November 2001 Magazine Contents

Akai introduced AKsys some months ago, providing a USB-driven, computer-based control interface for recent S-series samplers. Now at v1.7, it is becoming indispensible for anyone fed up with managing their samplers via an LCD...

Few recent software products have stirred as much interest as Melodyne - a program offering unique pitch, time and formant-processing features, which was created not by one of the major music developers but by a maverick Bavarian musician and his software-designer friend.

The ultimate soundcard for high-end musicians? Creative Labs' Soundblaster products may have dominated the consumer soundcard market, but can they take the next step up with its successor?

For anyone involved in the sound recording industry, good hearing is essential. Yet typical medical tests only check for...

* Score = 4

Emagic's stylish blue interface reliably squeezes two inputs and six outputs out of the limited bandwidth of USB.

Emu's eye-catching new Command Stations repackage the sounds of their MP1 and XL1 sound modules, adding hands-on sequencing and real-time controls. Can the company win fans with these late entries to the groovebox market?

Focusrite expand their affordable Platinum range with a channel strip, featuring an optical compressor and EQ that can be optimised for vocal or instrument usage.

Rating: *** 3/5 Stars

The new CDR770 from Marantz is one of the cheapest CD recorders on the UK market, and features a new writing technology known...

The latest and greatest incarnation of MOTU's flagship Mac sequencer adds full surround mixing support among many other new features.

Do these low-cost condenser microphones from Marshall Electronics' MXL range have what it takes to stand out from an ever-increasing number of competitors?

* Score = 5

Can a compact system offer true reference monitor performance?

Roland's innovative new audio workstation is the first multitracker to use a CD-RW disc in place of a hard disk, and offers a one-stop production station with multitrack recording, phrase sampling, and CD mastering.

Boasting one of the most intuitive methods of sound creation ever devised, 1986's Prophet VS was meant to be US synth giant Sequential's commercial saviour. Sadly, it didn't succeed - but it did earn itself the status of American Classic...

Sound Forge is a very popular PC audio editor, but users have waited a long time for 24-bit support. Now it's here in version 5, along with a bundle of new features and plug-ins.

TC-Helicon claim that their flagship vocal processor can make you sound like a totally different person. But how well does it work?

Terrasonde have given their audio test set even more test functions and a rugged new casing.

* Score = 4

Used correctly, reverb is of the most powerful tools of modern music production. This month, we explore the most effective treatments for some of the individual components of a mix.

There's nothing more disruptive to music-making than an unstable PC. Fortunately, there are many utilities and diagnostic tests available to help you resolve your problems.

A workshop on using Logic's off-line pitch-shifting, as well as advice on how to protect your finished tracks from accidental damage. Plus more tips, tricks and problem-solvers...

Find out just how long it takes to set up a musical environment on a Powerbook, and welcome the Melodyne pitch and time software to the world of OS X, as well as discovering how Microsoft broke QuickTime and Apple fixed it...

Performer Notes continues its detailed look at some of DP3's new features. This month, there's more on mix and plug-in automation, creative aux buss routing tips, and the mysterious new Audio Bundles window is unveiled...

There are lots of things to consider when building your own PC, especially when transferring the contents of your hard drives to the new machine.

Recording to a computer can make it easier than ever before to produce a great vocal sound - but there are also pitfalls to watch out for...

With software from an independent German writer, your Atari could make music like Mozart, or just play back MIDI files for you...

SOS's guide to the world of surround sound comes right up to date with the first of two looks at the modern 5.1 standard, and its use with DVD Video and DVD Audio discs.

Synth Secrets turns its attention to the synthesis of percussion instruments, beginning with pitched drums.

For MIX TDM users, the latest Pro Tools software offers a tailor-made way of mixing in surround. But those with older TDM setups or LE-based systems can do surround too, with some lateral thinking...

When you work with a complex program such as Cubase VST, it's easy to overlook the hundreds of small features that are there to make your life easier.

I'm a musician in the UK looking to start running a Cubase VST‑based home studio. I'll need to record a...

Do you know of any Macintosh sample editor (preferably shareware) that can communicate with the Roland S50 keyboard...

I am beginning a project which involves transferring a collection of home reel‑to‑reel recordings from the '...

I've been a reader of your very fine magazine for about a year now. I'm essentially a drummer, but have also been getting...

My friend is going to be setting up a studio to record various bands (mostly rock in style) and then master them. He is...

I'm thinking of building a home recording studio. I have a budget of about £9000 and I have chosen the following...

I am trying to transfer music from an Alesis ADAT via an optical output into a MOTU 2408 digital recording interface, and...

For years, laptops have been the poor relations of desktop computers in terms of power and facilities, yet have remained expensive in comparison to their studio-bound brethren. But things are changing...

You don't need to have Top 40 hits to make a living from your music. Just ask Kent Brainerd, who has made a tidy sum by composing music for company training and presentation videos. Find out how...

Baz Luhrmann's ambitious film Moulin Rouge integrates radically reworked pop classics into a historical romance. As well as co-ordinating this unique musical project, programmer and producer Marius de Vries somehow found time to work on Bjork's acclaimed new album Vespertine.

Gez Gourley specialises in creating sound for console games - whether it be orchestral music or crashing cars...

Adie Flute

Education versus making the tea: which one is the path to enlightenment?

Could this be the end of Doing The Business?