DAWs

Live 7 saw the the introduction of some powerful new features for integration with hardware instruments, effects units, and Rewire applications.

Logic Pro 8 may not have new software instruments, but scratch beneath the surface and you'll discover significant improvements to what was already an impressive collection.

Pro Tools doesn't officially support macros or assignable keyboard shortcuts, but with a little know-how and a copy of QuicKeys, you can use custom key commands to bring up anything from simple menu items to complex chains of commands.

Did you know that you can make Sonar fit your working methods like a glove, via its many customisation options? Here's our guide to just a few of the most useful.

There's more to Prologue than its presets — and it doesn't take long to create some excellent and unique patches.

The days are getting longer and Spring is definitely springing, but with so many exciting product announcements recently — including Digital Performer 6 — DP users might well feel like it's Christmas all over again.

Logic's Hyper Editor is a powerful way of creating and manipulating MIDI data, but it's often overlooked. We give you the low-down in this advanced workshop, and suggest some ways of using the Hyper Editor in your music.

The focus is on better project management in this month's Pro Tools workshop, as we explain the advantages of using template Sessions, and look at some tools that can help you avoid data loss.

Delving beneath the surface of Reason 4's new RPG8 arpeggiator reveals a treasure trove of rhythmic modulations and variations.

Understanding how to program SFZ files opens up lots of ways to better exploit what Sonar's bundled soft synths have to offer. Don't panic: it's easier than you might think...

Crafting the perfect mix is a difficult task, but often all you need is a bit of organisation to make things quicker, easier and more rewarding.

There's more useful stuff than you can shake a stick at this month, including advice on input monitoring, ways to get around latency issues, and news of CD-burning and audio networking applications to make your life easier.

New in Live 7, Drum Racks takes the Instrument Rack concept in a percussive direction. Read on to see what it can do for you and your drums...

You're given a Logic project with a less than impressive drum recording, and you need to make it sparkle. Do you book another recording session, get down to some serious editing, or replace the whole lot with samples? Delay your decision until you've read this article...

Small and affordable it may be, but Digidesign's Command-8 is also a surprisingly versatile and powerful tool for controlling Pro Tools.

When is a soft synth not just a soft synth? When it's also an effects processor...

Cubase 4.1 brings a wealth of new features: we explore what you can do with the new side-chaining function.

Everyone performs better when they can hear exactly what they need in their headphones. After our guide to simple DP monitor mixing options last month, we follow up with ideas for those with more complex monitoring requirements.

Convolution is the technology du jour for creating convincing reverbs, and if you're a Logic Studio bundle owner, you already have a utility that will let you get into it yourself, by creating custom impulse responses for the Space Designer plug-in.

Improving your Pro Tools system needn't always cost money. We look at some essential add-ons that can be downloaded for nothing.

Side-chain inputs on software processors can open up a whole new world of control possibilities — and now Sonar 7's plug-ins have this facility. We show you some ways of using it in your music.