June 2014 Magazine Contents

Acon Digital's reverb plug-in looks simple, but is it effective?

Is the combination of audio interface and 500-series chassis the ideal solution for a compact, hybrid setup?

This month we look at Cakewalk's Z3TA+, Crossfire Designs MidiPads and IK Multimedia's AmpliTube Orange

Nearfield monitors are usually a compromise — but not in the case of these impressive three-ways from Barefoot Sound.

Is Bitwig Studio's fresh take on clip-based music production different enough to tempt users away from established rivals?

Native Instruments' Reaktor isn't a plug-in format as such — more a platform for constructing synths and effects.

The original DriveRack PA was already a cost‑effective processor, and now Dbx have upgraded it, with more features and wireless iOS control.

DOD's Phasor 201 was one of the first commercial phaser pedals.

It won't write a Katie Price novel for you, but Ghostwriter is just the ticket for high-quality, Porcupine Tree-style quirkiness.

How much of Grace Design's know-how and revered sound has made it into this unassuming and comparatively low-cost box?

iZotope's Break Tweaker software gives you microscopic control over your beats and much more besides.

JoeMeek's enduringly popular preamps, processors and channel strips are now available for Lunchbox users too!

Sometimes, a full-blown multi-channel rackmounting interface is just too cumbersome and inconvenient for the task in hand.

With the MS20 Kit, Korg have taken the Ikea approach to selling synths — by insisting you build it yourself!

Analogue mixers with built-in effects are nothing new, but this model from Peavey takes its digital processing further than most.

Electro-house is probably one of the broader house/dance sub‑genres and this download pack by Platinum AudioLab aims to plug...

The Jennings Univox was a valve‑based monophonic synthesizer manufactured during the 1950s and '60s.

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The affordable sE Electronics sE X1 capacitor microphone is now available with an onboard USB converter, so that it can be...

Softube are out to make DAW mixing more like using a large-format console. Can Console 1 liberate us from mouse and keyboard?

Permut8 is a delay plug-in — but not as we know it, Captain.

Qanûn is part of Sonokinetic's range of Arabic sampled instruments, which also includes Ney and Kemence.

Paul Soulsby's debut product is a small synth of violently unrestrained character.

In the world of live sound, the tablet revolution is much more than just hype: it really does have the potential to turn front-of-house mixing on its head.

Tannoy Reveals have long been popular with home-studio owners on a budget. Do these latest iterations retain the qualities that made their forebears so successful?

Turbosound have upgraded their established Milan range, with the help of some technology borrowed from sister company Klark Teknik.

The Apollo Twin brings impressive sound quality and UA plug-ins to the desktop, along with unusually versatile mic preamps!

UVI's UltraMini is a software synth based on samples drawn from the classic Minimoog.

Does the VSP2's build quality and performance justify its high-end price tag?

Could this comparatively affordable passive EQ with valve make-up gain actually be better than the revered Pultec unit that inspired it?

Zero‑G's Epica is undoubtedly a labour or love by producer Sam Spacey. The library has been nearly three years in the making!

We look at what's new in Reason 7.1 and check out the Synchronous Rack Extension.

Play Logic from your iPad with Touch Instruments.

'Papa's Got A Brand New Bag' was James Brown's statement of intent as he abandoned soulful ballads in favour of a raw and frenetic new sound.

With thumbprint data security and track counts in the thousands, the scoring process for sci‑fi movie Divergent was close to science fiction itself!

We try to bring a bit less garage and a bit more rock to a self‑recorded production with a retro feel.

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Bouncing Cubase's MIDI and VSTi parts down to audio opens up a whole new world of processing possibilities.

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We explain how to properly configure your Pro Tools audio inputs, outputs and buses.

The season of open-air shows is upon us — but is your gear really ready for the great outdoors?

There are some stunningly good Libraries for Acustica Audio's Nebula dynamic convolution plug-in, but you can also create your own. We invited one of the best Nebula developers to tell you how.

Studio One supports many varieties of time‑stretching.

This month, we take on some computer glitching problems and fix up the acoustics in a newly completed loft conversion.

Recreating tape‑speed effects in Sonar X3.

We make your life easier with tips on how to work more efficiently with Live.

In a shop recently, I was almost persuaded to buy some Mogami XLR cables.

I've tried Nebula (with Reaper) and, sonically speaking, I really like what it can do, but the best libraries have my computer...

I'm really interested in mixing, but I need decent material to practice on, and I don't think my performance and recording...

When computers first came on the scene, many musicians were scared away by the apparent complexity and retreated to their cassette Portastudios.

Producer and engineer John Congleton has worked on anything and everything — the more unfamiliar, the better!

This month albums from Ad Asteris, Glass Ankle, Pierre Shlimon, Marvin B Naylor, The Evolutionaries, Kenwood Anderson and As Follows.

In defence of the iPad.

This month featuring 'Pompeii' by Bastille, 'Let It Go' by Idina Menzel, 'Strong' by London Grammar and the most classic of classic tracks from 1971, Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven'.

We investigate an experimental system that promises to retrospectively add Yamaha CS80-style expression control to any keyboard.

When it comes to music technology, truth can be stranger than fiction.

Movies about music are undoubtedly good for the record industry, but is the favour returned?

For many decades, London's North West has been home to more than its share of important recording studios.