Clavia Nord Wave: The Test - Multifaceted Synthesis
Written testIntegrating analog modeling, FM synthesis, digital waveforms, and sample playback, the Nord Wave positions itself as a versatile multi-synthesis specialist. Focusing on immediate programming as oppos…
Digidesign Transfuser: The Test - Sample Transfusion
Written testA.I.R., Digidesign’s virtual instrument division, continues to provide creative tools for users of their Pro Tools software. This time, it’s a sequencer within a sequencer, dedicated to loops of all…
Universal Audio UAD-2: The Test - WMD: Weapon of Mass DSPs
Written testUniversal Audio continues its arms race against other DSP card manufacturers, like TC Electronic (PowerCore) and SSL (Duende), by releasing the UAD-2, which comes in three models that dwarf the origi…
Introduction - Using a Mixer: Rehearsals
LearningBefore you’re ready for arenas and stadiums, where you’d no doubt call on the services of an experienced sound technician, you need to rehearse. And as long as you’re rehearsing you might as well do …
Line 6 POD X3 Pro: The Test - In POD We Trust?
Written testAfter releasing their POD X3 and X3 Live in 2008, worthy descendants in their own right of the Pod XT, Line 6 felt it necessary to update the POD Pro. So, it's no surprise they’ve come up with a POD …
Yamaha Tenori-On: The Test - Unidentified Musical Object
Written testIn the world of electronic instruments, when you think innovation, the name Yamaha rarely comes to mind! Yet this Japanese company was the creator of the first FM synthesizer, the DX7. So just to sho…
Pro Tools 8: The Test - The Return of the King?
Written testThe new Pro Tools has arrived armed with a bunch of new features: Elastic Pitch, thirty new plugins, five new virtual instruments - Boom (drum machine), Mini Grand (piano), DB-33 (tonewheel organ), V…
Zoom Stack Package: The Test - Tube or not tube
Written testThough the concept may not be original, Zoom has come out with an interesting interface that provides guitarists and bassists with an intuitive software/hardware setup, but with a twist: an integrate…
M-Audio BX8a Deluxe: The Test - Deluxe with a plain price
Written testAfter having updated its entire range of audio interfaces, M-Audio now looks to update its monitors, especially in the wake of their excellent high-level EXS66 monitors. These updates have had great …
Peak Pro 6 XT: The Test - BIAS at their Peak
Written testThough there are many audio editors for PC, the Mac world looks mainly to DSP Quattro, soundBlade, Audacity, WaveBurner or Peak (a non-exhaustive list), whose features range from "very basic" to "ver…
Squier Classic Vibe Series: The Test - Do you feel the vibe?
Written testSquier has been making low-cost guitars based on Fender designs since 1982. Because their early guitars have now become collector items for some, Squier is seeking to regain some of that magic with …
M-Audio Profire 2626: The Test - M-Audio Strikes Again
Written testBest Product awardWith no fewer than 26 inputs, 26 outputs, 8 integrated Octane microphone preamps, and ProTools M-Powered compatibility, the latest interface from M-Audio aims to find its niche in the category of int…
Line 6's Backtrack+Mic: The Test - Backtrack To Inspiration
Written testUnfortunately, we often realize too late that we should have recorded what we just played. How many times have you wished that you could go back in time and hit the record button right before inspira…
Software Comparison - Time Stretching & Pitch Shifting: Comparison Part I
LearningOK, here we go! This is the first of our comparative software tests on time-stretching and pitch-shifting. The competitors: 26 Mac and PC programs, from big sequencers to small applications, plug-ins…
Fender Classics Re-issue Pedals: The Test - Classics Live Again
Written testThough not as well known for their pedals as they are for their guitars and basses, Fender has been making classic pedals for more than 50 years. Following the recent re-issue of the Fender Blender …
