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August 2010 Magazine Contents

Cover: Roland Gaia SH01 - analogue modelling synthesizer

Reviews: Steven Slate Trigger - drum replacement software, Audio-Technica AT4080 & AT4081 - ribbon microphones

Technique: Tuning & Damping Drums - tips & technique, Crosby, Stills & Nash 'Judy Blue Eyes' - Classic Tracks

People + Opinion: Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo): Decades Of Devolution - interview, Andrew VanWyngarden & Ben Goldwasser:, MGMT Congratulations - interview

Video Media: GoPro HD Hero - extreme sports video camera, Video Compression: Why It Matters - feature

Reviews

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    5 Best Buys

    The Gear To Get You Filming Fast

    New to the world of video production and unsure what to buy? Our guide to the five best options in three software and hardware categories will get you started.

    Reviews
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    Abbey Road RS124

    Compressor Plug-in [Mac & PC]

    For 50 years, the RS124 compressor has been a secret weapon at Abbey Road Studios. Now its targeting our plug-in folders...

    Reviews
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    Adam A7X

    Active Two-way Studio Monitors

    Their A7 nearfield monitors received many plaudits, not least in the pages of SOS, but manufacturer Adam thought there was room for improvement.

    Reviews
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    Akai APC20

    MIDI Controller For Ableton Live

    The Ableton controller race is hotting up — so how does the latest contender, the Akai APC20, compare to the competition?

    Reviews
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    AKG Perception 820

    Valve Microphone

    Does AKGs Chinese-made Perception 820 maintain the Austrian companys impressive reputation?

    Reviews
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    AKG Perception 820 | Audio

    Audio Examples

    Hear for yourself how this mic performed during the SOS tests.

    Reviews
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    Arobas Guitar Pro 6

    Notation Software [Mac OS, Windows & Linux]

    Writing down every nuance of a guitarists performance is a challenge that can tax even the best notation software. Is Arobass Guitar Pro 6 the answer?

    Reviews
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    Audio-Technica AT4080 & AT4081

    Ribbon Microphones

    A-Ts brand-new transducer technology has produced a robust design intended to deliver high signal levels as well as that prized ribbon character...

    Reviews
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    BIAS PitchCraft EZ

    Pitch-correction Plug-in [Mac & PC]

    BIASs latest plug-in promises a quick and easy path to a modern vocal sound.

    Reviews
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    Big Fish Audio Hip Hop Exotica 2

    Sample Library

    Mixing urban‑based beats with wider musical influences is, pretty much, a cornerstone of the sampling ideal...

    Reviews
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    Big Fish Audio Symphonic Manoeuvres 2

    Multi-format

    Big Fish Audio's Symphonic Manoeuvres Volume 2 provides 10 orchestral construction kits along with some handy extras. The mood...

    Reviews
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    Charter Oak SCL1

    Compressor-Limiter

    Charter Oak are not yet as well known for their outboard gear as they are for their mics, but this unusual compressor could change all that...

    Reviews
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    Clavia Nord Piano 88

    Stage Piano

    Clavia have directed all their keyboard-making know-how into a single, lightweight stage piano — so it ought to be good...

    Reviews
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    GoPro HD Hero

    Extreme Sports Video Camera

    GoPros HD Hero promises high-definition footage in the most inhospitable of conditions, so how does it hold up to punishment, and is it right for other video capture tasks too?

    Reviews
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    Korg Monotron

    Analogue Synthesizer

    Its their first analogue synth in 25 years, but is Korgs Monotron a toy or a tool?

    Reviews
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    Magix Vandal

    Guitar Amp & Effects Simulator [Mac & PC]

    Theres no shortage of software guitar-amp simulators around, but Magix claim that their new Vandal has what it takes to stand out from the crowd.

    Reviews
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    Native Instruments Maschine 1.5

    Groove Workstation

    NI have updated Maschine — so is it now all we thought it could be?

    Reviews
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    Roland Gaia SH01

    Analogue Modelling Synthesizer

    If you don't like programming synths via obscure two‑line displays and arcane menu systems, the Roland Gaia SH01 could be just what you're looking for...

    Reviews
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    Sonivox Eighty Eight

    Virtual Piano Instrument

    To create their piano samples for the Eighty Eight, Sonivox recorded a Steinway CD327 using an unspecified, high‑quality...

    Reviews
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    Sontronics Matrix 10

    Heavy-duty Mic Stand

    A good mic stand isnt the most glamorous addition to a studio, but its certainly a worthwhile investment.

    Reviews
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    Steven Slate Trigger

    Drum Replacement Software [Mac & PC]

    Steven Slates drum samples are already a staple of rock and pop production. Their latest product makes it easy to use these to augment or replace live drum parts.

    Reviews
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    Tascam DR08

    24-bit 96kHz Digital Recorder

    Tascam have made their smallest, lightest and most straightforward pocket recorder so far.

    Reviews
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    Tonehammer Tuned Percussion

    Sample Library

    Tonehammer's Composer Bundle 1 comprises eight tuned percussion instruments.

    Reviews
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    Universal Audio 2192 Master

    Digital Audio Interface

    The 2192 takes an array of versatile digital interfacing, conversion and clocking features, and adds a hint of unexpectedly analogue character...

    Reviews
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    XILS Lab XILS 3

    Software Synthesizer

    XILS Labs XILS 3 is a recreation of the EMS VCS3, but there's more to it than that — much, much more.

    Reviews

Techniques

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    Classic Tracks: Crosby, Stills & Nash ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’

    Producers: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash • Engineer: Bill Halverson

    As the '60s drew to a close, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash came together to form a new group, the unique sound of which was perfectly demonstrated by their first recording, 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes'.

    Techniques
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    Engineer's Guide To Tuning and Damping Drums

    Getting The Drum Sound You Want At Source

    Its heartbreaking when an otherwise great recording is ruined by a poorly set up drum kit. These days, the sound engineer needs to know as much as the drummer about getting this instrument ready for a session...

    Techniques
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    Live Side-chain Compression

    Ableton Live Notes & Techniques

    We explore some side-chaining techniques using Live 8s Compressor.

    Techniques
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    Logic Import: Recycle & Re-use

    Logic Notes & Techniques

    We show you how to easily re-use elements of older projects with Logics powerful import capabilities.

    Techniques
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    Logical Editor

    Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

    Administration is a bore, but Cubase 5's Project Logical Editor can take the hard work out of keeping your projects tidy.

    Techniques
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    Mac Mini Makeover

    Apple Notes

    Not only has the iPhone, star of the pocket-sized world, reached its fourth generation, but its desktop counterpart, the Mac Mini, has also had a makeover.

    Techniques
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    Mix Rescue: Phre The Eon

    Mixing & Recording Advice

    Sometimes, simply taking the time to identify and address a couple of main obstacles before you get busy with the effects can be enough to unleash a mix's potential...

    Techniques
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    Mix Rescue: Phre The Eon | Media

    Mixing & Recording Advice

    These audio files accompany the Mix Rescue article that featured in SOS August 2010.

    Techniques
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    Plug-in Hygiene

    Digidesign (Avid) Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

    Keeping your Pro Tools plug-ins up to date is vital if you want to maintain a reliable system — and now there's a helpful utility that will do it for you.

    Techniques
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    Plug-in Modelling: How Industry Experts Do It

    Emulating Hardware In Software

    Have you ever wondered exactly what goes on when classic hardware is recreated in plug-in form? Heres the full story from some of the industrys biggest names.

    Techniques
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    Reaper Notes: Multi-Band | Files

    SOS August 2010: Split & Polish

    Here are effects chain files for some of the multi-band processing setups described in our SOS August 2010 Reaper workshop.

    Techniques
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    Reaper: Creating Multi-Band Processors

    Reaper Notes & Techniques

    Our very first Reaper workshop explains how to use band-splitting to create your own multi-band processors.

    Techniques
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    Reason 5 Rundown

    Reason Notes & Techniques

    The SOS spotlight falls on the new toys offered by Reason 5 and Record 1.5.

    Techniques
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    Sampling Patches | How To Create Scripts In NI Kontakt, Part 2

    Primer

    Building on last months introduction to the basics of scripting in Native Instruments Kontakt soft sampler, we explain how to make your scripted functions adjustable via a simple user interface.

    Techniques
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    Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Jaycen Joshua

    Inside Track: Justin Bieber (feat. Ludacris) 'Baby'

    In his second career in the music business, Jaycen Joshua has become one of the USAs top mix engineers. With child star Justin Bieber, the brief was to bring urban grit to pop production.

    Techniques
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    Sonar: Stepping Out

    Sonar Notes & Techniques

    Step sequencers are known for their mechanical sound. But do they have to be so rigid? Not in Sonar 8.5...

    Techniques
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    Studio SOS: Judy Abraham

    Solving real-world home studio problems

    The SOS team tackle an assortment of problems, from computer error messages to boxy-sounding vocals.

    Techniques
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    SuperSpeed USB 3.0

    PC Notes

    The need for speed continues with the release of Intels new optical cable technology, hot on the heels of Superspeed USB 3...

    Techniques
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    Video Compression

    Why It Matters & How To Make The Most Of It

    For most of us, compression is a necessity when capturing and editing video footage, but the range of codecs can be bewildering. Find out what you need to know with our in-depth guide.

    Techniques

Sound Advice

People

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    Devo | Mark Mothersbaugh

    Four Decades Of De-evolution

    Pioneers of everything from circuit-bending to multimedia art, Devo have always belonged to the future.

    People
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    MGMT

    Andrew VanWyngarden & Ben Goldwasser: Recording Congratulations

    MGMT could have followed up their smash hit debut album with more of the same. Instead, they headed straight into left field, with help from a legend of British psychedelia.

    People
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    Playback

    Readers’ Music Reviewed

    More readers' tracks get the Juke Box Jury treatment from the SOS crew.

    People
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    Sounding Off

    Paul Nagle

    You cant bend a virtual circuit...

    People
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    Paul White - Editor In Chief

    Vintage Is A State Of Mind

    Leader

    Why are vintage-sounding mixes desirable?

    People

Music Business

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    Notes From The Deadline

    TV Music From The Inside

    The musical challenges involved in composing for TV can be intimidating enough, but its the legal documents that are truly scary.

    Music Business
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