer to Yamaha's portable music Walkstation family. Faster than a speeding bullet, Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser apply their X-ray vision to the new PMA5. Digital Recording & Editing Software This sophisticated new digital editor is up against such established software as Sound Forge and Samplitude Studio. Janet Harniman-Cook assesses whether Steinberg have built on their status in the sequencer field with a successful PC wave editing program. Digital MiniDisc Portastudio (Preview) Tascam revolutionised home recording with their cassette-based Portastudio, but haven't yet offered a budget digital version to compete with the Fostex DMT8/D80 and Roland VS880. Now their 4-track MiniDisc-based 564 is almost ready. Paul White gets a sneak preview... Digital Recorder Can Tascam's lean, mean DA38 offer musicians more functionality than the portlier DA88 without compromising on quality — and give the Alesis ADAT XT a run for its money? Paul White investigates. Digital Effects Processor The M2000 takes much of the technology behind its Danish manufacturer's professional flagship, the M5000, and re-packages it with less flexibility but a much lower price tag. Paul White finds out whether it's barking up the right tree. TL Audio 2011 & 2012 Indigo Range Valve Equalisers Paul White casts a critical ear over TL Audio's new budget dual-channel valve equalisers to see if high quality really is possible at such a relatively low price. | People + Opinion Digital Technology & The Modern Musician, Part 2 In this second article on digital music production, Clive Williamson looks at how musicians can use computer technology to get their work from a DAT tape to the final product — the CD. ED WYNNE (OZRIC TENTACLES): Five Go Mad In Somerset Interview | Band With a new studio album set to take their unique brand of instrumental music to the top of the charts, Ozric Tentacles are arguably the most successful truly independent band in the UK today. Jonathan Miller met leader Ed Wynne at their Somerset studio. FRED SPECKEEN (IVL TECH): Pitch Craft Interview | Manufacturer The pitch-shifting and harmonisation facilities available in the Digitech Vocalist series have been widely acclaimed as the most natural-sounding on the market. Paul White talks to Fred Speckeen of Canadian company IVL Technologies, who are behind the Vocalist and other pitch-shifting technology. Interview | Artist JJ Jeczalik, one third of '80s sampling pioneers Art Of Noise and erstwhile 'Mr Fairlight' has sold his series III and bounded into the '90s with an Akai sampler and a brand new album of dance music. Paul Tingen finds out why no noise is good noise. NORMAN FAY: Dance-specific Sound Modules Are Bad Sounding Off The latest crop of dance-specific sound modules are a bad thing, both for pop in general and dance music in particular, says SOS Contributor and self-confessed 'cynical old hippy' Norman Fay. Exploration Despite promises that the Internet will soon alter the way we make, promote, and sell our music forever, it would seem the revolution is yet to happen. Or is it? Simon Price explains how the technology required to broadcast your demo anywhere in the world is almost within reach. STEVE HILLIER (DUBSTAR): Northern Lights Interview | Band Newcastle-based Dubstar released one of the most successful pure pop albums of the last 12 months — and they made most of it using gear that wouldn't be out of place in many SOS readers' studios. Matt Bell gets sidereal with the band's programmer and main songwriter, Steve Hillier. How To Become A Record Producer, Part 8 If you want to make a living as a producer, masterminding great recordings is not the end of your obligations. You'll have to deal with lawyers, managers, and the business end of record companies — all in the interests of finding work, and ensuring you're paid for it! David Mellor invites you into his parlour... Technique Cakewalk Audio; Tel-Me Route-finder PC Notes Brian Heywood ponders some PC problems and waxes lyrical over the forthcoming Soundscape upgrade. Crash TV Playback | Readers' Music Reviewed Onz * Pete Swanson * Con Meehan * Interference * Discovery * D File * Aspire * Guy Thomas * Sirius B * Citizen X * Peter Ord * Alison Bentley Quartet Fixing The Mix, Part 2: Advanced Improvements Tips & Techniques Last month, Paul White looked at ways to tackle the noise and distortion that can spoil a mix. However, even a perfectly recorded mix can still sound terrible, and this calls for different tactics... Improving The Sound Of Your Reverb Tips & Tricks Paul White goes into economy mode and tries to coax an extra degree of realism out of a budget studio reverb unit. Apple Notes Martin Russ's terminal terminal finally gives up the ghost and after thinking long and hard about its replacement, he makes a surprising decision... Wave Master; CD Recorder Pro 2; Positive Image Atari Notes Ofir Gal brings news of a crop of software releases, from audio to graphics, which could enhance your Atari working environment... |
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Sound On Sound : Est. 1985