ASTRAL TWEAKS

Eventide Eclipse Multi-effects

Eventide's new entry-level unit brings their high-end algorithms within reach of the serious home studio owner. Hugh Robjohns tests the Eclipse.

BIG BROTHER

TL Audio Fat Man Fat 2 Valve Preamp & Compressor

TL Audio's successful Fat 1 stereo compressor now has a new sibling with its own built-in mic preamp. Paul White delivers the SOS verdict.

Dan Dean Solo Strings

Sample Library

* Score = 4

GROUND CONTROL

Steinberg Houston VST Studio Controller

Steinberg's new Houston hardware controller certainly looks space-age, but is it a small step or a giant leap for the 21st-century computer musician? Martin Walker takes his protein pills and puts his helmet on...

HEAVY HITTER

Empirical Labs EL7 FATSO Jr Processor

The inherent non-linearities and distortions of analogue equipment are sometimes sorely missed in this digital age. Empirical Labs offer their new FATSO Jr as a solution. Hugh Robjohns puts it to the test.

King Tone Grooves

Sample Library

* Score = 3

LEADING MOTIF?

Yamaha Motif 7 Music Production Synth Workstation

In these days of virtual instruments and fully featured software sequencers, why should you even consider spending £2000 on a cumbersome hardware synth workstation? If the workstation is as well thought-out as Yamaha's new Motif, perhaps you should. Derek Johnson & Debbie Poyser are suitably impressed...

M PEOPLE

Soundcraft Spirit M-series Mixers

Soundcraft's new Spirit M-series mixers combine analogue simplicity with a useful digital output. Paul White puts the M8 to the test.

PMC AML1

Active Reference Monitors

Hugh Robjohns tests the AML1, and discovers that PMC can actually get a quart from a pint pot.

Rare Instruments

Sample Library

Score = 5

Rode NT1000

Condenser Microphone

Paul White tests the solid-state counterpart to Rode's recent NTK valve mic.

SOFTLY SOFTLY

Steinberg HALion

Software samplers are not new, but until now they have only existed as stand-alone applications or sequencer-specific plug-ins. Paul Sellars investigates Steinberg's HALion, which offers close integration with Cubase VST, but can also be used as a VST-format plug-in from other sequencers.

SOUNDS OF THE '80S

Sounds of the '80s Part 2: The Yamaha DX1 & Its Successors (Retro)

In the second instalment of this two-part retro, Gordon Reid recalls FM's finest hour, and describes the heyday of what was perhaps the most successful family of synthesizers ever developed.

TRIBAL RHYTHMS

Korg EM1 Electribe Music Production Station

The latest in Korg's series of dance-friendly Electribe groove workstations is sample- rather than synthesis-based, but serves up the same beguiling blend of hands-on user interface and cutting-edge sounds and effects as its predecessors. Nicholas Rowland takes it for a spin...

Virtual Analogue Vol. 1

Sample Library

* Score = 4

VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING?

Roland VS2480 Digital Studio Workstation

Roland's eagerly awaited new flagship VS workstation builds on the success of the VS1680 and VS1880, offering a massive range of features including 24-track, 24-bit and 96kHz recording, a 64-channel digital mixer, up to eight stereo effects processors, 24-voice phrase sampling, and an enhanced graphical output for a VGA monitor. Hugh Robjohns investigates the VS2480 in depth.

CUTTING EDGE

Dolby E

As a musician, you may well have heard of Dolby A, B and C - but Dolby E? Dave Shapton introduces the format and speculates about its possible implications for music recording.

MUSIC FOR REAL LIFE

TV & Film Composer: Shawn Clement

Richard Buskin meets a successful American composer who's specialised in a unique kind of music for television...

READERZONE

Bob Prance and Pete Phillips

Bob Prance and Pete Phillips & A Story At Bedtime Productions

Recording Gorillaz's 'Clint Eastwood'

Tom Girling & Jason Cox

Gorillaz have made waves as the first 'virtual band' to achieve real chart success. Behind the animated characters, however, lurk real engineers and musicians... Sam Inglis tracks them down to find out how they recorded their debut hit.

SOUNDING OFF

Dave Shapton explains why he doesn't play live any more!

Dave Shapton explains why he doesn't play live any more!

ACID LOOPS

Creating New Loops In Sonic Foundry's Acid

Craig Anderton shows you how to use Acid, the popular composition tool, to create your own original sample loops.

LOGIC NOTES

Automate Plug-in parameters

Advice on how to best automate your plug-in parameters, as well as tips for lightening-fast comping and a power-user trick for simulating double-tracking using Autotune.

MacWorld Expo

Apple Notes

Paul Wiffen reveals highlights of the MacWorld Expo, and laments the passing of Apple's earliest UK evangelist while celebrating his permanent contribution to popular culture.

Master track; Meter Hitpoints; DR-Verb

Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

This month, we explore the murky world of Cubase's Master track in a bid to teach it the tempo of a MIDI part. There's also some hot news about updates and an excellent shareware reverb plug-in, as well as the usual tips and tricks.

MasterKEY

Atari Notes

You can add sophisticated MIDI mapping facilities to your Atari-based studio for next to nothing with some useful German shareware, as Derek Johnson explains.

MIDI ON THE ROAD

Live MIDI Part 2: Preparing The System

Having looked last month at how to condense your studio setup for use as a live rig, David Harman concludes this short series with tips on how to prepare yourself and your gear for the rigours of live performance.

MIX & MATCH

Mixing Programmed & Real Instruments Successfully

You might be a virtuoso instrumentalist and a dab hand at programming, but can you get the two skills to work together? Sam Inglis offers some tips.

Nemesys Gigastudio; Shareware

PC Notes

Martin Walker takes a look at the latest update to the Nemesys Gigastudio, and reports on a disturbing trend for shareware developers.

NET NOTES

Music Instruction On-line

Want to learn an instrument or improve your playing skills? Forget instructional books, videos, even human contact. As Mark Wherry explains, you can get your music instruction on-line.

PERFORMER NOTES

DP plug-ins; USB hardware controller

This month, more on DP plug-ins with side-chains, plus tips on improving audio timing, using Mix mode, and news of a compact USB hardware controller for use with DP.

Pro Tools 5.1.1; Transfer Songs From Emagic Logic

Digidesign (Avid) Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

Discover what's new in Pro Tools 5.1.1, learn how to transfer songs from Emagic's Logic, and take advantage of our usual handy tips.

SELF-ASSEMBLY

Building Your Own PC For Music

It's tempting to save money by assembling your own PC, but unless you're an expert it can be a frustrating experience. Martin Walker shows you how to go about choosing components and putting them together.

SYNTH SECRETS

Part 29: The Theoretical Acoustic Guitar Patch

Having explained last month the reasons why analogue synthesis of guitar sounds should be well-nigh impossible, Gordon Reid puts the theory to the test...
• Read all parts

Untamac

Playback | Readers' Music Reviewed

Tron * Michael Johansen * Sunshyne * Phil Smy * Paul Nash * Bill Jones * Oxime 187 * Paulo Lucchi

YOU ARE SURROUNDED

Surround Sound Explained - Part 2

Hugh Robjohns continues SOS's series on surround sound with a detailed look at Dolby Pro Logic, the widely used surround system originally developed for use in the cinema, and considers how you might adapt your home recording setup to allow mixing in this format.

DOING THE BUSINESS

Big George's Guide To Commercial Success; Band stories

This month Big George takes a deep breath... and expels the usual hot air.

Q&A

How should I use my patchbay? * Why can I only play one sound with my Octapad? * How does DAT error correction work? Can I avoid the animation on your web site?

How should I use my patchbay? Why can I only play one sound with my Octapad? How does DAT error correction work? Can I avoid the animation on your web site?