SOUND ON SOUND
Manufacturers have sought to provide expressive computer-based simulations of real instruments by releasing ever larger and more detailed sample libraries. But whatever happened to the idea of modelling instruments using synthesis techniques? Arturia haven't forgotten...
A robust and unusually flexible mixer with lots of stereo inputs.
Cakewalk have taken the workhorse soft synth that was bundled with their Project 5 loop sequencer, put the sound library on steroids and made it available as a separate product on both Mac and PC.
Sometimes, a small interface board can make all the difference! We check out the card that allows you to send up to 16 channels of audio from your Motif ES synth (and all your MIDI data) via one Firewire cable...
This new stand-alone recorder from Tascam records a variety of high-resolution audio formats directly to DVD discs.
While the sampling world has warmly embraced the drive towards superb sonics, Dagenham-based Worsesounds have made their mark with cheap-but-cheerless sound libraries aimed at the undiscerning...
Like a number of pop shields on the market today, the Stedman Proscreen 101 uses metal grille, as opposed to nylon mesh, to remove those annoying plosive sounds...
Soundscape have always been renowned for the stability of their DSP-based PC recording systems. Their latest development is a unique new way of integrating native CPU power into the Soundscape environment.
• Big Fish Audio Hip-Hop High: Multi-format • Garritan Jazz & Big Band: Kontakt Instrument • Sample Lab Broken Beats: WAV+REX+Apple Loops • Sonic Implants Symphonic Harp: Gigastudio
The addition of woodwind and percussion libraries rounds out Sonic Implants' Complete Symphonic Collection, bringing their three-year symphonic project to a close.
Exceptional A-D and D-A conversion, digital audio interfacing in multiple formats, plus Firewire connectivity make this high-end workhorse something for any studio owner to aspire to.
This new high-resolution small-diaphragm condenser mic offers high SPL handling and a warm tone.
M-Audio have applied the same economies of scale to this digital piano that they have to their controller keyboards, with the result that the Prokeys 88 retails for well under £500, with the cut-down Prokeys 88SX costing far less.
The Radias is described by Korg as a synth and vocoder, but that's somewhat modest — it manages to cram analogue modelling, S&S, FM and formant synthesis into its stylish frame, plus a host of sound-shaping and triggering facilities. Plus that vocoder...
Melodyne has always worked miracles with the pitch and timing of monophonic audio, but Celemony's new version 3 turns its attention to full polyphonic mixes.
Do you like AAS's Tassman but are a bit baffled when it comes to programming? Check out some of Harm Visser's ready-made instruments...
The former Wave Mechanics team set out to create the ultimate classic echo unit emulator, and ended up with a plug-in that does much more.
These active monitors can automatically EQ their frequency response to compensate for your room acoustics. But how effective is this technology in practice?
• Ehrlund Acoustic Pickup • Compensating for Volume Control treble loss • Radial Engineering Plexitube, Hartke AC75/AC150, TC Electronic G Sharp, Zoom G7.1ut/G9.2tt