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Recording, mixing, mastering and general music production features

MTM 62	Making Acid Dub Tracks Acid dub may not enjoy the exposure afforded by commercial radio, but it’s a growing underground genre that’s ideally suited to small-studio production. Hollin Jones explains.	MTM 62	Cubase 4 Workshop - Built-in Instruments You may have overlooked them, but the latest version of Cubase ships with some seriously useful sound-generating machines. Hollin Jones dives in...
MTM 62	10MM128 Loudness demystified Commercial recordings have undoubtedly got ‘hotter’ in recent years, but why does one recording sound louder than another? Mark Cousins seeks an explanation...	MTM 62	Sound Design For Film Designing sound for film can take you down some sonic paths you might have thought were best left unexplored. Simon Gershon takes you on a tour of his larder.
MTM 62	10MM127 DI Boxes A DI box can be your saviour during a problematic gig or recording session. Grant Bridgeman sizes them up...	MTM 62	Synthesis Essentials Fully understanding the signal path and features of your synthesizer will unlock a plethora of new, unexplored sounds. Mark Cousins throws away the presets...
MTM 59	Cubase 4.1 Workshop: Using the Sample Editor Redesigned for more logical, efficient workflow, the Sample editor is a vital aspect of editing audio in Cubase 4.1. Hollin Jones finds out what it has to offer...	MTM 59	10MM 122 Preamps Used on a daily basis in studios around the world, the mic preamp is a vital link in the recording chain. Mark Cousins amps it up.
MTM 59	Guitar Thief! The guitar has dominated many musical genres for years, from jazz and acoustic to full-on heavy metal and rock. Merrick Angle considers how to duplicate the core guitar sounds in the studio with a combination of hardware and plug-ins.	MTM 59	10MM 121 The Mellotron The future of sampling may be digital, but with the revival of the Mellotron, tape sampling is back. Grant Bridgeman revisits an iconic instrument.
MTM 59	Choosing a Music Tech Course Whatever aspect of technical music-making demands your attention, there is a college course out there for you. Steven Gurevitz goes back to school to assess the options...	MTM 59	Mastering Solutions Why settle for simple plug-in presets when you can take real control over the process of mastering? Mark Cousins reveals some tricks of the trade...
MTM 58	10MM120 Wah-wah Loved by generations of guitarists, the wah-wah pedal has a voice all of its own. Mark Cousins is speechless...	MTM 58	Recording a Singer/Songwriter There’s more to recording a singer/songwriter than standard studio setups and production-line techniques. Merrick Angle discusses how to get the most out of the process, from appreciating musical influences to correct tuning and creative mic’ing.
MTM 58	Pro Tools 7 Workshop: Using Structure Free The Free version of Digidesign’s Structure plug-in brings powerful sampling capabilities to all Pro Tools users. Mike Hillier is your guide...	MTM 58	10MM119: Boundary Layer Microphones Also known as PZM microphones, boundary mics offer a number of benefits over more conventional designs in some recording scenarios. Grant Bridgeman remains unphased...
MTM 58	Special Effects Exploring treatments such as ring modulation and vocoding could transform your mix in ways you never thought possible. Mark Cousins shows you how...	MTM 58	Remixer's Guide to Vocal Production While editing a full vocal for remixing can appear daunting, Mo Volans explains how being armed with the right techniques can help make your productions really shine.
MTM 57	10MM 118 Mixer Routing Mixers come in all shapes and sizes, but their common task is to route audio. Mark Cousins finds his destination...	MTM 57	Revitalise Your Samples If you’re tired of your samples and yearning for something fresh, help may be closer to hand than you think. Hollin Jones breathes new life into your samples collection...
MTM 57	Logic Pro 8 Workshop Delay Designer Delay Designer is just one of several new plug-ins to be explored in Logic Studio. Mark Cousins shows you how to master its unique delay-based effects.	MTM 57	Remixer's Guide to Drum Production There are a number of drum-production techniques that can help bring your dance beats up to speed. Mo Volans explains...
MTM 57	Reason 4 Workshop Automation Automation is a great way to add depth and life to your tracks – and Reason 4 approaches it a whole new way. Hollin Jones explains all...	MTM 57	10MM 117 Surround Sound Microphones Surround recording is becoming increasingly popular, but what are the essential techniques behind it? Grant Bridgeman reveals all... enveloped...
MTM 57	Laptop Producer The laptop computer has finally evolved into a serious alternative to desktop-based audio production systems. Mark Cousins explains how a new breed of musicians are using their laptops...	MTM 56	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? Mark Cousins explores virtual reality...
MTM 56	10MM116 Limiting In the ongoing quest for ever-increasing loudness, is a limiter always the simplest and most effective solution? Mark Cousins takes it to the limit...	MTM 56	Live 6 Workshop Performance Routing Tricks 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...
MTM 56	10MM 115 Mic Positioning How a mic is placed can make a great difference to the sounds it captures. Grant Bridgeman takes a stand...	MTM 56	Cubase 4 Workshop Tempo Matching 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...
MTM 56	Reason 4 User Guide Reason 4 is now with us – and it’s got some major new tricks up its sleeve. Hollin Jones is your tour guide...	MTM 56	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. Mo Volans explains...
MTM 55	10MM113 Modulation with Envelopes Envelopes are a common function in synthesis, yet we often don’t utilise their capabilities to the full. Grant Bridgeman delves into the most dynamic of modulators.	MTM 55	Cubase 4 Workshop Better Podcasting The podcasting revolution has made it easy to broadcast your own shows and music to the world. Hollin Jones shows you how to do it in Cubase...
MTM 55	Arranging with Brass Samples Using brass samples in your music can create expression and power that goes way beyond what can be achieved with strings or woodwind instruments alone. Mark Cousins polishes his brass...	MTM 55	Sonar 6 Workshop Working with Video Pt1 Version 6 of Cakewalk’s Sonar has dedicated tools that make working with video easier and more intuitive than ever. Brian Smithers has the big picture...
MTM 55	10MM114 Audio Interfacing Getting audio in and out of a computer can be achieved in a multitude of ways. Mark Cousins examines your options...	MTM 55	Moving Your Soft Studio With all the different license-management technologies used by pro audio developers, upgrading, repairing or replacing computers can be a veritable minefield. Hollin Jones brings you the low-down on the state of play...
MTM 55	Remixer's Guide to Electro Bass Good bass technique has always been important in dance music, but with the rebirth of electro, extra voltage is essential. Mo Volans digs deep...	MTM 55	Reason 3.0 Workshop Digital Delay Digital delay is a versatile effect that can be used to achieve anything from subtle mix blending to outrageous dub effects. Hollin Jones shows you how...
MTM 54	Recording Acoustic Music As the folk act Show Of Hands proves, not having access to the latest gear isn’t an obstacle to success. Mark Brend talks to SOH’s Phil Beer.	MTM 54	Moving Sessions Between DAWs Using just one platform or sequencer can restrict your creative possibilities. Hollin Jones shows you how to jump between apps.
MTM 54	10MM112 Chorus, Flange & Phase When it comes to thickening up sounds or finding ear-pleasing effects, few can resist the temptations of chorus, flanging and phasing. Mark Cousins takes the treatment...	MTM 54	10MM111_Audio_Connectors Unless you work purely in the software domain, your various bits of audio gear will somehow need linking together. Grant Bridgeman plugs in...
MTM 54	Sony Acid Pro Workshop Mixing In 6D Creating a sense of depth and width in a stereo mix is easily achieved if you can adapt to a new way of thinking. Robert Correll takes six...	MTM 54	Sampling Success Today's software samplers are capable of far more than many recording musicians realise. Mark Cousins gets creative...
MTM 53	10MM109 Harmonics, overtones and pitch are fundamental terms in synthesis, but what exactly do they mean? Grant Bridgeman explores a partially daunting subject...	MTM 53	Mixing It With Analogue Summing Moving out of the digital domain when it comes to the final mix is an increasingly common practice. Mark Cousins investigates why...
MTM 52	10MM108 The Channel Strip All mixers feature a channel strip, but how do their various controls integrate into the recording and mixing processes? Mark Cousins channels his energies...	MTM 52	Pioneering Instruments The electronic instruments we are so familiar with today evolved from the ideas of a few visionary pioneers. Mark Brend goes back in time...
MTM 52	Trip Hop Keyboards Creating authentic trip hop productions almost always entails the use of a vintage keyboard or two. Hollin Jones details your options...	MTM 52	Pro Tools 7 Workshop Using Automation In addition to making a mix easier to manage, automation can be used to create some interesting effects. Mike Hillier rides the faders...
MTM 52	Secrets of Compression The compressor has become a studio stalwart, but all too often its true capabilities are overlooked. Mark Cousins is on the level...	MTM 53	Preamp Technology There’s a great deal of myth and mystery surrounding microphone preamps, as well as the ongoing debate about valves versus transistors. Huw Price gets technical...
MTM 53	Dub Essentials Nothing says summer like heavy, laid-back dub sounds. Hollin Jones explains the essentials of building and producing dub, and shows you some tricks of the trade...	MTM 51	Cable Maintenance Cable failure and poor connections can make life in the studio very frustrating, but maintaining and repairing them is relatively easy. Grant Bridgeman gets out his iron...
MTM 51	Backtrack Spoon - Everything Hits At Once	MTM 51	10MM106 EQ Curves If you know how to interpret the curve of an equalizer, you’ll have a better grasp of its musicality and usefulness in music production. Mark Cousins gets equal…
MTM 51	Logic Pro 7 Workshop Using the EVD6 Logic Pro’s EVD6 faithfully re-creates the sound of the Hohner Clavinet, but how do you go about producing a suitably vintage performance? Mark Cousins shows you how to get funky...	MTM 51	Media Music Composing music-to-picture is an increasingly popular way to earn a living and it’s open to all producers, even those on a budget. Hollin Jones show you how it’s done.
MTM 51	Sonar 6 Workshop MIDI Production Sonar 6 boasts more powerful MIDI functionality than any previous incarnation. Brian Smithers shows you how to maximise its talents.	MTM 51	10MM105 Noise Reduction Systems Cleaning up a noisy recording is now a task that can be easily accomplished with the right software and a good ear. Grant Bridgeman investigates the art of digital noise reduction...
MTM 51	Plug-in Power Plug-ins are vital tools for recording and mixing, but are you making the most of the ones you have? Mark Cousins gets effected...	MTM 53	Reason 3.0 Workshop Advanced Dr.Rex REX loops are a great tool for producing music in Reason, but there’s more to the Dr.Rex player than meets the eye. Hollin Jones explains all...
MTM 50	FL Studio 7 Workshop Matching your loops to tracks with different tempos needn’t be a time-consuming task. Hollin Jones shows you how it’s done with the Fruity Slicer.	MTM 50	10MM103 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...
MTM 50	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.	MTM 50	Cubase 4 Workshop Mastering Foley 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...
MTM 50	Mixing & Equalisation Good equalisation can transform your mixes, creating improved separation and a more effective overall sound. Mark Cousins tunes in to the right frequency...	MTM 50	10MM104 The History of Sampling 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...
MTM 50	Live 6 Workshop Using Racks More than just glorified instrument and effects groups, racks enable you to combine and create new sounds. Jon Margulies explains.	MTM 50	Drum'n'Bass Beats & 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...
MTM 51	Cubase 4 Workshop: Using Free VST Synths You don’t need to spend a fortune to use lots of synths in Cubase – in fact, it doesn’t have to cost you a penny... Hollin Jones shows you how to make music on a budget.	MTM 49	Back Track JoE Silva gets the lowdown on 11 hectic hours at Ocean Way Studios’ Nashville branch.
MTM 49	Logic Pro 7 Workshop EXS24 Data Management Effectively managing your EXS24 files will not only improve your system’s efficiency, but also your creativity. Mark Cousins delves into his hard drive...	MTM 49	Creative Synthesis Creating original sounds that are exclusive to you means going beyond your synth’s bank of presets. Mark Cousins shows you how to achieve sonic individuality.
MTM 49	10MM101 Audio Editing Unless you’re a one-take wonder, audio editing will be an inevitable part of your recording process. Mark Cousins gets his scissors out...	MTM 49	Build A Bass Trap For Less Than £50 If you’re encountering problems with the bass end of your mixes, you might need to sort out your studio’s acoustics. Petra Jones takes the DIY approach.
MTM 49	Reason 3.0 Workshop Better Bass Lines You don’t need to be a virtuoso player to program great bass lines in Reason. With a little help from the Matrix, Hollin Jones shows you how...	MTM 49	10MM102 1-Bit Recording Bit depths have been steadily increasing for the past 10 years or more, but now 1-bit recording has reared its head. Grant Bridgeman explores the benefits of progress...
MTM 49	Q&A	MTM 48	Backtrack JoE Silva finds out how rock’s biggest duo crafted the sound for their fifth studio LP.
MTM 48	10MM100 Electric Pianos From the silky Fender Rhodes to the rock‘n’roll Wurlitzer, the electric piano has become a cornerstone of contemporary music. Mark Cousins tickles the ivories...	MTM 48	Monitoring Psychology There are many reasons why a mix might not transport well to other systems – and it’s down to a lot more than just the monitors...
MTM 48	Programming Hip Hop Beats Creating your own beats rather than resorting to samples or presets is both rewarding and legal. Hollin Jones shows you how.	MTM 48	Location Recording Using alternative venues offers an exciting new way of tackling the process of recording. Mark Cousins goes mobile, and explains how to get the best results...
MTM 47	Arranging With Sampled Strings String samples have improved significantly, but piecing them together remains something of an art. Mark Cousins explains.	MTM 47	10MM98 Distributed Audio Processing A problem shared is a problem halved, but is distributed audio processing an essential requirement of today’s studio setup? Mark Cousins finds out...
MTM 47	10MM97 Portable Recorders Laptops may well be portable, but an all-in-one hardware recorder can offer a much more compact alternative. Grant Bridgeman downsizes...	MTM 47	Cubase 4 Workshop Mastering MediaBay Part 2 If you’re tired of searching through vast samples collections, help is at hand in the form of Cubase 4’s MediaBay. Hollin Jones gets his samples sorted...
MTM 47	21st Century Beats Creating rhythm tracks has never been simpler, but it’s easy to lose any sense of originality unless you have a few tricks up your sleeve. Mark Cousins explains.	MTM 47	The Evolving Art of the DJ The traditional DJ setup of two turntables and a mixer is increasingly being replaced by CD decks and software sequencers. JoE Silva charts the changes...
MTM 49	Vista For Musicians With the release of Microsoft’s new operating system comes a raft of issues pertinent to the recording musician. Hollin Jones lifts the lid on the new OS.	MTM 46	The Cure Last Dance JoE Silva sounds out keyboard veteran Roger O’Donnell.
MTM 46	10MM96 MP3 Compression Downloadable mp3s are the immediate future for the music industry, but how does its lossy compression affect what we hear? Grant Bridgeman listens carefully.	MTM 46	Online Music Production Services If you find yourself facing a task you’re unable to tackle in your studio, turn to the internet for help. Mike Hillier goes in search of specialist services on the web.
MTM 46	Ableton Live 6 Workshop Using Scenes Breathe new life into your performances by mixing and matching elements from your existing sets. Ken Hikaru sets the Scene...	MTM 46	Recording A Live Album Successfully capturing the raw power of a live gig is no mean feat, but a little know-how will help you get the best results. Huw Price explains how it’s done.
MTM 46	10MM95 Data Management As our hard drives continue to swell, data management will become even more important to our working practices. Mark Cousins takes control of his megabytes...	MTM 46	Cubase 4 Workshop MediaBay Part 1 Managing ever-growing collections of samples and presets can be a real headache, but Cubase 4’s MediaBay takes much of the pain out of the process. Hollin Jones has the lowdown...
MTM 46	Mastering: The Quest For Loudness In an effort to make your music louder, what are the realistic ways of making your masters stand out from the crowd? Mark Cousins explains the art of loudness...	MTM 44	Metadata You might be unfamiliar with the concept of metadata, but every digital audio file you create or play has the capacity to hold and utilise it. Grant Bridgeman passes on the information...
MTM 45	Neko Case Hold On Hold On JoE Silva explores the making of the country siren’s latest release...	MTM 45	Reason 3.0 Workshop Creating A Surround Mix It is perfectly feasible to mix a track in 5.1 surround using Reason alone. Hollin Jones shows you how it’s done...
MTM 45	Mic Restoration and Modification Vintage mics are like classic cars – eventually they all need restoration. Fortunately, though, you can do much of the work yourself. Huw Price spruces up an eBay bargain.	MTM 45	System Optimisation Computers have changed the way we make music, but they’re not perfect yet. Hollin Jones shows you some pro tricks for getting maximum performance out of your system.
MTM 44	Perfect Harmony Take your tunes to the next level by introducing a harmony part or two. Keith Gemmell explains how to score harmonies for vocals, horns or strings.	MTM 44	Creative Signal Abuse Who needs outboard processing when you can have just as much fun running audio through a synthesizer? Mark Cousins gets dark and dirty with his synth...
MTM 44	The Hammond Organ The sound of the Hammond Organ continues to fascinate and delight musicians playing many different styles of music. Mark Cousins finds out what makes the Hammond tick...	MTM 44	Fresh Grooves Maintaining your audience’s interest is much easier if your beats don’t become monotonous or dull. Ken Hikaru keeps it different...
MTM 44	Vocal Recording In modern pop music – as well as many other styles – the lead vocal is generally the most important element. George Shilling sings out...	MTM 43	10MM90 Earth Loops Electrical noise can be one of the most frustrating problems encountered by the project studio engineer – and a tricky one to fix. Grant Bridgeman goes to ground...
MTM 43	Ribbon Mic Technology The first microphones that were able to record music accurately were the ribbons of the late 1920s. So why are they enjoying an explosion in popularity now, and what can they offer the modern recordist? Huw Price explores the ribbon renaissance…	MTM 42	Reason 3.0 Workshop Incorporating hardware effects into your Reason projects is actually much easier than you might think. Hollin Jones takes it outside...
MTM 42	Mastering Processing Could the difference between conventional studio outboard and mastering-grade processors be purely down to their price tags? Mark Cousins finds out...	MTM 42	Power Sampling Today’s software sampler is one on the most versatile and powerful tools in your studio. Mark Cousins looks at the sampler in action…
MTM 42	Logic Pro 7 Workshop From Kraftwerk to Mirwais, the world of electronic music has embraced the distinctive sound of the vocoder. Mark Cousins explores Logic Pro’s vocoding features.	MTM 42	10MM88 Headphones There are many good reasons why you should equip your studio with a decent set of headphones, but remember to use them wisely. Grant Bridgeman dons his cans...
MTM 42	Project Studio Conversion Part 2 Having a dedicated space for your project studio not only improves the audible results of your endeavours,but also greatly improves your productivity and creativity.	MTM 42	Questions&Answers For solutions to even the most taxing of music technology issues, turn to Music Tech’s panel of experts, who are always happy to help...
MTM 41	Sample Mapping From round robins to release triggers, modern sampling is all about mapping and triggering sample data. Mark Cousins gets a slice of the action...	MTM 41	Live Sound For The Studio Engineer Creating a sound that’s as good on stage as it is in the studio comes with its own fair share of technical challenges. Mark Cousins explores the essentials of live sound.
MTM 41	Stereo Wideners The stereo width of a mix is surely determined by the space separating our monitors, so how can we get wider? Grant Bridgeman explores the world of stereo enhancers.	MTM 41	Creating A Dub Track In Reason Achieving the characteristic Jamaican sound isn’t as strightforward as it might first seem. Follow Hollin Jones’ step-by-step guide to hitting the right summer note...
MTM 40	Networking Your Studio Linking up two or more computers in your studio can seriously expand its musical potential – and make your life easier. Mark Cousins unwraps his Ethernet cables and gets networking...	MTM 40	Programming Synthesizers. Part 1: Anatomy of a synthesizer Synthesizer programming still remains one of the black arts, shrouded in myth and mystery. Simon Cann leads you to your initiation ceremony.
MTM 40	Using Devices In Ableton Live 5 Instruments, MIDI Effects and Audio Effects are all accessed as plug-ins from Live 5’s flexible and easy-to-use Device interface, as Martin Delaney explains...	MTM 39	Hard Drives Currently the ultimate in volume data storage and retrieval, hard drives have become a cornerstone of the modern studio. Mark Cousins takes the hard line...
MTM 39	Recording Guitar. Part 2: DI recording and digital modelling Amp and effects modelling has hugely expanded the sonic opportunities available to the project studio owner. Mike Hillier explains how guitarists can put this new technology to creative use.	MTM 41	Questions and Answers From raising your profile on MySpace to choosing the right piece of new kit for your studio, MTM’s panel of experts answer another selection of your questions.
MTM 41	Programming Synthesizers Part 2 In Part 2 of our in-depth look at synth programming, Simon Cann explores ways of making custom sounds for use in your own music.	MTM 39	The Importance Of Dither Deliberately adding noise to a pristine digital recording may initially seem like a rather insane thing to do, but there’s a good reason why it’s necessary. Grant Bridgeman explains...
MTM 39	Composing Music For TV TV music is a vibrant and exciting way for musicians to make money from their art. Mark Cousins gives us the low-down on producing music for the small screen...	MTM 39	Promoting Your Music on MySpace It’s the latest way to showcase your music to a massive audience – and the best bit is that even record labels are using it to find the next big thing. Hollin Jones explains.
MTM 39	Reason 3.0 Workshop Drum 'n' Bass Beats Struggling to create pounding, skittering drum‘n’bass beats in Reason? Hollin Jones offers a new approach to a fundamental task.	MTM 38	Recording Guitar. Part 1: System setup and mic'ing techniques Tracking a great guitar sound is a common challenge for recording musicians. In this first part of his comprehensive guide, Mike Hillier explains how to make better recordings.
MTM 38	Dealing With Latency Latency figures for computer-based recording systems have improved dramatically over the past decade, but, as Mark Cousins explains, you still need to know how and when to manage it...	MTM 37	Mixing A Five-Piece Band. Part 2: Keyboard and vocals Concluding his look at creating the perfect mix, Mark Cousins explains how to integrate the keyboard and vocal parts.
MTM 37	Strange Sounds In 1966 a new age in music was quietly ushered in when Robert Moog sold the first production models of his Moog synthesizer. At the same time, on the cusp of this new era in electronic music, two American rock bands were taking a more primitive, home	MTM 37	Laptop Performance Live performance is no longer the preserve of players with ‘real’ instruments. Laptop luminary John von Seggern explains how cutting-edge musicians are using Traktor DJ Studio and Ableton Live to improvise and refine their grooves on stage…
MTM 36	Choosing And Using Monitors It’s simple, right? Buy yourself a set of expensive monitors and your mixes will sound great. In fact, choosing a monitoring system requires a little more thought than that, as Huw Price explains...	MTM 36	Mixing A Five-Piece Band. Part 1: Drums, bass and guitar There’s no ‘right’ approach, but here Mark Cousins offers a few options to help you deal with common elements within a mix.
MTM 36	Noise Reduction In the studio, it’s absolutely critical to get rid of as much unwanted noise as possible. Here, we investigate your silencing options...	MTM 35	Modern Mastering. Part 2: Working at a professional level What are the secrets that divide project studio mastering from what the professionals achieve? Mark Cousins masters the art...
MTM 35	Top 100 Music Software Tips We asked Music Tech’s resident experts to share their Top 100 tips for Cubase SX/SL3, Live 5, Logic Pro 7, Reason 3.0 and Sonar 5. Here’s what they came up with…	MTM 35	Get Reel Forget tape plug-ins. The digital revolution has pushed many precision analogue tape machines onto the second-hand market, so now is an ideal time to consider hitting the oxide. Huw Price discusses how to buy, use and maintain the reel thing.
MTM 34	Modern Mastering. Part 1: Aims, tools and principles The mastering process is as susceptible to trends as any other part of music production. Mark Cousins looks at the state of the art.	MTM 34	Create a buzz by Podcasting An enormous potential new listener base is waiting to listen to your music. JoE Silva provides the lowdown on the latest rage in expanding your online presence.
MTM 34	Project Studio Conversion Grant Bridgeman tells the story of how he converted a redundant outbuilding at his Leicestershire home into a two-room floating studio structure for less than £3,000.	MTM 33	The Ultimate Guide To Compression. Part 3: Advanced Compression Techniques Despite its brutish image, compression is a much more versatile beast than you might first imagine. Mark Cousins unlocks some of its lesser-known abilities.
MTM 33	Designing Sound For Animation Sound and music assume even greater significance in animated productions. Here Robin Beauchamp reveals how to navigate the preproduction phase of creating a suitable soundtrack.	MTM 32	Reason 3.0 Tips And Tricks. Part 2: Instrument Modules And Effects Reason 3.0’s many sophisticated instrument modules and effects offer a multitude of exciting and interesting possibilities, but they can appear rather daunting at first sight. Get more from the tools available to you with this second instalment of pr
MTM 32	The Ultimate Guide To Compression. Part 2: Using Compression In Tracking And Mixing From just four simple parameters, compression opens up a wealth of opportunities for dynamic control in music production. Mark Cousins keeps it pumping…	MTM 32	Studio Software Free For All Thanks to a global collaborative effort, making music on your computer is getting easier and cheaper. John Mulholland explains.
MTM 31	The Ultimate Guide To Compression. Part 1: Compression Essentials In the first instalment of a three-part series, Mark Cousins looks at the essentials of compression – from buying your first compressor, to the principles of squashing sound.	MTM 31	Recording Tips For Engineers There is no right or wrong way to record, but when you are the one with the responsibility of getting down the material, you had better get it right. Here are Tim Crich’s tips for a smoother session...
MTM 31	Using Ableton Live 5 In its latest incarnation, Live continues to build a bridge between freeform loop mangling and track-based song composition. Markkus Rovito pays the toll...	MTM 30	Memorable Melodies. Part 2: Constructing a melody Many well-known tunes of our time are constructed from little more than a handful of variations on a few musical techniques and devices. Keith Gemmell is in tune...
MTM 30	Psychedelic Studio During the 60s and 70s, before the advent of digital multi-effects boxes and software plug-ins, engineers and musicians experimented with everything to hand to create the lush organic sounds of the era...	MTM 30	Reason 3.0 Tips And Tricks. Part 1: Setting up and using Reason 3.0 Whether you’re new to Reason or have been using it for some time, there will inevitably be some aspects of the software you either didn’t know about or simply haven’t come across before.
MTM 29	Memorable Melodies. Part 1: What makes a tune unforgettable? A memorable melody is key to capturing and maintaining interest in a song or score, so an understanding of composition is a useful asset. Keith Gemmell takes the lead.	MTM 29	Brutal Beats Samples CDs may offer the quickest way of achieving an extreme drum sound, but rolling your own offers more flexibility. Mark Cousins explains.
MTM 29	Using Tracktion 2 Many of the better-known sequencing packages have a learning curve steeper than Everest. JoE Silva finds an easier route...	MTM 28	Shanghai Surprise Forget the idea that all Chinese-made microphones are cheap copies or badged clones. On a recent trip to Shanghai, Neil Worley discovered that things are changing.
MTM 28	CD Dupes For Less Many CD duplication companies now offer affordable deals for unsigned bands. Keith Gemmell explains how you can get shop-quality CDs on a low budget.	MTM 27	Child's play Teaching music in schools and colleges isn’t an easy task. Mike Hillier takes a seat at the back of the class to see what’s being done to make it easier.
MTM 28	Recording Drums Part Two In the final part of the series, Huw Price looks at the finer points of drum recording and explains why studios, recording mediums and gaffer tape are all-important.	MTM 28	Tiger For Musicians After 18 months in the development jungle, Apple’s new OSX Tiger has finally pounced on the scene. But will it benefit musicians? Hollin Jones goes in for the kill.
MTM 27	Creating an epic soundtrack Part Two Productions don’t come more excessive than a 90-piece orchestra accompanied by a 110-piece choir. Mark Cousins follows the score...	MTM 27	Buying Classic Mics Musicians and engineers have always embraced technological progress in the studio, but many look to the past when it comes to mics. Huw Price finds out why.
MTM 26	Creating an epic soundtrack Part One Part 1. Writing the score and recording the orchestra Recording a top-class orchestra playing your own compositions is a thrilling musical experience. Mark Cousins packs his bags for a trip to Prague...	MTM 26	Licensed to share The revolutionary Creative Commons movement has come up with a radical new take on protecting your copyright. Keith Gemmell gets the lowdown...
MTM 26	Recording Drums Part One The art of recording drums has evolved perhaps more than any other task facing the studio engineer. Huw Price goes back in time to find out why and how.	MTM 25	Mixing with the best... Undoubtedly the most creative part of sound engineering, a good mix can transform the sound – and success – of a song. Mark Cousins gets the balance right...
MTM 25	Reason 3.0 Guide to new features Version 3.0 of Propellerhead’s much-loved sequencer sees huge improvements to workflow and productivity. Hollin Jones makes tracks...	MTM 25	Ergonomics and your studio How we set up our studio equipment can profoundly affect our musical productivity. Grant Bridgeman explores ways of bringing things closer to hand.
MTM 24	Capturing the perfect vocal There are plenty of synth samples, drum loops and guitar effects to make your life easy, but if you need an original vocal you are going to have to record it yourself. Huw Price explains the techniques you need to nail that killer vocal.	MTM 24	Software reverb Once a poor relation to hardware processors, software reverb now leads the way in the range and quality of treatments available. Mark Cousins finds a bigger space...
MTM 24	Ringing in the cash Making money from the music you create is not an easy thing to do, so why not take advantage of the growing ringtone market? Mike Hillier answers the call.	MTM 23	Art of mastering Giving your latest production that polished, commercial sheen is a specialist job that requires more than a little bit of professional know-how. Danny Lewis shows you how to turn a song into a masterpiece.
MTM 23	Advanced recording techniques Part Two Recording acoustic guitars is tricky enough at the best of times, but it's even more difficult when you have to take care of both the playing and recording duties. Huw Price makes your life easier.	MTM 23	Creating a software orchestra Even with a fully-fledged sample library, your sequencer is the key to unlocking the full potential of the software orchestra.Mark Cousins conducts his own investigation…
MTM 22	Creating a soundtrack Demand for composers who can write music for film is on the rise, opening up lucrative new opportunities you may not have thought about. Xander Snell gets cued up...	MTM 22	Using Logic Pro 7 Logic Pro 7’s new features usher in a new way of making music and working with the application. Mark Cousins makes a new start.
MTM 22	Advanced recording techniques Part One Recording electric guitars is simple: just grab your trusty SM57 and away you go. But are you happy with mediocrity or are you shooting for something higher? Huw Price talks tone.	MTM 21	Laptops live The use of laptops on stage is redefining how musicians use technology when playing live. Mark Cousins explores a more lightweight approach to going on the road...
MTM 21	Using Cubase SX3 The latest version of Cubase SX has some inspired new features that will enhance your music-making experience. Hollin Jones shows you the best side of SX3…	MTM 21	Drawing visitors to your site - Music and the internet Part Three Getting a website is just the beginning of an exciting adventure in marketing your music – but how will anyone know that it’s there? Keith Gemmell explains know to attract visitors to your site and keep them returning for more.
MTM 20	Creative Sampling Sampling has come a long way since the original digital samplers of the early 80s. Mark Cousins explores what contemporary samplers offer today’s musicians.