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Lee du-Caine Editor
Issue 221 OCTOBER 2015
contents Producer masterclass
Cover feature
INSTANT 59 dlr
Find out how the DnB don puts together his cutting-edge tunes in this huge studio session video
Kickstart your creativity and get those tracks finished with our block-busting guide to getting things done, p36
Tutorial 63 1 0 weird tricks
Take a fresh look at production with these counter-intuitive mixing techniques
/experts
Tutorial 69 HOW TO USE serum
Use Xfer’s huge-hitting software synth like a pro with our guide
76
asy guide: e the circle of fifths
78
esigner sounds: d delayed filter zaps
Interview 84 gregor salto
80
GEEK TECHNIQUE: smooth mix tricks
82
r beat: d the ride cymbal
4 / Computer Music / October 2015
We quiz the big-time producer on the theory and practice behind his hits
WIN! A COMPLETE
STUDIO SETUP See page 34 for details
Download This issue’s exclusive free content from Computer Music
Step 1
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On your PC or Mac, go to vault.computermusic.co.uk, then either register for a new Vault account, or log in if you already have one.
Click ‘add a magazine’ in the top bar, select the issue you want to add to your Vault (eg, this issue is 221), and answer a few simple security questions.
Go to ‘my vault’ to see all your mags – click a cover and use the links to download! You can download as much or as little as you like.
IN THE VAULT THIS ISSUE
CrossDr CM
A powerful multiband effects plugin from Tek’it Audio is all yours with this issue of , p10
Samples Reviews 92
presonus studio one 3
94
u-he hive
96
aegean music spirit reverb
100 livid instruments base 2 101
audio assault xctr
PLUS 22 MORE products reviewed
970 sounds covered in lashings of electrical character. See what’s inside and how to get it all, p14
Tutorial videos High-quality videos to guide you through our tutorials. Wherever you see the icon on the left, there’s a video version to watch See this issue’s entire video content on the next pages
Essentials 22
news
28
what’s on your drive?
30
burning question
32
Subscribe
55
next issue
62
back issues
Tutorial files
A folder full of audio examples, synth patches and project files to help you follow our tutorials
114
BLAST FROM THE PAST: oscar
CM Plugins
Our exclusive collection of free plugins for Mac and PC. See what’s available on p16
This digital content has been thoroughly scanned and tested at all stages of production, but as with all new software, we still recommend that you run a virus checker before use. We also recommend that you have an up-to-date backup of your hard drive before using the content. Future cannot accept responsibility for any disruption, damage and/or loss to your data or computer system that may occur while using this magazine’s programs and/or data. Consult your network administrator before installing any software on a networked computer. If you have problems using our Vault download system, please contact vaultsupport@futurenet.com. * Please note that the Producer Masterclass video is not available as a download. From
221 onwards, this video is available via a streaming link.
October 2015 / Computer Music / 5
video
Log on at vault.computermusic.co.uk to download our exclusive video content
PLUS!
100
bonus videos in the Plugins Tutorial Bank See p16 for info
INSTANT 1 Starting a track with atmospheric sound layers
2 Remixing your own track
3 Creative MPC-style pad chopping
4 Kickstarting instrument parts using MIDI processing
Track-starting tactics Struggling to put the starting touches on a track? Here are some sure-fire routes to your destination Read the full article on p36
5 Spoken vocals as a starting point
6 Generating riffs from drum note data
7 Old-school happy accidents with samplers
8 Starting a track with the sounds around you
9 Building a hybrid groove from assorted loops
10 Building a whole loop from a single sample
11 Using old material from previous sessions
17 Randomising settings for interesting sounds
3 DAW templates and racks to get started fast
8 Tidying up a project for efficiency
9 Referencing mixes to stay on track
Workflow accelerators Crank it up a notch – get faster and make more music with these tips Read the full article on p44
6 / Computer Music / October 2015
video easy music theory tips Ten ideas for freshening up your musical approach Read the full article on p48
1 Instant riffs using arpeggios
inspiring plugins Get the juices flowing with these ten creative tools Read the full article on p46
2 Animating chord sequences with inversions 3 Changing a bass against repetitive chords
4 Arranging against the clock
5 Using one-note sequences effectively
2
Sugar Bytes Turnado
6 Borrowing chords from other keys
5 Audio Damage Automaton
Read the full article on p52 3 Using another track as a starting point
Kirnu Cream
4 Eurydice CM by Inear Display
Break out of the 8-bar habit and flesh out your tracks
4 Exploring new scales with modes
1
3 Argotlunar by Michael Ourednik
ARRANGEMENT METHODS
8 Using musical clichés to our advantage
7 Combining basic triads to construct polychords 8 Exciting melodies using interval leaps 9 Embellishing chords with extensions
track-FINISHING CHECKLIST
6
iZotope Stutter Edit
7
Sonic Charge Synplant
8
Celemony Melodyne
2 The all-important kick/bass relationship
9
Plogue Chispeech
6 Checking mono compatibility for solidity
10
Photosounder
10 Quickly working out pentatonic scales
You’ve started, so finish properly with this advice Read the full article on p54
8
Fixing digital artifacts
October 2015 / Computer Music / 7
video Go to vault.computermusic.co.uk and start downloading now Producer Masterclass*
DLR
CROSSDR CM Get going with your brilliant new multiband effects plugin from Tek’it Audio, free with this issue
We get the skinny on how the DnB merchant’s album track The Grip was made in Logic Pro
Read the full article on p10
Read the full article on p59
HOW TO USE SERUM Xfer’s world-beating synth plugin explained Read the full article on p69
1 Serum’s wavetable oscillators
2 Serum’s Presets, Global page and Voicing
3 Serum’s sub and noise oscillators
4
5 Using Serum’s Wavetable Editor
6
7
8 LFOs, envelopes and more
Using the Effects
8 / Computer Music / October 2015
Routing modulation
Serum’s filter section
*Please note that the Producer Masterclass video is not available as a download. 221 onwards, this video is available via a streaming link From
video Download these and more bonus videos onto your PC/Mac IRD D
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Read the full article on pxx
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for all via ad video Downlo PC or Mac o.uk your music.c ten on mputer vault.co
1 Sampling your own music for FX fodder
2 A quick tip for real-time reverse reverb
3 Abusing timestretching to add grit and character
4 Fudging dynamic EQ with automation
5 Sound design with distorted reverb
6 Faking reverb with dual synths
8 Misusing convolution processors for weird FX
9 Treble softening with vibrato
10 Stacking multiband filters to warp kick drums
WEIRD tRICKS FOR A BETTER MIX These innovative techniques could change the way you make music Read the full article on p63
7
Wild pitchbent delays
/experts EASY GUIDE
Designer sounds
GEEK TECHNIQUE
DR BEAT
The circle of fifths
delayed filter zaps
smooth mix tricks
the ride cymbal
Work out closely related keys and chords simply, and make better music
Discover how to create synthetic zaps using only effects plugins
Owen Palmer has the solution for a silkier, shinier top end
Exactly how and when to deploy this essential drum kit component
Read the full article on p76
Read Readthe thefull full article articleon onp78 pxx
Read the full article on p80
Read Readthe thefull full article articleon onp82 pxx
October 2015 / Computer Music / 9
> download / crossdr cm
>Exclusive full software
Tek’it Audio
CrossDr CM
download Get the plugin, the video and the Tutorial Files on PC/Mac at vault.computermusic.co.uk
Drive, warp, crunch and clip in up to three bands with this ingenious multiband multieffect, free and exclusive with this issue of Computer Music As you’re probably already aware, multiband processing involves splitting a signal into individual frequency bands, one or more of which can then be processed independently while leaving the rest of the signal unaffected. This method is usually associated with corrective, surgical treatments such as compression, but it’s also a brilliant technique for the sound designer: electronic producers, for example, will often split a bass signal into low, mid and high components so heavy sub
INPUT STAGE Boost or attenuate the input signal’s treble or bass, and set its overall level
frequencies can be left clean and powerful while the mids and highs are subjected to more extreme distortion, modulation and widening effects. Wouldn’t it be great if someone stuffed all this audio-manglin’, sound-designin’ goodness into one mighty plugin? They have: CrossDr CM, a powerful multiband multieffect plugin created by French software pros Tek’it Audio. CrossDr CM takes your input signal and routes it into three bands using resonant filters. Each band is
WARP Uses DC offset shifting for waveshaping-like effects and strange saturation
then subjected to a series of tasty processors: a warm drive stage, a mysterious ‘warp’ distortion algorithm, bit-rate reduction and digital clipping. Grrr! The processed bands can then each be panned and mixed back together, along with the dry signal if desired. It’s a creative, flavoursome effect that proves ideal for crunching up drum loops, dissecting and mangling bass signals, heating up pads, adding grunt and grit to vocals, and much more.
Once you’ve enjoyed the multiband madness of CrossDr CM, point your web browser towards Tek’it Audio’s website and peruse their treasure trove of creative plugins; there’s Neogen, a polyphonic morphing synth; 8kut 2, a performance-oriented frequency cutting tool; plus the FX Bundle 2, containing ten excellent effects plugins such as the Badass 2 distortion sequencer, Comp compressor and DlayR patternbased delay. Find them all at… www.tekit-audio.com
PRESET MENU Open the dropdown or use the arrows to choose presets. Hit the folder icon to save/load presets and banks
PER-BAND LEVEL Adjust each band’s output gain to mix them together
FILTER Each band features its own resonant filter - HP for the high band, BP for the mid, and LP for the lows
DRIVE Push each band into a tube distortion algorithm for a crunchy, clipped effect
OUTPUT LEVEL Set the plugin’s final output level here
CRUSH Induce digital degradation by reducing a band’s bit depth. Can be set to decimal values (eg 12.5) - unusual for a bitcrusher
10 / Computer Music / October 2015
CLIP Hard-clip a band’s waveform for extreme distorted timbres
PER-BAND BALANCE Pan each of the three bands around the stereo field
DRY SECTION Use the Level knob to increase the unprocessed signal’s level, and pan it with the Balance knob
crossdr cm / download < > Step by step Installing and using Tek’it Audio CrossDr CM
Tutorial
Files
1
4
7
To download the plugin, log in at vault.computermusic.co.uk, add this issue (221), then answer the security questions. You can now access this issue’s exclusive content. Download and extract Tek’it Audio CrossDr CM.zip, then copy the installation files into your plugin installation folder. CrossDr CM comes in VST 2, VST 3 and AU formats for Mac, and VST 2 and VST 3 formats for PC.
CrossDr CM comes bundled with 15 choice presets, and it’s quick and easy to save your own. Click the topcentre dropdown menu to open the preset menu. Select a preset by name, or scan through with the arrow buttons. Click the folder icon, found to the left, to save or load presets or banks.
Each of the three processing bands features its own biquad filter: a highpass for the high band, a band-pass for the mid band, and a low-pass for the low band. These aren’t crossover points, so the bands’ frequencies can overlap. Set a filter’s centre frequency with the Cutoff parameter (which ranges from 20Hz to over 20kHz), and apply between 0% and 100% resonance with the Q knob.
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CrossDr CM is an insert effect, so we’ll begin by putting the plugin to work over a basic synth loop. Drop Drum Loop.wav, found in the Tutorial Files folder, onto a new audio track in a 120bpm project, then open an instance of CrossDr CM on the channel.
Select the 01 Default preset to initialise the plugin. We’ll begin at the Input stage. The Treble (set at 12kHz) and Bass (set at 110Hz) dials allow you to boost or attenuate the input signal’s high or low frequencies on the way in – ranging from -12dB to +12dB. The Level knob, ranging from -72dB to +12dB, sets the input signal’s level. Double-click a knob to return it to its default value.
After the filter stage, a band’s signal passes into the Distortion section, first reaching the Drive stage. It’s based on the algorithm from Tek’it Audio’s Uinku plugin, which provides a soft-clipping/tube distortion effect. Increase the Drive knob to push a band’s signal into an analoguestyle drive algorithm, adding aggression to that band. This parameter ranges from 0dB to a maximum 30dB.
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The plugin’s interface gives us a visual representation of its signal flow. The input signal is divided into three parallel chains: high, mid and low. These signals each pass through their own resonant filter and a series of distortion, bitcrushing and clipping stages, before being panned, levelled and mixed together at the end. The dry signal can also be panned and mixed in with the three processed chains.
In its default state, CrossDr CM is outputting the high, mid, low and dry signals in parallel. As the plugin processes three bands in tandem, it can be tricky to follow each band’s effect. To help us hear what’s going on, we can simply solo a band by turning down the Level of the other bands to minimum.
The Warp effect will shift the DC offset of a band to create distortion; the mean amplitude is then taken back to zero using a high-pass filter. Usually, this is an undesired effect on an amplifier, but can produce interesting harmonics and timbre shifts.
October 2015 / Computer Music / 11
> download / crossdr cm > Step by step Installing and using Tek’it Audio CrossDr CM (continued)
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The signal next travels into the Crush section, which is effectively a bitdepth reducer. This parameter is set to 24.0 bits by default. Pull the knob anticlockwise to reduce that band’s bit depth to a minimum 1.0 bit, adding digital degradation and fuzz to a band’s signal. The bitcrusher can do fractional bitcrushing (eg 12.5 bits) – something not all bitcrushers are capable of.
16
The bottom Dry section is used to blend the unprocessed signal back in with the three processed bands. As with the separate bands, you can also Balance (ie pan) and Level this signal. All four signal streams funnel into the master Level knob, used to set the plugin’s final output gain.
Back the main Output off to -16 dB, then raise the input signal’s Treble to 4dB and Bass to 5dB. Pull the mid, low and Dry Level knobs down to minimum, so we can build the layers up one by one. We’ll create a crispy treble layer first – set the high band’s Drive to 15dB, Warp to 50%, Crush to 4.0 bits, and Clip to 33%, then set that band’s Level to 6dB.
12 / Computer Music / October 2015
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Next in the distortion chain is the Clip stage. At 100%, the signal is not clipped; at 0%, the signal is fully clipped. Pull this parameter anticlockwise to force the signal into the hard-clipping stage, which harshly clips the top off the incoming signal’s waveform.
Let’s put the plugin to use. Multiband distortion is perfect for adding grit, drive and timbral interest to synths and bass parts. Mute or delete the drum loop’s channel, then load CleanBass.wav onto a new audio track. Load a new instance of CrossDr CM on the channel, set its Output to -8dB, and send this to a return track containing a short high-passed reverb (CM Verb is ideal) to give the sound width.
Now to the mid band. Set its Level to 7.5dB, Drive to 2dB, Warp to 50%, and Crush to 10.0 bits. Now head to the low band, setting its Level to 12dB, with 4dB of Drive. To slightly pan the layers out in the stereo field, Balance the top band to -15% and the mid band to +15%. Turn the plugin on and off to compare our processed bass with the unprocessed signal – we’ve added drive and character.
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Once each band’s signal has passed through the Distortion stage, it reaches the Amp section, where the three parallel signals are mixed back together. The Balance knob sets a band’s pan amount, while the Level dial will set its output level from a minimum -72dB to a maximum 12dB.
Harsh distortion can remove low-end weight from a bass sound, so it’s often advised to drive the mids and tops harder than the sub element – this is easily accomplished with CrossDr CM. First, set the three bands’ filters: we’ll set the high band’s HP Cutoff to 183Hz, the mid band’s BP Cutoff to 800Hz, and the low band’s LP Cutoff to 500Hz.
Finally, note that CrossDr CM doesn’t have to split a signal into separate bands, meaning one band’s effects can be used to process an entire sound. Simply turn the mid, low and dry Level knobs down to minimum, and set the high band’s HP Cutoff to 0Hz before processing a signal with the high band’s effects.
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