June 2012 Magazine Contents

The award‑winning AX family of speakers have a new member, in the shape of Adam’s most affordable three-way monitor yet.

Analogue summing is proving a popular route for ‘warming up’ digital mixes, and there are many models on the market that are dedicated to the task. Here’s a selection of current options, with links to the SOS reviews where available.

Paul Nagle checks out Propellerhead's Figure groovebox, Dave Lockwood reviews the Digitech iStomp iOS-programmable effects pedal, and JG Harding puts the Sonoma Wire Works GuitarJack Model 2 guitar interface through its paces.

Bereich03 are small manufacturers of audio outboard gear, based in Munich, Germany. When I say small, in fact they currently...

The Anglo-Australian strings library returns with a radical version 2 upgrade.

Although hum-cancelling single-coil pickups can be effective, even the best of them will change the guitar’s sound — but this system gets rid of the hum whilst allowing you to keep your original pickups.

Audio files to accompany the article.

Years in the making, John Bowen’s Solaris is finally with us. So is this hugely ambitious synthesizer everything we hoped it would be?

Dan Lavry has gained a reputation for creating some of the best A-D converters on the planet — and this time you get mic preamps as well!

Test plots to accompany the article.

Linplug’s innovative plug-in has one aim in mind: to create fresh sounds from pedestrian drum loops.

Although very few of us will ever have top session musicians playing our music, sample libraries at least make it possible to create music using elements of their artistry.

With its built-in effects, compressors and graphic EQ, this compact console might just be ideal for small-scale live work.

This Chinese mic bears a close resemblance to some premium European models. Does its sound live up to its looks?

The latest Moogerfooger, offering chorus and flanging, is alluring but not cheap — so is the Cluster Flux worth the bucks?

Most processors in API’s 500‑series format are classic studio tools such as preamps, EQs and compressors — but now a heavyweight champion from the synth world has joined the party.

Audio files to accompany the article.

It's perfectly possible to use a tremolo arm to make the pitch of your guitar strings drop in real time, and guitarists have...

R3FX are a one‑man guitar‑effects outfit based in the US, and they offer a range of pedal mods by mail order, as well as a ...

Under review here is Keyboard Vault, which is made up of 24‑bit mono samples and requires a full version of Kontakt.

Microphones detect the imperceptible movement of air caused by passing sound waves, but the mic is unable to distinguish...

Samson hope to prove that affordable speakers needn’t compromise on sound, with their new Auro range of active PA speakers.

Tutti is a Kontakt-based library that Sonokinetic describe as an 'orchestral cinematic FX and textures' collection.

Controlling harsh 'ess' and 'tee' sounds in a vocal can be surprisingly challenging, but SPL's technology aims to make it easy.

Audio files to accompany the article.

Steinberg’s new CMC Series gives you the building blocks for creating your own custom Cubase control surface.

It may be ‘only a point five’ update, but there’s plenty on offer in the latest version of Cubase.

While modelling preamps and plug‑ins have come a long way, there are still many guitar players who are only ever happy when...

Universal Audio have combined their considerable audio expertise and renowned DSP platform to create their first audio interface: the Apollo.

Yamaha have added USB interfacing to their established digital mixer. Is this enough to ensure it keeps pace with more recent competition?

If you’re not careful, you could find that your Pro Tools HDX upgrade leaves you without your favourite plug-ins...

No matter how good the latest, greatest orchestral sample libraries may now be, you still need to develop your arranging skills if you’re to create convincing string parts in any genre. In this first article in a new series, we explain how to get started.

Recording the White Album was a major project by any standards, not least for Ken Scott, who, at the age of just 21, found himself engineering the biggest band in the world...

Intel’s Ivy Bridge processor may be closer than we thought — but does it make sense for musicians?

Paul Weller's latest album was brimming over with musical creativity. The challenge for mixer Jan Kybert was to forge a coherent album from a mass of ideas.

This month, swot up on Live’s library and discover what it can do to make your life easier.

The spotlight turns to Logic’s MIDI features, as we solve a data-merging problem and offer step-by-step advice on automation recording with hardware control.

This month, as well as sorting out a few sonic gremlins, with edits, EQ and other tricks, we aim to draw out more of the ‘moments’ in a track.

Audio files to accompany the article.

We explain how to get the best from Samplitude’s unique object-based effects.

Audio files to accompany the article.

New vistas appear for Reason users, with the arrival of Rack Extensions...

Love it or hate it, ‘hard’ pitch correction is still a much used technique — and it’s simple with Sonar’s V-Vocal.

After years of relative immunity, the Mac platform may now be more vulnerable to virus attacks. What precautions should you be taking?

The SOS team visit a well‑appointed home studio to try to cure a strange noise problem and help out with some acoustic guitar recording.

Thinking of taking your act to the stage? Then you’ll need a suitable way of amplifying it, and that all depends on what and where you’re playing...

The bass response in my room is quite variable, with some notes appearing boomy and others being quite weak, but the overall...

I use a lot of orchestral parts (EastWest Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra) in my contemporary songs, and I was wondering whether I should mix them in precisely the same way as the other tracks in my arrangement?

I've always liked Logic's track-icon facility, as having a graphical representation of what sound or instrument is on any...

I often read in your gear reviews that you don't like 'wall-warts' and that good power supplies should feature a toroidal...

My Mackie VLZ mixer's got a bad socket: when the mixer is switched on, the socket goes on and off intermittently. If it's just...

Benny Blanco has created a string of number one hits without expensive instruments or virtuoso keyboard skills. What exactly is his secret?

Dr Nik Farrell-Fox asks: Is the digital studio a lonely place?

Creating music and sound effects for sophisticated video games such as Mass Effect 3 requires skills not found in film or television — and a lot of hard work.

Fin * Bob McCarroll * Professor Karmadillo

While technology continues to march ahead, the cold reality is that the musical hardware and software available five years ago almost certainly already did everything...

• Sak Noel 'Loca People' • Labrinth 'Earthquake' • Drake 'Make Me Proud' • Florence & The Machine 'Shake It Out'

We open the doors on some of the world's most interesting professional studios with photographer Hannes Bieger.

If you really want a direct connection with your audience, don’t write for TV — get down to your local high street.

The rise of electronic dance music in the States has provided a breath of fresh air to the charts — and a much-needed boost to the music industry.