Music Tech Magazine - Issue 50

How to improve your mixing and EQ'ing techniques, stereo mic'ing explained, and making better drum'n'bass tracks. Cubase 4, FL Studio 7, Pro Tools 7 and Ableton Live 6 Workshops. All the latest product reviews, plus news from Musikmesse 2007.

Publish date: 19 April 2007

Click here to buy this issue.

Issue 50 of Music Tech Magazine is out now in newsagents throughout the UK.

In the issue…

Mixing and Equalisation
Good equalisation can transform your mixes, creating improved separation and a more effective overall sound. Mark Cousins tunes in to the right frequency…

Stereo Mic’ing Techniques
Achieving a perfect stereo recording each and every time takes more than a couple of mics and some educated guesswork… George Shilling reveals the secrets of the pros.

D’n’B Beats and Bass Lines
Banging beats and bass lines are fundamental to any drum‘n’bass production. Hollin Jones explains how you too can get in on the act…

Ten Minute Masters
Studio Cables: Every signal path is only as good as its weakest link – and in this respect, cabling is often the most regular offender. Grant Bridgeman finds the path of least resistance…
From vintage Mellotrons to the explosion of digital recording technology, the sampler has had a profound impact on music production. Mark Cousins gets a slice of the action…

This Month’s Workshops
Cubase 4
Music to picture isn’t the only trick that Cubase 4 can do with video, as Hollin Jones finds out when he explores recording foley…
FL Studio 7
Matching your loops to tracks with different tempos needn’t be a time-consuming task. We show you how it’s done with the Fruity Slicer.
Live 6
More than just glorified instrument and effects groups, racks enable you to combine and create new sounds. Jon Margulies explains.
Pro Tools 7
Making use of Digidesgn’s latest plug-in tools will help to keep your mixes in check. Mike Hillier gets in phase.

Reviews
Among the latest hardware and software releases we check out this month are Roland’s MV-8800, XLN Audio’s Addictive Drums, Akai’s MPC500, E-mu’s 0404 USB, M-Audio’s NRV10 and Rupert Neve Designs' Portico 5016.

FREE Ten Minute Masters book worth £9.99 when you subscribe online

ON THE DVD

Chromatic Instruments

This month’s exclusive samples explore some of the instruments that don’t often make an appearance in mainstream music, but have nonetheless made important contributions both as instruments in their own right and for the sounds they have lent to particular productions. From tubular bells to marimbas and vibes, these sounds are suitable for anything from ethno to electronica. Supplied in .WAV, NN-XT and Kontakt formats.

Bass, Drums & Keys
If your interests lie in finding new and experimental sounds for your compositions, take a look at this innovative collection of bass, drum and synth samples from Prokits. Spanning a huge range of potential applications, the individual samples are presented in Kontakt and .WAV formats, many including custom Kontakt scripts that enable you to tailor the sounds.

Electronic Dance Rhythms
Squelchy, phat and pounding beats are an essential component of any dance track, and this selection of loops from Equinox Sounds certainly satisfies this criteria. Presented in .WAV, REX2 and Apple Loops formats, they cover a variety of styles at suitably fast tempos, offering electronica enthusiasts a solid foundation on which to build their own compositions.

All the latest demos…
XLN Audio Addictive Drums, Rob Papen Predator, IK Multimedia Classik Studio Reverb, Blue Cat Audio FreqAnalyst Pro, Aixcoustic Electri-Q and more…

Recent issues...

	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.
	Issue 58 Find out how you can spice up your mix with the creative application of effects such as ring modulation and vocoding. How to successfully record a singer-songwriter, and a remixer’s guide to vocal production. Plus: Ableton Live 7 - FULL REVIEW!			Issue 57 How a new breed of producers are using their laptops, the low-down on remixing drums, and pro tips for revitalising your samples. Reason 4, Ableton Live 6, Logic Pro 8, Sonar 6 and Cubase 4 Workshops.
	Issue 56 Choosing and using virtual instruments, User's Guide to Reason 4, and how to bring a lacklustre mix to life. Ableton Live 6, Pro Tools 7, Cubase 4 and ACID Pro 6 Workshops. Plus: Logic Studio and Yamaha's Tenori-on reviewed.			Issue 55 The latest version of Reason exclusively reviewed. How to create convincing brass arrangements using samples, remixing electro bass, and the potential pitfalls of moving your soft studio explained. Plus: five software Workshops.