August 2007 Magazine Contents

If you enjoy hitting things with sticks but balk at the cost of percussion controllers, this no-nonsense device could be just what you've been waiting for.

Brauner's latest offering is a solid-state mic that claims to provide the same sonic character as their state-of-the-art valve designs, at a lower price. Is it too good to be true?

This new monitor controller compares well with the competition — in terms of both price and quality.

Edirol's updated PCR keyboard range offers more controls than ever, and a software editor to make the most of them. Let's check it out...

• IK Multimedia Amplitube Jimi Hendrix Amp & Effects Modelling Plug-in• Boss FDR1 & FBM1 Fender Amp-modelling Pedals

Korg revisit their classic Mono/Poly synth in the Legacy Collection Analogue Edition 2007 — but how does it measure up to the original?

More often than not, project studios don't have the luxury of a large room, so it's good to know that compact monitors like these KRKs can produce serious results in smaller spaces.

Fed up with Samplitude users crowing about how great its bundled plug-ins are? Now users of other Windows DAWs can get a piece of the action too.

This month we test two soft synths: Image Lines Toxic III and Astralis from Homegrown Sounds.

The latest utility from Redmatica is targeted at Logic users wanting to get the most from the programs built-in soft sampler.

Roland's HD1 system incorporates their V-Drum technology into a drum kit that's more compact, less noisy and much more affordable.

This unusual compressor was specifically designed to process complex material, with dedicated bus-compression applications in mind.

• Zero-G The Big Reason •Equipped Music Smokers Relight Deux •Propellerhead Reggaeton Refill

Theres a new look and a new home for Sony Oxfords suite of plug-ins, but the best news of all is that they are now available in VST and Audio Units formats.

More and more material needs to be delivered in surround formats, but what if you dont have the time or the budget for a 5.1 remix? We test the current crop of unwrap plug-ins that can create a surround master from a stereo mix.

If the unstoppable tide of virtual analogue synths is leaving you cold, you could consider diving into Poseidon's refreshingly different 'Ocean of Sound'...

Zoom have overhauled the design of the MRS1608 to create a new-look digital recorder. We find out if the changes are more than skin deep.

In 1976, in the face of deteriorating personal relationships and massive record company pressure, Fleetwood Mac managed to create a record that would go on to sell 30 million copies.

In our quest for the ultimate electric guitar sound, SOS tested favourite recording techniques from over 40 top-flight producers and engineers. Hear for yourself the results that amazed us.

In our quest for the ultimate electric guitar sound, SOS tested favourite recording techniques from over 40 top-flight producers and engineers. Hear for yourself the results that amazed us.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs outlined many visually interesting features this month for the next major version of OS X. However, it's perhaps the features that lurk beneath Leopard's glossy exterior that will prove the most useful to Mac-based musicians and audio engineers.

Ever found yourself struggling to remember what you have connected to Input 7, or which effect is on Bus 3-4? Five minutes' work in the I/O Setup window will end your confusion forever...

Controlling your synth's dynamics using MIDI, rather than audio plug-ins, can offer you greater flexibility and good results. Here's how you do it.

Controlling your synth's dynamics using MIDI, rather than audio plug-ins, can offer you greater flexibility and good results. Here's how you do it.

This month we sort out timing issues for a band called Exhibit-1, replace missing snare beats, as well as improving the rest of the mix.

To avoid newsstand buyers of the magazine from having to key in long URLs by hand, here are the links to the various MP3 files that accompany the AUGUST 2007 instalment of Mix Rescue.

This month, a look at how some of DP's features can be used to co-ordinate multiple finished tracks prior to burning an album or EP.

We go back to basics this month, with an in-depth look at how you can get the best out of Reason's Remix mixer.

Recording a live gig in a real venue will always entail compromises, but surprisingly good results can be obtained with a little care.

This month we examine reliable ways of reducing computer boot-up time, so you don't have to wait ages for your PC to let you get started when you want to make some music.

For her second album, Back To Black, Amy Winehouse and producer Mark Ronson crafted a heavily retro sound. Mix engineer Tom Elmhirst describes how he massaged their '60s soul vibe to create a radio-friendly hit in 'Rehab'.

DAW software is optimised for helping you record your songs and add lots of production polish, but don't forget that programs like Sonar can also help in the songwriting process, offering features that could make it easier to capture inspiration when it strikes.

This month we journey to the Outer Hebrides, where a college teaching Gaelic music has more than a few wires crossed...

Second-hand tape recorders are cheap and can provide uniquely warm, organic delay effects. Best of all, its a piece of cake to integrate them into a digital mixing setup. We tell you how...

You might consider the REX file to be just another format on the list of audio import options, but it can actually be used to achieve some very creative results. We take a look at what's possible.

The crack team of Paul White and Hugh Robjohns have travelled the world solving readers' problems. Here, they down the Hob...

I recently purchased some Sennheiser HD600 headphones and have been told that I'll need a good headphone amplifier to make...

I came across your review of the Digidesign M Box 2 Pro (SOS November 2006 and on-line at...

I wear custom-made earplugs when I go to live gigs, to protect my hearing. These have physical (and therefore passive) filters, but I find that their frequency response is less than ideal...

Putting your PC in a rack has a number of advantages. Apart from getting the machine out from under your feet, and making it easier to take on the road in a flightcase, there are security benefits too. Here's how to perform the conversion, and potentially make your PC quieter at the same time.

Owning the gear is the starting point of recording your music... but what use is the gear without ideas?

Following last months workshop on dub mixing, we talk to living legend Mad Professor, a world-class exponent of this music genre.

Grit your teeth for another bout of "constructive criticism" of more reader recordings.

Make trade fair... and bag a bargain!

In techno, the machine rules...

Businesses are using music in ever more sophisticated ways to promote their products and reinforce their identities. Tena Clarks DMI Music leads the field in finding original ways to integrate music into marketing campaigns.