Music Tech Magazine - 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.

Publish date: 16 October 2007

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Issue 56 of Music Tech Magazine is out now in newsagents throughout the UK.

In the issue…

Logic Studio - Full Review!
Apple has updated its pro-end DAW – and halved the price, too. We find out what’s new in the latest version.

Essential Virtual Instruments
Virtual Instruments have dramatically changed the way we make music, but what are the essential plug-ins we should all have and how do you go about getting the best from them?

Remixer’s Guide to Soundscapes
Even the best electronic productions can fall flat if they lack atmosphere, but there are ways of bringing a lacklustre mix to life. We show you what they are.

Reason 4 User Guide
Reason 4 is now with us – and it’s got some major new tricks up its sleeve…

Ten Minute Masters
Microphone Positioning: How a mic is placed can make a considerable difference to the sounds it captures. We look at the science behind the theory.
Limiting: In the ongoing quest for ever-increasing loudness, is a limiter always the
simplest and most effective solution? We explore the pros and cons.

This Month’s Workshops
Ableton Live 6
Live offers a number of ways of routing audio and effects, many of which can have an immediate and fundamental impact on your music. Jon Margulies explains all…
Pro Tools 7
Pro Tools’ import options are capable of dealing with far more than everyday audio and MIDI files. Mike Hillier delves deeper.
Cubase 4
If you’ve ever had to integrate samples or loops into your projects, you’ll know that tempo matching is one of Cubase’s great strengths. Hollin Jones keeps time…
ACID Pro 6
ACID Pro is renowned for its ability to manipulate and mangle loops, but it can also be put to good use for more traditional tracking tasks. Robert Correll takes notes…

Reviews

Among the latest hardware and software releases we check out this month are Apple’s MacBook Pro, Yamaha’s innovative Tenori-on, Humanoid Sound Systems' Scanned Synth Pro, Universal Audio’s DCS Remote Preamp, Mackie’s new Control Universal Pro and Thermionic Culture’s Earlybird 1.2.
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FREE Loopmasters samples CD worth £34.95 when you subscribe online

ON THE DVD

G2 Modular

Recorded and processed exclusively for Music Tech Magazine, G2 Modular draws on the sounds of Clavia’s Nord instruments, comprising strings, leads, pads and basses alongside some of the more unusual sweeping sounds the Nords excelled at. They’re presented in both 16- and 24-bit resolutions, with patches for Kontakt and NN-XT sequencers.

Metal and Rock Drums
Covering all the essential elements of rock and metal, Beta Monkey Music’s latest foray into these sweaty worlds are ideal foundations for your own compositions. Individual kit pieces such as cymbals and hi-hats are featured alongside double kick drums and full-kit fills, and there’s some seriously frenetic and furious action to be found in the Metal folder.

All the latest demos…
Audio Realism Drum Machine, Humanoid Sound Systems Scanned Synth Pro, Softube Vintage Amp Room, StarPlugs Rubicon, TriTone Digital ClassicTone and much 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 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.			Issue 54 Korg's new M3 reviewed. Expert tips and advice on how to use your sampler creatively, moving sessions between DAWs, and recording acoustic music. Cubase 4, ACID Pro 6, Ableton Live 6 and Pro Tools 7 Workshops.

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