CATEGORIES
Kategorier
D16 Drumazon 2
16 years after the original came out, version 2 is here. But does Andy Jones really need yet another 909 drum machine emulator?
Using inserts vs auxiliaries
Inserts and auxiliaries provide different ways to process audio, and this month, we'll demonstrate how you can use them
Make a Clavinet soundalike
Our trusty CM Plugin Suite fave, ZebraCM, is never afraid to show its versatile stripes, but this month, it displays more than a hint of funk...
CLASSIC SOUND DESIGN
The history of sound design is littered with synth and sampling techniques that could transform your sound.
Musik Hack on refining UI design with Master Plan
Tackling the scourge of over-complex plugin design whilst retaining the ability to mould your track to perfection, Musik Hack's Master Plan is a most impressive addition to our mastering toolkit. We spoke to co-founder Sam Fischmann about Master Plan and his personal concerns regarding oversampling....
ABLETON LIVE 12 THE HANDS-ON GUIDE
We've had access to Live 12 for a while, and now the news of its release is official. Here's what's new and our early take!
TONE2 ICARUS 1.6
Our top-drawer giveaways reach something of a pinnacle this month as we bring a fabulous full-fat freebie from Tone2...
15 questions with...Galen Tipton
Galen Tipton’s wildly imaginative approach to electronic music treats sound like silly putty. We find out how MPE, spectral plugins and AI speech-enhancement software shaped the mind-boggling brain scratch
15 questions with...Shida Shahabi
With a stripped-back production process but a heavyweight sound that mixes electronic processing and classical textures, Shida Shahabi is claiming her own calm space in music. It's an approach that means largely ignoring outside influences, 'best practice' and orthodox methods. Perhaps it's an ethos we can all learn from...
D16 Lush 2
One of the most hotly-anticipated softsynths of a decade ago gets an update. But after ten years, is D16's Lush 2 still relevant in 2023? Oh yes
Cherry Audio Novachord + Solovox
It doesn't get much more vintage than Cherry Audio's latest, as virtual valves are warmed up, and two legacy synths unite in one package
Toontrack EZKeys 2
We can all use a little pianistic virtuosity in our productions, and Toontrack's much-anticipated update keeps you right on the EZ track
Brainworx AMEK Mastering Compressor
If it transpired that God's own compressor was the basis of Brainworx' latest AMEK-branded plugin, we wouldn't be surprised
CHRIS LAKE
Landing in the UK still buzzing from an extraordinary Coachella set, and the recent release of the pumping, Aluna-guesting Beggin', we seized the rare opportunity to speak with DJ and modern house titan Chris Lake, and find out more about his epic 20+ year journey as a music-maker, his label Black Book Recordings and get his viewpoint on the industry's latest innovations...
De-essing vocal tracks
Unresolved sibilance can cause problems later. Here are various ways to get it sorted in a snap
Creating an ethereal glass pad
If you need a pad that shimmers but doesn't get in the way of your mix, the ZebraCM is on hand, and it's sounding ethereal!
DAACI: More than an AI composer
DAACI is an innovative new 'meta-composition' tool that its creators say will revolutionise producer workflows across the board. But unlike other models, they claim, this one will put human beings right back at the centre. We found out more...
MASTERING IN THE BOX
Budget won't stretch to a trip to a mastering engineer? Or fancy some DIY? Get started here...
Nektar Aruba £255 PC MAC
Sprucing up its MIDI drum controller with a raft of new features, Aruba offers a slick new way of performing your software drum instruments
Baby Audio BA-1 $99 PC MAC
Baby Audio has set the effects world on fire with a string of top releases. Can it do the same for synths with its first instrument plugin?
AIR Music Tech: AIR Delay Pro £50 PC MAC
Not your everyday delay. AIR Delay Pro brings bundles of otherworldly Shaping options to the table, and serves up a hat-trick of unique additions
Spitfire Audio PC MAC - British Drama Toolkit: Brass and Reeds £169
Whether youre scoring a film or scouting for evocative textures, Spitfire has a dramatic new proposition to capture your imagination
Sonora Cinematic Verticale €49 PC MAC
Creating the perfect felted upright piano takes time, perseverance and four layers of vertical felt!
Erica Synths Zen Delay Virtual £155 PC MAC
Modelled on 2019's hardware delay, the virtual incarnation of the knob-packed atmosphere-carver surpasses its parent in more ways than one
Toneworks Catalyst €79 PC MAC
Bored of programming via the piano roll? Try jazzing up your riffs with this inventive step sequencer that can host VST instruments
DJANGO DJANGO
Reborn with a new retro house-inspired sound, Django Django's new double-album Off Planet is a flurry of hypersonic colours and energy. We spoke to the band's cofounder David Maclean about the record's influences, tech and evolution....
Punchy commercial-sounding bass
Recreating the impactful bass sound of commercial hits like Jax Jones' Whistle needn't be difficult. Let's learn how...
Classic sounds & vintage techniques FOR THE 21ST CENTURY PRODUCER
Classic music production techniques and gear can breathe life and humanity into your digital productions. And it’s cheaper than you might think. In this feature, we’re going to look at some of the finest vintage plugins out there, and learn how to get revered sounds for free with the Plugin Suite
Cherry Audio: Waking the titans
Founded in 2018, Cherry Audio has become one of the most beloved softsynth creators, recreating yesterday’s legends virtually. We spoke to CTO Dan Goldstein to find out more about the company’s latest release: Novachord + Solovox
App watch
We report on the latest developments in phone and tablet music making