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December 2019 Magazine Contents

SOS (US Edition) December 2019

Reviews: Gear Of The Year 2019 • Arturia AudioFuse 8Pre • IK Multimedia MODO Drum • Sound Devices MixPre-6 II • Kemper Profiler Stage • JBL Eon One Compact PA • Black Lion B173 Quad mic pre • KMI K-Board Pro 4 • Dynaudio Core 7 nearfields • Samar Audio TF10 mic • Toontrack Decades SDX.

Techniques + People: Stage To Studio (front cover): Mixing A Live Recording • Inside Track: DaBaby 'Intro' • Downton Abbey: Film Sound • ADAM Audio: Smart Speakers • Tomas Skogsberg: Modern Metal • Miking & Preparing Your Upright Piano • The Midas XL3 Story... plus DAW workshops.

Reviews

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    ADDAC System ADDAC611 Gotharman's VC Tube Filter

    Eurorack Module

    The ADDAC611 is not your typical filter. It is noisy, rough and sometimes violent, the Peaky Blinders of filters. This of...

    Reviews
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    Arturia 3 Delays You'll Actually Use

    Delay Plug-ins

    Arturia turn their attention to delays, offering us three software options: one an original design, and two modelled on classic hardware.

    Reviews
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    Arturia AudioFuse 8Pre

    USB Audio Interface & ADAT Expander

    Arturia's new audio interface is well designed, simple to use and enticingly priced.

    Reviews
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    Black Lion Audio B173 Quad

    Four-channel Microphone Preamplifier

    Black Lion's designers set out to bring versatility and lower noise to a classic preamp without sacrificing character — have they succeeded?

    Reviews
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    Cinesamples Sew What

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. For this library, Cinesamples recorded the sound of every tool and material they could find that's related to embroidery!

    Reviews
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    Dynaudio Core 7

    Nearfield Active Monitors

    They may look old-school, but Dynaudio's newest nearfields are packed with cutting-edge technology.

    Reviews
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    Gear Of The Year 2019

    Sound On Sound Editors' Choices

    The SOS team take you through their favourite new hardware and software of the last 12 months.

    Reviews
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    Heritage Audio Successor

    Stereo Bus Compressor

    Based on a classic design and bursting with transformers, the Successor from Heritage Audio combines a vintage sound with serious flexibility.

    Reviews
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    IK Multimedia MODO Drum

    Virtual Drum Instrument

    IK Multimedia follow up their highly acclaimed MODO Bass with a percussive counterpart.

    Reviews
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    JBL Eon One Compact

    Portable PA System

    The newest member of JBL's distinguished Eon family combines battery-powered portability with a 'grown-up' PA sound.

    Reviews
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    Keith McMillen Instruments K‑Board Pro 4

    Expressive Keyboard Controller

    KMI's K‑Board Pro 4 offers one of the most cost-effective ways into the enticing world of MIDI Polyphonic Expression.

    Reviews
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    Kemper Profiler Stage

    Floorboard Guitar Amp Emulator

    Kemper finally have a floorboard version of their groundbreaking Profiling Amplifier. Has it been worth the wait?

    Reviews
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    Kemper Profiler Stage: Audio Examples

    Hear For Yourself

    These audio examples accompany our Kemper Profiler Stage review from SOS December 2019.

    Reviews
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    LEP Multicassa & Arpopone

    Analogue Synthesizers

    The good folks at Laboratorio Elettronico Popolare are back with two new instruments to confound and delight.

    Reviews
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    Mackie MDB-1A & MDB-USB

    DI Boxes

    These DI boxes follow the company's usual 'tough as nails' build philosophy paired with well–conceived circuitry at an attractive price point.

    Reviews
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    Malekko Quad VCA

    Eurorack Module

    Let's face it, a single VCA is never enough, which is undoubtedly why quad VCA modules are such a popular design. Pack them...

    Reviews
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    Meris Hedra

    Three-Voice Rhythmic Pitch-shifter

    Hedra offers auto–harmony, pitch detuning, pitch glide and various other less obvious but highly usable functions.

    Reviews
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    Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32

    Controller Keyboard

    We see how the baby of the NI controller range measures up to its siblings.

    Reviews
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    Samar Audio TF10

    Cardioid Capacitor Microphone

    For their newest project, Samar Audio set themselves the challenge of creating the ideal cardioid microphone. Have they succeeded?

    Reviews
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    Sound Devices MixPre-6 II

    Portable Multitrack Recorder & USB Audio Interface

    Can this next generation of location recorders improve on the highly capable range that went before?

    Reviews
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    SparkFun Breakout Boards

    DIY Balanced Interface Modules

    If you're considering updating some old equipment with a balanced I/O, these boards come highly recommended.

    Reviews
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    Spitfire Audio Kepler Orchestra

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. The brainchild of Spitfire's Paul Thomson, Kepler Orchestra was inspired by the idea of contrasting rhythmic subdivisions that move in and out of sync like orbiting planets.

    Reviews
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    Steinberg SpectraLayers Pro 6

    Spectral Editing Software

    With their first update since buying this innovative spectral editing software, Steinberg have integrated it into ARA-compatible DAW programs.

    Reviews
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    Strezov Sampling Afflatus Chapter I Strings

    Sample Library

    A large strings collection from Eastern Europe heralds a breath of fresh air.

    Reviews
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    TC Electronic Flashback Delay 2 X4

    Digital Delay Pedal

    Boasting three pressure-sensitive footswitches, this delay pedal puts more control at your feet than most.

    Reviews
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    TC Electronic June-60

    Chorus Pedal

    Billed as a faithful recreation of the built-in chorus effect found in the Roland Juno‑60 synthesizer, the June‑60 pedal goes all out to recreate the Juno aesthetic...

    Reviews
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    Toontrack Big Band EZX

    EZ Drummer Expansion

    Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. The latest expansion for EZ Drummer 2/Superior Drummer 3 recreates the drum sounds associated with swing-era big bands and jazz ensembles.

    Reviews
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    Toontrack Decades SDX

    Expansion Pack For Superior Drummer 3

    Recorded by Al Schmitt, Toontrack's Decades SDX is a tour de force.

    Reviews

Techniques

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    Ableton: Running Live With Reason 11

    Ableton Live Tips & Tricks

    We show you how to get Live playing nicely with Reason 11.

    Techniques
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    Cubase Distroyer Plug-in

    Steinberg Cubase Pro Tips & Tricks

    We dish the dirt on Distroyer, the new distortion plug-in introduced in Cubase 10.

    Techniques
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    Cubase Distroyer Plug-in: Audio Examples

    Hear For Yourself

    These audio examples accompany our Cubase workshop about Distroyer, the new distortion plug-in introduced in Cubase 10.

    Techniques
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    Downton Abbey Road

    Music & Mixing For The Film Adaptation

    It might be set in the '20s, but Downton Abbey certainly isn't a silent movie! We talk to the team behind its state-of-the-art sound production.

    Techniques
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    Get The Most Out Of Your Upright Piano

    Upright: Done Right!

    With a little TLC and the right miking technique, even the most neglected piano can produce great recordings.

    Techniques
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    Get The Most Out Of Your Upright Piano: Audio Examples

    Hear For Yourself

    These audio examples accompany our Upright Piano miking workshop from SOS December 2019.

    Techniques
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    How To Use Logic's Modulator MIDI Plug-in

    Apple Logic Pro X Tips & Tricks

    Logic's Modulator MIDI plug-in offers some exciting ways to add movement to your music. Find out how...

    Techniques
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    Inside Track: DaBaby 'Intro'

    Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Kevin McCloskey

    Modern rap might be minimalist, but that doesn't mean it's easy to mix — especially when, as on DaBaby's Kirk album, the vocals were tracked in a hotel room.

    Techniques
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    Making Masters In Studio One

    PreSonus Studio One Tips & Tricks

    We look at the sweetening tools on offer for mastering in Studio One.

    Techniques
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    Pro Tools Automation: Grab & Go

    Avid Pro Tools Tips & Tricks

    Snapshot automation in Pro Tools Ultimate can be a huge time-saver.

    Techniques
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    Reason: Plug & Play

    Reason Tips & Techniques

    With Reason now available as a plug-in, there's plenty to get to grips with for new and old users alike.

    Techniques
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    Stage To Studio

    How To Mix A Live Recording

    With spill between instruments and bleed from backline and monitors, live-performance recordings present unique mixing challenges. At London's PLASA show, Miloco Studios' engineer Jamie McEvoy explained how to get a great result.

    Techniques
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    Stage To Studio: Audio Examples

    Hear & See For Yourself

    With spill between instruments and bleed from backline and monitors, live‑performance recordings present unique mixing...

    Techniques

Sound Advice

People

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    Paul White in his studio, 2017.

    Synth Heaven

    Leader

    Having just returned home from SynthFest UK 2019 held at Sheffield's Octagon, I thought it might be appropriate to focus...

    People
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    The Mix Review: December 2019

    Commercial Productions Analysed

    We examine the production of some recent hits from Dermot Kennedy, Marshmello ft. chvrches, DJ Regard, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus & Lana Del Rey, Mist plus The Cars 1984 classic 'Drive'.

    People
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    Tomas Skogsberg: Modern Metal

    Creating The Sunlight Sound

    Deep in the Swedish forest, we track down a producer whose work has defined the sound of modern metal.

    People
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    Why I Love... Soft Synths

    David Baer

    I am a bit older than most Sound On Sound readers. I was in high school when I watched the Beatles get introduced...

    People

Music Business

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    ADAM Audio: Smart Speakers

    Christian Hellinger & Stephan Mauer

    How will producers hear music in years to come? As they celebrate their 20th birthday, ADAM Audio have ambitious plans for the next generation of studio monitors.

    Music Business
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    The Story Of The Midas XL3

    Midas Touch

    We follow the journey of one plucky British analogue mixing console, from its birth in a shed to the heart of a museum exhibition and a place in the history books.

    Music Business
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