Processing power

In a cover feature we did last year

Native Instruments and iZotope join forces – what does it mean for your favourite gear?

The two brands come together under a new private equity-backed technology group

Cherry Audio enter the Oberheim fray: a new take on the Eight Voice synth

>You wait ages for one Oberheim 8-Voice synth

Sonarworks SoundID Reference calibrates your speakers or headphones so that you can create better mixes

> Although it’s no substitute for a high-quality

Woov promises to recreate the live music experience in your browser

> Ever since live music events were brought

Roland’s monster JD-800 synth is back as a ZEN-Core Model Expansion

> Released in 1991, Roland’s JD-800 was ahead

M-Audio’s Hammer 88 Pro is a full-size MIDI keyboard that will appeal to pianists and producers

> Hammer-action MIDI keyboards are usually designed for

Beatport DJ lets you DJ in your web browser: Tiësto hails “breakthrough” as Pete Tong calls it a “game changer”

> We’ve long wondered about the potential for

Soulwax Nite Versions

PIAS, 2005

LIKE IT? TRY THESE…

Roxy Music Manifesto The way that Roxy Music

Leon Vynehall Rare, Forever

Ninja Tune

Pavel Milyakov & Bendik Giske Untitled

Smalltown Supersound

UNKNOWN ME Bishintai

Not Not Fun

Masayoshi Fujita Bird Ambience

Erased Tapes

Modular rhythms

Rob Redman takes you on a bootcamp trip into the mysterious lands of modular percussion patterns, sequencing and drum voices

Common tools for rhythm generation

Simple four-to-the-floor

1 Let’s try a basic four-to-the-floor-style pattern. For

In the mix

Mixing drums in modular can be tricky, as

Beauty in variation

1 Sequential switches are massively useful for beat

Sequencing and chance

> Traditionally step sequencers have been the go-to

Finding your voice(s)

1 One dilemma is whether to add dedicated

Making a mixed-method drum machine

1Let’s build a drum patch that mixes the

THREE OF THE BEST

Complete modular systems for rhythmic generation

Outboard sequencing

Modular Rhythm | Producer’s Guide To >Sequencing, especially

Synthwave

A distinctly modern form of retro this month as we look at the uniquely charismatic charm of synthwave

Three approaches to synthwave production

Arturia V Collection 8 1Synthwave’s retro production aesthetic

Generate new musical ideas in Ableton Live

PROBLEM: How can I use randomisation in my compositions and performances?

HARDWARE SEQUENCERS

Korg SQ-64 £269 Full Review: FM367 | An

SOFTSYNTHS

Kilohearts Phase Plant from €169 Full Review: FM350

Moullinex

Across the course of three albums and numerous

MAKE DECISIONS EARLY

“Having near infinite computing power, sound sources and

SG Lewis

An ode to disco, SG Lewis topped the dance chart earlier this year with his debut solo album Times featuring Nile Rodgers. Danny Turner discusses the secret to Lewis’ rapidly escalating success

Document One

Hands Up

Creating Hands Up’s pumped up intro in Live

Joe and Matt create a hypeinducing vibe right from the off with processed vocals and synths

Steve O’Sullivan

After hitting a creative wall in the early 2000s, new tech enticed Steve O’Sullivan back to his minimal techno roots. Danny Turner grills the producer about his path to re-assimilation

Rian Treanor

The rising UK artist follows up his lauded LP, File Under UK Metaplasm, with excellent new EP, Obstacle Scattering. Hamish Mackintosh finds out about his love of Max and digital synthesis

NEXT-LEVEL EFFECTS

Modern effect plugins let us combine, target and sequence audio processes like never before. Here’s how to harness that sonic power…

MID/SIDE AND MULTIBAND MAGIC

>Mid/side and multiband processors can be very useful

Mid/Side pad EQ magic

Dialling in a little mid/side EQ is undoubtedly the best way to shape and embellish those lush stereo synth sounds

Multiband drum break processing

A touch of multiband processing can tighten up the sound of a drum break nicely, adding that low-end punch alongside some high frequency smoothness…

Movement with sequenced effects

Let’s look how we can use Cableguys ShaperBox 2’s suite of sequenced effects to add depth and detail to parts of a track

5 ADVENTUROUS EFFECTS

RACKS AND DIY MULTIEFFECTS

>Digital music production offers a lot of advantages

Visual racks in Reason’s Combinator

Let’s see how one DAW uses this concept in practice…

MACROS & MORE…

>Like a macro control on a synth, on

Mapping multiple functions to macros

Let’s see how this works in practice in Ableton Live

Instruments and MIDI effects in Studio One

Let’s see how Studio One lets us create multi instrument racks in order to apply MIDI effects

PLUGIN HOSTING

>You don’t just have to rely on your

THE TRACK

Leading producers go in-depth on the sounds, ideas and techniques behind their latest releases

Novation Circuit Tracks £360

The original Circuit was fun, powerful and great value. Si Truss asks if this follow-up can top it

Korg Nautilus 88 Music Workstation £2,865

Kronos horsepower in an affordable package? Where do we sign? Dave Clews dives deep into the new Korg Nautilus

Austrian Audio OC818 £899

Mics are rarely judged by their extras, but Jon Musgrave finds innovation in this new design from Austrian Audio

VINYL KONTAKT INSTRUMENTS

Five nostalgic instruments from lootaudio.com : which will become relics? Which will stand the test of time?

Make Noise Ø-CTRL £368

The excellent 0-Coast gets a new counterpart in the form of this tabletop controller. Phil Wise patches in

M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 £189

M-Audio’s Oxygen controller keyboard range now has a Pro division. Jono Buchanan enjoys some fresh air

Vector Synth £812

Rob Redman is wowed by the unique charms of this ‘exploratory’ hardware synth

Expert Sleepers ES-9 £499

>There’s a time for most modular synth users when

Masterlab DynaQ 2

>Split-processing plugins usually involve multiband ideas, where the

DDMF Comprezzore

>Compressors are usually similar: timing, ratio and threshold

UVI – Drone €149

>UVI add to their impressive instrument line-up with

Loopmasters: The Mouse Outfit – UK Hip Hop £34.95

Super dope samples from the heavyweight rap production

Audiotent – Artist Kicks £57

A big, beefy batch of killer kick drums

Sample Magic – Jazz Hop 2 $7.99/mo

Smooth grooves from the cats at SM, who

Spinnin’ Records – Sander Van Doorn: The Ultimate Sample Collection $7.99/mo

Huge sounds from the Dutch dance don, as

Loopmasters Artist Series – Tough Love: House & Tech Origins £34.95

Debut pack from the London-based boys with a