SOS October 2013 is now available online

Gracing the front cover this month are Korg’s tiny trio of Volca analogue grooveboxes. The range comprises Volca Beats, a drum machine; Volca Bass, a three-VCO bassline synth; and Volca Keys, another three-oscillator synth with alternate voicing options. Each has a built-in sequencer, MIDI input and they can also be synchronised to each other. At less than £120$150 each, we ask if you can really say ‘no’ to Korg’s attractive new analogue offerings. 

We bring you reviews of Novation’s Launchkey controller keyboard, which works with iPad and Mac/PC, the affordable Lindell Audio 500-series outboard system, Universal Audio’s Apollo 16 audio interface with DSP and the superlative Neumann 310A active three-way monitors.

As always, Sound On Sound is packed with expert reviews, for a wide range of products from manufacturers including RME, Moog, Avid, Millennia, AKG, Benchmark, IK Multimedia, Yamaha and many more.

In our features this month, we have the first of a two-part series on Sound Design, where we focus on some of the key techniques that Sound Designers use on a daily basis, to create sounds for TV, film, radio and games. We also also have an interview with Olafur Arnalds, whose career in film scoring is moving ever upward after starting as a rock musician, and includes work on the recent British TV drama Broadchurch.

Our Classic Track this month is The Clash’s 1977 debut single, White Riot. We go behind the scenes and interview engineer Simon Humphrey to find out about the ‘warts and all’ approach he took to recording the track. For Secrets of the Mix Engineers we look at Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke’s worldwide number one, and find out how the work of mix engineer Tony Maserati (along with a controversial music video) helped turn the track into a global hit. 

Also in the magazine and on the Sound On Sound Youtube channel, we uncover the extraordinary story of BOP studios. Situated in a remote part of South Africa, BOP is the most lavish recording facility ever built. Discover the history of this amazing studio, and find out why, tragically, it now lies completely dormant.

In the live section, we have a preview of SSL’s top-end new live console and a full review of the Soundcraft Si Expression digital mixer.

As always, we have the best DAW workshops available, regular columns such as Spotlight, where we look at hybrid recording interfaces, as well as the Mix Review .

For full contents and to start reading this month’s issue, follow the link below.