Computer Music September 2021
Computer Music's goal is to help its readers create great music with a PC or Mac. Each month find easy-to-follow tutorials for all sorts of music software, unbiased reviews of the latest products and answers to technical questions. Our Zinio edition does not include the DVD but it DOES INCLUDE the full software, samples and tutorial files to download. Full details inside. Download does not include Producer Masterclass in-studio video. This digital edition is not printable.
in this issue
welcome
“Presets are great, using a mouse is sh*t” Lining up classic synth hardware against desktop and iOS emulations seemed like the greatest – not to mention easiest – feature idea ever for Computer Music. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? Firstly, tracking down the original hardware turned out be harder than anticipated – we had to borrow a Minimoog in the end (which our synth expert Dave Gale is still desperately trying to cling on to). And then there’s the small matter of trying to recreate an identical sound in software to that on hardware. I had the task of doing that with an ARP Odyssey (the latest Korg version) and let me tell you, it’s impossible. The slightest nudge on the original’s fader sent the sound completely out of…
amps up to 11 (and some)…
They say that waiting for a news story about a guitar effect or amp plugin emulation is like waiting for a bus. Actually, no they don’t. We’re inundated with these kinds of stories all the time. In fact, here’s three of them… First up from United Plugins is Electrum, which the collective describe as ‘the mother of all guitar amps’. Well, why not? What we like about Electrum straight off the bat is that it is not just another attempt to simulate a Marshall amp – there are certainly enough of those out there, as this news story will very soon demonstrate. Instead, Electrum is a set of non Marshall- specific guitar effects and emulations – cabs, compressor, gate, distortion, pedals and much more – all accessible from a single screen and…
app watch
SynthMaster2 Having tested the iOS waters with ports of SynthMaster One and SynthMaster Player, KV331 have now dived right in and released SynthMaster 2, their flagship plugin synth, for the iPad. The feature set is said to be just as good as in the desktop version, so you can expect multimode oscillators, wave file import, filters, masses of modulation, an arp/sequencer and effects. SynthMaster for iOS will run standalone and as an AUv3 and has a regular price of £25/$25. However, it’s on sale for £15/$15 until the start of September. kv331audio.com/synthmasterios.aspx Hammerhead 25 years ago, Bram Bos released a desktop drum machine, Hammerhead Rhythm Station, which helped to introduce a whole generation to computer music making. Now it’s back on iOS. The new Hammerhead features the original’s mid-90s groovebox sounds, but offers more…
get with the programmers
How did you get into music software? DA “I’ve been interested in music and noise for as long as I can remember. This led to me studying music composition and technology at university. My first taste of programming came from Max MSP. It helped me understand about sound while forcing me to learn how different processes worked. I joined a master’s course and learnt a great deal more about technology, C++ and started to create my first plugins. I find music fascinating and the use of C++ allows me to alter and change sounds in ways that I never could have imagined. Now with Caelum Audio, I can bring those sounds to others!” How did you become successful? DA “We have just evolved organically from two friends from uni having conversations at the…
10 years back
“Five years ago, many journalists were poised to hammer the last nail into the coffin of house music,” we said in September 2011 ( 168), “but once again, rumours of dance music’s demise were greatly exaggerated.” House music is still very much with us today, of course, though its tropical strain has certainly tried our patience over the past few years. “If you’re still making music on the computer you had in 2011, we’re full of admiration” Elsewhere, we asked if it was possible to future-proof your studio – if you’re still making music on the computer you had in 2011, we’re full of admiration – and rising star Emika bemoaned “the slow decline of vinyl”. That’s certainly been reversed over the past decade – in fact, the CD is now more…
a free spring in your step
On the page that is fast becoming the regular slot for freeware (OK it’s happened twice), we’re pleased to announce a free spring reverb by the name of VREV-666 from Fuse Audio Labs. The plugin is based on a rare 60s spring reverb built for the BBC, and features the simple controls and ‘unpredictable vibes’ of the original unit. “When it comes to ambience, spring reverb is the ultimate playground for creative endeavours,” says Fuse’s CEO Reimund Dratwa. “We’re delighted to make the original vintage character of this juicy reverb available for everybody for free.” https://fuseaudiolabs.com…
