July 2020 Magazine Contents

In 10 short years, the iPad has changed the way we make and record music. We explore what the current line-up has to offer, and what the future might hold.

This book by Rolf-Dieter Leib and Ulf Kaiser is aimed at beginner to intermediate synth scholars and, in 300 pages, seeks to explain all technical aspects of modular synthesis.

The new flagship of ADAM's T‑series offers serious bass extension even for those with limited budgets.

If you like your drum machines old school, analogue and ruggedly individualistic, you're going to love the ADS‑7 Mk2.

This studio VCA compressor in a pedal employs THAT VCA chips like those found in, for example, modern iterations of the SSL bus compressor.

Although it's now been around for two decades, Melodyne is still the stuff of science fiction. In our exclusive review, we explore version 5's new superpowers.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. This library focuses on orchestral trumpet and horn sections played with maximum resonance to recreate the rich, full-bodied tone heard in classic Hollywood 1990s film scores.

The TC4 aims to make it easy to use mastering hardware with your DAW.

Remnant comprises two delay lines, from which a granular engine takes segments and processes them.

Correcting the frequency response of a monitoring system is one thing, but Dirac claims to correct time-domain response too. Can it possibly work?

Realphones aims to put all the software tools you need for perfect headphone monitoring in one neat package.

The Model:Cycles offers an easy and affordable way in to Elektron-world, and has a sound all of its own.

The Sony C‑800G is among the greatest vocal mics ever made, but getting hold of one has never been easy. Enter Golden Age, and their faithful recreation...

Both technically and sonically, these open-backed headphones represent a breakthrough in portable monitoring.

The newest mic from Polish company HUM Audio comes in either long- or short-ribbon varieties. So we tried them both!

Have IK managed to bottle the sound of the famous Hollywood studio?

The Tetrapad and its expander, the Tête, offer a wealth of functions based around four touch- and pressure-sensitive...

JBL's compact new PA speaker is small and cheap — but sounds quite the opposite!

Ever wondered how a Leslie cabinet with four different speakers would sound?

These intriguing new mics are designed for loud environments where spill is an issue — so that's exactly where we tested them!

Audition these audio examples of the Lauten Audio LS‑208 & LS‑308 capacitor mics.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Density is designed primarily as a tool for media composers and includes sounds suitable for the epic/trailer genre.

McDSP's software-configured analogue processing system now has new hardware and software options — and support for more DAWs.

Melda's novel approach to cab emulation frees you from the confines of convolution.

Does Modartt's Organteq do for the pipe organ what Pianoteq did for the piano?

Is Native Instruments' virtual picked acoustic guitar better than the real thing?

Made specifically for use with electric guitars, Teleport has been designed with an appropriate sensitivity and high input impedance.

The Jupiter name comes loaded with expectation. Can Roland hit their own high standards?

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Motion Keys is built upon a 12GB sample library derived exclusively from keyboard-based sound sources.

How close do these modelling plug‑ins sound to the real thing?

Want your spine chilled and your nerves jangled? Sonokinetic are on the case.

Spitfire's latest Albion library heads north in search of new scoring directions.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Mountain Girl brings the haunting sound of Balkan vocal styles to composers everywhere.

Looks can be deceiving, and in the case of this affordable mic, so can price tags!

Just over a year ago I reviewed the Tiptop Audio Z‑DSP NS. It's a large, flagship, modular effects processor...

Toontrack's virtual bass player should have its human counterparts very worried indeed.

MorphVerb's stylish interface is dominated by a large dial, which lets you blend between two reverb algorithms...

Two channels of Pultec-style EQ in a 500‑series module would be enough for most manufacturers. But not for Wes...

Creating your own shimmer reverb effects is easy, and gives you plenty of creative control.

With some simple signal routing, Cubase can tell you exactly what a plug‑in is doing to your audio.

Check out these audio files that accompany this issue's Cubase workshop.

Here's how to create a convincing double-tracking effect in Logic Pro X.

Doja Cat's 'Say So' was already a worldwide hit when a new version featuring Nicki Minaj rocketed to the top of the charts. One man mixed them both.

Elevate the clarity of your mixes with our indispensable guide.

Headphone mixing is becoming a core skill for everyone. We asked some of the biggest names in engineering how they get the best results.

Pro Tools' new Folder tracks make a neat alternative to Groups and VCAs.

We look at what you can do with Reason's new MIDI Out Rack device.

Making the most of Studio One's templates.

Mike Senior explores the subject of Haas delays at mixdown, explaining how they work, how to get the best out of them, and how to avoid the most common traps associated with them.

I want to get a subwoofer for mixing in my home studio, but I've no idea how much I need to spend to make it worthwhile...

Everyone is listening to music on headphones these days

Headphones are now the primary means by which music is consumed. Some say this makes it desirable to mix and master on phones, too...

Alex Ball has built a reputation as one of the most informative and interesting synth historians of the YouTube age. Rob Puricelli talks with him about his recent documentary on ARP.

He might not be a household name, but Steve Ouimette has made more people dance than anyone else on the planet!

No two Tame Impala albums sound the same — but they've all been driven by the same experimental ethos.

My confidence grew to the point that tackling surface-mounted components was not the horror I was led to believe...

Recent graduate Felipe Gutierrez chats to Steve Levine at his Liverpool studio about careers in the music industry, how to encourage good performances from your artists, and utilising whatever tech you have available in the recording process.