CATEGORIES

Mixing Night Audio: pro results with LOLS

Born out of their popular series of YouTube-based producer masterclasses, Mixing Night Audios quirky and innovative first releases have turned quite a few heads with both their gamified design and pro-level results. We catch up with the company’s respected founders to discuss LOLCOMP the underpinning idea, and how their technology serves to arm their audience

Germanic Monos + Bass

Were taking the autobahn back in time to tap the sound of those 1970s German pioneers. We'll throw in some deep bass for good measure. KUhI!

Native Instruments Guitar Rig Pro 7 £179

Native Instruments’ guitar rack modelling standard is updated with newly modelled amps and effects. Is it seventh heaven asks Andy Jones?

Phase distortion synthesis with BazilleCM

In the first of a new series exploring our CM Plugin Suite, we prove that phase distortion synthesis doesn't have to be perplexing, using the mighty BazilleCM

SIGN LIBRA

Fashioning a hypnotic sonic universe, which melds expressive vocalisations with lush use of software synthesisers, Latvian artist Sign Libra makes music quite unlike much we've heard before. We caught up with her to find out more about her journey in expressive music-making, and how she shapes her boundless galaxy of sound...

15 questions with...Aaron Horn

Stepping out of the shadow of his legendary father, Aaron Horn has charted a unique journey across the music industry. From collaborating with Doja Cat on the Grammy-nominated Woman, to being part of colourful pop trio Sam and the Womp, Aaron is also a keen explorer of the effects of music in a healing context...

PERFECT PIANO PRODUCTION

All pianos are the same, right? Wrong. There's a ton of variety in brands and models, and knowing your pianistic onions starts with the right instrument

ARMNHMR

First forming a kinship through a love of local raves, Joseph Chung and Joseph Abella's fusion of dubstep, trance and techno has found favour with millions of listeners globally. This year the pair, in their guise as ARMNHMR, released their debut album. We sat down for a natter with Abella to find out more...

IK Multimedia Pianoverse

IK's new instrument ecosphere promises to deliver pristine piano sounds. With the assistance of a robot or two... Does it tickle Andy Jones' ivories?

Mixing Night Audio LOLCOMP $149

Fancy introducing some colour back into your plugin life? This multi faceted processor could be just what you need

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?