June 2016 Magazine Contents

Reviews

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  AJH Synth MiniMod Vintage Transistor Core VCO

  Eurorack Synth Module

  There have been numerous recreations of the Minimoog in recent years, and the latest manufacturers to take a stab at this are UK newcomers, AJH Synth.

  Reviews
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  DACS Test Lab

  Cable Tester

  A decent cable tester is an essential tool for every studio and roadie tech, and the clever people at DACS recently launched...

  Reviews
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  EastWest/Quantum Leap Hollywood Solo Instruments

  Orchestral Sample Libraries

  Hollywood Solo Instruments puts world-class violin, cello and harp sounds at your fingertips.

  Reviews
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  Electro-Harmonix Cock Fight

  Guitar Effects Pedal

  Electro Harmonix always manage to come up with a new twist when developing new pedals, and their Cock Fight combines...

  Reviews
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  Electro-Harmonix Super Space Drum & Crash Pad

  Analogue Drum Synthesizers

  Electro-Harmonix have reintroduced two of their classic ’70s drum synths.

  Reviews
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  Graham Audio Chartwell LS3/5

  Nearfield Monitors

  The BBC’s legendary LS3/5A is arguably the Godfather of nearfield monitors — and now it’s back, thanks to UK company Graham Audio.

  Reviews
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  IK Multimedia iRig Acoustic

  Acoustic Guitar Mobile Microphone/Interface

  In a box in the attic, I have a big acoustic-guitar pickup that never gets used. Apart from sounding a bit brittle, it blocks most of the sound hole when installed, thereby compromising the acoustic properties of my guitars. iRig Acoustic does the same job, but takes a very different approach...

  Reviews
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  Joey Sturgis Plug-ins

  Drum & Guitar Processing Software

  Many well-known engineers are now lending their names to plug-ins, and now metalcore specialist Joey Sturgis has joined the fray.

  Reviews
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  Korg Volca FM

  FM Synthesizer & Sequencer

  When it comes to FM synthesis, Korg’s little Volca is thinking big.

  Reviews
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  Lewitt Recorder

  Recording App For iOS

  After five years of manufacturing microphones, Lewitt have developed a recording app for iOS devices.

  Reviews
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  Line 6 Helix Rack

  Amp & Effects Modelling Processor

  Eighteen years after the launch of their ground-breaking POD, Line 6’s new flagship amp-modeller looks brimful of promise.

  Reviews
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  Liquidsonics Reverberate 2

  Convolution Reverb Plug-in

  Algorithmic reverb plug-ins still can’t match high-end hardware, but Liquidsonics are bridging the gap with an innovative new convolution technique.

  Reviews
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  Meris Mercury7

  500-series Algorithmic Reverb Processor

  With such brilliant software reverbs now available, does this new hardware unit warrant a place in the space race?

  Reviews
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  Overloud TH3

  Guitar Amp Modelling Software [Mac OS/Windows]

  With new amps, effects and a stripped-back GUI, is Overloud’s modelling software ready to play a headline slot?

  Reviews
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  RCF M18

  Digital Mixer With Amp Modelling

  With its built-in Overloud guitar and bass processing, could this iPad-controlled mixer do away with the need for backline altogether?

  Reviews
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  Roland El Cajon EC-10

  Electronic Percussion Instrument

  Cajons can provide a practical and compact alternative to drum kits — but they usually offer a limited range of sounds. Until now...

  Reviews
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  ROLI Noise Synthesizer App For iOS

  Making Music On The Move

  How would you like a Seaboard with a built-in sound engine for free that fits in your pocket?

  Reviews
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  Sam Spacey Epica Bass

  Kontakt Instrument

  Epica Bass presents a large selection of sample-based (mainly) monophonic bass sounds, all derived from some classic analogue hardware synths...

  Reviews
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  Sample Shop | Media

  Audio files to accompany the article

  These files accompany the Sample Shop article in the June 2016 issue of SOS

  | 23 MB

  Reviews
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  Softube Drawmer 1973 & S73 IMP

  Multiband Dynamics Plug-ins

  As well as modelling Drawmer’s versatile multiband mastering processor, Softube have boiled down its essentials to create an easy-to-use preset version.

  Reviews
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  Soniccouture Box Of Tricks

  Sample Library

  Imogen Heap invited the good people at Soniccouture into her studio, and Box Of Tricks is the result...

  Reviews
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  Spitfire Audio Albion One

  Sample Library

  Spitfire build on the Albion legacy with a new orchestral library.

  Reviews
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  Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators

  Miniature Synthesizers

  Known for their idiosyncratic approach, Teenage Engineering’s latest product is pocket friendly in every sense.

  Reviews
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  UVI Falcon

  Multi-format

  Falcon features a DAW-style mixer with up to 17 pairs of outputs, and supports UVI sound libraries (of which there are many), so one of its functions is to act as a sample library player.

  Reviews
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  Warm Audio WA-2A

  Valve Optical Compressor

  Warm Audio promise us an authentic recreation of the Teletronix LA-2A for a fraction of the price...

  Reviews
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  Zero-G Legacy

  Multi-format

  Legacy is inspired by Blade Runner and other classic 80s sci-fi movies. That world of sound is what Legacy attempts to capture, distil, and then present in a sample library format.

  Reviews

Techniques

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  Cubase Workshop: Retrologue 2

  Cubase Tips & Techniques

  Learn to make the most of Cubase 8.5’s Retrologue 2 synth.

  Techniques
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  Extract Vocals From A Stereo Mix

  Tips & Techniques

  Have you ever wondered how to separate a vocal or the instrumental backing from a stereo mix? We find out what’s possible — and what isn’t.

  Techniques
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  Extract Vocals From A Stereo Mix | Media

  Audio files to accompany the article.

  Have you ever wondered how to separate a vocal or the instrumental backing from a stereo mix? We find out what’s possible — and what isn’t.

  Techniques
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  Inside Track: Lukas Graham ‘7 Years’

  Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Morten Pilegaard Jespersen & Delbert Bowers

  Truly an international effort, Lukas Graham’s breakthrough hit ‘7 Years’ was masterminded by a Danish film-sound designer and a Californian mix engineer.

  Techniques
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  Media Content - June 2016

  Audio files to accompany our articles

  A directory of all media pages that hold the associated media files for June 2016 audio examples.

  Techniques
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  Mid-Sides EQ'ing In Sonar

  Sonar Tips & Techniques

  Sonar’s new LP EQ lets you perform Mid-Sides EQ’ing with ease.

  Techniques
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  Mix Rescue: Improving A Decent Mix

  Our Experts Transform Your Tracks

  This month’s band, the Broken Heartbreakers, threw down the gauntlet for our engineer — could he improve what was already a decent mix?

  Techniques
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  Mix Rescue: Improving A Decent Mix | Media

  Audio files to accompany the article

  Audio examples to check out yourself.

  Techniques
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  Part 1: Cloud Collaboration In Pro Tools 12.5

  Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

  Pro Tools 12.5 lets you collaborate remotely with other users. Here’s how to get started.

  Techniques
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  Reason: Create ReFills & REX Files

  Reason Tips & Techniques

  We show you how to create your own ReFills and REX files in Reason.

  Techniques
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  Session Notes: Progressive Metal

  The Practical Craft of Recording

  Must modern metal drums rely on triggered samples? Our engineer shows how you can mic up a kit for a modern, heavy sound.

  Techniques
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  Session Notes: Progressive Metal | Media

  Audio files to accompany the article

  The audio files available on this page accompany my Session Notes article in SOS June 2016 about recording drums for a...

  Techniques
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  Studio SOS: Synth & DAW Gremlins

  Mark North

  A home studio visit sees the SOS team tackle some stubborn synth and DAW gremlins.

  Techniques
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  Tape Effects In Reaper

  Reaper Tips & Techniques

  How to recreate open-reel tape trickery in Reaper.

  Techniques
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  Track Grouping In Studio One

  Studio One Tips & Techniques

  Understanding the way track grouping works will help keep your Studio One projects under control.

  Techniques
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  Using Kontakt In Ableton Live

  Live Tips & Techniques

  How to drag all your instruments into the same instance of Kontakt and set them up to use separate Kontakt MIDI inputs and audio outputs...

  Techniques
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  Using Logic Pro X's Step Editor

  Logic Tips & Techniques

  Program drums and automate effects faster with Logic’s Step Editor.

  Techniques

Sound Advice

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  Q. Does it matter which ‘version’ of a reference track I use?

  I’ve been reading up about reference tracks for mixing and mastering, and I want to increase both the amount and range...

  Sound Advice
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  Q. Is a top-down approach to mixing always best?

  I watched a video by Steven Slate where he demonstrates a ‘top down’ method of mixing drums. What do you think about this idea?

  Sound Advice
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  Q. Should I use an active or passive mic splitter?

  I use an ART S8 eight-channel mic splitter, a passive device, to send mic signals to two separate recording systems...

  Sound Advice

People

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  Astronautica: Beat Deconstruction

  Video Feature

  Fusing experimental electronic styles with hip-hop elements, the beat scene is where we find the subject of this month’s video feature...

  People
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  Ernst Zacharias & The Hohner Clavinet

  Key Man

  Ernst Zacharias invented the Clavinet and has spent a lifetime perfecting electro-mechanical instruments. We talk to him about his life and explore his classic designs.

  People
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  Gareth Owen: Theatre Sound Designer

  Sound Stages

  The sound designer’s role in a big-budget musical is to create an immersive experience for the audience — and keep the cast and director happy too!

  People
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  Sounding Off: TB or not TB? That really is the question.

  Percy Rush

  Is it time that we retired our TRs and TBs and forced ourselves out of our comfort zones?

  People
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  The Mix Review

  Commercial Productions Analysed

  This month tracks from: D'Angelo, Zara Larsson, Lukas Graham, Mavis Staples and John Williams' Star Wars theme.

  People
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  Unsung Heroes

  Leader

  The sad death of Sir George Martin earlier this year got me thinking just how important producers are...

  People

Music Business

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  Notes From The Deadline

  TV Music From The Inside

  Every TV producer knows the value of a good ‘ssssccHHH PRRRgghhh’. How are you going to give them what they want?

  Music Business
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  Off The Record

  Music & Recording Industry News

  Recording studios are increasingly finding their way onto our TV and cinema screens. And it’s about time...

  Music Business
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  The Bridge, Los Angeles

  Studio File

  Most audio professionals would agree that our industry is in a transitional period at the moment. New digital distribution...

  Music Business