Win Dave Hill Designs Europa 1 Worth £1,249 GBP

Deadline: 2011-09-11

When we reviewed the Europa 1 mic preamp last month, we described it as “very high quality”, “remarkably useful” and “truly impressive” — so it should make the winner of this month’s competition very happy indeed!

Adobe Audition CS5.5

Post-production DAW & Wave Editor

Adobe’s audio editing package has been fully rewritten, ported to Mac OS and integrated into their Creative Suite. Does it have everything you need for audio post‑production?

Allen & Heath GSR24

Firewire Analogue Mixer & DAW Controller

Achieving the perfect balance of analogue mixer and control surface in one product used to mean getting a mortgage on a high‑end SSL or reducing your analogue channel count. Not any more...

App Works

Making Music On The Move

This month, Jules Harding checks out ImageLine FL Studio Mobile v1.0 sequencer for iOS and John Vella Music Songcatcher v1.3 DAW for iOS.

ART Dual X Direct & Dual Z Direct

Active & Passive DI boxes

Dave Lockwood checks out a nifty little DI box.

Big Fish Audio | Modern Country

Sample Library

4.5*

DMG Audio EQuality & Compassion

EQ & Compression Plug‑ins

DMG Audio’s innovative plug‑ins combine friendly interfaces with an amazingly comprehensive feature set. Could they be the only EQ and compressor you’ll ever need?

Drawmer HQ

Preamplifier & D‑A Converter

Can a preamp and D‑A converter successfully straddle the pro-audio and hi‑fi markets? Drawmer believe it can...

Eventide Eclipse V4

Studio Effects Processor

You’d think a digital effect processor’s brilliance might have been eclipsed somewhat in the last decade, but Eventide have made significant software changes that keep this one fresh, relevant and desirable.

Evolution Series | World Percussion

Sample Library

A huge ethnic percussion library from down under circles the globe and arrives on hard drive.

Flux IRCAM Tools

Plug‑in Suite

You’d expect plug‑ins based on IRCAM’s research to be unique and experimental — but are they practical tools you’ll want to use every day in the studio?

Flux IRCAM Tools | Audio

Plug-in Suite

These audio files accompany the Flux IRCAM Tools review that featured in SOS August 2011.

HK Audio Elements

Modular PA System

If you’re looking for a lightweight PA setup that can be scaled to suit your needs, HK’s Elements system warrants closer inspection...

Inspired Instruments You Rock Guitar

MIDI Control Instrument

It looks like something that should be plugged into a games console, but Inspired Instruments’ You Rock Guitar just might be the MIDI guitar controller you’ve always wanted!

JBL PRX615M

Active Monitor & PA Speaker

Using advanced DSP and squeezing a 15‑inch driver into a compact cabinet, JBL’s lightweight PA promises convenience, volume and clarity in abundance.

Lush Projects Vibrati Punk Console

DIY Synthesizer Kit

Paul Fremantle gets his hands on this self-contained synth, based on the Atari Punk Console.

Mackie Onyx Blackbird

Firewire Audio Interface

Mackie have bundled eight of their popular Onyx preamps into a 1U rackmount audio interface. We put it to the test...

Microtech Gefell M1030

Condenser Microphone

The M930’s bigger brother is a large‑diaphragm condenser that displays all the Gefell family traits, but with added visual appeal.

MXL LSC1N

Stage Capacitor Microphone

Paul White explores the potential of this little mic manufactured by Marshall Electronics.

Neco Soundlab Portable V2

Dual Mono Headphone Amplifier

Hugh Robjohns gets to grips with this reasonably-priced headphone amp.

Radial Tonebone PZ Pre

Acoustic Instrument Preamp

James Dunkley is on the case of the Radial Tonebone PZ Preamp.

Roland Jupiter 80

Performance Synthesizer

The Jupiter 8 looms large in synthesizer history, and any synth bearing the name has a lot to live up to. Is the Jupiter 80 destined for the same legendary status? Find out in our world‑exclusive review...

Scarbee Funk Guitarist

Virtual Guitar Instrument

If you’ve ever fantasised about playing guitar like Nile Rogers — and who hasn’t — Scarbee’s latest instrument could make all your dreams come true.

Sonnox Fraunhofer Pro‑Codec

Real‑time Data Compression Plug‑in

Sonnox’s clever plug‑in allows you to hear exactly what different MP3 and AAC encoder settings do to your precious mixes — in a true blind test, if you like!

Sonnox Fraunhofer Pro‑Codec | Media

Real‑time Data Compression Plug‑in

These audio files accompany the Sonnox Fraunhofer Pro-Codec review that featured in SOS August 2011.

Sonokinetic | Desert Voice

Sample Library

3.5*

Soundorder | Electronic Drums Vol. 1

Sample Library

4*

Tannoy Reveal 501A

Active Nearfield Monitors

Tannoy’s Reveal monitors have long been popular among home‑studio owners on a budget. How does the baby of the new range compare with the competition?

TC-Helicon VoiceTone Correct XT

Vocal Processor

It can be difficult to exercise control over your vocal tone in a live environment. TC-Helicon aim to put the most useful effects right at your feet.

Tonehammer | Microhammer Bundle

Sample Library

5*

David Ricard: Project Skeletons In My Closet

Sounding Off

Cleaning out the closet can reveal the bones of unfinished projects long forgotten...

Mark Neill: Recording The Black Keys At Muscle Shoals

Interview | Engineer

The Black Keys’ Brothers was the first album to be recorded at Muscle Shoals in 30 years. But with all its equipment long gone, would engineer Mark Neill be able to recapture the studio’s legendary sound?

Phil Ek: Recording Fleet Foxes' Helplessness Blues

Interview | Producer

Hampered by high expectations and an unhealthy obsession with vintage gear, Fleet Foxes’ second album took a year to make, in five different studios...

Philippe Zdar: Recording The Beastie Boys' 'Make Some Noise'

Inside Track | Secrets Of The Mix Engineers

Feeling that something was missing from their latest album, the Beastie Boys decided it needed remixing — by a “crazy Frenchman”...

Playback

Readers’ Music Reviewed

Hamilton Sterling & Jimmy Haslip * Kissy Sell Out * Rubik * Zomby * Cool Beyond Zero * Kansas Burns * Tall Poppies * Rapids! * Ozone Player & Matt Howarth

Stage School

Leader

Paul White's Leader.

Audio Interfaces, Latency & Twisted Tools

PC Notes

Your PC may be powerful enough to achieve very low‑latency performance, but is your audio interface letting the side down?

Creative Mix Automation In Your DAW

Tips & Techniques

The automation features in modern DAWs go much further than simply recalling your fader moves. Learn how to use them to full effect and they open up new mixing possibilities.

iLok Dongle

Avid Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

The iLok dongle is more important to Pro Tools users than ever. So should existing users make the move to the new version, and how do new users get started?

Keep Your Audio PC Cool Using Quiet Fans

Tips & Techniques

With processors getting ever faster — and running ever hotter — what can you do to get the best performance from your PC without making it sound like a washing machine on full spin?

Missing DAW Features: Track Folders, Fader & Mix Groups, Markers, Track Freezing

Propellerhead Reason/Record Tips & Techniques

We work around the missing DAW features in Reason and Record.

Mix Rescue: The Wolf's Head & Vixen Morris Band

Mixing & Recording Advice

Modern production techniques can have a place in traditional acoustic music genres: we even sneaked a triggered synth part into this Morris‑dance tune...

Mix Rescue: The Wolf's Head & Vixen Morris Band | Media

Mixing & Recording Advice

These audio files accompany the Mix Rescue article that featured in SOS August 2011.

Multi-band Processing & Distortion

Cakewalk Sonar Tips & Techniques

Multi-band processing in Sonar needn’t stop at compression: using the same approach on distortion is easy and effective.

Pitch Correction & Granular Synthesis

Apple Logic Tips & Techniques

If Logic’s built-in pitch-correction doesn’t cut it for you, try this trick...

Resonant Frequencies

Ableton Live Tips & Techniques

There’s more to Live’s Resonators effect than you might think...

Snapshots SWS Extensions Mixing

Cockos Reaper Tips & Techniques

The Snapshots feature in the donationware SWS Extensions adds simple and very useful mix functionality to Reaper.

Snapshots SWS Extensions Mixing | Media

Cockos Reaper Tips & Techniques

This example project accompanies the Reaper Notes column that featured in SOS August 2011.

Studio One: Browser, Sound Sets, Pool

Presonus Studio One Tips & Techniques

In our second look at Studio One’s Browser, we’ll be creating Sound Sets and dipping our toes in the Pool.

Studio SOS

Your Studio Problems Solved

The Studio SOS team sort out some acoustic problems, streamline a studio setup and brush up their drum & bass production skills!

The Mix Review | August 2011

Analysing Commercial Productions

• LMFAO 'Party Rock Anthem'
• Nero 'Guilt'
• Noah And The Whale 'L.I.F.E. G.O.E.S. O.N.'
• Nicole Scherzinger 'Right There'

The Orb: 'Little Fluffy Clouds'

Classic Tracks

Dr Alex Paterson tells us how the Orb’s cavalier sampling and devil‑may‑care attitude towards copyright took ambient house from the chill‑out room to the top of the charts.

Vocal Comping

Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

Comping the perfect vocal from multiple takes is a common editing task — and Cubase 6 makes it easier than ever.

Worldwide Developers Conference: Lion iOS, iCloud, iOS 5

Apple Notes

Apple go futuristic, with announcements made at the recent Worldwide Developers Conference...

Notes From The Deadline

TV Music From The Inside

In which our hero eats too much cheese before bedtime and falls into a strange, Cheddar‑fuelled dream...

Off The Record (US Edition Only)

Music & Recording Industry News

** This article was originally printed in the US Edition of Sound On Sound only, but is available online to all subscribers. **
Driven away from Manhattan by skyrocketing real‑estate prices, studio owners in Williamsburg are finding that even high‑profile acts are drawn to their lower rates.

Q. Does it matter when my software meters light up in red, if I can’t hear a problem?

Q. Does my shotgun mic have any uses in the studio?

Q. How should I use my new multi‑pattern microphone?

Q. Is a 'reflection filter' worth the money?

Q. What does 'parallel compression' mean?

Q. Why do I need to use a DI box?