July 2014 Magazine Contents

I spent seven years as a freelance game composer back in the '80s and '90s, when we tended to be part musician, part computer...

The latest version of the established MixWizard range has more pro features and routing options than you can shake a magic wand at.

With its innovative feedback detection display, this graphic EQ has the power to seriously shorten your system setup time.

Altus, Cantus and Shevannai are three voice‑based sample libraries in Kontakt format. Created by Eduardo Tarilonte, who...

The PX5S isn't just a stage piano — it's an instrument that might force you to rethink everything you know about Casio.

Fender apply their 'suitcase speaker' paradigm to studio monitors — with impressive results, thanks to an unlikely collaboration with Focal.

The purpose of Lost Tapes is to provide copyright‑free sample material that sounds very similar to many much‑sampled...

If you're shelling out serious money for a monitor controller, you expect perfection — is that what the M905 offers?

Great River's new PWM 501 compressor is the only dynamics processor on the company's books, but it's very heavily featured....

As their name implies, Korg's new MIDI keyboards are all about hands‑on control.

Livid's latest control surface is of typically high‑quality and designed to be the perfect partner for Ableton Live.

MakeMusic's Finale is the one constant in a rapidly changing notation software market, and the 2014 version is better than ever.

Is this the world's first studio-quality preamp with a built-in guitar effects loop?

An innovative new plug‑in makes it easy to tell when louder isn't better!

Peripheral VisionMany microphone‑recording peripherals have the power to not only make your life easier, but to make your...

NI's latest library aims to keep you on the edge of your seat with its range of cinematic tension-builders.

Unlike harmonic enhancers, which generate new harmonics from the existing signal, Character works with what already exists, manipulating the spectral balance in a dynamic fashion according to the changing nature of the input.

The Tablet Tail Monkey Kit from Octa is a 'tablet positioning system' that is comprised of a suction cup and a ...

Presonus' assault on the monitor market continues, with these impressive coaxial speakers.

These compact devices boast more digital I/O than any other USB interface.

Audio files to accompany the article.

Samson's versatile and affordable active ribbon performs surprisingly well for the price — especially on electric guitar.

With its extended frequency response and high SPL handling ability, the SE5 could prove to be the company's most versatile mic to date.

In the making of their latest library, Toll, Sonokinetic travelled to a number of European countries (and the splendidly named...

When a technical book is republished in a second or third edition, you know it's become recognised as a reference work, but...

Soundtoys' latest plug-in helps you spread the love — or indeed, anything else!

Danish vocal‑effects experts TC Helicon combine their established harmony and effects processing with some seriously impressive looping technology.

Audio files to accompany the article.

Tech 21's Hot Rod Plexi claims to replicate the classic tone and feel of a vintage Marshall amp in pedal form. Does it deliver, or is it really just another overdrive pedal?

HearEQ is a very simple, low-cost app that enables musicians to turn the songs in their music library into ear-training tools.

Its price tag might give you the blues, but if you can afford it, the Tube-Tech MP2A could make all your preamp dreams come true.

For those stuck in a rhythmic rut, WaveDNA's pattern sequencer plug-in offers some exotic creative tools with even more exotic names.

Stereo sound is a surprisingly subtle and complex business, and it's rare that the typical DAW 'utility' plug‑ins will deal...

Waves' take on the immortal Neve 1073 design sees them teaming up once again with a leading mix engineer.

Waves' take on the immortal Neve 1073 design sees them teaming up once again with a leading mix engineer.

Yellowtec make lots of equipment for the broadcast market, but their latest interfaces could be just the ticket for music production.

The latest version of Zplane's Vielklang will not only generate harmonies from your vocals, but put them in tune first!

Understanding the role of buses in the Pro Tools mixer opens up powerful routing possibilities.

We look at how to get the most out of Live's compressors.

As producer, engineer and mixer, Andy Wallace has done more than anyone to define the sound of modern rock and metal.

Use Sonar X3's Take Lanes feature to build up multi-layered performances.

It's live, Jim — but not as we know it. We look at how the rise of affordable, portable gear has enabled a new approach to music-video making.

Front-of-house engineer David Williams talks to SOS about why mixing with a DSP audio interface is worthwhile, despite the dangers of using a laptop on stage.

Part 2: Learning to capture the behaviour of controls will take your custom Nebula creations to another level.

Audio files to accompany the article.

Release yourself from the computer keyboard with Logic Remote for iPad.

We make a 'live' band recording in the studio, and mix and master the results all in one day!

Audio files to accompany the article.

Make full use of your speakers with these stereo enhancement tips for Cubase.

We get our heads round one of Reason's new sample‑based Rack Extensions, A‑List Acoustic Guitarist.

Explore Reaper's most useful new and improved features in Version 4.6.1

Can you suggest any free or affordable anti‑virus software for Windows that doesn't keep nagging me with updates and pop-ups?...

I still buy vinyl records simply because I like listening to them, but I'm under no illusion that vinyl is a 'perfect' format...

Front-of-house engineer David Williams talks to SOS about why mixing with a DSP audio interface is worthwhile, despite the dangers of using a laptop on stage.

Zipperfish

Punk By Numbers

No matter how weird, obscure or downright distasteful your...

If you're in the habit of reading hi-fi magazines, you may have noticed a number of products based on what one might call '...

What keeps us upgrading? Anxiety.

The Horrors take studio experimentation to new extremes, even designing and making a lot of their own equipment.

This month Pharrell Williams Happy, DJ Snake Turn Down For What, John Legend's All Of Me and the Classic Mix - Dire Straits Money For Nothing.   

The stuff of synthesizer legend, Keith Emerson's megalithic modular system hasn't just been restored — it's also been completely recreated.

Hollywood remains arguably the recording capital of the world, housing as it does a staggering number of world-class facilities.

Music commissioning has always been squalid. But today's composers get a fairer deal than Mozart ever did.

The sports and music industries make better teammates than you might at first think.