SOUND ON SOUND
Martin Russ takes stock of price drops, take-over rumours, and in some cases, the end of the line.
Paul White looks at the different ways in which the leading enhancers produce their results, and offer some practical advice on where the various types work best.
Regular maintenance can not only ensure that your analogue recorder gives years of reliable service, but can also immeasurably improve the quality of the recordings you make with it. Hugh Robjohns retires to the test department and meets the challenge head-on...
Taking over the PC Notes hot seat, Martin Walker looks at the future of the PC audio, and exposes a few problem areas for soundcards.
Derek Johnson keeps the Atari flag flying with tidings of some hardware add-ons for both Falcon and ST, plus a neat freeware package that turns your Atari into a guitar tuner...
After another panicky start to the year for the MacOS, Martin Russ asks what happens next.
The Atari ST is more than 10 years old, but its high suitability for music and the enthusiastic support of users means that it's still going strong. Derek Johnson takes a look at some current software, reflects on some older software available at bargain second-hand prices, and reveals those all-important Atari Show dates.
These days, many businesses plan to replace their computers every two years. Although bi-annual upgrades don't come easy on your wallet, in the fast-changing world of the PC-based musician, upgrades are eventually inevitable. Martin Walker advises you on how to negotiate the troubled path to DSP processing paradise..
Brian Haywood looks at two new enhanced versions of previously available PC software...
In the first part of this occasional series for users of popular software packages, we take a look at what you need to do to get up and running using Logic's Environment page, and provide an introduction to the Multi-instrument Object.
Akai's S1100 hard-disk recording option caused quite a buzz on its release, and even now makes this well-specified sampler even more versatile. Chris Carter passes on some hard-won tips for making the best of S1100 HD recording.
These days a compressor is pretty much an essential purchase if you're recording vocals or non-keyboard instruments. Paul White looks at how they operate, and how they can be used both to control levels and to fatten sounds.
Need to transfer songs between an old sequencer and your new computer? Or between a sequencer at home and a MIDI File player for live work? Vic Lennard explains the procedure.
PC utility programs are either invaluable workmates, or end up languishing in a corner of your disk drive, rarely used. In a quest to sort out the most useful items for musicians, Martin Walker subjects his PC to the ultimate test.
Designing sounds on a computer can give you virtually all the knobs and sliders you'd want, but there's the potential to go far beyond hardware synthesis too. Dennis Miller begins a two-part tour of what's available.
Martin Russ puts the latest doom and gloom Apple news from the media into context.
The arrival of audio processing software plug-ins for the PC means that the platform can now compete as a viable digital audio workstation, and the latest update to PC audio editor Sound Forge supports the use of several software-based processors. Martin Walker checks them out.
Derek Johnson keeps the Atari flag boldly flying with news of a new Atari-based software-only synth, and also checks out a new shareware sample conversion utility...
Now that CD writers and well-specified CD-burning software are becoming more affordable, you might like to think about the advantages DIY CDs could bring to your studio. Mike Collins explains the benefits and takes you through the burning process using two popular software packages.
A system that knows when you've plugged in a new piece of kit, and which sets it up automatically, sound like a big step forward for PC owners. Unfortunately, that big step is into a chasm for many people. Martin Walker lays down some planks to get you safely across.