Computer / Software

Never ones for resting on their laurels, Steinberg have added a host of enhancements and additions to Wavelab. Martin Walker tries looping the loop, and analyses his WAV file collection.

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.

Updating software ought to be a simpler matter, but often things don't go according to plan. Martin Walker catalogues a selection of problem areas.

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.

A dedicated American music professor currently provides one of the very few serious scoring programs for the ST as $20 shareware. Derek Johnson checks it out, and also discovers a neat utility that could make life easier for Akai sampler users...

Having whetted his appetite for MacOS-based software synthsis last issue, this month Martin Russ takes a closer look...

If you feel that the average sequencer makes you take off your musician's head and put on your computer programmer's head, take a look at FreeStyle. Derek Johnson is not a number, he's a free man...

Music and games software doesn't normally tend to mix very well on the same PC. Martin Walker tries out a selection of ways to achieve harmony.

Martin Russ checks out some worthwhile shareware, explains the benefits of registration, and nudges his mouse.

Derek Johnson homes in on dedicated Atari software developers Electronic Cow, who, fortunately, haven't been affected by the EU ban on British beef...

This month Martin Walker prepares to burn his own CD-R disks, discusses the merits of the rewritable variety, and reports back from the Frankfurt MusikMesse.

Mike Collins offers a step-by-step practical guide to using several software packages designed to help you work more effectively with CD writers.

If all the ivories do when you tickle them is laugh, you might be interested in an alternative method of getting MIDI information into a sequencer. Martin Walker wails, blows and plucks in the interests of non-keyboard players everywhere.

Setting up your gear for low noise and minimum distortion needn't be a nightmare. Martin Walker gudes you through the process, and shows you how to stand tall, even without headroom.

If you're the proud owner of a new PC, and want to make music, there are plenty of ways to get started, and you may be surprised at just how good the results can be. Martin Walker makes sure your shopping list is short but sweet.

Martin Walker peers through the Windows version of Emagic's Logic Audio 3.

Prosoniq, the German software company behind many of the DSP processing alogrithms used in MIDI + Audio sequencers, have now made the powerful fruits of their expertise available in stand-alone form. But can the software actually be put to good use? Paul D. Lehrman investigates.

There are now several PC MIDI + Audio sequencers available that provide real-time EQ and effects via plug-in software — but it can be difficult to assess just what works with what, and whether your PC is powerful enough to run the plug-ins you'd like to use. Martin Walker investigates.

If you want to move the heady heights of true multitrack recording on your PC, there are plenty of rival systems on the market. Martin Walker looks at what you need to consider in making your purchase decision, and rounds up the alternatives.

The spread of the ADAT 8-channel optical digital interface to studio equipment of all kinds has raised the prospect of a revolution in multitrack digital recording. Self-confessed digital evangelist (amd Korg UK product specialist) Paul Wiffen explains how the optical digital interface and several fibreglass cables made keyboard session player Wix Wickens' life easier at last year's prestigious Songs and Visions concert at Wembley.

Multi-channel PC soundcards are arriving in droves, but this one is rather different, and incorporates a potential 128 tracks, using unique hardware technology. Martin Walker channels his efforts.