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April 2023 Magazine Contents

SOS (US Edition) April 2023

REVIEWS: Expressive E Osmose polysynth [front cover] • Warm Audio WA-MPX & WA-2MPX tube tape machine preamps • Korg Drumlogue • Universal Audio Sphere LX & DLX mics • DPA Ultimate Recording Kit mic collection • Arturia MiniFreak V • Arturia Pigments 4 • Sonarworks SoundID Reference For Multichannel • Tokyo Dawn Records SimuLathe • Lauten Audio LA-220 v2 mic • Zoom AMS-22, 24 & 44 interfaces • IK Multimedia iRig Stream Mic Pro • Locomotive Audio WT-Comp • sE Electronics DCM3 & DCM6 mics • Hit’n’Mix RipX DeepCreate • OM System LS-P5 recorder • RYK Modular Vector Wave • Strymon Cloudburst • Latest sample libraries — and lots more!

TECHNIQUES & PEOPLE: • Ian Shepherd On Loudness & Dynamics • Do You Need A Subwoofer? • Sleaford Mods: Recording 'UK Grim' • Inside Track: Metro Boomin 'Heroes & Villains' • Dying To Work In Music • How I Got That Sound: Leo Abrahams ‘Harm Organ’ • Modular Profile: Lisa Bella Donna • Talkback: Mikado Koko • DAW workshops: Cubase, Studio One, Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Logic Pro — and plenty more!

Reviews

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    Ampeg SVT Suite

    Bass Amp Modelling Plug-in

    Ampeg’s first official plug‑in offers a range of classic heads, cabs and effects.

    Reviews
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    Arturia MiniFreak V

    Software Synthesizer

    The MiniFreak V is every bit as good as its hardware counterpart.

    Reviews
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    Arturia Pigments 4

    Software Synthesizer

    Arturia’s colourful soft synth goes from strength to strength.

    Reviews
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    Chris Hein OCTA

    Sample Library

    Chris Hein’s OCTA instrument is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

    Reviews
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    DPA Ultimate Recording Kit

    Microphone Collection

    DPA’s new flagship microphone bundle offers quality and quantity in abundance. We put it to work in a busy studio...

    Reviews
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    Expressive E Osmose

    Polyphonic Synthesizer

    Expressive E’s Osmose is a synthesizer like no other.

    Reviews
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    G-Sonique Resonant Techno Reverb RRTX24

    VST3 Reverb Plug-in For Windows

    Seeking creative inspiration? This reverb might be up your street if you are a Windows user...

    Reviews
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    Heavyocity Avant Modern Keys

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Heavyocity’s Avant Modern Keys samples a classic Mark II electric piano.

    Reviews
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    Hit’n’Mix RipX DeepCreate

    Source Separation & Audio Processing Software

    Hit’n’Mix add recording features to RipX with the new DeepCreate module.

    Reviews
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    IK Multimedia iRig Stream Mic Pro

    USB Microphone & Audio Interface

    IK’s new iRig model offers a lot of features for your money.

    Reviews
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    Imaginando VS

    Visual Synthesizer

    Imaginando VS is a visual synthesizer designed for music and musicians.

    Reviews
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    Instruō Cnōc & Cruïnn

    Eurorack Modules

    Cnōc and Cruïnn promise to bring something new to your modular system with their own distinct brands of Instruō ingenuity.

    Reviews
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    Klevgrand Tomofon

    Software Synthesizer

    Klevgrand introduce a new take on wavetable synthesis.

    Reviews
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    Korg Drumlogue

    Drum Machine

    Never afraid to be different, Korg have combined analogue and digital in a unique drum machine.

    Reviews
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    Lauten Audio LA-220 v2

    Cardioid Capacitor Microphone

    Lauten Audio’s updated LA‑220 offers both the Yin and Yang of affordable capacitor mics!

    Reviews
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    Locomotive Audio WT-Comp

    Vari‑mu Compressor

    This characterful valve processor offers vari‑mu compression at a very attractive price.

    Reviews
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    Locomotive Audio WT-Comp | Audio Examples

    Hear For Yourself

    The audio examples available on this page accompany my SOS April 2023 review of the Weight Tank compressor by Locomotive Audio. I’ve provided before and after examples along with the settings I used and a few thoughts on what I was trying to achieve with the compressor in each setting.

    01_Drum Room_RAW

    A mono drum room mic without any processing applied.

    02_Drum Room_WT-Comp

    This is an example of the WT-Comp being used to add character and excitement to the drum room mic. The attack was on the fastest setting, the release set at 11 o’clock and the drive setting was engaged. Around 7-8 dB of gain reduction was applied.

    03_Bass Guitar_RAW

    A bass guitar captured via direct input without any processing.

    04_Bass Guitar_WT-Comp

    An example of the WT-Comp used on a bass guitar DI to add more dynamic consistency. With upwards of 10 dB of gain reduction applied, you can hear how the compressor makes the part more solid but at the expense of a little low-end and a general change in tone. For this example, I had the drive setting engaged, the attack at 2 o'clock and the release at 3 o’clock.

    05_Acoustic Guitar_RAW

    An acoustic guitar recording with no processing.

    06_Acoustic Guitar_WT-Comp

    With the WT-Comp in its ‘round’ setting this is an example of I used the review unit to make a strummed acoustic guitar part sit more confidently in a mix. The attack was set at 2 o'clock and the release at its fastest setting.

    07_Electric Guitar_RAW

    An example of a slightly driven picked electric guitar recording.

    08_Electric Guitar_WT-Comp

    With the attack at 2 o’clock and release at its fastest setting, I used the WT-Comp to add more saturation and make the guitar part cut through the mix more easily. The drive setting was used and as much as 10dB of gain reduction.

    09_Female Vocals_RAW

    An example of a female vocal recorded without any processing.

    10_Female Vocals_WT-Comp

    In this example, you can hear how the WT-Comp adds more weight to a female vocal. I found I had to tread quite carefully on vocals and this has just 3-4 dB of gain reduction applied with both the attack and release set at around 12 o'clock. This is in the ‘round’ setting.

    11_Male Vocals_RAW

    An example of a Male vocal recorded without any processing.

    12_Male Vocals_WT-Comp

    For this example, I used the same settings as for the female vocal but with the drive setting engaged to add more harmonics to the vocal. I generally preferred the WT-Comp on male vocals that benefited from the extra low-end weight and a more coloured sound.

    Reviews
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    Multichannel Microphone Array Design

    Book Review

    Michael Williams' latest version contains all of the information from the previous two volumes in a new, 444‑page single volume.

    Reviews
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    Noon Instruments Toska

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Toska is a collection of carefully crafted evolving atmosphere and textural sounds that will let music producers or film composers evoke moods of melancholy.

    Reviews
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    OM System LS-P5

    Stereo Digital Recorder

    This diminutive device might look familiar, but it’s not just the brand name that has changed!

    Reviews
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    OneOdio Monitor 80

    Open-back Headphones

    The Monitor 80 headphones are the more upmarket open‑backed cousin of the Monitor 60...

    Reviews
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    RYK Modular Vector Wave

    Eurorack Module

    Vector Wave is an extraordinarily playful multi‑levelled cluster oscillator with multiple modes, nuances, vector synthesis and FM algorithms.

    Reviews
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    Sample Logic Genesis - Pads In Motion

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Sample Logic's new library, Genesis — Pads In Motion, is likely to appeal to film or TV composers.

    Reviews
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    sE Electronics DCM3 & DCM6

    Dynamic Microphones

    sE’s new dynamic design comes in both active and passive flavours.

    Reviews
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    Slate + Ash Choreographs

    Slate + Ash Choreographs

    Virtual Instrument

    Choreographs is not so much a Kontakt instrument as a perpetual motion machine.

    Reviews
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    Sonarworks SoundID Reference For Multichannel

    Monitor Correction System

    Sonarworks’ SoundID has improved stereo monitoring in countless studios worldwide. The new multi‑channel version is designed to do the same for immersive audio.

    Reviews
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    Sonora Cinematic Harmonic Bloom

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating ***** 5/5 Stars. Harmonic Bloom uses a series of eight keyboard tracking filters based on the harmonic series in order to extract musical sounds from harmonically rich or noise‑like sound sources.

    Reviews
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    Soundevice Digital Mastermind

    Mastering Plug-in

    Soundevice Digital’s Mastermind plug‑in aims to provide a selection of tools in a single, uncomplicated GUI so as to make mastering your mixes easy.

    Reviews
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    Strymon Cloudburst

    Digital Reverb Pedal

    There are many reverb pedals around, but this box has a few tricks up its sleeve.

    Reviews
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    Tokyo Dawn Records SimuLathe

    Vinyl Mastering Preparation Plug-in

    This clever new plug‑in can be used by vinyl cutting engineers to help get the best results from their tools and medium — or simply as a way to learn more about vinyl mastering.

    Reviews
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    Universal Audio Sphere DLX & Sphere LX

    Modelling Microphone Systems

    Universal Audio are bringing their cutting‑edge mic modelling technology to new markets with the more affordable Sphere LX.

    Reviews
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    Warm Audio WA-MPX & WA-2MPX

    Valve Microphone Preamplifiers

    Countless hits were recorded using Ampex tape recorders and their characterful tube input stages. These preamps promise that legendary sound in a convenient format.

    Reviews
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    Wave Alchemy Glow

    Reverb Plug-in

    Based on the pioneering AMS RMX16 reverb, we put Wave Alchemy's affordable native plug‑in alternative through its paces.

    Reviews
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    Wave Arts Panorama 7

    3D Panning Plug-in

    Can a plug‑in really convey the impression of 3D spatial panning on both headphones and stereo loudspeakers?

    Reviews
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    Zoom AMS-22, 24 & 44

    USB Audio Interfaces

    Zoom’s AMS interfaces are small, simple, and extremely tough.

    Reviews

Techniques

Sound Advice

People

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    Electric Blues

    Leader

    An MPG poll has found that studios are paying between 250 and 400 percent more for their electricity now than they were in 2021. This has been a heavy blow, and it’s about to get a lot worse.

    People
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    Modular Profile: Lisa Bella Donna

    Electronic Sound Sorceress

    Musician, sound designer, educator and all‑round electronic sound sorceress, Lisa Bella Donna has built a reputation for herself as one of the most eminent synthesists anywhere.

    People
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    Richard Barbieri - Porcupine Tree

    Richard Barbieri - Porcupine Tree | Podcast

    Closure / Continuation

    As part of Japan, Richard Barbieri soon became the thinking person’s synthesist, famous for his rich and textural electronic backings that beautifully complemented the work of other band members to forge what is still a unique sound to this day.

    People
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    Sleaford Mods

    Recording UK Grim

    As their new album reveals, there’s a lot more to the minimalist, abrasive sound of Sleaford Mods than meets the ear.

    People
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    Talkback: Mikado Koko

    Japanese Experimental Producer

    Mikado Koko is an off‑the‑wall thinker, with music to match...

    People
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    Electrix Repeater

    Why I Love... The Electrix Repeater

    Ted Morcaldi

    Not all hardware loopers are created equal. This is quickly discovered when you dive deeper into creating sonic architectures...

    People

Music Business

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    Cecil (Adam) Bartlett - MPG Awards 2023

    Cecil (Adam) Bartlett - MPG Awards 2023 | Podcast

    Breakthrough Producer Of The Year Nominee

    Cecil (Adam) Bartlett is a London-based producer who talks to Sam Inglis about his career so far and being nominated in this year's Breakthrough Producer Of The Year category for his work on Here Is Everything by The Big Moon.

    Music Business
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    Daniel Moyler - MPG Awards 2023

    Daniel Moyler - MPG Awards 2023 | Podcast

    Breakthrough Producer Of The Year Nominee

    Daniel Moyler is a freelance mix engineer who was awarded Engineer Of The Year at the MPG 2020 Awards and won a 2021 Grammy for his engineering work on Dua Lipa's album Future Nostalgia.

    Music Business
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    Francine Perry - MPG Awards 2023

    Francine Perry - MPG Awards 2023 | Podcast

    Rising Star Nominee

    Sam Inglis talks to Francine Perry, artist, producer and mix engineer, about her career so far and being nominated in the Rising Star category for her work with Beth Orton, Erasure and HAAi while based at Mute Studio.

    Music Business
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    Inside AIR Studios

    SOS FEATURE VIDEO

    Lyndhurst Hall at AIR remains a favourite destination for Hollywood composers, rock bands and pop stars, and it's just emerged from a stunning renovation.

    Music Business
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    Manon Grandjean - MPG Awards 2023

    Manon Grandjean - MPG Awards 2023 | Podcast

    Mix Engineer Of The Year Nominee

    Manon Grandjean is a freelance mix engineer who has previously won three Music Producers Guild Awards. This year she's been nominated again for Mix Engineer Of The Year 2023, this time for her work with artists Flo, Fyfe & Iskra Strings and Milk & Bone.

    Music Business
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    Mikko Gordon - MPG Awards 2023

    Mikko Gordon - MPG Awards 2023 | Podcast

    Recording Engineer Of The Year and Album Of The Year Nominee

    Mikko Gordon is a Grammy nominated mixing engineer and record producer based in London. This year he's nominated by the Music Producers Guild for Recording Engineer Of The Year and Album Of The Year along with Nigel Godrich for The Smile: A Light for Attracting Attention.

    Music Business
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    Reinventing Studio 4 at RAK

    GENELEC’S IMMERSIVE MIXING SOLUTION

    What would a modern, immersive studio look like if you had the opportunity to re‑invent it from the ground up? The answer, at least as far as the recently revamped Studio 4 at RAK is concerned, is very different to most people’s idea of what a professional studio looks like.

    Music Business
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    The Anchoress - MPG Awards 2023

    The Anchoress - MPG Awards 2023 | Podcast

    Self Producing Artist Nominee

    Catherine Anne Davies, also known as The Anchoress, is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Sam Inglis talks to her about being nominated for Self Producing Artist in the Music Producers Guild Awards 2023.

    Music Business
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    Will Purton - MPG Awards 2023 Nominee

    Will Purton - MPG Awards 2023 | Podcast

    Rising Star Nominee

    Will Purton is a London-based recording engineer, mixer and producer nominated in the Rising Star category for the 2023 Music Producers Guild Awards.

    Music Business
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