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April 2017 Magazine Contents

SOS (UK Edition) April 2017

Reviews: Yamaha Montage 7, Apogee Element Series, Focusrite Red 8Pre, Dave Smith Instruments DSM03, QSC TouchMix-30 Pro, Akai MPC Live.

Features: Inside Track: Recording & Mixing The Soundtrack For La La Land, Classic Tracks: Neneh Cherry - ‘Buffalo Stance'.

Techniques: Mix Rescue, Session Notes.

Reviews

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    Akai MPC Live

    Music Production Centre

    The return of the stand-alone MPC exceeds expectations.

    Reviews
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    Apogee Element Series

    Thunderbolt Audio Interfaces For Mac

    Apogee’s latest audio interfaces eschew physical controls to keep the price as attractive as the audio quality. Can the convenience of software really replace the allure of flashing lights and knobs?

    Reviews
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    Blue Bottle Mic Locker

    Valve Microphone & Capsule Set

    Blue’s classy — and enormous! — valve mic kit lets you swap between four different capsules for a range of modern and vintage sounds.

    Reviews
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    Boss CP-1X

    'Waza Craft' Compressor Pedal

    The CP-1X is no typical guitar compressor pedal. It employs Boss’s proprietary Multi-Dimensional Processing (MDP) technology, which analyses various aspects of the incoming signal in real time and then responds by optimising the digital processing for the source.

    Reviews
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    Bram Bos Troublemaker

    Synthesizer App For iOS

    With Apple’s AU plug-in format for iOS finally beginning to gain some traction, we check out Bram Bos's 

    latest ‘this is not a 303’ offering...

    Reviews
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    Clavia Nord Drum 3P

    Modelling Percussion Synthesizer

    The Nord Drum 3P combines the brain and pads of previous models into a powerful percussive package.

    Reviews
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    Creative Tunings SpiderCapo

    Universal Guitar Capo

    Innovation in music technology doesn’t have to be digital, or even electronic. This partial guitar capo lets you choose whether to capo each string. Its makers claim that this provides near-instant access to over 900 alternate tunings...

    Reviews
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    Dave Smith Instruments DSM03

    Eurorack Module

    This third modular outing, DSM03, introduces tuned feedback — an important component in DSI synths ranging from the little desktop Evolver of 2003 up to the recent Pro 2.

    Reviews
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    Dbx CT3

    'Advanced' Cable Tester

    Most cable testers are designed to test loose cables, like guitar or mic leads, where both ends can be brought to the test box. The CT3  allows for this, but it’s designed also to test installed cables.

    Reviews
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    Focusrite Red 8Pre

    Thunderbolt Audio Interface

    The Red 8Pre is the new flagship of Focusrite’s audio interface range. Is it their best yet?

    Reviews
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    IGS Audio 572 'Red Stripe'

    500-series Valve Mic Preamp/DI

    Could this transformer- and valve-laden preamp bring some analogue magic to your recordings?

    Reviews
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    IK Multimedia iRig HD 2

    Audio Interface

    The iRig HD 2 compliments IK’s series of compact audio interfaces designed to record guitar, bass guitar and line-level devices with minimum fuss on an iOS device or computer.

    Reviews
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    Manfrotto Mic Mount

    Microphone Mounting Bar

    I recently wanted to rig a three-mic stereo array, comprising a SoundField ST-450 mic in the centre with omni outriggers...

    Reviews
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    Manger Audio C1

    Active Monitors

    Manger’s unique approach to driver design yields a monitor with exceptional time-domain performance — but it comes at a cost.

    Reviews
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    Microsoft Surface Dial

    Control Dial

    When Microsoft announced the all-in-one Surface Studio last October, the company also unveiled a new input device called the Surface Dial...

    Reviews
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    MXL DX-2

    Dual-diaphragm Dynamic Microphone

    Designed especially for guitar amps, MXL’s new dynamic mic lets you blend between two capsules to get the sound you want.

    Reviews
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    Peavey RBN 112

    Active PA Speaker

    Ribbon tweeters are usually associated with studio monitoring, but Peavey’s classy new speaker proves they have a place in PA too.

    Reviews
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    Peavey ReValver 4

    Guitar Amp & FX Modelling Software

    The latest iteration of Peavey’s modelling software not only allows you to build your own virtual guitar amps, but to ‘profile’ real ones.

    Reviews
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    Phoenix Audio Pivot Tone Channel

    'Tilt' EQ For The 500-series

    Explore the ups and downs of Phoenix’s transformer-laden tone control...

    Reviews
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    QSC TouchMix-30 Pro

    Digital Mixer, Recorder & Interface

    So feature-laden is QSC’s newest TouchMix digital mixer that the question is no longer “Who would want one?” but “Who wouldn’t?”

    Reviews
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    RME ADI-2 Pro

    High-quality A-D/D-A Converter

    This modest-looking box is among the best-performing two-way converters available, and boasts a huge array of thoughtful features.

    Reviews
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    Roland EC-10M

    Cajon Microphone & Processor

    Roland’s EC-10M turns any cajon into an electronic percussion generator.

    Reviews
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    Rossum Electro-Music Control Forge

    Eurorack Module

    Described as a Programmable Universal CV Generator, the Control Forge can serve as a multi-stage envelope, a complex LFO or a sequencer...

    Reviews
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    Studiomaster LiveSys5

    Active Vocal Monitor

    This compact powered foldback speaker puts your vocal sound right where you need it!

    Reviews
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    Umlaut Audio Arps & Pads

    Kontakt Instruments

    Tucked away behind the unassuming title is a sample-based drum instrument that manages to deliver something rather special...

    Reviews
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    Vir2 Aeris Hybrid Choir Designer

    Kontakt Instrument

    It has to be said that musicians are not short of choice when it come to vowel-based choir sounds. Vir2’s latest addition to this broad and well-stocked selection box is Aeris Hybrid Choir Designer, a Kontakt-based sample library.

    Reviews
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    Yamaha Montage 7

    Synthesizer

    As its name implies, the Montage combines multiple technologies within a single, powerful instrument. But does it have what it takes to be the market leader Yamaha want it to be?

    Reviews
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    Zero-G Ethera 2.0 Cinematic Vocal Instrument

    Kontakt Instrument

    Ethera is meant to sound ethereal, and it can’t be denied that Clara Sorace, whose vocal performances were sampled to create this 3.4GB Kontakt library, definitely leans more towards Enya than Aretha...

    Reviews

Techniques

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    Classic Tracks: Neneh Cherry ‘Buffalo Stance’

    Producers: Tim Simenon & Mark Saunders

    Neneh Cherry’s breakthrough 1988 single melded hip-hop and cut-and-paste sampling into a perfect pop record.

    Techniques
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    Creative Crossfading In Ableton Live

    Ableton Live Tips & Techniques

    We show you how to get creative with the crossfader in Ableton Live.

    Techniques
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    Cubase 9's Sampler Track

    Steinberg Cubase Tips & Techniques

    Amongst Cubase 9’s new features is a whole new track type dedicated to quick and easy sampling.

    Techniques
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    Inside Track: La La Land

    Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Marius de Vries & Nicholai Baxter

    Achieving a naturalistic sound on a Hollywood film set isn’t easy — but was central to director Damien Chazelle’s vision for La La Land.

    Techniques
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    Media Content - April 2017

    Audio & Video Files To Accompany The Articles

    A list of all articles that hold the associated media files for April 2017 audio examples and video tutorials.

    Techniques
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    Migrating To A New Music PC

    How To Take Your OS & DAW With You

    Is it possible to transfer everything from your existing Windows music computer to a new machine, or should you start afresh?

    Techniques
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    Mix Rescue: ‘Can You See Me’ By Trick Bird

    Our Experts Transform Your Tracks

    Thoughtfully prepared DAW templates can leave you with more time for the creative and musical side of mixing.

    Techniques
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    Pro Tools Wish Lists

    Avid Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

    We look at the most popular Pro Tools feature requests, and explain how you can adapt where they haven’t yet been implemented.

    Techniques
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    Session Notes: Recording A Choir

    The Practical Craft Of Recording

    It sometimes makes economic sense to use a commercial studio, and you’ll often learn a thing or two while you’re there as well.

    Techniques
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    Slicing Audio In Reason

    Propellerhead Reason Tips & Techniques

    We look at different ways to slice audio in Reason.

    Techniques
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    Studio One: Adding Stereo Width To Guitars

    PreSonus Studio One Tips & Techniques

    Add artificial stereo width to guitars in your Studio One mixes.

    Techniques
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    Studio SOS: Studio Desk & Acoustics

    Graham Battersby

    The Studio SOS team put their DIY skills to the test, constructing a new studio desk and optimising a home studio’s acoustics.

    Techniques
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    The Sound Of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

    Video Feature

    Creating alien worlds, bringing droids to life and giving Star Wars more realism. We talk sound design and foley with the team behind the critically-acclaimed Rogue One.

    Techniques
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    Track Alternatives in Logic 10.3

    Apple Logic Tips & Techniques

    We explore the new Track Alternatives feature added to the recent Logic Pro 10.3 update.

    Techniques
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    Vocal Alignment In Reaper

    Cockos Reaper Tips & Techniques

    Reaper’s Stretch Markers feature intelligent linking, which can ease the burden of manual vocal alignment.

    Techniques

Sound Advice

People

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    Paul White

    In With The New

    Leader

    As I suspected might be the case, this year’s NAMM show turned out to be mainly evolutionary rather than revolutionary...

    People
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    Modular Profile: Dieter Doepfer

    The Father Of Eurorack

    Dieter Doepfer is known as the founding father of Eurorack, the modular format that now dominates all others — but how did it all come about?

    People
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    Sounding Off David Ricard 04-2017

    Sounding Off: Sound Bright

    David Ricard

    Speak like an idiot or sound intelligent: take your pick. You can’t do both...

    People
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    The Mix Review

    Commercial Productions Analysed

    This month: Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) • Ed Sheeran • Sean Paul featuring Dua Lipa • Jax Jones featuring Raye • Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie • Classic Mix: Mungo Jerry ‘In The Summertime’ (1970)

    People

Music Business

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    Grande Armée, Paris

    Studio File

    With a floor space of over 500 square metres, spread across three rooms, Grande Armée is among the largest recording studios in the world, and certainly is one of the most spacious in France.

    Music Business
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    Notes From The Deadline

    TV Music From The Inside

    Being precious about your artistic sensibilities is all very well — as long as you don’t mind no-one ever hearing your music.

    Music Business
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    Off The Record

    Off The Record: Blurred Lines

    Music & Recording Industry News

    As expectations for live performances increase, the line between stage and studio engineering blurs.

    Music Business
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