Contents - February 2003

Photo: Mark Ewing
in this issue
february 2003
issue 4
volume 18
www.sound-on-sound.com
techniques
28
Presonus Firestation
Q&A
p186
244 Sonar Notes
Your studio problems solved by SOS staff and contributors.
134 Studio SOS
This month sees the SOS team in the sleepy Herefordshire town of
Bromyard, helping violinist Mike Burnham with his folk recordings.
Ever wanted to use all those lovely VST Instruments within Sonar?
Well here’s how you do it!
246 Cubase Notes
140 Recording Drums
Cubase SX/L offers something of a mixed bag of features for those
working with video, so this month we offer some advice on what you
can do — and what you can’t.
The drum kit can be one of the most time-consuming and frustrating
of instruments to record, so it’s worth taking a structured approach.
252 Pro Tools Notes
178 Synth Secrets: Synthesizing Strings
Using DSP-based audio systems is the answer to problems of audio
latency, right? Experienced mixers using digital systems — including
Pro Tools TDM — will tell you there’s more to the story...
Analogue synths can’t synthesize every sound, but the attempts
made to replicate the sound of orchestral strings were so successful
that so-called string machines became much-loved instruments in
their own right. We begin a voyage into the world of synthesized
strings...
194 Studio Installation Workshop
A patchbay can make your studio much quicker to use, but can also
be a nightmare to set up, so here’s advice on which to choose and
how to connect it up for the best results. Plus, tips on building and
fitting racks for your gear.
256 Performer Notes
We finish our look at DP3’s new comprehensive Undo functions, and
begin examining the program’s project and file management
facilities with a view to making large projects portable.
260 Logic Notes
The big news in the latest v5.5 update is a completely overhauled
EXS24 MkII, so what new features are there?
features
34
Cutting Edge
160 Linux & Music
Could one of the reasons why the digital delivery of media hasn’t
replaced physical methods be that files just aren’t very collectable?
48
Elliot Mazer
The AGNULA project is creating what is possibly the first computer
system tailored specifically for musicians — and it’s all based around
the Linux operating system.
Producer and engineer Elliot Mazer is well known for his ongoing
work with Neil Young, and was there at the birth of digital
recording. Like Young, however, he’s never been happy with the way
it sounded — until now...
210 Überjam: John Scofield & Avi Bortnick
84
226 Jack Wall: Composing The Music For Myst III
PC Musician: Windows XP One Year On
Well-known jazz musician John Scofield has spent the last five years
updating his sound with the help of modern technology and new
collaborators — including innovative guitarist Avi Bortnick.
It’s been 12 months since we first evaluated Windows XP as a music
platform, and it now seems to be the OS of choice for most
manufacturers. So should musicians who have been holding back
now take the plunge and upgrade?
Jack Wall is a leading light in the video game soundtrack industry,
where his credits include the latest chapter in the best-selling Myst
series of computer games.
102 1 Giant Leap: Travels With A Laptop Studio
Microsoft are revealing details of the next major version of Windows,
which promises to bring some significant changes to your desktop.
Many people love the idea of laptop recording, but few have put it
into practice like 1 Giant Leap. Their acclaimed album and DVD
project was recorded on an Apple Powerbook during a six-month
journey round the world — with a little help from some friends...
126 Running Your Own Record Label
Last month we explained how a label can create its own distribution
channels by selling merchandise on the Internet. This month we
examine dedicated distribution companies, and how the smaller
companies can serve niche record labels.
regulars
6
238
242
News
Demo Doctor/Business End
Crosstalk
4
SOUND ON SOUND • february 2003
280
302
304
Classified Ads
Readers’ Ads
Sounding Off
264 PC Notes
268 Apple Notes
If you think it’s not possible to make music using VST Instruments
with Logic on OS X, think again...
p102
p140
product tests
234
235
90
214
58
42
170
38
204
235
222
112
233
232
154
192
186
235
62
54
232
56
218
124
79
120
174
AMG Orange Sample Library
AMG Seminal House Sample Library
Behringer Eurorack UB2442FX Pro Analogue Mixer
Blue Sky System One Active Surround Monitoring System
Dan Dean Brass Ensembles Sample Library
Dave Smith Instruments Evolver Analogue/Digital Monophonic Synthesizer
Edirol UA20 Mac & PC USB Audio & MIDI Interface
Emagic EVB3 & EVD6 Virtual Tonewheel Organ And Clavinet For Logic
Evesham Technology Music PC
Garritan Orchestral Strings Lite Sample Library
Kawai MP9500 Professional Stage Piano
Kurzweil Micro Ensemble Sound Module
Native Instruments Absynth Sounds Volume 1 Sound Library
Native Instruments Pro 53 Virtual Instrument
Novation KS4 & KS5 Modelling Synth Workstations
Phoenix Audio DRS2 Microphone Preamp
p154
Presonus Firestation Mac & PC FireWire Audio & MIDI Interface
Project SAM Horns Sample Library
Spectrasonics Atmosphere Virtual Instrument
Studio Projects T3 Multi-pattern Valve Microphone
TC Works ClassicVerb PowerCore Plug-in
Vermona DAF1 & PH16 Analogue Filter & Phaser
Virsyn Tera Mac & PC Virtual Modular Synth
Waves Maxxbass 101 & 102 Bass Enhancers
WM Labs Drumagog DirectX Drum Replacer Plug-in
XTA DPA324 SIDD Dynamics Processor
Zoom MRS1266 Multitrack Recording Studio
win
Focusrite
Voicemaster Pros
p42
p90
p214
p259
p56
Worth £1000
february 2003 • SOUND ON SOUND
5