Reviews
Dual Three-band Equaliser If you want 'that' analogue sound, sometimes real analogue gear is the only way you can get it — and that's what this valve EQ is all about...
Virtual Guitar Modelling Instrument Fed up with guitarists? Overwhelmed by huge sample libraries? Just plain disappointed with your own ham-fisted guitar skills? AAS's Strum Acoustic GS1 could be right up your street...
The SOS Buying Guide The vast majority of computer-based musicians will need an audio interface, but with so many on the market, it can feel like an impossible task to decide which to buy. You can narrow down the choices significantly with the help of our essential guide.
Ribbon Microphone A ribbon mic that can be used on a kick drum? Prepare to believe, as the new 'Roswellite' ribbon shows off its hardiness.
Multi-band Dynamics Plug-in For PC For maximum loudness with a minimum of fuss, IL's Maximus may be just the ticket — and it does subtlety as well.
Audio & MIDI Interface [Mac/PC] M-Audio's new interface is equipped with eight mic preamps, eight analogue outputs and an impressive range of digital I/O — all of which has been crammed into a 1U rack and given a very attractive price-tag.
DAW Software For Windows Like many DAW manufacturers, Merging Technologies offer a low-cost native version of their product. Despite its affordability, though, Pyramix Native 6 packs some serious editing and mixing power...
Control Surface The Monome may appear to be simple, but hidden beneath its minimalist exterior are practically limitless computer control possibilities...
Audio & MIDI Interface [Mac/PC] Prism Sound's Orpheus interface brings the company's highend digital conversion technology within reach of the project studio owner for the first time.
Hot new sound library releases • Analogue Systems Sample CD
• Big Fish Audio Nu Metal City 2
• LapJockey FlatPack 3
• Big Fish Audio Funk City 2
De-esser Plug-in For Mac & PC Sonnox are the latest manufacturer to apply some new thinking to the humble de-esser.
Mixer & Control Surface The almost universal trend towards using computers and hardware controllers has made business tough for the big console manufacturers — but the clever ones are fighting back with some innovative thinking, to create products that offer the best of all worlds.
DIY Mic Preamp System The DIY approach to audio equipment needn't mean bargain basement, and if you apply this principle to high-end vintage gear it might just save you a small fortune — without compromising on quality.
Drum Replacement Plug-in The latest incarnation of Drumagog allows you to augment a real acoustic drum performance with the sonic palette of BFD.
Guitar Amp Simulation Software, Interface & Controller Zoom's first computer product is a guitar amp modelling system that offers an impressive list of features at a bargain price.
Competition
Sound Advice
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Virtual Drum Instrument Developers' Round Table More and more music producers are turning to 'virtual drummer' software to help them realise authentic-sounding drum tracks. We caught up with some of the people behind the leading applications, to find out why this new software genre has appeared and how it might develop in the future.
Producer: Paul Simon • Engineer: Roy Halee Paul Simon's Graceland album combined a huge mixture of musical styles and was recorded in studios all over the world. The man responsible for putting it all together, both sonically and physically, was Simon's long-time engineer Roy Halee. This is how he did it...
Sounding Off Could digital radio be better exploited for artists?
Recording Revenge Songs With no budget to hire a studio, Jacob Golden decided to record his album anywhere and any way he could. The resulting sound is a unique exercise in the use of ambience.
Sara Bareilles 'Love Song' With Sara Bareilles' massive worldwide hit 'Love Song', producer Eric Rosse had to strike a delicate balance between preserving the artist's integrity and achieving mass appeal.
Paul White's Leader Paul asks if it is time to go back to recording basics and focus on your skills?
Technique
PC Notes Online security, the difference between audio and MIDI latency, and a software world record attempt: all this and more in the latest instalment of PC Notes...
Sound Workshop Whether you're acclimatising to a new room or speakers, or seeking benchmarks for your mix, a CD of good reference material is an indispensable tool — and it pays to think hard about what you put on it.
Digital Performer Notes & Technique DP's Memory Cycle can benefit you whatever kind of music you make. We look at how to work smart and fast with this crucial feature.
Guide to Magnetic Pickups
Apple Notes This August represents the tenth anniversary of Apple shipping the original iMac, so we take the opportunity to sit back and reminisce on how Mac technology has changed for musicians over the last decade.
Part 2: The Synthesizer Section Ultrabeat has powers beyond simple drum pattern creation, offering a synthesis section that's the key to more varied percussive sounds and rhythmic effects.
Strategies for better mixes When different parts compete in a mix, it isn't always easy to decide what's most important. We take you through some strategies to achieve better separation of parts for a clutter-free mix.
Hear For Yourself For our newsstand magazine buyers who do not have access to the subscribers-only eSub version of Mix Rescue, here are the URLs for the Audio files that accompany September 2008's instalment of MIX RESCUE.
Exploring Cubase 4.1's Audio Input Routing Cubase's new routing options enable you to export multiple audio tracks in one go: we take you step by step through the process.
Pro Tools Notes & Technique Used correctly, VCA groups can make a big difference when you're faced with a complex mix and lots of automation.
Reason Notes & Techniques Side-chain compression can be the difference between a flat, lifeless mix and an adrenalised floor-filler. Learn how to capture the French house sound, and add an extra little twist.
Home studio rescue mission Even when you're mixing completely 'in the box', a small analogue mixer can still prove really useful in the home studio, for both recording and monitoring duties...
How A Hi-fi Speaker Conquered The Studio World Love or hate the Yamaha NS10, this unassuming little speaker has found a place in the studios of many of the world's top producers. We trace its history, and investigate why a monitor whose sound has been described as "horrible" became an industry standard.
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