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May 2022 Magazine Contents

SOS (UK Edition) May 2022

Reviews: SSL The Bus+ compressor/EQ [front cover] • Apple Mac Studio computer • Apogee Symphony Desktop interface • Steinberg Cubase Pro 12 • Tascam Portacapture X8 portable recorder • Antelope Zen Q Synergy Core USB interface • Heavyocity Symphonic Destruction sample library • Dreadbox Nymphes analogue synth • Behringer BRAINS Eurorack • Rode NTH-100 headphones • GForce M-Tron MkII virtual instrument • Hazelrigg Industries VLC mic preamp • Tascam TM-82 mic • Enjoy Electronics Reminder delay • HH Electronics Tensor-GO PA • Pope Audio Dirty C chorus module • Small Venue Sound Systems buyer’s guide — and plenty more!

Techniques + People: Jochen Veith: Studio Design Pitfalls • Mike Plotnikoff: Recording Electric Guitar • Inside Track: Central Cee 'Straight Back To It' • Mixing Atmos: Stan Kybert • Morgan Geist • Talkback: Sea Change • How I Got That Sound: Poo Bear • DAW workshops: Studio One, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Reason — and plenty more!

Reviews

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    Alder Audio H44

    Ribbon Microphone

    Alder Audio’s debut ribbon mic is at once innovative, classy and highly affordable.

    Reviews
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    Algonaut Atlas 2

    Drum Machine & Sample Manager Software

    What do you get when you cross a drum machine with a librarian and a cartographer?

    Reviews
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    ALM/Busy Circuits Tyso Daiko: 14HP, +12V 70mA, -12V 35mA.

    ALM/Busy Circuits Tyso Daiko

    Eurorack Module

    ALM/Busy Circuits’ Tyso Daiko is a dual-voice 12-bit wavetable drum module that packs a punch.

    Reviews
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    Antelope Zen Q Synergy Core USB

    Desktop Audio Interface

    The Zen Q completes Antelope Audio’s impressive trio of desktop interfaces.

    Reviews
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    Apogee Symphony Desktop

    USB Audio Interface

    Apogee introduce their own take on the DSP‑powered audio interface.

    Reviews
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    Apple Mac Studio

    Desktop Computer

    Is Apple’s Mac Studio the perfect computer for the studio?

    Reviews
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    Arturia Efx Fragments plug-in.

    Arturia Efx Fragments

    Granular Effects Plug-in

    Efx Fragments is a granular effects processor that can create effects ranging from obvious glitchiness to ethereal ambiences.

    Reviews
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    Behringer BRAINS: 16HP, +12V 130mA, -12V 10mA.

    Behringer BRAINS

    Eurorack Module

    After recreating the Moog modular, Roland System 100M and ARP 2500 modules in Eurorack form, Behringer decided to tackle something more modern in the shape of a multi-engine digital oscillator module.

    Reviews
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    Best Service Forest Kingdom 3

    Best Service Engine 2

    Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Forest Kingdom 3 offers top‑quality sound design from someone who has obvious passion and real expertise in his field.

    Reviews
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    Dreadbox Nymphes

    Analogue Synthesizer

    Dreadbox are on form with an instrument that packs a lot of synth into a very small box.

    Reviews
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    DynaMount X2-R

    Remote Controlled Mic Positioner

    Tired of running back and forth between the control room and live room? Meet your new robotic assistant...

    Reviews
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    Enjoy Electronics Reminder

    Digital Delay Effect

    Enjoy Electronics combine past and present in this intriguing quadraphonic digital delay.

    Reviews
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    Foxgear T7E Baby Delay Pedal

    4 Heads Vintage Italian Echo Unit

    Having already emulated the Echoplex tape delay, Foxgear set their sights on the Binson Echorec.

    Reviews
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    GForce M-Tron MkII

    Software Instrument

    Veteran software Mellotron specialists GForce have recreated the sounds of the earliest models with startling accuracy.

    Reviews
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    Hazelrigg Industries VLC

    Mic Preamp & EQ

    This versatile input channel gives you the classic sound of tubes, transformers and inductors.

    Reviews
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    Heavyocity Symphonic Destruction

    Sample Library

    Heavyocity take a creative wrecking ball to the orchestra.

    Reviews
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    HH Electronics Tensor‑GO

    Compact Line Array

    With its built‑in mixer and the option of battery operation, the HH Tensor‑GO offers a versatile solution for reproducing high‑quality live sound both on and off the grid.

    Reviews
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    JMG Sound Mirror

    Reverse Effects Plug-in

    Mirror creates reversed delay/reverb effects that come before the note...

    Reviews
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    Lunatic Audio Narcotic

    Effects Plug-in

    With its intoxicating amount of modulation options, this creative effects plug‑in could become rather addictive!

    Reviews
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    Maestro Original Collection

    Guitar Pedals

    Gibson breathe new life into a fondly remembered vintage pedal marque.

    Reviews
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    OWC miniStack STX

    Thunderbolt/USB Hub & Storage Expansion

    This clever storage and expansion solution is intended as the perfect companion to a Mac Mini.

    Reviews
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    Pope Audio Dirty C

    500-series Chorus Module

    Based on the chorus section of Roland’s classic RE‑501, this isn’t your average 500‑series module!

    Reviews
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    Rode NTH-100

    Closed-back Headphones

    Rode’s innovative new cans bring fresh thinking to the world of headphone design.

    Reviews
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    Sample Logic Empyreal Atmosphere Designer

    Software Instrument

    Sample Logic deliver a flexible pad, soundscape and atmosphere designer with a powerful DIY twist.

    Reviews
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    Sampleson Reed106 Electric Piano

    Virtual Instrument

    Sampleson’s modelled Wurlitzer ticks all the right electric piano boxes.

    Reviews
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    Solid State Logic The Bus+

    Dual-channel VCA Compressor & Dynamic EQ

    A stunning overhaul of SSL’s bus compressor, the Bus+ goes much further than most imitators without sophistication undermining ease of use.

    Reviews
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    Steinberg Cubase Pro 12

    Music Production Software

    Cubase gains new features and dispenses with the dongle.

    Reviews
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    Tascam Portacapture X8

    Portable Multitrack Recorder

    With 32‑bit recording, multiple mic inputs and a smartphone‑style touchscreen interface, Tascam’s top‑of‑the‑range recorder is brimming with potential.

    Reviews
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    Tascam TM-82

    Dynamic Stage Microphone

    Tascam’s new stage mic offers remarkable bang for your buck!

    Reviews
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    UJAM Symphonic Elements Drums

    Virtual Instrument

    Hans Zimmer’s drum collection doesn’t disappoint.

    Reviews
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    Vienna Symphonic Library Big Bang Orchestra: Altair

    VSL Synchron Player

    Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. The library focuses on three essential playing styles: long and short notes, and an emphatic marcato delivery with a pronounced attack leading to a looped sustain, great for big histrionic stabs and dramatic final chords.

    Reviews
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    Wrong Tools Torus

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. This new library presents gongs in the format of a Kontakt instrument, laced with interesting colour and effects.

    Reviews
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    Zero-G Ethera Gold Atlantis

    Kontakt Instrument

    Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Featuring the exceptional voice of Clara Sorace to offer both playable vocal notes and complete phrases, this library offers a haunted Celtic quality to the sounds.

    Reviews

Techniques

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    How I Got That Sound: Poo Bear

    Justin Bieber ‘Habitual’

    Poo Bear, the American two‑time Grammy Award‑nominated songwriter, producer and principal collaborator of pop megastar Justin Bieber, chooses his own favourite vocal on a track from Bieber’s Changes album.

    Techniques
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    Inside Track: Central Cee 'Straight Back To It'

    Secrets Of The Mix Engineeers: Sean Donoghue

    Central Cee has taken drill music to the top of the UK album charts, thanks to some very fast work from mix engineer Sean Donoghue.

    Techniques
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    Logic Pro Key Commands

    Apple Logic Pro Tips & Techniques

    Key commands can place even the most obscure Logic Pro features at your fingertips!

    Techniques
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    Mike Plotnikoff: How To Record Electric Guitars

    The Guitar Man

    One of the world’s leading engineers specialising in rock music, Mike Plotnikoff is renowned for his guitar sounds. The secret? Find the right amp and keep it simple.

    Techniques
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    Mixing Atmos: Stan Kybert

    Specialising In Immersive Music

    Taking a chance on immersive music has paid off handsomely for producer Stan Kybert, who has reinvented himself as one of the UK’s busiest Atmos mixers.

    Techniques
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    Pro Tools: Editing With The Smart Tool

    Avid Pro Tools Tips & Techniques

    The Smart Tool might be smarter than you knew!

    Techniques
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    Reason: Creating Custom GUIs

    Reason Tips & Techniques

    Create your own custom GUIs in the new Combinator.

    Techniques
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    Eddie Bazil - Production Engineer

    Sound Design Using Filters | Podcast

    Six Creative Techniques

    Eddie Bazil gives six sound design tips, using various plug-in filters to create unique instrument sounds and to add interest and movement to mixes.

    Techniques
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    Studio Design Pitfalls

    Jochen Veith: Things People Don’t Think About When Planning A Studio

    One of the most in‑demand studio designers in the world explains why there’s more to building a studio than getting the acoustics right. Much, much more...

    Techniques
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    Studio One: Let's Talk MIDI

    PreSonus Studio One Tips & Techniques

    We show you how to get PreSonus' Studio One DAW talking to your MIDI gear.

    Techniques

Sound Advice

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    Open Mic PA

    Small Venue Sound Systems: A Buyer’s Guide

    Looking to start a new live music night? We tell you what you’ll need and how to use it.

    Sound Advice
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    Q. Is my tweeter broken?

    I’m finding that the tweeter in one of my monitors is intermittent. Is the tweeter broken or could something else be going on here?

    Sound Advice
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    Q. What is negative feedback?

    I keep reading about the use of ‘negative feedback’ to reduce distortion in audio gear. How does this work and how effective is it?

    Sound Advice

People

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    Hannah Peel Electronic Music Composer

    Hannah Peel - Sonic Journey | Podcast

    From LIPA To Game Of Thrones

    Hannah Peel, composer, producer and broadcaster, talks to Caro C about her solo record career, including the shortlisted 2021 Mercury Music Prize electronic album, scoring music for Game Of Thrones and her many other diverse projects.

    People
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    Scanner (aka Robin Rimbaud)

    Modular Profile: Scanner

    Robin Rimbaud: Contemporary Electronic & Experimental Music

    A widely lauded innovator in the world of contemporary electronic and experimental music, British artist Robin Rimbaud, aka Scanner, has been creating music and works of sonic art for the best part of 40 years.

    People
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    Morgan Geist

    Producer / Remixer / DJ

    Enigmatic New York producer Morgan Geist began making techno in his ’90s college dorm before a remix turned his life upside down.

    People
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    Nervous Squirrel: Incredible DIY Modular Synth

    VIDEO FEATURE

    David Cranmer, aka Nervous Squirrel, builds amazing musical instruments, including alpaca sound systems, a Theremin in a badger and one of the biggest modular synthesizers in the world. Here he explains how anyone can master the skills needed to build your own modules.

    People
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    Sam Inglis, SOS Editor In Chief.

    Second Fiddle

    Leader

    During his lifetime, Antonius Stradivarius made around 2000 instruments, but dying gave his productivity a real boost...

    People
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    Talkback: Sea Change

    Norwegian Producer & Singer Ellen AW Sunde

    Sea Change is the moniker of Norwegian producer and singer Ellen AW Sunde, whose ethereal music borrows from club culture as much as it does from ambient and experimental soundscapes.

    People
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    Why I Love... Handheld Recorders

    Michael Denny

    Modern, computer‑based music technology has revolutionised home production. For all the positives, though, one downside...

    People
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