April 2000 In This Issue
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Reviews Professional Studio System High-quality mic recordings and PC soundcards don't normaly go together all that well, but this could be about to change with Aardvark's new audiophile breakout box, as Martin Walker finds out. CD Mastering Processor more than just another stand-alone box that burns CD-Rs, the Alesis MasterLink also includes a large hard drive to store audio and built-in CD mastering tools — in theory, all you need to create CD-R masters without ever booting up a computer. Paul White puts this idea to the test. Analogue Solutions Minimodular Dual-oscillator Synth Analogue Solution' diminutive Minimodular contains all the necessaries to make up a miniature patchable synth. Gordon Reid arches an eyebrow at this innovative and compact sound source. Pro Tools TDM Plug-in Antares' latest plug-in can, it is claimed, alter a recording made with one model of mic so that it sounds as if it was done with another. But can you really make any budget mic sound like a high-end classic? Paul White investigates. Integrated Tube Guitar Processor Digitech's RP21D, with its digital output, is aimed at both studio and live use. John Walden joins the digital age... Synthesis, Effects & Audio Card Korg's longstanding OASYS synthesis project has finally come to commercial fruition. The original plan, to produce a traditional stand-alone synthesizer, has given way to a computer-based synthesis and mixing environment running on a multi-DSP PCI card. Simon Trask takes refuge with the OASYS PCI... Workstations (Retro) Kurzweil have always enjoyed a reputation for manufacturing high-quality workstations — their latest, the K2600, is reviewed this month. But back in the late '80s, this reputation was founded only on their impossibly expensive K250. David Etheridge explains how the 1000-series put them on the map... Keyboard Workstation Kurzweil's latest workstation is very much the product of evolution, rather than revolution. Paul Ward finds out whether it's keeping pace with the rest of the synth world... Mixer Clearly designed with live sound in mind, the CFX16 also makes an ideal mixer for a desktop studio where MIDI and audio signal need to be combined. Paul White investigates. Portable Minidisc Recorder Hugh Robjohns investigates a rugged new Minidisc recorder with a host of facilities for professional location recording. 4-bit/96KHz A-D Converter The ADI96 Pro is a 96kHz converter featuring both mic and line inputs, as well as a whole host of onboard DSP functions. Hugh Robjohns tries it out. Studio Ribbon Microphone For many, the ribbon microphone starts and ends with the BBC-designed 4038, but technology has moved on since this classic first appeared, as Hugh Robjohns discovers when he encouters a new state-of-the-art model from Royer. VST Instruments Steinberg's VST Instrument technology allows software synths to be fully integrated into any VST 2.0-compatible host software, such as Cubase VST. The first major releases to arrive are both recreations of established analogue classics. Martin Walker tries them out. Valve Compressor The Phoenix all-valve compressor is a high flyer when it comes to quality and price. Will it help Thermionic Culture feather their nest? Paul White finds out. Parametric Valve Equaliser Paul White tries out TLA's combination of front end and parametric equaliser. Touched By Sound DRM1 Syncussion Analogue Percussion Synth If sparkling analogue drum sounds are what you need to turn your tracks to gold, Germany's Touched By Sound company may have the answer in the form of the DRM1 eight-piece analogue drum module. Paul Nagle tests its mettle. Sampler Yamaha's former sampling flagship, the A3000, represented a novel but very powerful approach to sampler design. The new A4000 and A5000, as Derek Johnson & Debbie Poyser report, maintain the distinctive design ethos, but should provide even stronger competition to the established names. Active Monitors & Subwoofers The market for good but affordable 'reference' monitor speakers seems almost boundless and Yamaha have recently joined the fray with their active MSP10s and associated subwoofer, the SW10. Hugh Robjohns digs out his test discs again... Sound Advice
| People + Opinion BeOS: Possible Implications For Musicians Cutting Edge Dave Shapton gets to grips with the latest news about BeOS, and its possible implications for musicians. DAVID FRANK: Recording Christina Aguilera's 'Genie In A Bottle' Interview | Producer Christina Aguilera's debut single was a worldwide smash hit last year, thanks in no small measure to the distinctive work of producer and co-writer David Frank. Mike Senior finds out how he did it. MARTYN WARE: The Clarke & Ware Experiment Interview | Artist From his early days as a pioneer of British synth-pop, Martyn Ware has forged a career on the cutting edge of electronic music. And, as Bill Bruce discovers, he is still innovating today — in 3D. MICHAEL NEILSON: TV & Film Soundtracks Michael Neilson Another reader invites us into his home studio. News Here's a list of all the upcoming gear the SOS team saw launched at the recent Winter NAMM show in Los Angeles. If it was new to SOS staff at NAMM, we've included it here. As usual, apologies to anyone we may have inadvertently missed out! Sounding Off The Internet could mean a bleak future for high-fidelity music, worries reader Philip Cadman. TOM LORD-ALGE: From Manson To Hanson Mix Engineer Although he started his working life as a producer, Tom Lord-Alge chose to narrow his field of work, and now ranks alongside Bob Clearmountain and his brother Chris Lord-Alge as one of the best mix engineers in the world. Paul Tingen discovers what makes Lord-Alge mix tick... Technique Tips & Tricks If something's letting down your pop tracks, it could be the arrangement rather than the song itself at fault. Derek Johnson & Debbie Poyser offer some advice on how to make sure your music gets the star treatment it deserves. Creating Orchestral Arrangements On A Budget Tips & Tricks Use of a full symphony orchestra remains a luxury afforded only to the world's top-selling artists or film composers. But with a little help from technology, the sound of convincing strings and blaring brass is achievable on a budget. John Rowcroft reports, and offers advice to anyone seeking to follow his example... Cycling 74; MacOS X; Studio Systems 2.1 Apple Notes Vic Lennard sets out his stall on all matters Mac... Fast Winding DATs; Getting Timecode Onto Video Q & A Q. Why do I have to keep fast-winding my DATs? Net Notes How many radio stations can you pick up at home? Ten? Twenty? If you've got an Internet connerction, the answer is more like 3,000. Simon Trask explains. Playback Readers' Music Reviewed Garden Band * Brain Dead Beats * Jera * Simon Ash * Stylus * Calmarama * Innocence * Reformation * Kingsland * Vinyl Morphic Preventative Maintenance In The Studio Tips & Tricks Audio equipment is expensive, so it pays to keep it in good condition and forestall potential problems. Paul White provides a few tips. Atari Notes Derek Johnson reports on the arrival of Falcon digital recording program QUiNCY and a neat SC55 Sound Canvas editor. Synth Secrets, Part 12: An Introduction To Frequency Modulation Tips & Tricks As Gordon Reid explained last month, audio-frequency modulation of the amplitude of a signal can be a powerful synthesis tool. The possibilities expand still further when we consider what happens when you use one audio-frequency signal to modulate the frequency of another... The Advantages Of Buying From Specialist Music Retailers Feature | Tips & Tricks The array of choices which confronts anyone trying to buy a new PC can be bewildering. Fortunately, as Martin Walker explains, there are retailers out there who can eliminate the hassle and uncertainty. Waldorf PPG Wave 2.V; Reg Clean PC Notes Martin Walker grumbles about long-winded install routines, and guides you through a few ways to check your system files and Registry for problems. Music Business Big George's Guide To Commercial Success: Fronting Out A Situation Feature | Tips & Tricks If there is one thing Big George can do, it's front out a situation. This month he gives you a brief masterclass on doing the same. |
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