welcome

“See you at the car boot sale on

The summer drought is here, but…

… while most news is as dry as your local reservoir, there are new plugins!

New touch controller for Reason

JDQ Mirror lets you touch parts of Reason

Waves give you your Harmony

Waves’ new Harmony app is aimed especially at

SSL’s new x-rated limiter

SSL’s fast evolving plugin suite is currently being

App watch

We report on the latest developments in phone

10 years back

Our monthly shake-of-thehead at our earlier selves’ news choices…

Ins & outs

FLAT EDGE OF GLORY? The 2022 iPad may,

Next issue Get a complete studio for less than £500!

All the hardware and software you need!

AmyElle

With an upbringing during which she enjoyed her parents’ “stupidly big” CD collection, AmyElle’s influences include everything from classical music to Detroit techno. But it’s her house tracks that have given her millions of streams and support from Radio 1, and helped launch a DJ career that’s seen her play live at Amnesia, Tomorrowland and across the States

BARGAIN BEATS

Over the next 20 pages we’re going big on drum machines: programming, sounds, the best plugins and more. And for less cash too!

Beating time

Drum machine invention started nearly 100 years ago, before heading to its heyday and the current renaissance. We track its progress

Drum pattern building

Whether you want to use drum machine hardware, software or just a set of samples, there are a few key indicators that will stand you in great stead before you start building patterns

Top 6 paid-for drum machine apps

Whether you want vintage or modern drum machines or sounds, there’s never been a better time to find the grooves to suit your production. Here’s our guide to the best paid for drum plugins and samples around

Top 6 free drum machine apps

Creating fine drum sounds does not have to cost the earth, or in fact anything at all. Here are six of the best free drum machines and sound sources available

Planet Rock – Roland TR-808

One of the all-time classic TR-808 patterns, stemming back to the early hip-hop era, Soulsonic Force, with Africa Bambaataa, made the Planet Rock sound with an 808 and a drum groove borrowed from Kraftwerk

Chime – DAW 909 sampler

Back in the late 80s, the rave scene was just getting going. Orbital moved from bedroom producers to dance culture using their Roland TR-909. Most DAWs are equipped with a 909 sound set, so let’s Chime

Blinding Lights – UVI Linn

With his 80s take on contemporary pop culture, The Weeknd’s hit Blinding Lights uses a basic but highly effective LinnDrum pattern

Running Up That Hill – Logic Sampler (Linn)

One of the most iconic LinnDrum patterns emanates from the recently rebooted Kate Bush track, Running Up That Hill. We give the Linn toms a run for their money, using factory sounds from our DAW

Kick and snare sounds with ZebraCM sampler

Using sounds from drum machine or beatbox libraries is a great way to get a drum track together quickly. However, creating your own drum sounds is the next creative step and can give your music an edge

#19 Create a Stranger Things vibe

The soundtrack of hit series Stranger Things is full of fantastic synth sounds. We take inspiration and get Moogy with our ZebraCM plugin

#8 Using Alchemy as a sampler in Logic Pro X

In this tutorial you’ll learn how to use a famous synth… for sampling

KELLY LEE OWENS

Her recent album made the UK Top 30 and she’s collaborated with the likes of Björk and St. Vincent, but the Wales-born producer insists on keeping her music joyfully chaotic

The Pro Producer’s Guide To TUNING AND EQING DRUMS

As we have a bit of a drum theme this issue, let’s go back to basics and tune those beats…

Roland Jupiter-4 $199

When great plugins come around, the very best stay in a perpetual orbit of use. We revisit the reincarnation of Roland’s original planetary gas

Spitfire Audio Resonate £199 PC MAC

If you combine one of the UK’s leading sample library companies with a grand Dame, you are probably going to find something pretty special…

UVI PC MAC Augmented Orchestra €299

Augmenting their impressive catalogue of sounds, UVI embrace acoustic colour with their new package of hybrid orchestral instruments

IK Multimedia PC MAC MODO Bass 2 €299.99

Refining their low-end generator with new tones and stylistic options, IK Multimedia affirm their brilliance for making virtual session players

Techivation T-Clarity $29 PC MAC

Offering a different solution to straight-up EQ, maybe this new plugin can help resolve your mid range issues

Toolroom Academy Infinite £49.99 PC MAC

Good value is hard to come by right now, but if you want to tickle your bargain sensors look no further than Audient’s new EVO 16

Toolroom Academy Infinite £49.99 PC MAC

Need a simple way to finesse your builds and drops? This new plugin from Toolroom Academy could be the answer

Karanyi Sounds Poly Space

This latest reverb plugin will take you to outer space, but only has a couple of controls to get you there. Can ‘simple’ really sound ‘great’?

Soundware round-up

Konturi Exploration 03 Black Corporation Kijimi £13.95 If

DOPESONIX BEAT MACHINES CM

This month we’re adding not one but three new drum machines to the CM Suite, and they all sound fantastic…

Drum samples!

It’s a beats theme this issue, so what better than two new packs of drum machine samples, and a classic pack of percussion. All the beats you need…

ULTIMATE PERCUSSION

CLASSIC ‘REAL’ BEATS

Loopmasters cm313 samples

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