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July 1996 Magazine Contents

Reviews

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    Digidesign Session; Digidesign Audiomedia III

    Digital Recording Software; PCI Card

    Digidesign's Session digital recording software has now made the transition from Apple Macintosh to Windows-compatible PCs, a feat made possible by the simultaneous release of the company's first PCI-format digital I/O card, the Audiomedia III. Paul White checks out both.

    Reviews
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    Digitech MV5

    Vocal Harmony Processor

    Offering 5-part harmony at a budget price, the MV5 is Digitech's easiest to use pitch-shifter yet. The David Mellor Singers provide the tune...

    Reviews
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    Ensoniq SQ80

    Workstation Synth (Retro)

    On its release in the late '80s, the SQ80 had to slug it out with Roland's D50 and Korg's M1, and didn't come out on top, at least as for sales were concerned. Steve Howell takes a look at an early and underrated workstation that still has a lot to offer.

    Reviews
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    Event 20/20

    Studio Monitors

    Paul White tests a pair of US-built studio monitors designed to combine tonal accuracy with affordability.

    Reviews
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    Fatar Studio 1176

    MIDI Master Keyboard

    This Italian master keyboard may be completely dumb soundwise, but it's pretty clever in other departments. Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser just love being in control.

    Reviews
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    LA Audio 4x4

    4-channel Dual Filter Noise Gate Compressor

    Always ready for some off-road action, Paul White scrambles for his XLR adaptors and test drives LA Audio's latest incarnation of the 4x4.

    Reviews
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    Lexicon PCM80

    Plug-in Expansion Cards

    It's not often that plug-in cards merit the same attention as the equipment they plug into, but these add-ons are capable of transforming Lexicon's PCM80 effects processor into a completely different beast, as Paul White discovers.

    Reviews
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    Mackie CR1604 VLZ

    16-channel Mixer

    As Mackie's new 1402 VLZ goes a long way to bridging the gap between their original 1202 and 1604, it comes as no surprise that the new 1604 VLZ has evolved a whole new range of features. Paul White checks out the update of this steel-clad classic...

    Reviews
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    Music House Data Products Powermaster Rackmac C2 Apple Rackmount Kit

    The idea of making computers rackmounting for studio use is not a new one, but the necessary hardware tends to be expensive....

    Reviews
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    Mutronics Mutator

    Stereo Analogue Filter

    The predictability of modern digital sound sources, while convenient, may have you longing for some of the chaotic complexity of analogue. Paul Nagle looks at an analogue filter which could put the surprise back into your music.

    Reviews
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    Novation DrumStation

    Drum Synth Module

    British company Novation made their name with the BassStation synth, which offered dance music producers instantly tweakable, analogue-style synth sounds in a MIDI-controllable package. The new DrumStation applies the same formula to the de rigueur dance sounds of Roland TR 808 and TR809 drum machines. Paul Nagle moves from station to station...

    Reviews
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    Nureality Vivid 3D Stereo Enhancement System

    There have been many inventions aimed at producing a wider or deeper stereo image from conventional stereo speakers, but few...

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    Prosonix 48-Way Bantam Patchbay

    While professional studios invariably make use of compact bantam patchbays, most home studios are forced to go the quarter...

    Reviews
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    Roland MC50 Operations Handbook Level 1

    The Roland MC50 is one of the best hardware sequencers ever made, but it can be a bit puzzling for the first‑time...

    Reviews
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    Shure Beta Series

    Dynamic & Back-electret Microphones

    Shure have recently updated and augmented their 7-year old Beta microphone range. Paul White assesses the newcomers alongside the rest of the range.

    Reviews
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    Spirit Folio SX

    20-Input Mic-line Mixer

    First observed by the SOS team at the bottom of an aquarium at this year's Frankfurt Musikmesse, Spirit by Soundcraft's new Folio SX mixer has now arrived. Paul White dries it off and removes the goldfish droppings from the insert points.

    Reviews
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    Steinberg Cubase VST

    Audio Sequencer

    This year's show-stealer at Frankfurt's Musik Messe, Steinberg's Cubase VST isn't just another 'MIDI plus Audio' sequencer — it adds the effects and processing options hitherto only available in expensive TDM systems, for the same price as the previous, non-audio version of Cubase. Is this the perfect desktop recording environment? Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser find out.

    Reviews
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    Syntecno TeeBee

    Analogue Synth Module

    With prices for an original Roland TB303 as high as £1000 on the open market, it is unsurprising that the last two years have seen a number of manufacturers attempting to emulate the 303 in a cheaper, MIDI'd form. Martin Russ checks out the latest pretender to the throne...

    Reviews
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    SyQuest EZ135

    Removable External SCSI drive

    Where can you store all those long samples and audio files? Paul White checks out one possible answer.

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    Tascam 302

    Dual Cassette Deck

    Paul White takes Tascam's new dual cassette deck into the studio for practical trials.

    Reviews

Techniques

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    ADAT; JL Cooper DataSync2; Voyetra Sequencer Plus Gold

    PC Notes

    Faced with the unfinished album sessions on analogue tape and a studio full of PCs and digital gear, Brian Heywood gets a chance to find out how flexible modern equipment really is.

    Techniques
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    C-Lab Falcon MkX

    Atari Notes

    The C-Lab Falcon MkX has flown through its CE tests and finally landed in the UK. Ofir Gal checks the spec and assesses the new machine's chances of taking off.

    Techniques
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    Fixing The Mix, Part 1: Salvage Techniques

    Tips & Techniques

    Conventional wisdom states that you can't 'fix it in the mix', but that doesn't mean you cant' try! Paul White discusses a few practical salvage techniques in the first part of this short series.

    Techniques
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    Mac IIsi; Bargain vs Power

    Apple Notes

    Martin Russ surveys his dying Mac IIsi and ponders the purchase of a new model. Will he go for leading-edge Power or a last-generation bargain?

    Techniques
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    Minimising Mixer & Effects Noise

    Tips & Tricks

    When using effects, it's all too easy to add noise to your mix — and it's not always the fault of your effects unit. Paul White offers a few practical tips for achieving quieter mixes.

    Techniques

People

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    Digital DIY

    Digital Technology & The Modern Musician, Part 1

    Computers helped former BBC engineer Clive Williamson and his band Symbiosis through all the stages of CD production, right through to finished discs and artwork. In the first of a two-part series, he explains how he brought digital technology and traditional musicians together to create atmospheric ambient music.

    People
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    GARY NUMAN: A New Flame

    Interview | Artist

    Gary Numan's music epitomises the electro-pop era and undoubtedly helped boost synth sales in the early '80s. with the chart re-entry of his classic hit single 'Cars' Numan is approaching his third decade in pop. Jonathan Miller receives a lesson in the art of survival...

    People
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    GRAHAM MASSEY (808 STATE): Recording Don Solaris

    Interview | Band

    It's taken a couple of years, but 808 State have at last emerged from a variety of studios with a sleek new album, the superbly-crafted Don Solaris. Mat Bell talks to head of State Graham Massey.

    People
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    NIGEL SHAW: Independent Music

    Interview | Producer

    Nigel Shaw isn't signed to a record company, yet sales from the multiple albums he's produced in his home studio enable him to make a good living from his talents. Paul Tingen talks to him about the business of independent music

    People
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    George Michael's 'Older' album cover

    Recording George Michael's 'Older' Album

    PAUL GOMERSALL: Engineer

    With years of record label legal wrangles finally behind him, George Michael set about making an album to put him back at the top of the charts and consolidate his status as serious artist/producer. Working the desks on the Older sessions at SARM West was engineer Paul Gomersall, who tells Mark Cunningham about the making of the album.

    People
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    RICHARD SYMONS (PRO TAPE): Media Revolution

    Interview | Manufacturer

    There are now more recording media and data storage formats than ever before. Paul White catches up with Pro Tape's Richard Symons, to discuss the role of tape in a multi-platform future.

    People
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    STEVEN ROBINSON: The State Of Pop Music Today

    Sounding Off

    SOS reader, songwriter and freelance producer Steven Robinson has some strong opinions on the state of pop music today. In this month's stream of invective, he gets some of it off his chest.

    People
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    The Mix

    How To Become A Record Producer, Part 7

    As the final mix looms, the end of the producer's job draws near. But which approach to mixing is best? David Mellor fires up the Moulinex.

    People
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