January 2020 Magazine Contents

Inspired by RCA's BK5, AEA's latest mic combines classic ribbon tone with a supercardioid polar pattern.

When you're thrust into the driving seat for a tour with Scotland's biggest rock band, you need a desk that's not only powerful, but also quick to learn and easy to use. Enter Allen & Heath's flagship live mixer...

Audeze's latest LCD-series cans make the company's impressive planar magnetic technology more accessible than ever.

Surely there is nothing new to be done with the design of the humble guitar speaker cabinet? Well, actually, it turns out there is, and our reviewer doesn't think he'll ever want to use an 'ordinary' cabinet again!

Behringer's RD‑8 is a cut-price recreation of Roland's classic drum machine. We put it to the test...

If you're looking for some initial insights into the creative stage of writing music to picture, then Michael Kruk's new book might be just what you need.

The authors are both devoted admirers (and experienced users) of classic keyboards and, together, they have created a marvellously impressive book detailing these instruments in great depth and breadth.

The brainchild of Tim Loe, Capo Elevator is designed to counteract a fairly well-known issue that can arise when recording steel-strung acoustic guitars...

This most handy of problem-solving plug-ins has matured considerably. Now more user-friendly, it can deliver DAW automation data to any parameter of any of the hosted plug-ins, and includes an audio routing plug-in called SendIt.

Described as a four-band preamp, overdrive and distortion module, the M G D–2 puts guitar pedal power at the heart of your Eurorack.

Elektron's FM powerhouse gains a keyboard and a lot more besides.

Fishman's wireless TriplePlay guitar-to-MIDI system has a strong reputation for fast and accurate tracking, and the company now offer these benefits in TriplePlay Connect for iOS.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. This follow-up library provides soul and psychedelic-influenced funk loops that sound like they could have been sampled from records cut in the late '60s or early '70s.

Infinity is no ordinary audio editor, but one that allows you to manipulate the individual instruments within a mixed audio file in endless ways.

IK follow up their popular UNO Synth with a drum machine cast from the same mould...

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. The emphasis here is on sounds with a shorter duration and there are many with a percussive nature, allowing you to easily create a rhythmic element within your sequenced patterns.

Modal's revisited Craft Synth offers complex sound design in a compact package.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. These lower-priced libraries offer an alternative to top-end virtual drum instruments.

Neural DSP have bottled the guitar-recording wizardry of one of the hottest rock and metal producers around.

The Nonlinear Labs C15 is that rarest of things — a synth that dares to be different.

Novation's latest LaunchKey Mini offers more features in a smaller package.

Most new headphone manufacturers target the booming hi-fi and consumer markets, but OLLO Audio have made their entrance with two models explicitly aimed at audio engineers.

Rumoured for months, the 'powered by Acustica' virtual mixer is now close to release — and SOS were treated to an exclusive test drive! Read the full Preview today!

Version 11 introduces the most radical development in Reason's long history: the Reason Rack now runs as a plug-in within other DAWs.

Simplicity meets sophistication in Relab's impressive new reverb plug-in.

ON TEST — Softube's alternative mixing environment has grown faders — and they do much more than just fade! Read this SOS In-depth Review TODAY! 

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Recorded in Berlin's all-analogue Vox-Ton Studios, this library is based on a collection of prepared piano multisamples created by film composer and sound designer Volker Bertelmann

There's something for everyone in the latest version of Steinberg's flagship music production package.

The wicked-sounding Demon Core Oscillator is an analogue oscillator with a remarkable 16 voices, which can be spread and detuned and, with the Demon Core Expander module, played polyphonically.

This updated entry-level pocket recorder doubles up as a USB audio interface for computers and iOS devices.

Thermionic's latest valve preamp offers bags of gain and plenty of analogue warmth. Is this the perfect partner for your ribbon mics?

UJAM's Virtual Drummers may not come with their own van and annoying personal habits, but they're quick, reliable and always on time.

UA's new desktop interfaces give their rackmount siblings a run for their money.

Yamaha's newest powered speakers not only offer excellent sound and portability, but their optional Dante connectivity makes them a cinch to set up.

We show you how to work with irregular tempos and rhythms in Live.

There's more to Avid's Pro Expander plug-in than meets the ear...

When producer Sam Williams discovered Supergrass, he knew he had to capture the band's infectious energy on tape.

VCA (voltage-controlled amplifier) faders don't pass audio. Rather, they act as 'remote controls' for other faders: assign a...

We explore three of the MasterWorks processors: MW FET‑76, MW Leveler and MW Compressor.

After unknown busker Tones and I teamed up with unknown producer Konstantin Kersting, she soon became very well known indeed!

Do your virtual acoustic drum parts never seem to work in the context of a mix? Here's how to fashion more natural and compelling results...

Guest engineer Andy Brook discusses his approach to recording the legendary British rockers' 33rd studio album.

I recently played a gig where I had a terrible sound and I don't understand why. I have tried to build a bullet-...

New York-based producer/engineer, songwriter and music educator Illmind has wide-ranging credits extending all the way from 50...

Many of us use rhythm loops in our compositions, but at what stage does relying on them become cheating?

Laptops, loops and layers are the tools that have taken Oliver Heldens to the forefront of the future house genre.

To help you brush up on your listening skills, we examine the production of recent hits by Dominic Fike, Harry Styles, Joel Corry plus a 1995 classic mix from Oasis.

My name is Simon and I have Gear Acquisition Syndrome....