No NAMM in Jan, but we have news…

The Big Music Show is in April this year, so we’ve scoured the depths…

PSP’s new 285 is the ultimate semi modular machine

We love PSP Audio, mostly because they very

FLStudio 21 is in a mood with you

From modest claims to, well, bonkers ones? FLStudio

App watch

We report on the latest developments in phone and tablet music making

Computer music 10 years back

Our monthly shake-of-thehead at our earlier selves… in

Ins & outs

RISE OF THE ROBOTS, PART 1 You’ll have

KULT from Dawesome could be awesome

Peter V (aka Dawesome) has produced his fourth

MPE MVPS

In the first part of our cover feature on software control, we look at where we are with hardware controllers and examine the rise of the MPE controller – and whether it is still the future of software music production...

MPE controllers

Six of the best MIDI polyphonic expression controllers out now

MPE synths

It’s not all about controllers: let’s welcome synths to the MPE party, too. Here are six of the best in hardware and software

The history of deep control

MIDI’s expressive potential has always been there, right from its inception. Yet it’s mainly thanks to those few who realised how it could be deployed, and imagined new ways of performing that we have such a huge range of options today

Enhancing modulation with MPE

While more multi-dimensional controllers are certainly up to the task of making virtual instruments sound more real, when used to wrangle your synths, MPE control and more out-there approaches can expand the sonic playing field into realms you might never have considered…

Gesture and movement-based MIDI controllers

There are more ways to be creative with MIDI than you may think. Here are six to start with…

The innovators

After our look at where we are – and where we’ve come from – in the world of software control, this time we’re looking ahead to where we might well be going, all stating with some of the innovators of music software…

Touchscreen tech

They’re a daily part of our smartphone-swiping lives, but touchscreens are oddly often viewed as a last-resort approach to music production. But, spurning the keyboard and mouse can make for a far more fluid control experience...

Future proof

The advanced controller options of today are just a taste of the raft of new control methods that the future will bring. Be they revolutionary standalone hubs, or devices to be used in conjunction with virtual reality

The infinite riffing synthesiser

In this month’s Synth Masterclass, we create a patch to run the duration of your track, and possibly even further!

THE ART OF RIFFING

Creating the perfect riff, under any circumstances, is

Equalising during the mix

This month we give you the lowdown on some basic EQ techniques that can help get things moving with your mix

USING THE ANALYSER

One of the greatest benefits of mixing in

ATAU TANAKA

Atau Tanaka creates electronic music using the movement of his own body, with custom software – and he thinks we should all try it. We catch up with the artist taking the ideas of software control and performance to a completely new level…

UNIVERSAL TRANSLATION

The best mixdowns will sound great on any playback system, big or small. Here’s how to ensure your tracks do the same

cm/reviews

The latest computer music gear tested and rated!

EastWest String Machine £170

Summoning the spirit of the string machines of the pre-digital age, EastWest’s latest VI brings retro-future textures to the 21st century table

Speculative Memories £29

Knitting ethereal vocal textures, evolving atmospherics and swelling bass throbs, Speculative Memories opens vast avenues for sonic introspection

Beat Scholar £69

Will Modilacs’ debut plugin take the prize for most refreshingly innovative piece (or should that be slice?) of software we’ve seen for beat creation?

Physion MkII $179

True to its name, Physion MkII takes inspiration from atom-splitting technology. But do Eventide have the sonic core firmly under control?

GK Amplification 3 Pro £70

Perfecting Audified’s meticulous modelling of Gallien-Krueger’s bass amps, this updated amp/cab sim brings cool new elements into play

GoAux 4 £399

Need proper studio monitors while travelling? We didn’t think we really did until we tried these mobile beauties from KRK…

Nitrate Standard: €53 Deluxe: €81

107 hand-crafted presets for Knif Audio’s Knifonium –

Antman Wonder: Sketches £24.95

Booming sub basslines, skipping trap drums, and free

Drum & Bass: Reese Bass £9.95

Face-melting and twisted bass loops, modelled exclusively on

DOPESONIX BASS ENGINE 1 AND 2 CM

This month we’re adding not one but two new instruments to the CM Suite and they are both of the bass variety.

1.Installation

1 Getting up and running with the Bass

2.Navigating

1 The two Bass Engine CMs have virtually

3. Bass Engine 1 CM

1 Bass Engine 1 CM is a great

4. Bass Engine 2 CM

1 Bass Engine 2 CM really picks up

5. Editing Bass Engine sounds

1 Both Bass Engine CMs offer similar editing,

6. Using the MIDI files

1 Both Bass Engine CMs have some great

Cycling Modulation

Robbie at Cyclick Samples takes us through his batch of all-new ring modulation samples

CrimiModulation

Oli Bell from Groove Criminals has also been busy ringing some modulation this month…

COSMIC GLITCH

524 CLASSIC SAMPLES including… 188 Glitched-out beats 60

Loading up this issue’s Cosmic Glitch sample pack

1 In the Cyclick folder, you’ll find a

Loopmasters 318 samples

This month’s demo sample selection highlighting Loopmasters’ latest releases