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Autumn 2017 / CM248
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Issue 248
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Although it’s entirely possible to create entire tracks using ready-rolled loops, premade samples and presets created by others, there’s something extra-satisfying about producing with sounds you’ve designed yourself. By building a synth patch, kick drum or processing chain from the ground up, the element in question will slot straight into a mix, as you can customise every aspect to your taste. It’s how the pros find their signature sounds – and you can do the same with this jam-packed special issue! All of this month’s features lift the lid on inspiring sound design techniques tailored to help you create better music that’s unique to your style. After delving deep into Rhythmic Synthesis (p22) and Spaced-Out Sound Design (p36), we’ll hit record and build a varied array of synth patches in a series of Freeform Sessions (p43). Then there’s a creative workshop and 90-minute video with techno pro Secret Cinema (p50), who epitomises the modern approach of combining outboard with software. And following his modular insights, we unravel our virtual patch cables Plugins Modular for an in-depth Masterclass (p63). Before I go, join me in bidding a fond farewell to Resound, who’s leaving the Studio Strategies chair after this issue. Keep your eyes peeled next month, Expert steps up! when a brand new In the meantime, have fun cooking up new sounds, and…
“It’s how the pros find their signature sounds”
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Issue 248 Autumn 2017
contents
Cover feature
50
86
Producer Masterclass 50 secret cinema
Get the juices flowing and make your best sounds yet with our three-part course, p22
Features 22 Rhythmic synthesis Get your sounds pumping to tempo with our advice
36 spaced-out sound design
The Dutch Techno icon lifts the lid on his music making mantras as he deconstructs his track Ex-Drummer
Feature 63 plugins modular session Our masterclass gets you patching with our free plugin collection
Push reverb and delay plugins to creative extremes
Interview
43 freeform sessions
78 JUNKIE XL
We roll the cameras and design some patches
The man who remixed the king turned tail for Hollywood and is still going strong as a top soundtrack composer
Reviews
/experts
86 audio damage phosphor 2
Your guides for the ever-expanding world of production are here 72 easy guide Get the music theory at work behind jazz harmony
72
90 tokyo dawn labs limiter 6 ge
78 Essentials 10 news 16 freeware news 18 What’s on your hard drive? 47 NEXT MONTH 48 SUBSCRIBE 114 BLAST: tascam portastudio
94 softube tape 97 elysia karacter
Ilpo check out mix bus compression
98 overtone dsp eq4000
76 dr beat Get the secrets behind programming disco grooves
88 waves brauer motion
92 serato sample
74 s tudio strategies
88
76
4 / Computer Music / Autumn 2017
101 MINI REVIEWS
114
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TUTORIAL VIDEO
FREE PLUGIN
Fremo HoRNet’s FreMo is a power-packed ring modulation and frequency modulation plugin, yours for free with this issue, p60 SAMPLE PACKS
1950 free samples
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 TUTORIAL FILES
This month’s dripping with free samples – Deep Chords and Stabs, Remix Toolkit Pt 2, ChilledOut Electronica Pt 1, and loads from Loopmasters, p104
PLUGIN COLLECTION
CM Plugins Our exclusive collection of free plugins for Mac and PC. Check ‘em out on p107
Tutorial files A folder full of audio examples, synth patches and project files to help you follow our tutorials 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 FileSilo download system, let us know at filesilohelp@futurenet.com
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SOUND
DESIGN INSPIRATION
Technical, tactical and creative strategies to help you craft mix-ready sounds from the ground up
Read the full article on p22
1 LFO 101 – understanding modulation basics
2 Draw-your-own modulation basics
5 Meta-modulation – modulating the modulators
6 Acidic saw line with Bazille CM’s sequencer
7 Sequencing groovy noise with rhythmic automation
8 Stepped modulation: breathing life into a sample
9 Instant chiptune arp chords with miniBit CM
10 Sequenced randomisation in Bitwig
17 Wacky sound design with convolution processing
21 Bespoke beats with the ‘bounce as you go’ method
22 Sequencer-driven bass grooves
23 Crafting a soaring synth sweep with Dune CM
24 Timbral timestretching with Serato Sample
25 Synthesising from scratch in an arrangement
6 / Computer Music / Autumn 2017
video
Producer Masterclass
secret cinema In this in-studio video, Jeroen Verheij shows us how he put together his track Ex-Drummer in Bitwig Studio 2 Note: this video is only available using the link on page 51 Read the full article on p50 Autumn 2017 / Computer Music / 7
video
This issue’s videos are now available from FileSilo – see p5 Read the full article on p60
FreMo
This frequency- and ring-modulator is yours for free
CM plugins MODULAR masterclass Become a master of the virtual cables and make your most interesting patches yet with our course Read the full article on p63
3
EASY GUIDE
/experts Our resident music production gurus walk you through their specialist field every month
Self-generating sounds
STUDIO STRATEGIES
5 Berlin School sequencing with Bazille CM
DR BEAT
basic jazz harmony
mix bus compression
classic disco
Take your progressions to sevenths heaven – Dave shows you how
Ilpo shows us three tactics for gluing entire tracks together
The art of disco beats deconstructed in this piano roll primer
Read the full article on p72 8 / Computer Music / Autumn 2017
Read the full Read the full article on p74 article on pxx
Read the full article on p76
> news / first look
FIRST LOOK Native Instruments
MASCHINE MK3 & KOMPLETE KONTROL MK2 NI update their core controllers with a focus on aesthetic and workflow
Design Both controllers have a sleek, industrial new look with clear and simplified interfaces
wheels & STRIP Physical pitch and mod wheels sit above a horizontal touchstrip
KOMPLETE KONTROL MK2 Like the originals, the Mk2 S Series controllers are designed for tight integration with NI’s Komplete instruments and effects, along with the growing list of NKS-compatible plugins. This workflow is facilitated by two hi-res colour screens, which make interacting with the Komplete Kontrol software browser far more visually engaging. A four-direction push encoder and several multipurpose buttons have
been added, too, which – coupled with the existing touch-sensitive rotaries – allow for considerably deeper parameter control without the need to rely on a computer screen. It’s not all about Komplete, though: the controllers also integrate with Logic, Live and GarageBand (with more DAWs to follow), offering tight interaction with each’s mixer section. The Komplete Kontrol software also
offers a new preview mode, giving a taste of instrument presets via a pre-rendered audio file, speeding up the auditioning process. Physical pitch and mod wheels are now present, joined by an assignable touchstrip. Elsewhere, the Fatar keybed remains, and the scale-highlighting Light Guide is slightly improved. 49- and 61-key models are set to arrive on Oct 5th, priced £479 and £559.
“The controllers also integrate with Logic, Live and GarageBand, offering tight interaction with each DAW’s mixer section” 10 / Computer Music / Autumn 2017
first look / news <
MASCHINE MK3 Along with a modernised look, the big addition for Maschine Mk3 is a built-in audio interface. This adds line in and out pairs, a mic input (but no phantom power), headphone out and footswitch input alongside the existing MIDI ports. Impressively, it weighs the same as its predecessor, and it’s still powered via USB – although Mk3 ships with an optional power supply for brighter screens and backlighting.
The screens are now larger, and full colour. The pads have been completely overhauled, too: they’re bigger and more responsive, making two-fingered drumming much easier while keeping the centre-to-centre positioning of previous models so not to mess with existing users’ muscle memory. Elsewhere, new Mode buttons make accessing keyboard and chord modes easier; a
four-direction push encoder speeds up browsing; the new Smart Strip brings some of Maschine Jam functionality, including parameter locking/morphing, performance effects, and the ability to ‘strum’ instruments and samples; and the eight rotaries are now touch sensitive. The accompanying software gains a new bass synth, but that’s about it. The Mk3 arrives Oct 5th, priced £479.
Maschine screens The larger, full-colour screens match those found on Maschine Studio
Push encoders Both controllers gain multi-function ‘push encoders’ for browsing, navigation and track selection
Maschine pads Maschine’s pads are larger and more responsive, making them easier to play
cm gets hands-on… After a quick test drive, it’s clear that Maschine Mk3 and Komplete Kontrol Mk2 have been designed in tandem, in terms of both aesthetics and workflow. We particularly enjoyed using KK Mk2’s screen and rotaries for basic Maschine editing and mixing. Ergonomically, Maschine Mk3 keeps both your hands busier as you perform. It requires less function/shift presses thanks to the dedicated Mode buttons above the 4x4 pads; the Smart Strip lets you strum or morph with your left hand; and the newlyenlarged Note Repeat button on the left (“the 17th pad”, say NI) is great for punching in rolls and fills. Macro assignment is now way more intuitive thanks to that instant touch encoder assignment. And although we didn’t get a chance to test Maschine’s onboard audio interface to its fullest, it definitely kicked out plenty of volume! All in all, our first impressions are positive. Stay tuned for full reviews next issue!
Autumn 2017 / Computer Music / 11
> news
New releases • comment • industry happenings
Toontrack Superior Drummer 3 The biggest hitters in virtual drums strike back! Drum roll articulation, please… Virtual drum kits provide the backbone for countless bedroom projects and big-budget productions alike. Now, one of the key players in the virtual drum world, Toontrack, have rolled out Superior Drummer 3, a huge overhaul of their flagship product. Toontrack enlisted legendary engineer George Massenburg (who, incidentally, invented the parametric equaliser) to capture the raw drum samples constituting SD3’s core library. The recording location, Galaxy Studios in Belgium, is also of the best-of-the-best variety: “probably the world’s most quiet and ideal location for sampling.” So, about that library. It weighs in at a drive-shattering 230GB, featuring not just close mics and ambience/overhead setups but also 11 additional room mics. These give up to 11.1 surround playback – they work in stereo too, of course. There are 6 drum kits (Ayotte, Gretsch, Pearl, Premier, Ludwig and Yamaha), with additional kicks, snares and cymbals. You also get around 350 drum machine hits, marking a departure from the strickly wood ’n’ metal sound sources of previous Superior Drummers. The Mixer contains 35 effects, dwarfing v2’s paltry fivesome. Under the Grooves tab, there’s the Tap2Find feature from EZdrummer 2 – tap in a rhythm to reveal the
Have Toontrack won the virtual drum battle with SD3? Time – and our review – will tell
closest matching MIDI groove. The completely new MIDI Grid Editor allows per-note pattern editing. One Toontrack product we’d forgotten all about is the now-discontinued DrumTracker, a tool for converting drum recordings to MIDI. The concept is reborn with SD3’s integrated Tracker, a tool that takes raw drum tracks and replaces the hits with corresponding MIDI-triggered Superior sounds.
Other features include a resizable interface, sample import, macro controls, and improved pitch editing, bringing Superior 3 right up to the front in the drum ROMpling race. Out now, Superior Drummer 3 costs £287; £147 to upgrade from SD2; £217 for EZdrummer 2 owners; and an additional £165 to get it on an SSD drive. URL www.timespace.com
Universal Audio UAD 9.3 Five new plugins join the ranks of Universal Audio’s DSP platform. UA’s officially sanctioned emulation of the classic Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay (£149) leads the way – this one’s most closely associated with U2 string stroker The Edge. Elsewhere, Softube have dug up the 1984 Dytronics Cylosonic Panner (£115) for the full emulation treatment. “Bidirectional Round Sound” panning provides “a 3D sound stage unlike any other auto-panner.” A UAD version of Sonnox’s Oxford Dynamic EQ (£189) joins the gang, and Brainworx weigh in with their tenth virtual amp 12 / Computer Music / Autumn 2017
Korg is the latest brand to appear on the UAD-2 platform
for UAD, an official ENGL Savage 120 (£115) sim. Finally, there’s the AMS RMX16 Expanded Digital Reverb, which adds nine “rare, custom programs” to the existing AMS RMX16, “doubling the sonic possibilities.” It’s £260, to buy new. URL www.uaudio.com