1,098 articles found
Review of the Universal Audio Sound Machine Wood Works … - A Cure for DI Acoustic GuitarWritten testInnovation awardWhen Universal Audio announced Sound Machine Wood Works at NAMM this year, I was intrigued by what was promised: A plug-in that can change a DI recorded acoustic so that it sounds like it was miked. …
Sampling: Wavetables - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 18LearningIn the previous article, we took a first look at sampling, from the point of view of Pulse Code Modulation (PCM). In this installment we'll study wavetables and sample banks.
Delay Tips and Tricks - 5 digital delay techniques that will spice up your mixesLearningDigital delay is one of the most versatile effects you can apply to your music. It can do everything from subtle doubling to crazy stereo ping-pong effects and a lot more. In this article we’ll show …
Which Comes First? - A guide to mixing music - Part 25LearningBefore we tackle the next major section of this series ─ dynamics ─ let's diverge briefly to take stock of where we are in the process, and cover an important issue involving effect-chain order.
11 Studio Errors to Avoid - Steer clear of these common studio mistakesLearningLearning by your mistakes is definitely an effective method, but it’s not a lot of fun. In this article, we’ll talk about some common mistakes that are made by home recordists and how to avoid them. …
Put Your Best Feature Forward - 10 cool and innovative features from 10 top DAWsLearningAll DAWS are definitely not created equal. Yes they can all record and edit audio and MIDI, host effects and software instruments, and provide facilities for mixing. But beyond those bread-and-butter…
Eiosis AirEQ Premium Review - Second WindWritten testBest Product awardEight years after the original, Eiosis presents a "Premium" edition of the AirEQ plug-in.
EQing Tools of the Trade - A guide to mixing music - Part 24LearningNow that we have analyzed EQing during mixdown, let's talk a bit about the tools capable of carrying out the task.
Thunderbolt technology could supercharge your studio - Should You Bolt to Thunderbolt?LearningIf you’ve been paying attention to new product introductions over the last year or so, you’ve no doubt seen more and more Thunderbolt-based audio interfaces hitting the market. For many, moving up to…
Sample-Based Synthesis ─ Bit by Bit - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 17LearningSome people might think it's weird to see sampling considered as a type of synthesis. Indeed, throughout this series of articles, I've been telling you all the time about the creation of sounds "from…
A Matter of Perspective - A guide to mixing music - Part 23LearningIn this week's installment, we'll continue our focus on EQing during mixdown, with some additional tips and advice.
A review of M-Audio’s M50 studio headphones - Good Sound - Good ValueWritten testEvery recording musician needs headphones, and there’s no shortage of choices. It’s not hard to find a good pair if you’re spending $200 and above, but especially in the sub-$100 range, it’s more of …
Additive Synthesis ─ Give me more! - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 16LearningIn the previous article we saw what subtractive synthesis, the most widespread method of synthetic sound creation, is all about and we saw that it's based on the sound production and manipulation mod…
Get Up to Speed with Apple Loops - A video lesson on using Apple Loops in Logic Pro X and GarageBandLearningWhether you're a Logic or GarageBand user, you can spice up your recordings with a huge range of instrument loops and sound effects via the Apple Loops that were included with your DAW. Here's a vid…
Trust Your Ears - A guide to mixing music - Part 22LearningTo close this chapter dedicated to EQing during mixdown, I'll give you some tips and tricks that ought to help you adopt better habits.
Record Your Band on a Budget - A minimalist setup for tracking your group’s musicLearningSo you have a band and you’re sounding good, but you’re wondering if you have enough gear to start recording? Read on, as we’ll examine what your minimal equipment needs are to create a multitrack ba…
Review of the Ploytec Pi L Squared Leukos Synth - Little Bad BoyWritten testThe Ploytec Pi L Squared Leukos (PL2 Leukos) is a hardware synthesizer module that fits in the palm of your hand, and can plug into your computer and respond to your DAW. Its analog pulse wave oscill…
Subtractive Synthesis: Straight to the point - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 15LearningDear friends, now that we've become acquainted with the main components used, it's about time we get familiar with the main forms of sound synthesis. Oh, yes, there are several!
Create Space and Depth with EQ - A guide to mixing music - Part 21LearningContrary to popular belief, panning and ambience are not the only tools to use for adjusting the location of a track in the sound field of a mix. We are about to see that the sensations of space and …
More Basic Synth Effects - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 14LearningIn this article we'll take it from where we left off last week and continue exploring the main effects you can find on a synth.
And There Was Color - A guide to mixing music - Part 20LearningIn this episode we'll discuss a pretty subjective application of EQing, namely, coloration.
A review of the Alesis DM Dock drum interface - It's Sittin' On the Dock While You PlayWritten testFollowing in the footsteps of its I/O Dock, which provided iPad musicians with a fully featured audio and MIDI interface with a docking slot, Alesis has released the DM Dock. Aimed at iPad drummers a…
Synth Effects - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 13LearningThe previous two installments delved into the magical world of MIDI, including its modes, messages, and parameters. Now, in this and the following articles we'll take a look at the effects types that…
A review of Sound Radix Drum Leveler - A New Level of ControlWritten testIf you use audio drum tracks in your productions, whether loops or multitrack recordings — you’re likely to have plenty of occasions where you wish you could adjust the levels of a particular drum or…
Lifting the Mask - A guide to mixing music - Part 19LearningToday we'll deal with frequency masking ─ what is it actually, and how can we solve it?
