SOUND ON SOUND
Fruity Loops has built itself quite a cult following in dance music circles. The latest version comes with a new name, FL Studio, as well as some interesting new virtual instruments and proper audio recording features.
This Samson microphone offers true capacitor design and multi-pattern operation at an extremely affordable price.
Buzz Audio's MA2.2 preamp made an excellent impression a year ago, but does its new little brother continue in the family tradition?
This new member of the Korg tribe offers synthesis, sequencing, drum programming, tons of real-time control plus genuine valves to light up your studio and your sound.
This limited edition collectable synth comes complete with the advantages of new features in the latest Virus OS — and these features can also be added to previous Virus synths via a free update.
This first major revision to Steinberg's Cubase SX incorporates the newly developed audio engine from Nuendo 2, new features for media composers, and classic features from Cubase VST. Does it all add up to a substantial improvement over version 1?
• The Dark Side Of The Groove **** • Kick-ass Brass ***** • Drum N Bass Fast Forward **** • Phat Beats From The Box ******
The monster AS modular synth system continues to expand with the launch of another batch of new sonic tools.
Until now, if you wanted multi-channel or high-resolution audio I/O in a hot-swappable external interface, Firewire was the only way to go. Edirol's UA1000 offers an alternative, using the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 protocol that is standard on nearly all new PCs.
Absynth gets a significant overhaul, including tempo syncing, sample playback, granular synthesis and a module library. What do we think of it? Read on...
This useful digital router can handle 12 channels of S/PDIF or ADAT optical digital I/O with full MIDI control.
Sonic Eye is a very simple yet useful troubleshooting gadget that will find many uses in both studios and live sound setups.
Direct Sound Extreme Isolation Headphones are designed to offer more isolation than ordinary closed-back models...
Times change. When announced in 2001, the Chameleon, a reprogrammable DSP unit, looked out of date compared with the software studio concept. But with piracy rife, and software companies being bought out everywhere, the idea of reprogrammable, unhackable hardware now seems quite timely...
TC's plug-in powerhouse is now available as an external Firewire-connected rack unit.
These two-way active monitors provide an upfront sound suited to pop, rock or dance music, at an affordable price.
The baby of Tascam's US range of interfaces dispenses with its big brothers' control faders, but does boast stereo audio I/O with phantom power supplied over USB, as well as MIDI I/O.
Despite the synth-spangled history of the company, it's been many years since a Roland product ruled the high-end keyboard roost, and 2001's Fantom workstation failed to change this. However, there's much more to the new Fantom S than one extra letter...
A Russian-made, large-diaphragm tube mic which is surprisingly affordable.
Interested in Granular Synthesis? This book explains all...