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February 2005 Magazine Contents

Reviews

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    ADK A48

    Multi-pattern Valve Mic

    This mic combines a colourful valve sound with the flexibility of nine different polar patterns.

    Reviews
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    ART Tube MP Studio V3

    Valve Preamp

    A pint-sized preamp with anything but a pint-sized sound, plus the bonus of presets!

    Reviews
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    Behringer BCA2000

    USB 2.0 Audio & MIDI Interface

    Completing Behringer's B-Control family, the BCA2000 combines audio and MIDI interfacing with routing/mixing features, and preamps — and all for under £200.

    Reviews
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    Bellari RP503

    Valve Recording Channel

    This new front end offers a clean, warm sound and is surprisingly easy to use.

    Reviews
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    BIAS Sound Soap Pro

    Noise-reduction Software [Mac/PC]

    This cross-platform package from BIAS offers high-quality denoising at an affordable price.

    Reviews
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    DAV Electronics BG4

    Compressor/Limiter

    A premium compression sound lurks behind the no-frills cosmetics of this new Broadhurst Gardens processor.

    Reviews
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    Digitech GNX4

    Guitar Workstation/Multitracker

    Is it an amp modeller? Is it a multitracker? Is it an audio/MIDI interface? We stomp the facts out of Digitech's new box...

    Reviews
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    FAR OBS

    Active Nearfield Monitors

    These compact ported monitors from Belgium boast a communicative mid-range and a flattering overall sound.

    Reviews
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    FXpansion BFD

    Virtual Drum Instrument [Mac/PC]

    When it comes to drum sounds, BFD and its XFL expansion pack offer unprecedented levels of detail and flexibility, totalling over 30GB of sample data. Is it overkill, or the rhythm programmer's ultimate weapon?

    Reviews
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    Guillemot Hercules 1612FW

    Firewire Audio Interface [Mac/PC]

    The much-anticipated Hercules 1612FW Firewire interface supplies an impressive quotient of analogue I/O at a very attractive price.

    Reviews
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    Hot New Sample CDs

    Sample Libraries

    Appraisals of Sample Lab Drum Fundamentals 4* • Tekniks Blue Shock 3* • Smart Loops Pro Drum Works (Volume One) 4* • Cycles Volume Two: Unnatural Rhythm 4*

    Reviews
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    Intakt & Kompakt Instruments

    East West/Zero-G Sample Libraries With NI Plug-in Front-end [Mac/PC]

    Sample and loop libraries have come a long way from being delivered on a humble audio CD — the most recent trend is to include a specific playback front-end for easy integration with your sequencer.

    Reviews
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    JoeMeek Three Q

    Recording Channel

    The Joemeek product range has recently been completely overhauled, and one of the updated units is this new half-rack recording channel. Have the designers retained what made the original products successful?

    Reviews
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    M-Audio O2

    USB MIDI Controller Keyboard

    Thin is clearly 'in' amongst manufacturers of keyboard controllers. Mere months after the arrival of Edirol's slender PCR1, M-Audio weigh in with the equally waif-like O2. But is it slim and trim, or just a lightweight?

    Reviews
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    Mackie Big Knob

    Monitor Controller

    Mackie's desktop controller offers source selection, monitor switching, and talkback facilities, all in a single robust box.

    Reviews
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    Mackie Onyx 800R

    Preamp & A-D Converter

    Mackie 'up the ante' once again by squeezing eight channels of their class-leading preamplification and A-D conversion into a 1U rack.

    Reviews
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    MOTU Digital Performer 4.5

    MIDI + Audio Sequencer [Mac OS X]

    The migration to OS X has caused major upheavals for both software manufacturers and musicians, but Mark Of The Unicorn's long-established Digital Performer sequencer is better than ever.

    Reviews
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    Phonic PAA2

    Audio Analyser

    Phonic's new audio analyser is certainly portable, but how well does it work?

    Reviews
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    Presonus Firepod

    Firewire Recording Interface [Mac/PC]

    Unlike most eight-channel interfaces, the Presonus Firepod includes eight mic preamps — at a very appealing price.

    Reviews
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    Redmatica Autosampler

    Automatic Sample Generator For Logic EXS24

    If you are keen to move to an all-software setup, but still depend on sounds from your hardware synths, Redmatica's utility might smooth the path...

    Reviews
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    Sonic Implants Symphonic Brass Collection

    3-DVD Gigastudio-format Orchestral Brass Library

    Sonic Implants extend their New World Symphony with an orchestral brass sample library.

    Reviews
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    Steinberg Wavelab 5

    Audio Editor & DVD-Audio Authoring [Windows]

    The latest version of Steinberg's popular editing program now includes support for multi-channel audio, including the ability to create your own DVD-Audio discs.

    Reviews
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    Submersible Music Drumcore

    Groove Library/Audition Engine [Mac OS X]

    Featuring the performances of some of the world's best drummers, Drumcore is a software-based cross between a drum library and a custom loop-auditioning interface, allowing you to assemble rhythm tracks fast.

    Reviews
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    Trident Audio 4T Celebration

    Recording Channel

    Despite its vintage design credentials, this new recording channel has some interesting new tricks up its sleeve.

    Reviews

Techniques

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    Apple 30-inch Cinema Display

    Apple Notes

    In an extended Apple Notes column we take an exclusive look at the 30-inch Cinema display from a musician and audio engineer's perspective, and evaluate the performance of the new dual-2.5GHz Power Mac G5 with our usual series of performance tests.

    Techniques
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    Beat Detection In MOTU DP 4.5

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    The new Beat Detection Engine in Digital Performer 4.5 gives you much greater control over audio quantising and tempo manipulation. We explain how...

    Techniques
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    CD-burning • Gigastudio 3 Tips • Cubase SX3 Dongle

    PC Notes

    PC Notes comes across CD-burning problems, offers some Gigastudio 3 tips, and warns against a possible pitfall when updating a Cubase SX3 dongle.

    Techniques
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    Classic Tracks: The Stone Roses 'Fools Gold'

    Producer: John Leckie • Engineers: John Leckie, John Cornfield, Paul Schroeder

    As the '80s drew to a close, The Stone Roses made rock music cool again, melding '60s psychedelia and acid house under the production guidance of John Leckie.

    Techniques
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    Locking Logic Sequences To A Live Take

    Logic Tips & Techniques

    Although rather time-consuming, this technique for locking your sequencer to a live take is often the best.

    Techniques
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    Modelling Classic Hardware In Software

    Universal Audio's Joe Bryan

    Since Bill Putnam's sons founded Universal Audio anew, the company have become well known for software emulations of old gear, as well as for their hardware recreations of vintage classics. We find out how they go about it...

    Techniques
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    Multi-Channel Projects In Cubase

    Cubase Tips & Techniques

    Returning to Steinberg Cubase's Mixer window again, we explore ways to make it more manageable when working with Projects that contain a large number of channels.

    Techniques
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    Pro Tools Shuffle Mode

    Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

    Pro Tools was originally designed as an audio editor, and it still has some very powerful tools for quick and accurate editing. This month we explain the mysteries of Shuffle mode, and looks at the ways in which key commands and memory locations can speed up your editing.

    Techniques
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    Reasons To Be Cheerful: v3

    Reason Tips & Techniques

    Version 3 of Reason is officially on the way, adding some high-spec new devices and improved operational features.

    Techniques
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    Roland VS2480 Masterclass: Part 2

    More Hands-on Power User Tips

    A collection of imperative tips for harnessing the power of Roland's monster multitracker.

    Techniques
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    Sonar: Hands-free Recording & Other Tips

    Sonar Tips & Techniques

    This month, find your way around projects, undertake hands-free recording, configure an external MP3 encoder and create pseudo-Track Folders for MIDI.

    Techniques
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    Studio SOS: Mains Hum

    Aniff Akinola

    Acoustic problems and mains hum were making Aniff's studio difficult to use, so the SOS team stepped in to help.

    Techniques
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    Updating PC Hard Drives: The SOS Guide

    PC Musician

    You're planning to change your PC hard drives, so you just unplug the old ones, plug in the new ones, and off you go, right? Wrong!! There's many a slip, and this month we aim to help you avoid all of them.

    Techniques

Sound Advice

People

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    Allan Walker & Craig Connor: Grand Theft Auto

    Sound & Music For Rockstar Games

    Imagine selling a million copies of your music in just over a week, with no video, no radio play and no touring. Impossible? Not if it's the soundtrack to one of the most successful computer games of all time...

    People
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    Business End: February 2005

    MPG Producers Evaluate Readers' Tracks

    Listen online to the tracks whilst reading what some Music Producers Guild members think of the latest collection of SOS reader recordings.

    People
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    Composing & Recording With Vanessa-Mae

    Walter Taieb

    Walter Taieb enjoyed worldwide success as a dance producer, before reinventing himself as a classical composer. Working with violin prodigy Vanessa-Mae tested both his orchestration skills and his music technology expertise.

    People
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    Crosstalk: Your Communications

    Readers' Writes

    Responses to recent articles from SOS readers.

    People
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    Demo Doctor: February 2005

    Reader Recordings Analysed

    Think your own music is good? Listen to these tracks from SOS readers and see whether you agree with the good Doctor's prognosis...

    People
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    Paul White circa 2002.

    Music Software Updates

    Leader

    If Apple and Norton can offer automatic updates, then why can't music software companies?

    People
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    Sounding Off: Vintage Synths

    Andy Foster

    Why are we still in love with vintage synths when all they do is break our hearts?

    People

Music Business

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    The History Of Roland: Part 4

    1992-1997

    The recession of the early '90s was difficult for many companies — but not Roland. Diversifying still further from their roots as a maker of synthesizers and organs, they emerged stronger, encompassing almost every area of hi-tech musical instrument manufacture.

    Music Business
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