November 2012 Magazine Contents

The key features of Acoustica’s Mixcraft have always been affordability and ease of use. Version 6 builds on these strengths but also adds a new Pro Studio edition.

This sleek four-channel interface and monitor controller embodies all the quality and style we’ve come to expect from Apogee.

This month we look at iOS products from: VirSyn Addictive Synth, MicW i825 and the Wizdom Music SpaceWiz.

The FB2 is an unusual pedal incorporating some rather clever technology that allows guitar players to create genuine feedback-...

Based in Nottingham, UK, Coopersonic Audio Engineering are responsible for a growing range of hand-wired effects pedals.

Tired of navigating complex audio software with just a mouse and keyboard? Then a control surface might be just what you need. Here’s our selection of current models, with links to the SOS review where available.

Need a compact and discreet PA that still delivers quality sound? Then the FBT Vertus might just be for you...

With a valve power-amp stage, a DSP modelled preamp and effects section, and direct-to-computer recording, this amp is brimming with promise. Can it deliver?

The Forte is Focusrite’s attempt to build the best compact USB audio interface possible. Have they hit this ambitious target?

Don’t let their diminutive size fool you: these are serious monitors that punch way above their weight.

Costing almost as much as a small car, you’d expect that nothing could cut like a Knif. Find out what made our reviewer invest in a Soma...

Does Kush Audio’s expertise in designing analogue equipment translate into the plug-in realm?

Can you really make a complex, DSP-packed mixer that even musicians with no engineering experience can use? Line 6 think they can...

Microtech Gefell mics have long been revered for their sonic performance in the studio — so why not use them on stage too?

Almost a decade of experience has only reinforced my appreciation of this unassuming little mic.

Propellerhead’s Reason gets its first dedicated MIDI keyboard and control surface. What can it offer that your mouse can’t?

The preamp from Neve’s “ultimate analogue console” is now available ‘to go’...

Novation go back to their portable synth roots with a compact gem that reworks the Ultranova synth engine and adds a few extras...

Sound On Sound was given an exclusive sneak preview of the first production units in advance of the official product announcement on October 12th.

The Logan String Melody and the later Melody II are justifiably revered string machines.

For this collection, Bulgarian producer Ivan Shopov teamed up with sound designer and producer Airbag Killex.

Ribbon mics have long been known for their smooth high end, but can sometimes sound a little on the dull side. Enter the SE X1R...

Studiologic’s new Waldorf-powered polysynth is here and it’s very yellow indeed. Put your sunglasses on and meet the Sledge...

Ever since Toontrack launched EZ Drummer as the lightweight counterpart to Superior, they've been adding expander kits to it to cover just about any commercial style.

I must confess that country music is one of my guilty pleasures. For all the clichés about good 'ole boys, beer-drinking Rednecks and perpetual heartbreak, the genre is often a masterclass in songwriting and musicianship.

There are many VCA compressors available, at a range of prices, but very few employ a fully discrete gain-reduction element. So what exactly does this design feature bring to the table?

Audio files to accompany the article.

Waves are the latest manufacturers to try to package the sound of large-format mixing consoles in plug-in form.

This month, we take a look at some great little apps for problem solving.

As we wait with bated breath for the release of DP8, let’s revise some core DP techniques…

For many, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? is Oasis’s masterpiece. Producer and engineer Owen Morris tells us the story of its creation.

The abandoned Soviet mining village of Pyramiden provided Efterklang with a unique recording venue — and the constant threat of being eaten by polar bears.

Learn how to import and combine Environment layers to create new MIDI facilities for your projects.

These simple steps in Cubase 5 will make your programmed acoustic drum tracks sound more authentic.

Audio files to accompany the article.

Whether you’re programming electronic beats, or reinforcing rock drums, there’s more to drum layering than meets the ear.

The audio files on this page accompany the SOS Drum Layering Masterclass.

Fix vocal pitch in Sonar without nasty correction artifacts.

It’s a Reason reverberation extravaganza this month, as we look at the tools available and how to use them.

When you’re recording away from the studio and under time constraints, you need to get the big decisions right — and not become bogged down in detail.

Audio files to accompany the article.

We see why there’s much more to Live’s Frequency Shifter effect than meets the eye...

Pro Tools’ template system, and its undocumented Track Presets feature, can help your sessions get moving faster.

Steve Greenwell knew he wanted a live feel for Joss Stone’s second album of soul covers, but finding the right mix was more of a challenge.

With a little cunning and resourcefulness, you can improve the sound of nearly any studio — even when it’s on the other side of the world!

Sometimes Studio One expresses itself differently to other DAWs, but don’t let that put you off...

Now that Windows 8 supports touchscreen operation, manufacturers are getting inventive with their hardware formats...

I just got hold of an old record deck and am having problems trying to record samples off some of my Dad's old vinyl. When I ...

When I'm doing vocal pitch-correction, should I include breath sounds if I'm trying to get the sound to be realistic? I'm...

I have a set of Atacama SE1000 speaker stands, but at one metre, they're just a tad too high. I've used Blu-Tack on my current...

If high sample rates make no discernible difference when recording (which is effectively what Dan Lavry's much-quoted white...

Who are the most successful British synth manufacturers of all time? Hint: they’re alive and well — and busier than ever...

Live-sound employment is now more competitive than ever, so how can you stand out from the crowd? We asked some of the leading teachers and employers in the industry for their advice.

Looking back over some very old leader columns, I came across some of my comments and suggestions for making aspects of music technology more friendly.

This month we review: Lois, LTS, Three Little Words, The Paul Hegley Band, Sea Stacks and Jabi Shriki

Barrington Haynes asks the question.

This month's tracks are from Madonna, Justin Bieber, Elbow, Maroon 5 and Flo Rida.

We take a look inside one of the most famous studios in the world.

The viewing public never get to see — or hear — the messy side of TV production. But that’s where the fun is.

Recording budgets have been getting lower for some time. Are the technical standards we’ve come to expect from records being eroded too?