December 2015 Magazine Contents

Ableton have released major new versions of their two flagship products, Live and Push. Live 9.5 is free to owners of Live 9. Meanwhile, and more importantly, there is a new Push controller. 

Can new pads and a step sequencer keep Akai’s MPD pad controllers top of the class?

Two more iOS apps reviewed: Futronica SAMMI Synth Multi-instrument • Xynthesizr Synth & Sequencer.

Bayou Media are a new software company founded by plug-in developer Mike Collins, whose first product brings some fresh...

This compact console offers an enticing set of features for both live and studio use — and does so at a highly appealing price.

Fuse is a Kontakt instrument that serves as a music ‘workstation’, but with a distinctly urban slant.

Cakewalk’s Rapture soft synth has been completely reworked and re-imagined: introducing Rapture Pro.

Can Chandler’s resurrection of one of the most revered preamps of all time help you get that classic Abbey Road sound?

Behringer’s X32 consoles aren’t light on features, but they’ve never offered stand-alone multitrack recording — until now...

Every so often, an innovative and easy-to-use piece of technology comes along that makes me (and everyone that I show it to) grin from ear to ear...

This novel 500-series module has the potential to be any processor you want!

This fastidiously sampled instrument could be the only Rhodes you’ll ever need.

E-H's overdrive pedal uses MOSFETs as non-linear elements to create distortion, and actually performs as well as many boutique pedals despite being very modestly priced. 

Eve have taken the technology from their existing monitors and shrunk it down to produce these diminutive desktop speakers.

The GIK Acoustics Evolution PolyFusor is a combination of a polycylindrical diffuser and an absorber merged into a single 600 x 1200 mm unit.

Multimedia’s T-Racks mastering suite is a modular program: basic core functionality is free, and users build up a collection of tasty processors by making in-app purchases from the company’s Custom Shop.

McDSP’s SA2 Dialog Processor is based on hardware originally conceived by Academy Award winning re-recording mixer Mike Minkler...

Grand pianos can sound fantastic, but many of us cut our teeth playing old uprights in homes and schools and still want that kind of sound for our recordings from time to time.

Question: What’s the difference between Carmen Electra and Carbon Electra? Answer: One is a glamour model and performer, the other is a four-oscillator subtractive synth that will work as a plug-in within your DAW.

Digital technology has helped PMC’s monitors go from strength to strength — and now they’re using it in their subwoofers, too!

Looking for some inspiration for your Christmas list? Check out our round-up of live sound gadgets.

USB mics are becoming increasingly common and affordable, but the quality varies. The Rode brand name, though, is one which...

With a large, well–equipped control panel and a gratuitously laden effects rack, the JDXA could be Roland’s most ambitious, hands–on synthesizer in many years.

When you already make some of the best ribbon mics in the world, improving on them isn’t easy — but Royer have done just that.

These files accompany the Sample Library articles in the December 2015 issue of SOS.

Sample Logic’s Cinematic Guitars Infinity proves to be a lot more than the sum of its parts.

Gate, limiter, compressor, tremolo, volume pedal — is there nothing the Sonuus Voluum can’t do?

With so many affordable, high-quality options around, there’s never been a better time to go wireless. We check out Sony’s latest offering.

Nuendo 7 inherits all the new features Steinberg debuted in Cubase 8, and adds sophisticated functionality for producing audio for film, TV and games.

Can a valve mic for under £200 really deliver the goods? We put this one up against AKG’s premium C12VR to find out...

Does TC’s latest post-production tool have anything to offer the music-making market?

Tracktion’s Master Mix plug-in is a simple but sophisticated one-stop mastering processor at a remarkably affordable price.

UA’s new Apollo 8p boasts eight channels of the company’s Unison–powered preamps.

Orbit is a Kontakt 5 instrument designed to be a source of evolving or pulsing textures. Unusually, you access it via...

Once in a while, a high-quality, affordable product comes along that makes the professional competition look overpriced...

Originally developed by Camel Audio, Alchemy is the most exciting new virtual instrument to be bundled with Logic for a long time. It is one of the most feature–packed synthesizers on the market, and includes many different synthesis types...

Your Cubase project is recorded, mixed and mastered... but is it secure?

As of version 12.2, all Pro Tools users now get powerful features like VCA Master tracks, Advanced Metering and the Disk Cache.

Engineer Phil Hampson didn’t even like punk rock — yet, with an inexperienced Martin Hannett, he recorded one of the defining records of the era.

Even complex audio recordings can be conformed to Studio One’s timeline — with very useful results.

Pitch-correction software has lots of uses besides putting vocals in tune! We uncover the creative roles to which today’s pitch processors can be employed.

Audio files to accompany the article.

Engineer, mixer and producer Carlo Montagnese likens his work with the Weeknd to painting — and he’s not afraid to use plenty of colour!

A directory of all media pages that hold the associated media for December 2015 audio examples.

We talk guitar recording and more with Grammy-nominated engineer Michael Ilbert, based in Berlin's legendary Hansa Studios.

Fred’s House: Our engineer overcomes lashings of speaker bleed as he massages a vocal–heavy mix into shape.

These files accompany the Mix Rescue article in the December 2015 issue of SOS.

Get creative with Sonar’s new Universal Routing Technology...

Reaktor and other NI plug-ins have been staples in most of my musical efforts. This month I’ve brought together a bunch of tips for getting started working with these alongside Reason.

Only big studios have the space, skills and equipment to track a full big band, right? Not necessarily...

Audio files to accompany the article.

I’m using a Yamaha EMX 5000-20 for live sound and I seem to be unable to get the foldback working for some sources, even though it works for others. Am I missing something obvious? 

When does one need a headphone amp? I have some Shure 1840s, which are great, but I’ve read about headphone amps and want to be sure I am getting the most from the cans.

I have a Casio PX310 digital piano. When jacks are inserted into the (quarter-inch) line out sockets, the onboard speakers are not muted. They are muted when headphones (or a jack) are inserted...

I’ve read that pro gear should use balanced connections, but I’ve been looking for a mixer recently and find that most have unbalanced insert points. My interface uses balanced I/O, as does most of my outboard gear. What gives?

Fans of singer–songwriter Ben Folds expect piano music — but a full–on piano concerto is certainly a new development!

Tired of derivative movie sound design? Console yourself...

There are many benefits to modern recording technology, but for our Editor In Chief one of the greatest remains the sheer convenience of being able to open a project and pick up exactly where he last left off.

You are walking through a wild garden towards a beautiful late-19th-century mansion. Through an open basement door, you catch a glimpse of a magnificent discrete Neve console.

All TV people lose faith in their abilities sometimes, but at least no–one blames the composer when things go wrong.

In this day and age, major recording studio complexes rarely survive the sale of the buildings they inhabit — but is there hope for Avatar?