SOUND ON SOUND
Not even the best monitor speakers guarantee good monitoring &mdash so how do you ensure that you're mixing on the best possible system? Mixmeister Martin Walker leaks some top speaker tweaks...
To get the maximum quality from audio sample CDs, you need to transfer the sound data to your PC in the digital domain. Martin Walker explains why the process isn't always as easy as you might expect.
Just when you thought you'd got your cholesterol down, it's nothing but chips again. MARTIN WALKER wades through the new CPU options, and uninstalls some more software.
'That Martin Walker', you probably think as you leaf through your new SOS, 'he must be very happy man. He's always getting to look at the very latest music software — and for free!' But no, he's complaining about it. Here's why...
SoundBlaster cards no longer need to rely on a complete set of GM sounds crammed into 1Mb of ROM now that SoundFonts allow up to 28Mb of RAM expansion. Martin Walker feels the quality of Time Signature's new collection.
Unexpected crashes happen to all of us — even SOS PC gurus! Martin Walker tells a tale of troubleshooting, and falls for Steinberg's new Freefilter.
Combining the famous Lexicon reverb sound with the latest hard disk recording technology, the Lexicon Studio system should win many admirers. Martin Walker falls in love.
Many PC owners still seem to have trouble trying MIDI and audio together, and timing remains the main problem area. Martin Walker attempts to pull all the strands together.
If you fancy recording up to 64 audio tracks from the comfort of a familiar PC wave editor interface, Syntrillium Software's feature-packed Cool Edit Pro could be just the ticket. Martin Walker warms to the latest release of this popular package.
Setting up MIDI gear for the best audio quality is a very similar process to setting up your mixer, and you can often reduce noise levels significantly. Martin Walker provides some quick and easy ways to minimise hiss and hum from MIDI gear.