August 1997 Magazine Contents

Paul White studio-tests the sound engineer's dream — a TDM software plug-in for undetectably correcting vocal and monophonic instrument pitching problems.

If you're recording and editing MIDI + Audio on a PC, you'll want to try a piece of the latest Cakewalk. Janet Harniman-Cook reports from the kitchen.

Two channels good, four channels better — but 4-channel preamps are thin on the ground. Hugh Robjohns has succeeded in sniffing one out.

Fostex take their stand-alone 8-track hard disk concept onward and upward, turning the well-received D80 into the D90 with some useful and welcome enhancements. Paul White is d-lighted...

Generalmusic's 'Realpiano' technology aims to bring the nuances and subtleties of the acoustic piano sound to players who also want the convenience of an electronic instrument. Paul Ward tickles the ivories to see if the Pro2 comes up smiling...

Paul White gets a feel for the on-off CD business using HHB's new stand-alone CD recorder.

Paul White checks out JoeMeek's first standalone enhancer.

Korg's mission to bring musicians the benefits of physical modelling synthesis at an affordable price continues; you can now have a polyphonic, multitimbral Prophecy for well under twice the price of the original. The synth is called the Z1, and Gordon Reid is the man with the exclusive technical preview...

Voice channels are gaining in popularity with the rise of digital, providing an easy way of recording high-quality signals without having to go through a mixer. Paul White rates the latest in the breed.

Novation are championing affordable analogue synthesis again, this time with even more bells and whistles. Christopher Holder fills up with Super.

Paul White finds out about compression by numbers.

For anyone who has a PC soundcard but no easy way to enter musical notes, this add-on keyboard bundle could be just the answer, explains Martin Walker.

Paul White comes to the end of the Rode, and finds it pretty good to sing into.

If you're in a situation where your DAT machine gets heavy use, it's probably worth considering a pro model rather than a domestic one. Hugh Robjohns studio-tests a new, moderately priced professional DAT from Sony.

The minute he walked in the joint, Hugh Robjohns could see they ware real small Spendors. He decides whether he'd like to spend a little time with them...

If you've been desperately seeking a TB303 at any price, this inexpensive software, which provides the equivalent of two of the little silver dream machines, plus a virtual TR808, could be the answer to your prayers. Derek Johnson & Chris Carter find out whether it's too good to be true...

Paul White raises the tone of his studio by plugging in TL Audio's latest Crimson series parametric EQ.

At £899, the AN1X is one of the most affordable physical modelling synths on the market — and it's no less than 10-note polyphonic, with a host of features designed to bring out the control freak in you . Martin Russ follows up on our exclusive preview with this in-depth studio test.

More and more external devices now plug into the PC serial and parallel ports. Martin Walker explains how to check your settings.

Carbon-fibre cables, gold-plated connectors, contact enhancers and spiked, lead-filled supports — not a list of props from a science-fiction blockbuster, but a selection of the many accessories available from hi-fi specialist dealers. Martin Walker enters the twilight zone to sort fact from fiction and discover whether any of this black magic can help you in the studio.

Derek Johnson reports on three covetable programs for sequencing and composition, and urges you to share the ware... Hollis Research Trackman; Roni Music's Sweet 16.

Hard disk recording is a lot to ask of your PC, and however powerful it is, its overall performance may be limited by just one of its components. Martin Walker pinpoints problems so you can plan your next upgrade.

Modern multi-effects units provide all sorts of useful processors in addition to the more usual reverb and delay-based effects. Paul White discusses the extras you might find inside your effects box and how best to use them.

After much ado, it seems MacOS 8 is finally going ahead. Martin Russ brings you the latest Mac-related news and tips.

Almost every recording musician has a great take somewhere that's unrepeatable and marred by hiss, hum or other audio gremlins. Wouldn't it be great if there was some affordable way of restoring such a recording to its former glory? Janet Harniman-Cook discovers that there is...

This month, Paul Wiffen looks at ways of modifying a filter's shape, both in terms of frequency response and over time, and considers the importance of routing in connecting together a synth's various sound-generating and -modifying components.

Paul D. Lehrman took six players, four samplers and a computer, and created a live-performance piece based on the music and words of Frank Zappa. It left the audience delighted — and utterly confused.

Cartoons — they're brilliant! And wouldn't you just love to write the music? Big George Webley puts you in the picture...

Now that the MIDI outputs of many soundcards are already occupied by playing back high-quality internal synth sounds and multi-channel samples, many musicians are finding that they need to invest in a more comprehensive MIDI interface to service the rest of their synths. Martin Walker provides a little background.

In just five years Amber have become a successful transatlantic company producing TV ad themes and idents. Paul White finds out how it was done.

James Asher made the transition from library music to successful commercial releases by tapping into an underlying demand for world-flavoured, rhythmic new age music. Martin Walker takes a world view...

For their latest album, style chameleons James retreated from commercial recording studios and found a new creativity working in the comfort of their own houses. Paul Tingen hears why they've decided there's no place like home...

Richard Buskin talks to LA-based mix expert Jon Gass about his work with the likes of Babyface and Boyz II Men, his striving for vocal perfection and his struggles with sibilants...

Youth of today Martin Ryan puts the case for the defence of modern music — and argues that judgement should be reserved for the time being.