Computer / Software

This month, Martin Walker reviews PC software packages that help you check out your own studio acoustics and examine your MIDI data.

As computers continue to increase in power, so the numbers of roles they can play in the studio increases — and the makers of Audio Architect would have us do our synthesis in software. Kevin Perry finds out if it can really replace those old Moogs and Prophets.

Ataris can now be picked up at very reasonable prices and, with the addition of some cost-effective software, make useful live sequencing devices. Derek Johnson highlights this and other uses for your ST, and discusses some fast new TOS-compatible machines from Europe.

John Walden exchanges his plectrum for a mouse and suggests some guitar-related Internet sites that might encourage even the more technophobic pluckers and strummers to venture into cyberspace.

Paul White braves the slings and arrows of his outrageous PC in the good cause of testing a MIDI + Audio sequencer designed with the guitarist in mind.

These days, high-end PC soundcards offer much more than mere audio interfacing, incorporating mixing, synthesis, sampling and often powerful onboard processing facilities. Martin Walker finds the features of Creamware's new DSP-powered Music Production Environment' impressive even by modern standards.

No-one enjoys making backups, but they are a necessary part of digital audio recording. Martin Walker explores the options, and explains their strengths and weaknesses.

This month, Simon Trask looks at the current state of online music delivery. Can musicians really bypass the record companies and go DIY on the Internet?

Martin Russ finds that pitfalls await innocent readers wanting to print out their scores, and also extols the virtues of an alternative to the ubiquitous mouse.

Derek Johnson laments the imminent demise of a major Atari software resource, but sees new products on the way from other quarters.

Running two or three soundcards simultaneously can greatly increase the power and flexibility of your PC but it can also lead to serious conflicts. Martin Walker leads you through the pitfalls.

For years Metro was a fully-featured Mac MIDI-only sequencer without a permanent home, available from various manufacturers. Now, the package has been adopted by PC sequencer company Cakewalk to help them attract Mac-based custom — and they have added various new features including audio support. Mike Collins goes underground...

US software and hardware innovators Opcode have come far since their first MIDI-only sequencer in the late '80s; the latest descendent of that program, Vision DSP, incorporates 24-bit audio recording and compatibility with VST plug-ins. Bob Dormon focuses on the new features in this latest Vision...

The SOS web forum is already producing its fair share of Mac-related queries. Martin Russ responds to a couple...

Derek Johnson & Debbie Poyser take you through some of the vast quantities of useful music-related software available for next to nothing on the Internet.

This month sees a positive flurry of new software, ranging from full-price releases to freeware. Martin Walker sifts through the latest offerings.

There's nothing more irritating than having a perfect take ruined by unexpected audio glitches. Martin Walker investigates the possible causes and suggests ways to improve matters through system software settings.

Derek Johnson visits the Atari Computing Convention, and finds that there's life in the old dog yet... Sound Pool Native DSP Mastering Suite; Atari Computing Convention.

After the general guidelines on the approach and attitude you should adopt to a computer based audio system last month, Paul Wiffen gets down to the nitty-gritty of spec'ing your system and setting it up for minimum hassle and maximum results.

A new utility from Musitek claims to turn printed dots and lines into something non-score reading musicians can get to grips with. Janet Harniman-Cook gives it the once-over.

Imagine a sampler with almost unlimited memory that doesn't cost a fortune, and runs on a PC using a standard soundcard. Martin Walker installs Gigasampler, and prepares to be amazed.