Mark Cousins discloses some of the secrets of successful modern mastering in the first of a two-part guide. Grant Bridgeman describes how embarked on a project to turn a rundown outbuilding into a two-room studio.

Publish date: 15 December 2005

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In the issue

Before we get stuck into this month’s content, I would just like to urge you to help us make Music Tech better by taking part in our Reader Survey. Our aim is to provide you with the magazine that best fits your needs, and this is your chance to help shape it. No need to fill in a fiddly form, just click on the link below. It will only take a few minutes and you’ll automatically be entered into a draw to win £400 worth of Platinum Pro Samples from Zero-G and EastWest. Thanks for helping us out.

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So, what’s in this issue?

Like so many things, the field of audio mastering is subject to the tide of fashion, which means that what may have been a suitable approach one year won’t necessarily be suitable the next, in the same way that a mastering engineer will approach a hard-hitting dance track in a very different manner to a traditional jazz piece. This month Mark Cousins starts a two-part look at contemporary attitudes to mastering and the techniques used to achieve today’s sound.

Writing, recording, mixing and mastering your tracks is all well and good, but getting people to listen to them can be even more of a challenge. JoE Silva – host/producer of Just Off The Radar a weekly radio show – explains how podcasting can be used to market your songs to a wider audience.

One of the biggest advantages of a professional studio over a project studio is the acoustics in both the live and control rooms. Most project studios take up a spare room in a home or garage, which clearly aren’t designed with recording in mind. In an effort to improve the quality of his project studio environment Grant Bridgeman has converted a redundant outhouse into a two-room soundproof floating studio for less than £3,000. Learn how you could do the same in this month’s MTM.

Also in this issue we’ve got Ten Minute Masters describing the Basic Properties Of Sound and Latency, and Software Workshops on Cubase SX/SL3’s Embracer, the Beat Repeat function in Live 5 and Creative Sequencing in Logic Pro 7.

With the holiday season fast approaching we’ve reviewed 17 of the best products to put on your Christmas list, including an exclusive look at Native Instruments' new Guitar Rig 2 , and the definitive review of Access Music’s Virus TI synth and many more.

On the DVD

We’ve gathered together an amazing collection of sounds for you this month, with a total of over 1.5GB of royalty-free samples.

Viral Multi-Sample Collection
Driving bass sounds, enveloping pads and striking leads are the subject of this month’s exclusive royalty-free sample collection. Created for Music Tech Magazine by PinkNoise Studios the Viral Collection is perfect for spicing up your library with a taste of electro.

PowerFX Sample Collection
Sample library producer PowerFX has provided us with a royalty-free collection of samples from across its range, including more than 80 pre-sliced REX loops and a selection of loops from the company’s Apple Loops series.

Point Blank Sample Collection
The tireless tutors at London-based music college Point Blank have created a new sample CD stuffed with original loops and samples. The collection includes a variety of custom-made Battery 2 kits, MIDI drum patterns, REX loops and instrument samples.

Zero-G Nostalgia
Resurrecting the sound of four decades of electronic instruments, Nostalgia will give everyone a taste of their youth, from early modular analogue synths like the ARP 2600 and Moog Modular to 90s-era Casio keyboards and Speak And Spell toys. The coverdisc features 14 instruments from the sample library.

The latest demos
Including the new NI B4 II and VirSyn Cube 2 reviewed in the issue.

	Issue 66 This month’s cover feature explores the black art of recording electric guitar, focusing on the key areas of mic’ing, tracking and mixing. We also go deep inside Logic Pro in the first instalment of Logic Pro Tips & Tricks.			Issue 65 The art of remixing explored and how you might benefit from recording your band live. Reason 4, Pro Tools 7, Guitar Rig 3 and Cubase 4.1 workshops. Plus: the latest reviews and industry news.
	Issue 64 Get the most from your plug-ins folder, improve your workflow by optimising your Windows PC, and find out how spatial awareness affects our perception of sound. Plus: Cubase 4, Reason 4, Logic Pro 8 and Sonar 7 workshops.			Issue 63 Expert advice on mic'ing, tracking and mixing acoustic drums, how to get creative with glitch sequencing, and an insight into a studio stalwart - reverb. Five software workshops, industry news and more...
	Issue 62 Find out how to go beyond your synth’s presets and program your own unique sounds, explore the sometimes wacky world of sound design for film, and learn how to create authentic acid dub. Plus: five software Workshops and the latest reviews.			Issue 61 The lowdown on achieving better, more clearly defined mixes, up-to-the-minute advice on promoting your music, and how to bring a retro vibe to your productions. Kontakt 3, Ableton Live 7, Reason 4, Cubase 4 Workshops. Plus: all the latest reviews.
	Issue 60 Creative uses for distortion, spicing up your live laptop sets, making your own hip hop samples and Ten Minute Masters on contact mics and middle-and-side recording. Logic Pro 8, Cubase 4.1, Ableton Live 7 and Pro Tools 7 Workshops.			Issue 59 Professional mastering tricks and tips, how to re-create classic guitar tones, and what to look for if you’re planning to study for a music technology qualification. Reason 4, Logic Pro 8, Cubase 4.1 and Ableton Live 7 Workshops.

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