Archives
September 2011
Computers are everywhere these days, including the vast majority of our studios -- but for all the power and creativity they unleash, they can be frustrating, too. In the September issue of RECORDING, we bring you hands-on advice and solid reviews to take the pain out of your DAW work.
New contributor Jim Stamper takes us step by step through not one but three upgrades: rebuilding his PC, moving to 64-bit Windows 7, and upgrading his DAW to Cakewalk SONAR X1. Normally any one of these upgrades would terrify a novice, and doing three at once was a major project... but Jim's PC ended up as a screaming-fast system that could tackle formerly impossible music projects without breaking a sweat. Learn what worked and what didn't, and how you can accelerate your music making experience in your studio!
Another way to improve the sound quality and creative options in our computer-based DAW is with plug-ins, those handy and powerful add-ons that let us do all manner of amazing musical tricks. In this issue, we bring you over a dozen product reviews, including iZotope's amazing Stutter Edit, a look at cool new features in Spectrasonics Omnisphere, and as a special treat, a collection of four different approaches to software reverb. Plug-ins from companies like 2C Audio, Audio Damage, EastWest, PSP Audioware, Little Endian, Softube, Tone2, ValhallaDSP, and Vienna Instruments are among those we'll be breaking down in detail for your listening pleasure.
And that's not all! Ace arranger/orchestrator Gary Eskow talks about wrapping your head around sound libraries that can contain many Gigabytes of data and millions of samples; we review mics from Earthworks and Audix; the new Universal Audio 4-710d rack preamp/dynamics processor gets taken out for a spin; and we have some fun with Zoom's cute and powerful new R8 tabletop recorder/interface/rhythm machine.
All this and lots more will have you happily tracking and mixing, with or without your computer... and you'll find it all in the September RECORDING!
Pick it up now on the newsstand... and so you get your next issue early (and save on cost), why not hit the big red Subscribe Now button on this page and have RECORDING delivered to your door each month?
Zoom R8
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Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
Zoom R8 |
Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
The R Series packs more punch into less space than almost any other computer-recording device out there... and the newest addition is the smallest and handiest yet.
We first reviewed Zoom's R16 in October 2009. When it first......Expand
The R Series packs more punch into less space than almost any other computer-recording device out there... and the newest addition is the smallest and handiest yet.
We first reviewed Zoom's R16 in October 2009. When it first came out, the R16 caused a lot of jaws to drop -- here was a full-featured multitrack recorder with built-in effects, built-in stereo microphones, a proper meter bridge, and eight simultaneous channels of input, that could also act as a USB 2.0 recording/playback interface and as a basic control surface for DAWs, all in a compact and lightweight package that could run on batteries and was surprisingly affordable.
Fast forward to our January 2011 issue and an even more jaw-dropping review of the R24. It added more simultaneous playback tracks, more phantom-powered mic inputs, an improved and streamlined operating system, a built-in rhythm machine with multiple kits of sampled drums, and the ability to sample audio and play back loops in addition to recorded audio and rhythm tracks, all in a package that was no bigger than its predecessor, that could still run on batteries, and at a price that was still surprisingly affordable.
And now we have the R8, and yet another chance for jaws to drop...
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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Universal Audio 4-710d
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Universal Audio 4-710d |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
The TwinFinity preamp times four, with dynamics control, digital interfacing, and much more.
Although primarily known for its ubiquitous 1176LN and LA-2A compressors, as well as the UAD system of DSP engine-powered plug-ins,......Expand
The TwinFinity preamp times four, with dynamics control, digital interfacing, and much more.
Although primarily known for its ubiquitous 1176LN and LA-2A compressors, as well as the UAD system of DSP engine-powered plug-ins, Universal Audio is also one of the oldest and most respected American microphone preamp companies. In these pages we have looked at Universal Audio's SOLO/610, SOLO/110, and 2108 models, and in October 2009 we took a look at the new and unique 710 Twin-Finity microphone preamp.
If you can't recall that review offhand, remember that the 710 Twin-Finity is a full-fledged tube mic pre and a full-fledged solid-state mic pre all in one. Other companies have come to market with twin topology designs over the years, but the difference is that those models are an either/or proposition. The UA710 is both at once....
So what can make the 710 even better? How about four channels in a rack, each with its own built-in 1176-style compression, along with four extra line inputs and eight channels of A/D conversion? Okay, coming right up. Here's the 4-710d.
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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Plug-In Outlet
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr. and Mike Metlay
Plug-In Outlet |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr. and Mike Metlay
PSP Audioware N2O; Softube Tube-Tech Classic Channel; Tone2 Warmverb; Little Endian SpectrumWorx.
N2O is the chemical symbol for nitrous oxide (laughing gas), but it is also the latest plug-in from the software wizards at PS......Expand
PSP Audioware N2O; Softube Tube-Tech Classic Channel; Tone2 Warmverb; Little Endian SpectrumWorx.
N2O is the chemical symbol for nitrous oxide (laughing gas), but it is also the latest plug-in from the software wizards at PSP Audioware: essentially version 2.0 of PSP's Nitro plug-in (reviewed March 2005). N 2.0, get it?
When they see the letters PSP, most people think of vintage-flavored compressors, equalizers and, of course, the Vintage Warmer; but there is another side to Antoni Ozynski and Mateusz Wozniak's company, and that is the world of twisted and unusual effects. Let's hit the Nitrous...!
Read more about this and the other featured plug-ins in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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Reviewed and Revisited: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 1.5
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Reviewed by
Allen Goodman
Reviewed and Revisited: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 1.5 |
Reviewed by
Allen Goodman
New features, new sounds, and fantastic new control options (including remote iPad control) enhance this genre-defining virtual synthesizer.
When we first visited Spectrasonics' Omnisphere virtual synthesizer (May 2009), thi......Expand
New features, new sounds, and fantastic new control options (including remote iPad control) enhance this genre-defining virtual synthesizer.
When we first visited Spectrasonics' Omnisphere virtual synthesizer (May 2009), this reviewer was lost in a maze of sonic content and tweaking goodness. I declared it my "desert-island synth" and that still holds true. A couple of years later I've barely scratched the surface, and now Eric Persing and the Spectrasonics crew have released a massively exciting update to further stimulate and titillate users. Free to all registered users of Omnisphere, the 1.5 update brings a plethora of new features...
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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iZotope Stutter Edit
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Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
iZotope Stutter Edit |
Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
As much a musical instrument as an effects processor, this fascinating plug-in lets you play DJ-style musical edits from a controller keyboard.
Stutter Edit is an interactive plug-in designed by iZotope in partnership with f......Expand
As much a musical instrument as an effects processor, this fascinating plug-in lets you play DJ-style musical edits from a controller keyboard.
Stutter Edit is an interactive plug-in designed by iZotope in partnership with famed remix engineer and recording artist BT. By "interactive" I mean that it's an effects processor that you play like an instrument; that's not unheard of in this industry, but the depth and precision of the sonic manipulations Stutter Edit performs is unique.
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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Make Room For Your Music
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Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
Make Room For Your Music |
Reviewed by
Mike Metlay
Every song needs a little space-add your own with 2C Audio Breeze, Audio Damage Eos, ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom, and EastWest Quantum Leap Spaces.
When we record vocals or instruments in a room, the room impresses itself upon ......Expand
Every song needs a little space-add your own with 2C Audio Breeze, Audio Damage Eos, ValhallaDSP ValhallaRoom, and EastWest Quantum Leap Spaces.
When we record vocals or instruments in a room, the room impresses itself upon the recorded sound, and carries to the listener's ear a sense of what the tracking environment was like. We hope, of course, that the effect will be pleasing to the ear and fit well with what's being played; a good studio will have at least one room that's set up specifically to add a nice character to the music being recorded.
But what if you don't have a good room? ... That's where reverb comes in...
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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Once Over -- Reviews in Brief
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Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Once Over -- Reviews in Brief |
Reviewed by
Paul Vnuk Jr.
Audix M1280B miniature condenser mic and Micro Boom 24; Earthworks PM40 and PM40T PianoMics.
Some years ago (September 2004) I took an in-depth look at Audix's lineup of miniature microphones known as the Micros. While minia......Expand
Audix M1280B miniature condenser mic and Micro Boom 24; Earthworks PM40 and PM40T PianoMics.
Some years ago (September 2004) I took an in-depth look at Audix's lineup of miniature microphones known as the Micros. While miniature condenser mics were not a new invention, at the time Audix was one of the first to create a transformer that could live inside of the small mic body, eliminating the need for an external transformer lump to handle the necessary +48V Phantom power.
Not only did this make these mics much more convenient to place, it also paved the way for other Audix innovations like its series of carbon-fiber mini-booms. The newest member in the Audix Micro Line is the M1280B...
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At its simplest, piano miking is a balance of microphone choice and proper placement. But which mic, and where to place it? Is the lid at full or half-stick? I want stereo, but what about phase and tonal issues when adding a second mic? What if it the lid needs to be closed due to bleed from outside instruments?
For me the solution arrived a few years ago when the church where I do sound purchased an Earthworks PM40 PianoMic System, and now that Earthworks has expanded the line with the new PM40T touring model, I get to fill you in on what they can do for you...
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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RECORDING's Showcase of Sounds
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Reviewed by
Gary Eskow
RECORDING's Showcase of Sounds |
Reviewed by
Gary Eskow
Vienna Symphonic Library Vienna Instruments Pro and Dimension Brass.
You own one or more components of the Vienna Symphonic Library and you're considering purchasing the new VI Pro sample player? Stop considering -- you're b......Expand
Vienna Symphonic Library Vienna Instruments Pro and Dimension Brass.
You own one or more components of the Vienna Symphonic Library and you're considering purchasing the new VI Pro sample player? Stop considering -- you're buying it. For less than $200 this product is an absolute must-have for any serious VSL user. In this article I'll point up the good parts, and follow up with a review of a new library that takes great advantage of what VI Pro can do...
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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Surviving A Triple Music Computer Upgrade, 2011 Style
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Written by
Jim Stamper
Surviving A Triple Music Computer Upgrade, 2011 Style |
Written by
Jim Stamper
A new computer, a new OS, and a new DAW, all at once -- and the results are spectacular. Here's how to survive (and prosper in) such a world-shaking set of changes.
Early this year I tackled my biggest DAW upgrade ever -- a ......Expand
A new computer, a new OS, and a new DAW, all at once -- and the results are spectacular. Here's how to survive (and prosper in) such a world-shaking set of changes.
Early this year I tackled my biggest DAW upgrade ever -- a triple threat, involving a new custom-built quad-core PC, Windows 7, and SONAR X1 64 bit -- all at one time. Normally, the thought of even one such upgrade would be enough to give me nightmares! But having survived this "harrowing" journey, I wanted to share some tips, in case you're thinking about a similar trek into the technology jungle...
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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Managing Large Sample Libraries
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Written by
Gary Eskow
Managing Large Sample Libraries |
Written by
Gary Eskow
When libraries have tens of thousands of samples over tens of Gigabytes, you'd better have a strategy for staying on top of them.
Ah, the good old days of sampling technology -- the early 1990s, say. They sucked, didn't they......Expand
When libraries have tens of thousands of samples over tens of Gigabytes, you'd better have a strategy for staying on top of them.
Ah, the good old days of sampling technology -- the early 1990s, say. They sucked, didn't they? ...
What a different world we live in today! Most of the folks who had large samplelibrary rigs are now working on single computer systems, just like you and me! Sure, you can dedicate a second computer to the complete Vienna Symphonic Library collection, but recent advancements in speed and RAM have made it possible to execute large projects on one computer. So, have all the problems disappeared, or are there other issues that you need to consider if you want to maximize your DAW's potential and organize multiple libraries, some of which are extremely large?
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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It's Your Music -- Know Your Rights. Chapter 18: Digital Distribution Issues
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Written by
Todd Gascon with Bruce Kaphan
It's Your Music -- Know Your Rights. Chapter 18: Digital Distribution Issues |
Written by
Todd Gascon with Bruce Kaphan
The business model for music payment is trying hard to get into the 21st Century... here's what you need to know about the new standards and practices out there.
Despite one of the worst recessions in recent U.S. history, th......Expand
The business model for music payment is trying hard to get into the 21st Century... here's what you need to know about the new standards and practices out there.
Despite one of the worst recessions in recent U.S. history, the first half of 2011 may be looked upon as a period when venture capitalists renewed their faith in the distribution of music online...
Hopefully the recent investment in online music-related businesses will provide greater opportunities for artists to make their music available to fans on a variety of platforms and services throughout the world. This article will provide an overview of the primary ways music is distributed and sold online, as well as how artists earn money when their music is sold online...
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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Fade Out
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Written by
Michael Nickolas
Fade Out |
Written by
Michael Nickolas
Can There Ever Be Too Much Music?
The good news is, as you can see from the pages of Recording Magazine, that there are many tools available that make music creation a simple and easy process. The bad news is that there are ......Expand
Can There Ever Be Too Much Music?
The good news is, as you can see from the pages of Recording Magazine, that there are many tools available that make music creation a simple and easy process. The bad news is that there are many tools available that make music creation a simple and easy process!
There is no doubt that these tools and the relative ease of creation they afford have resulted in a glut of music available on the market. You'll often hear composers lament that "everyone and their brother" now has a recording setup in their bedroom and are cranking out music tracks at a furious pace.
This overabundance of tracks has devalued music -- supply and demand, right? An old-timer used to get $1500 for a piece until a youngster came along and undersold him or her by offering similar music for $500. Now the youngsters are complaining because the latest group of creators are offering music for free...
Read more in the September 2011 issue of RECORDING!
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