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October 2003 Magazine Contents

Reviews

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    Behringer Bass V-Amp

    Modelling Preamp

    Behringer's cost-effective take on amp and cabinet modelling, plus effects, is now available for bass players

    Reviews
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    Bob Katz: Mastering Audio

    Book Review

    One of the most famous mastering engineers in the world has written the definitive work on mastering, and in the process has created an indispensable resource for anyone working with audio.

    Reviews
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    Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS

    PC Soundcard

    Creative Labs have updated their popular Audigy 2 soundcard, improving its audio performance and adding new features.

    Reviews
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    Curtis Roads: Microsound

    Book Review

    Interested in Granular Synthesis? This book explains all...

    Reviews
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    Digidesign Digi 002 Rack

    Firewire Recording System [Mac/PC]

    If you fancied the well-specified, Firewire-based I/O of Digidesign's Digi 002 but didn't need its control surface functions, you now have a cheaper alternative in the shape of the Digi 002 Rack.

    Reviews
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    Direct Sound Extreme Isolation Headphones

    Closed-back Headphones

    Direct Sound Extreme Isolation Headphones are designed to offer more isolation than ordinary closed-back models...

    Reviews
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    DPA IMK4061

    Miniature Condenser Mic Kit

    This affordable miniature mic from one of the top names in condensers can neatly solve a variety of common recording problems.

    Reviews
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    Focusrite Platinum Twin Trak Pro

    Dual Recording Channel

    This addition to the Platinum range offers a variety of useful tools for the computer-based home studio owner.

    Reviews
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    Fong Electronic Sonic Eye

    Instrument Level Checker

    Sonic Eye is a very simple yet useful troubleshooting gadget that will find many uses in both studios and live sound setups.

    Reviews
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    Latest Sample CDs

    Sample Libraries

    We sample the delights of: Bombay Loops & Sounds **** • Da Nu RnB Hip Hop Two ***** • PMI Yamaha C7 ***

    Reviews
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    MOTU 2408 Mk3, 24I/O & HD192

    PCI-based Audio Interfaces [Mac/PC]

    MOTU's range of PCI audio interfaces is based around a single PCI card, with three different rackmounting units offering combinations of analogue and digital I/O.

    Reviews
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    Native Instruments Reaktor v4

    Modular Software Synth [Mac/PC]

    Native Instruments' flagship modular software synth has now reached version 4, dispensing with the dongle copy-protection that bothered v3 owners, adding many user-friendly features and allowing even greater scope for personalising your patches.

    Reviews
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    Novation V-Station

    Software Synth [Mac/PC]

    Widely admired for their hardware synths, Novation have now taken the bold step of releasing a software plug-in synth. But is it the wave of the future, or a software pirate's delight?

    Reviews
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    Oktava MKL2500

    Valve Condenser Mic

    A Russian-made, large-diaphragm tube mic which is surprisingly affordable.

    Reviews
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    Plug-in Folder

    Spin Audio Roomverb M2 • AAS Lounge Lizard 2 • BGTech Dynamics Pack • Izotope Spectron

    Another crop of stimulating and essential plug-ins to whet your appetite...

    Reviews
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    Roland Fantom S & Fantom S88

    Synth Workstations

    Despite the synth-spangled history of the company, it's been many years since a Roland product ruled the high-end keyboard roost, and 2001's Fantom workstation failed to change this. However, there's much more to the new Fantom S than one extra letter...

    Reviews
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    Safe Sound P1

    Recording Channel

    This deceptively simple recording channel incorporates some very clever circuit design to overcome many of the potential limitations of this type of unit.

    Reviews
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    Samson Resolv 80A

    Active Monitors

    These two-way active monitors provide an upfront sound suited to pop, rock or dance music, at an affordable price.

    Reviews
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    Soundart Chameleon

    Reprogrammable DSP-based Instrument

    Times change. When announced in 2001, the Chameleon, a reprogrammable DSP unit, looked out of date compared with the software studio concept. But with piracy rife, and software companies being bought out everywhere, the idea of reprogrammable, unhackable hardware now seems quite timely...

    Reviews
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    Tascam US122

    USB Audio & MIDI Interface [Mac/PC]

    The baby of Tascam's US range of interfaces dispenses with its big brothers' control faders, but does boast stereo audio I/O with phantom power supplied over USB, as well as MIDI I/O.

    Reviews
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    TC Electronic Powercore Firewire

    Integrated Effects Unit [Mac/PC]

    TC's plug-in powerhouse is now available as an external Firewire-connected rack unit.

    Reviews
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    TC Electronic Reverb 4000

    Digital Reverb Processor

    TC Electronic's new flagship stereo reverb not only gives you their state-of-the-art VSS4 reverb algorithms, but also emulates a variety of reverbs through the ages.

    Reviews

Techniques

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    Apple Soundtrack • AMS Icons

    Apple Notes

    The jungle drums are beating once again this month, as Apple begin shipping G5 Power Macs, and we take a closer look at Soundtrack, Apple's Acid-like loop-based music production tool, which is now available as a stand-alone product.

    Techniques
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    Choosing A Portable PC For Music

    PC Musician

    The attractions of making and recording music on a laptop computer are obvious, but choosinga laptop can involve you in performance compromises and compatibility problems. Here's what you need to consider if you are thinking of going mobile.

    Techniques
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    Cubase SX Drum Editor

    Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

    The Drum Editor has been a part of Cubase for over 10 years now, and here we investigate its latest incarnation within Cubase SX, as well as bringing you news of a major update to Steinberg's popular sequencing software.

    Techniques
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    David Bowie & Tony Visconti

    Recording Reality

    For the 2002 album Heathen, David Bowie and Tony Visconti revived one of the greatest artist/producer partnerships in pop history. Following the success of that project, the duo have again worked closely together on Bowie's new album, Reality.

    Techniques
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    DP & Waves Plug-ins

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    The news that Waves' range of quality plug-ins is now available for DP adds to the activity in an already interesting month for Digital Performer users — despite a delay in the release of 4.1.

    Techniques
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    Getting Your 'Studio Sound' Live

    Sound On Stage

    Thinking of taking your carefully-crafted studio creations to the masses? Here are some pointers to make sure your sound survives the transition to the live arena.

    Techniques
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    Practical Flute Synthesis

    Synth Secrets

    As we saw last month, there's much to synthesizing a convincing flute sound — and yet basic analogue monosynths have offered reasonable flute patches for 30 years. Surely the process can be simplified?

    Techniques
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    Sonar: MIDI Plug-ins/effects

    Cakewalk Sonar Tips & Techniques

    There's more to plug-ins than audio, as we discover when digging deep into the world of MIDI plug-ins and effects.

    Techniques
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    Studio SOS: RFI & Hum Problems

    Gordon Giltrap

    The SOS team visit the West Midlands, where Gordon Giltrap's home studio needs help, nestling as it does in the shadow of one of the UK's most powerful TV and radio transmitters.

    Techniques
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    Using Logic's Built-in Synths

    Logic Tips & Techniques

    Logic has a number of simple synths built in, and they're surprisingly useful if you know what you're doing, so here's some advice on getting the best out of each one. Plus there's a bumper crop of sequencing tips to make your sessions faster and more productive.

    Techniques
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    Using ReWire In Pro Tools

    Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

    Pro Tools 6.1 adds ReWire support for both TDM and LE users. Here's a look at what it is, how it works, and how to get the best out of it.

    Techniques
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    Using Your Sequencer's Filter Plug-ins

    Masterclass

    Filters are at the heart of many of the weirder sequencer plug-ins, so here we check out what each one has to offer, and how you can obtain weird and wonderful sounds for your mixes.

    Techniques
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    Vocal Fixes

    Modern Vocal Processing In Practice

    A new generation of vocal processors, and a new generation of engineers, confront the possibilities and ethics of digital vocal manipulation.

    Techniques
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    Windows XP Page File

    PC Notes

    It's a fair bet that many Windows XP musicians don't even know they have a page file, let alone where it is or what effect it could have on their recording. We reveal all.

    Techniques

Sound Advice

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    Q. Are all Decibels equal?

    Equipment specifications often give input and output levels with units like dBu, dBV and dBFS. What's the difference?

    Sound Advice
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    Q. Can I make my computer perform better with Reason?

    I have an oldish Mac with only 128MB of RAM, and would like to know how I can squeeze the most out of it with Propellerhead's Reason.

    Sound Advice
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    Q. How do audio and video stay in sync?

    I'm having some problems understanding exactly how audio-to-video synchronisation works. Can you explain?

    Sound Advice
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    Q. Should I believe my meters?

    I read that the level meters in most DAWs don't give a true indication of when audio is peaking, and that audio which looks like it's below 0dBFS may actually be peaking above it, causing distortion when played back. Is this true?

    Sound Advice
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    Q. Should I use my PC's ACPI mode?

    I've just bought a PC laptop and a MOTU 828. I installed the software and have been using Emagic Logic 5.5. However when I turn off the computer's Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI) it no longer recognises that the 828 is there. Why?

    Sound Advice
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    Q. What's the difference between a talk box and a vocoder?

    I've heard various 'talking instrument' effects which some people attribute to a processor called a vocoder, while others describe it as a 'talk box'. Are these the same devices?

    Sound Advice
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    Q. Why does 'Class' matter in an amplifier?

    I saw a mic preamp advertised as 'Class A' and 'Transformerless.' What do these terms mean and why exactly are they a good thing?

    Sound Advice

People

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    Business End

    MPG Demo Judgement

    Business End enables you to have your demo reviewed by a panel of producers, songwriters, musicians and managers drawn from the MPG (Music Producer's Guild).

    People
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    Paul White.

    Can You Feel It?

    Leader

    SOS Editor-In-Chief Paul White provides another virtual discourse whilst waiting for some MDF panels and acoustic foam to set...

    People
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    Crosstalk

    Readers' Writes

    More readers put pen to paper and get things off their chest...

    People
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    Demo Doctor

    Reader Recordings Analysed

    The Doc offers his diagnosis and cures for another batch of reader-submitted meisterwerks.

    People
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    Dr Robert & His Modular Moogs

    1964-1981

    Bob Moog's name is forever associated with the synthesizer — but why? We take a trip back in time to explain the story of the man and the modular systems that provided the basis for nearly all modern synths.

    People
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    Liam Watson & Toe Rag Studios

    The White Stripes

    Liam Watson went against the grain to build a studio with the retro sound he loved. And now that sound is back in fashion, he's had a number one album with the White Stripes.

    People
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    Sam Phillips: Sun Records

    The Man Who Invented Rock & Roll

    With the death of producer Sam Phillips, the music industry has lost one of its greatest pioneers. In an interview given towards the end of his life, he looked back on his work with greats like Elvis Presley, Howlin' Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash, most of whom were unknowns before they signed to his Sun Records label.

    People

Music Business

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    Cutting Edge

    The Impact Of DVD

    Could DVD kill the CD but save the music industry? Cutting Edge wouldn't be surprised...

    Music Business
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