SOUND ON SOUND
This month, Martin Walker discovers some new VST instruments and helps you clean up your Registry.
The ability to record multitrack audio with 24/96 capability is something you'd expect from any modern MIDI + Audio sequencer. SEKD's flagship software package does this and a whole lot more besides, including 5.1 and two-channel surround mixing and direct CD burning without the need for a separate application. Martin Walker finds out how it's done.
There are now hundreds of software processing plug-ins available to PC musicians, but they come in various types and each behaves slightly differently. Martin Walker examines the various ways to install, manage and automate them, and the problems involved in managing presets.
Now that so many plug-ins are available for free or cheap and easy download on-line, it's possible to build up an impressive arsenal of virtual effects without hurting your credit card. Martin Walker homes in on some of the most interesting products on offer for Mac and PC.
Martin Walker checks out a suite of four plug-ins (Band Pass, Comb Filters, PitchAccum and Shuffling) from Steinberg: GRM Tools.
Martin Walker discusses Windows 2000 and speeds up his Internet downloads.
Lexicon's reverbs are highly regarded by many musicians, and their new Core 2 combines them with multi-channel analogue and digital I/O to create an affordable computer recording system. Martin Walker tries it out.
Recently I have been considering an upgrade for my PC, and whilst rethinking my approach to improving my studio and live...
The most affordable of Steinberg's MIDI + Audio sequencing packages has just received a thorough overhaul, to the point where it now incorporates some features not yet found in the full PC version of Cubase. Maritin Walker tries out the new Cubasis VST.
Martin Walker looks at hardware and software solutions available for those who just want to use their PC for MIDI sequencing.