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May 2016 Magazine Contents

SOS (UK Edition) May 2016

Reviews: Focusrite Red 4Pre (Cover), Shure KSM8, RME Babyface Pro, iZotope RX5, Koma Elektronik Komplex.
Techniques: Session Notes: Microphone Positions, Logic Workshop
Features: Welcome To 1979, Inside Track: Justin Bieber's Purpose, iPad Pro Vs Surface Pro.

Reviews

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    Accusonus Drumatom

    Drum Leakage Suppression Software [Mac OS & Windows]

    Accusonus’s innovative program brings advanced DSP to bear on a familiar audio problem.

    Reviews
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    Alto TSL115 & TX15USB

    Active PA Speakers

    Alto’s latest PA speakers have a few unexpected tricks up their sleeves...

    Reviews
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    Apple’s iPad Pro (12.9-inch) Vs Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4

    Screen Test

    Both Apple’s and Microsoft’s flagship tablet devices are large, powerful and elegant. But which is best for musicians?

    Reviews
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    Auratone 5C Super Sound Cube

    Single-driver Monitor

    Auratone’s classic ‘grotbox’ is back. How does it compare with its modern imitators?

    Reviews
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    Big Fish Audio Accelerate: Alternative & Indie Rock

    Multi-format

    The main Accelerate title might be a bit ambiguous, but the sub-title of this Big Fish Audio sample library —...

    Reviews
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    Borderlands Granular

    Synthesizer App For iOS

    We explore Borderlands Granular Synthesizer App for iOS, Shure MV51 iOS/USB condenser mic, and Native Instruments iMaschine 2 sequencer.

    Reviews
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    Embertone Friedlander Violin & Fischer Viola

    Kontakt Instruments

    Embertone are a US sound company founded in 2012 by composers Alex Davis and Jonathan Churchill. The two self-professed ‘sample-library nerds’.

    Reviews
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    ESI Unik 05+

    Active Monitors

    ESI’s Unik-series monitors have been extensively upgraded, and now offer even better value for money than before.

    Reviews
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    Fairchild 660 & 670

    Legendary Compressor-Limiter

    These 1950s compressors are probably the most revered — and imitated — processors in the world. But what is it that makes them so special?

    Reviews
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    Focusrite Red 4Pre

    Thunderbolt Audio Interface

    Focusrite say the Red 4Pre is the pinnacle of their audio interface range. We put it to the test.

    Reviews
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    iZotope RX5

    Restoration & Post-production Processing Software [Mac OS & Windows]

    The latest version of iZotope’s best-selling restoration software adds powerful new modules, as well as a Post Production Suite bundle aimed at film and TV applications.

    Reviews
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    Koma Elektronik Komplex

    Step Sequencer

    The Koma Elektronik Komplex combines four step sequencers in one box, yet still manages to be greater than the sum of its parts.

    Reviews
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    Lindy HF-40

    Closed-back Headphones

    As studio headphones go, the Lindy HF-40s are quite inexpensive, yet they have a very respectable technical specification. Of...

    Reviews
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    Mackie Reach

    PA Speaker

    With its unusual driver configuration, this active loudspeaker hopes to do away with the need for separate stage monitors.

    Reviews
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    Moog MF Flange & MF Chorus

    Modulation Effects Pedals

    The MF Flange and MF Chorus pedals are the latest in Moog’s Minifooger line, the initial offerings of which we reviewed...

    Reviews
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    Native Instruments iMaschine 2

    Sequencing Instrument For iOS

    This updated inexpensive ‘groove sketchpad’ takes the idea a few steps further, letting you create scenes: an arrangement of patterns in each of the four groups.

    Reviews
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    Native Instruments Symphony Series String Ensemble

    Sample Library

    Created in collaboration with the makers of LA Scoring Strings, NI’s new Symphony Series instrument puts a 60-piece string ensemble at your disposal.

    Reviews
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    Native Instruments Una Corda

    Kontakt Instrument

    A normal upright piano has three strings per key in the upper registers, two for the mid octaves and usually one for the lowest octaves.

    Reviews
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    Peluso P-87

    Multi-pattern Capacitor Microphone

    The Neumann U87 is one of the most iconic studio microphones in the world. Does Peluso’s homage do it justice?

    Reviews
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    PPG Phonem

    Software Synthesizer

    Phonem sees wavetable synth pioneer Wolfgang Palm turn his attention to the tricky problem of vocal synthesis.

    Reviews
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    RME Babyface Pro

    USB Audio Interface

    RME’s successor to their popular Babyface audio and MIDI interface is finally available. Does it live up to the company’s usual high standards?

    Reviews
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    Sample Shop | Media

    Audio files to accompany the article.

    These files accompany the Sample Shop articles in the May 2016 issue.

    Reviews
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    Serpent Audio Splice MkII

    Dual-mode FET Compressor

    With options including mix-and-match ‘blue stripe’ and ‘blackface’ modes, this is far more than a simple clone of the classic UREI 1176.

    Reviews
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    Shure KSM8 Dualdyne

    Dynamic Vocal Microphone

    With its unique dual-diaphragm design, is Shure’s latest offering the greatest advance in dynamic mic technology since the Unidyne?

    Reviews
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    Shure MV51

    Cardioid Condenser Microphone

    Back in the 1950s, one of Shure’s most popular mics was the Model 51 Sonodyne, which had a distinctive design fashioned to...

    Reviews
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    Sonic Farm Berliner

    Dual-channel Hybrid Mic Preamp

    On testing a vintage Telefunken preamp, Sonic Farm were so impressed they decided to recreate it — adding their own twist along the way...

    Reviews
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    Sonivox Film Score Companion

    Sample Library

    A classic orchestral library makes a comeback in a streamlined new format.

    Reviews
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    Sonnox Oxford Envolution

    Transient Shaping Plug-in [Mac OS & Windows]

    Most of us are familiar with transient processors that can shape the attack and release characteristics of percussive sounds — but Oxford Envolution goes much further.

    Reviews
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    Sound FX, by Alexander Case

    Book Review

    Although first published in 2007, I only became aware of this interesting book very recently, when I found it on a recommended-reading list for a music technology course at a UK university.

    Reviews
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    Sound Momentum Infinity

    Acoustic Diffusers

    Diffusers are usually best deployed in larger rooms, but these new designs could prove useful in the smallest of studios.

    Reviews
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    TC-Helicon Perform-V

    Vocal Effects Processor

    This powerful vocal processor puts its controls right where you need them!

    Reviews
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    UJAM Virtual Guitarist Iron

    Virtual Guitar Software

    Virtual Guitarist was a landmark product in 2002 and now it’s back, reborn in a new ferric guise.

    Reviews
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    Witnesses Of Words: by Marco C van der Hoeven

    How 20th Century Microphones Made History

    To some, music technology is simply a means to an end and the music is all that matters. To others, music technology holds some technical importance in its own right.

    Reviews

Techniques

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    A Different Drummer

    Ableton Live Tips & Techniques

    Live offers a number of ways to intelligently remap MIDI drum parts.

    Techniques
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    Bus & VCA Routing In Samplitude Pro

    Samplitude Tips & Techniques

    Samplitude Pro X2’s aux buses, submix buses and VCAs add up to a powerful and flexible routing system.

    Techniques
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    Cubase: Designing Retrologue 2 Patches

    Cubase Tips & Techniques

    Cubase 8.5 introduced Retrologue 2, a powerful virtual analogue synth, and its presets are great — but rolling your own patches can be a lot of fun.

    Techniques
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    Inside Track: Justin Bieber 'Purpose'

    Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Josh Gudwin & Andrew Wuepper

    In a transition overseen by long-term collaborator Josh Gudwin, teenage prodigy Justin Bieber has become a grown-up pop star.

    Techniques
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    Logic Pro 10.2.1

    Logic Tips & Techniques

    With integration for Music Memos, new batch processing tools and expanded multithreading support, the Logic Pro 10.2.1 update gives you more power than ever.

    Techniques
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    Media Content - May 2016

    Audio files to accompany our articles

    A directory of all media pages that hold the associated media files for May 2016 audio examples.

    Techniques
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    Mix Rescue: 'Libre' by French rockers Neopren

    Our Experts Transform Your Tracks

    Our engineer reworks a busy mix, to make the chorus and outro rock like they should.

    Techniques
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    Mix Rescue: 'Libre' by French rockers Neopren | Media

    Our Experts Transform Your Tracks

    Audio files to accompany the article.

    Techniques
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    Pro Tools: Track Freeze In 12.4

    Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

    We explore the ins and outs of the new Track Freeze function in Pro Tools 12.4.

    Techniques
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    Reaper: Getting In Trim

    Reaper Tips & Techniques

    Reaper’s automation lacks a relative trim mode, but now you can add your own.

    Techniques
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    Reason: Work In Progress

    Reason Tips & Techniques

    We show you how to organise your musical scrapbook in Reason.

    Techniques
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    Session Notes: Microphone Positions

    The Practical Craft of Recording

    Zwiepack: Our engineer captured one jazz session using two completely different recording techniques. Which one won the day?

    Techniques
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    Session Notes: Microphone Positions | Media

    Audio files to accompany the article.

    Zwiepack: Our engineer captured one jazz session using two completely different recording techniques. Which one won the day?

    Techniques
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    Sonar: Finishing Projects

    Sonar Tips & Techniques

    Tie up those loose ends and declare your projects finished!

    Techniques
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    Studio One 3.2 Update

    Studio One Tips & Techniques

    It may look like a humble point upgrade, but Studio One v3.2 brings with it some significant innovations.

    Techniques

Sound Advice

People

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    Paul White

    Mods For Rockers

    Leader

    Today’s electronic keyboard players have a lot going for them that guitar players should envy: no tuning problems, no need for pedal effects ...

    People
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    Peaceful Protest: The PAIX Project

    Recording The Same Song 31 Times

    A project that was started to help unsigned bands show solidarity with victims of the Paris attacks has grown to unite musicians, artists and film-makers from around the world. And it’s not finished yet...

    People
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    Peaceful Protest: The PAIX Project | Media

    Audio files to accompany the article.

    A project that was started to help unsigned bands show solidarity with victims of the Paris attacks has grown to unite musicians, artists and film-makers from around the world. And it’s not finished yet...

    People
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    Sounding Off: The Reward Of Focus

    Will Betts

    The human head was not designed to wear two hats at a time.

    People
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    The Mix Review

    Commercial Productions Analysed

    This month Mike comments on work by Lalah Hathaway, Little Big Town, Alabama Shakes and Ghost, plus our Classic Mix, Bonnie Tyler's ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’    

    People

Music Business

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    EVE Studios, Stockport

    Studio File

    When studio owner Martin King left London to move up North, he was swimming against the tide in many ways. However, after six years in operation, the success of EVE Studios in Stockport has justified his decision.

    Music Business
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    Hansa Studio

    Hansa Tonstudio Tour

    Video Feature

    A tour of the legendary Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin, including the room where producer Tony Visconti devised and captured the now-mythic three-gated-mic technique for David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’.

    Music Business
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    Hot Metal: Welcome To 1979 Studios

    Direct-To-Disc Recording & Vinyl Plating

    Vinyl is booming, but having it pressed can be slow and unpredictable. Enter a retro-focused Nashville studio with an ambitious business plan...

    Music Business
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    Notes From The Deadline

    TV Music From The Inside

    It’s only when you look back that you realise how far you’ve come...

    Music Business
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    Off The Record

    Off The Record: Leaked Recordings

    Music & Recording Industry News

    What can studios do to protect themselves when high-profile recordings get leaked?

    Music Business
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