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Best of the year Softsynths

2022 was a great year for synths… if you liked emulations of classic hardware, that is. 2022? 1982 more like. Here are our six favourites of the year…

Best of the year Instruments

We’ve covered synths, but what about your other software instrument needs? Well, it turns out 2022 was a classic for those too. Here are our six best…

Best of the year Hardware

Need some additional hardware to add to your software studio? Here are the best additions you can make right now…

Best of 2022: Samples!

Celebrating our Best Of The Year issue, here are some of the best sample packs we gave away in 2022. Download them all from bit.ly/CM317_downloads  i n May 2022, we embarked on a (longer than we thought) synth journey through the last 60 years, with samples to match. Here are the ’80s and ’90s…

Best samples (continued)

In issue 308, we brought our synth history right up to date with several new sample packs celebrating C21. Here we choose the hard and soft options  Having dealt with synths past and present in previous issues, in July we turned to the ghost of ‘Synthmass Future’ with these two sample packs

Best samples (continued)

In issue 311, things got a little dirty as we explored the niceties of analogue processing, producing these two packs of filthy samples to go with it…

Best samples (continued)

We’ve had synths and drum machines, so in issue 314 it was time to roughen up your low end with two packs of dirty bass samples Back in issue 305 we made waves with a waveform theme for our free sample packs. Here are the Digital and Analogue packs from Groove Criminals

Best samples (continued)

We finish our Best Samples Of The Year with four packs of 303 samples – actually from 2021, but they’re so good we couldn’t ignore them!

GET DYNAMIC

Dynamic processing is one of the most useful – and misunderstood – parts of music production. Here’s how to master this most important and creative of processes, forever!

The classics

A handful of classic hardware compressors have won

The right compressor for the job

As touched upon on in our mini-roundup of

Frequency-conscious dynamics

As touched upon previously, some dynamics processors have

External sidechaining

> Step by step 3. Creative processing with

Parallel compression

Parallel or ‘New York’ compression is simply the

Expansion

An expander increases dynamic range, and like a

Noise gates

> Step by step 7. Basic noise gate

Transient processors

Transient shaping was made popular by SPL with

Sidechain compression

> What started out as a rare mix

Serial compression

Like many dynamics processes, compression can be a

Mid/side compression

We would typically process stereo submixes and master

Bandpass filter bass

Synth masterclass with Dave Gale #23

AUTOMATED OR STATIC

We’re big fans of automation at Computer Music.

Creating spin delays

Mix masterclass with Jon Musgrave #02

GETTING COMPLEX

So far we’ve only looked at using simple

LYKKE LI

Ystad, Sweden’s finest export shares her vision for new album Eyeye, while producer Björn Yttling discusses the many perks of owning a studio formerly used by ABBA

The latest computer music gear tested and rated!

Half a dozen questions with Lykke Li’s long-term producer, Björn Yttling

cm: How did you and Lykke’s working relationship

Oddit y3 £100 PC MAC

GForce Software

Cherry Audio GX-80 $59

Cherry Audio’s latest behemoth-of-a-synth is a plugin for a utopian future, exclusively from the vintage past…

ShaperBox 3 €99

If you like dynamic effects, you’ll love the latest version of this impressive multi-effects package

Linda IronVerb $99

Algorithmic reverbs are widespread, affordable and sometimes a bit uninspiring. This latest design attempts to redress the balance

SSL 4K B SSL

It seems right and proper that SSL themselves are first to release an emulation of their early B series desk. Let’s see how it performs

RePitch £178

Pitch correction software is widely available and comes in many forms. Let’s see what features this new plugin has to offer

Soundware round-up

Goldbaby Pulse $39 These nutters have gone patch-happy

Soundware round-up

Zenhiser Warmth £46 Top-tier vocal pack for house

Best of the year: 9 free plugins!

This month we have the best nine free plugins we have given away in 2022, all in one issue, you lucky people. Download them now!