Computer / Software

EXS24 and EVP88, two of Emagic's dedicated plug-ins for Logic, are now available in scaled-down form for VST-compatible sequencers. But what has been lost in order to make the instruments work as VST plug-ins?

An exclusive first look at Emagic's new Logic Control hardware control surface, and the eagerly awaited Version 5 of Logic - a powerful combination that takes the system to a new level of functionality

Sound Forge is a very popular PC audio editor, but users have waited a long time for 24-bit support. Now it's here in version 5, along with a bundle of new features and plug-ins.

Akai introduced AKsys some months ago, providing a USB-driven, computer-based control interface for recent S-series samplers. Now at v1.7, it is becoming indispensible for anyone fed up with managing their samplers via an LCD...

Find out just how long it takes to set up a musical environment on a Powerbook, and welcome the Melodyne pitch and time software to the world of OS X, as well as discovering how Microsoft broke QuickTime and Apple fixed it...

Few recent software products have stirred as much interest as Melodyne - a program offering unique pitch, time and formant-processing features, which was created not by one of the major music developers but by a maverick Bavarian musician and his software-designer friend.

With software from an independent German writer, your Atari could make music like Mozart, or just play back MIDI files for you...

There are lots of things to consider when building your own PC, especially when transferring the contents of your hard drives to the new machine.

There's nothing more disruptive to music-making than an unstable PC. Fortunately, there are many utilities and diagnostic tests available to help you resolve your problems.

The latest and greatest incarnation of MOTU's flagship Mac sequencer adds full surround mixing support among many other new features.

Can Steinberg's professional recording package make an impact in the Pro Tools-dominated Macintosh market? Sam Inglis finds out.

If you constantly find yourself playing the same old chord shapes, then the rather nifty Australian Chordwizard...

Software instruments are now becoming commonplace, but it's still an ambitious software developer who attempts to model an entire studio.

A little money spent on a hardware control surface for your PC can yield a dramatic improvement in ergonomics and ease of use. Martin Walker explores the options.

Various companies are still putting development time and effort into creating 21st-century computers and add-ons based around the Atari operating system. Derek Johnson rounds up the breaking news.

After a slow start, OS X is starting to look quite promising for musicians, judging by behind-the-scenes news from MacWorld and an independent report pronouncing it the 'least latent' OS, especially under pressure. Paul Wiffen reveals all.

Martin Walker tries out new VST Instruments and plug-ins, and reports on his personal experiences with a MIDI hardware controller.

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.

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.

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

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.