January 2015 Magazine Contents

Reviews

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  Angelbird SSD2go Pocket

  USB 3 Solid State Drive

  If you want more storage, want it faster and want it smaller, Angelbird’s portable SSDs might be just the thing.

  Reviews
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  Appworks

  Making Music On The Move

  We take a look at how the iPad Air 2 deals with music software.

  Reviews
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  Arturia Beatstep

  MIDI Controller & Step Sequencer

  Arturia’s Beatstep combines a MIDI controller and a step sequencer in one extremely reasonably priced box.

  Reviews
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  Audiowiesel Hammered Acoustic Guitar

  Kontakt Instrument

  Audiowiesel are a small fledgling company run by Austrian composers Frank Herrlinger and Daniel Szwedek.

  Reviews
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  Chandler Limited TG2–500

  Solid–state Microphone Preamplifier

  Can Chandler pack all of the EMI/Abbey Road sound for which they’re so famous into a single-module 500–series preamp?

  Reviews
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  Dave Smith Instruments Pro 2

  Monophonic Synthesizer

  The depth and complexity of the Pro 2 could make it Dave Smith’s most sophisticated monosynth yet.

  Reviews
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  DoReMIR ScoreCloud

  Music Transcription Software For Mac OS & Windows

  DoReMIR’s unique program helps to bridge the gap between performance and musical score — and it’s free!

  Reviews
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  Dynacord PM502

  Powered Mixer

  Dynacord apply their typically thoughtful design to a compact desk, which could be just the ticket for small gigs and installations.

  Reviews
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  Focal Alpha 65

  Active Nearfield Monitors

  Focal speakers have long been coveted for their performance, but have traditionally come with ‘professional’ price tags attached — until now...

  Reviews
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  Mozaic Beats AutoTheory

  Intelligent MIDI Chord & Melody Tool For Mac OS & Windows

  If you want to create convincing keyboard parts but don’t have the playing chops, AutoTheory might save your bacon.

  Reviews
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  Munro Sonic Egg 150

  Active Monitors

  Formerly sold under the SE brand, these Andy Munro–designed Egg speakers have been given a major update. So what’s new?

  Reviews
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  Native Instruments Action Strikes

  Kontakt Instrument

  Like its predecessor Action Strings, the Action Strikes percussion library is a collaboration between software giants Native Instruments and the production company Sonuscore.

  Reviews
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  NI Komplete Kontrol S49

  Controller Keyboard

  NI turn their hybrid expertise to keyboard design with an innovative controller for Komplete and Maschine.

  Reviews
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  Ocean Audio Signature Three

  Dual-channel Equaliser

  The Signature Three offers something no other EQ does — four inductor-based bands per channel.

  Reviews
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  Panda Audio MidiBeam

  Wireless MIDI Interface

  Panda Audio’s MidiBeam wireless MIDI interface does pretty much what it says on the tin.

  Reviews
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  Ploytec PL2

  MIDI Powered Duophonic Synthesizer

  Can this tiny box deliver a big sound?

  Reviews
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  Plug-in Folder

  This month XILS Lab 'XILS4' and Digital Brain's 'Multiplex Vocoder'.

  Reviews
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  Positive Grid BIAS

  Guitar Amp Simulator Plug-in For Mac OS & Windows

  With component-level adjustment and ‘amp matching’ features, BIAS can target almost any guitar amp sound — real or imagined!

  Reviews
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  Prodipe Pro 8-3W

  Three-way Active Monitors

  Three-way speakers tend to reside at the higher-priced end of the market — can Prodipe succeed with a budget-friendly option?

  Reviews
• Reviews
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  Samplecraze Low End

  eBook Review

  This extensive and in-depth eBook explains so much more than how to process your kicks and bass sounds!

  Reviews
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  Small Signal Audio Design 2nd Edition

  Book Review

  Douglas Self’s excellent technical reference book for solid-state audio-gear designers has been updated.

  Reviews
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  Sonokinetic The Carnival

  Kontakt Instrument

  A couple of years ago Sonokinetic released Carousel, a rather splendid Kontakt–hosted fairground organ. The Carnival is very much a ‘sister’ instrument to Carousel and presents two smaller-scale barrel organs.

  Reviews
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  SSL XL–Desk

  24–channel Analogue Mixer

  The XL-Desk is the first Solid State Logic mixer that can host hardware processors in the ubiquitous 500-series format.

  Reviews
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  Studiomaster Starlight 12ML

  PA, Monitor & Lighting System

  Could this crafty three-in-one PA and lighting system save you both time and money?

  Reviews
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  TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Mini

  Polyphonic Guitar Tuner Pedal

  Guitar tuners now come in many guises, from clip-on devices, plug-ins and phone apps to pedals and rackmount offerings. TC...

  Reviews
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  Telefunken DD4

  Dynamic Drum Microphone Set

  Renowned microphone brand Telefunken tackle the drum-mic kit market, with this high-end collection of dynamic models.

  Reviews
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  Thermionic Culture Nightingale 2

  Channel Strip

  With its parallel inputs, Thermionic Culture’s valve-based channel strip enables all sorts of creative recording options. And it sounds great, too!

  Reviews
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  UA RMX16

  Reverb Plug–in For UAD2 Platform

  UA’s emulation of the AMS digital reverb shows exactly why the original is still regarded as a classic.

  Reviews
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  XLN Addictive Drums 2

  Virtual Drum Instrument

  It’s been a long time coming, but the follow up to XLN’s Addictive Drums was worth the wait.

  Reviews
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  Zero–G Electro Cinematic

  Multi Format

  Zero–G’s Electro Cinematic library provides approximately 2.5GB of sample material.

  Reviews

Techniques

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  Automation Action

  Reaper Tips & Techniques

  Get to grips with Reaper’s range of automation facilities.

  Techniques
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  Deep Space

  Live Surround-sound Performance

  For this ambitious project, John Crossley had a full live band play through a 16-speaker system, to create an immersive performance.

  Techniques
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  Freaky Filter

  Studio One Tips & Techniques

  If you’re in search of novel effects in Studio One, fire up the Autofilter plug-in!

  Techniques
• Techniques
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  Hardware-controlled Channel Strip In Cubase

  Cubase Tips & Techniques

  Here's how to set up your own hardware–controlled channel strip in Cubase.

  Techniques
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  Improve Your Groove

  Reason Tips & Techniques

  We look at ReGroove and the new quantise features in Reason 8.

  Techniques
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  Media Content - January 2015

  Audio files to accompany the relevant articles.

  This page contains a directory of all media pages related to the January 2015 articles.

  Techniques
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  Mix Rescue: Max Farrar

  Our Experts Tranform Your Tracks

  Max Farrar: we take on a well–crafted contemporary pop tune with a massive number of tracks, and create two different mixes.

  Techniques
• Techniques
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  Need For Speed

  Sonar Tips & Techniques

  Become a Sonar ninja with these time-saving tips.

  Techniques
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  Normal Service

  Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

  Pro Tools acting funny? Chances are you’ve just changed playback mode by accident.

  Techniques
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  Perfect Harmony

  Logic Tips & Techniques

  Learn how to create vocal harmony parts and doubling effects using Flex Pitch and Logic’s vocoder plug–in.

  Techniques
• Techniques
• Techniques
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  Session Notes: Reducing Spill

  The Practical Craft Of Recording

  Brushes Held Like Hammers: Our recording engineer looks at ways to reduce spill without compromising a full–band tracking session.

  Techniques
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  Strung Out

  Ableton Live Tips & Techniques

  We get plucky with Ableton Live’s Tension instrument.

  Techniques
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  Studio SOS: The Cave

  Paul and Hugh head off to The Cave!

  Team SOS travel to deepest, darkest Cornwall, where they encounter some troublesome low frequencies and tackle a few common mix quandaries.

  Techniques

Sound Advice

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  Q. Are mineral-wool acoustic panels safe?

  I’m looking to get some acoustic panels of the rigid fibreglass/Rockwool type for my bedroom studio.

  Sound Advice
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  Q. Do surround-sound speakers need to be of the same type?

  I’m a sound engineer planning to have a surround-sound setup. The problem is, I already have a pair of Yamaha MSP5s so, can I have Yamaha HS5s for the centre and rear speakers.

  Sound Advice
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  Q. How do I tackle the unwanted noise coming from analogue modelling plug-ins?

  I like to use a lot of analogue modelling plug-ins when I’m mixing, but while I like the sounds I’m getting in general, I always seem to end up with too much noise. What’s the best way to tackle this problem?

  Sound Advice
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  Q. Should I buy my own digital mixer for a band tour?

  I’m the sound engineer with a group called Flyte, who are heading out on a mini headline tour of 150-500 capacity venues next month. I have the chance to acquire a little digital mixer such as a Behringer X32 rack, but I’m not sure if it would be worthwhile.

  Sound Advice

People

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  David Wrench

  Mixing Caribou, FKA Twigs & Jungle

  Mix engineer David Wrench has the rare ability to bring discipline to experimental projects, without losing their leftfield qualities.

  People
• People
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  Inside Track: Tom Lord-Alge

  Secrets Of The Mix Engineers

  For Rivers Cuomo and Weezer, going back to basics meant a reunion with one of the biggest names in rock mixing: Tom Lord-Alge.

  People
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  Playback

  Readers' music reviewed

  This month we listen to Easychair, Man Bites Zombie, Lukas Creswell-Rost and Lunacybot.

  People
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  Sounding Off: Russ Hepworth-Sawyer

  What's The Future Of Mastering?

  Russ Hepworh-Sawyer asks, 'will auto-mastering eventually produce a result that’s good enough to satisfy the would-be clients of the future?'

  People
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  The Mix Review

  Commercial Productions Analysed

  This month's tracks from Clean Bandit, Oliver Heldens, Meghan Trainor, Barbra Streisand and our Classic Mix Bill Haley & His Comets Rock Around The Clock.

  People
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  The Thrill Of The New

  Leader

  I could swear that we now have at least three Christmases a year!

  People

Music Business

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  Notes From The Deadline

  TV Music From The Inside

  It’s hard to make something new. It’s even harder to make something that’s both new and old.

  Music Business
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  Off The Record

  Music & Recording Industry News

  Despite a recent downturn, the video–game industry still has much to offer to audio pros.

  Music Business
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  RMV Studio, Stockholm

  Studio File

  Sweden’s newest high-end studio is built on very strong foundations, both literally and metaphorically.

  Music Business