Computer Music 293 (Sampler) by Future PLC

FREE

BITWIG STUDIO 8-TRACK DAW

3GB SAMPLES

INCLUDES THE FREE CM PLUGIN SUITE!

April 2021 / CM293

YOUR FREE VIRTUAL

STUDIO Make a track today with Bitwig’s amazing DAW

EXPERT GUIDES

STUDIO 8-TRACK

SEQUENCING > FM PERCUSSION

PLUS 3.1GB FREE SAMPLES

> CHORD THEORY >MODULAR

PRO TUTORIALS

RECORDING MASTERCLASS

Capture perfect vocals and master comping

welcome / computer music <

DOWNLOAD See page 87 to find out how to download this issue’s exclusive content

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Subscribe to Computer Music!

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See p68

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STUDIO 8-TRACK

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PLUS 3.1GB FREE SAMPLES PLUS 3.1GB FREE SAMPLES 1202 lirpA / 392MC UE eht ni edaM

Made in the EU CM293 / April 2021

Where to get

THIS IS A FUTURE COMPUTING DVD-ROM This disc has been PROBLEMS? If you have a query about using your disc’s interface or thoroughly scanned and tested at all stages of production, but as with its content, or any technical issues relating to your disc, please visit all new software, we still recommend that you run a virus checker our readers’ support website at www.futureplc.com/disc-support before use. We also recommend that you have an up-to-date backup where you can find solutions to many common problems. Alternatively, of your hard disk before using this disc. Future Publishing cannot accept contact us by sending an email to computermusic@futurenet.com responsibility for any disruption, damage and/or loss to your data or and we’ll help you out. Please note that we can’t give technical support computer system that may occur while using this DVD, or the programs over the telephone. In the unlikely event of your disc being physically and data on it. Consult your network administrator before installing any damaged, we’ll send you a new, working version within 28 days. We software on a networked PC. recommend you copy any required folders from the DVD to your hard drive before use.

STUDIO 8-TRACK

PLUS! 94 MORE CM PLUGINS INSTRUMENTS AND EFFECTS INCLUDED AT FILESILO.CO.UK

make a track with our tutorial

Two new sample packs Loopmasters samples Sample Market samples Vault: Reverser

BITWIG 8-TRACK 3.1 GB SAMPLES Download this great DAW and

in stores and online

WINTER ATMOSPHERE

CHILLED PADS

myfavouritemagazines.com CM PLUGINS COLLECTION

PRO-QUALITY SOUNDS

DVD CMU293.dvd_cover.indd 1

ZINIO for PC, Mac, Android, iPad & more

One of the things I’ve felt guilty about over the last (bloody) year of oft-enforced extra time is not learning a foreign language, not becoming a gourmet cook and not becoming such an ‘expert’ in contagions and viruses that I can spout off on social media about them every day. I’ve been so lazy I’ve not even bothered joining any conspiracy movements. In fact, all I’ve really done is eat way too many chocolate Mini Eggs and watch way too many Netflix sci-fi series… many of which are strangely based on the end of the world. One thing that slightly balances it all back in my favour is learning how to use another DAW. I used to be against the enforced learning of one piece of software that can do something you’ve already learned to do with another piece of software… until I did it. I used to stick rigidly to Logic and Live, but then I discovered Gadget, Studio One, Tracktion and more and realised that, not only does learning another DAW fill you with a certain smugness, but, actually, it can give you a totally different perspective on music production. Using Bitwig Studio on a touch screen tablet PC, for example – when I’m used to using a mouse on an annoyingly non-touchscreen Mac – was such a revelation that I thought I’d been transported to the 25th century. So make the most of our giveaway this issue and use your time more wisely than me. I would recommend Dark though. And The Good Place. And seasons 6-11 of Cheers. And all of The Bridge. And…

“Way too many Mini Eggs and Netflix sci-fi”

zinio.com

iOS APP STORE

GOOGLE PLAY

for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch

for Android & Chrome for PC/Mac

computermusic.co.uk/cmdigital

play.google.com

27/01/2021 11:37

welcome

Andy Jones Editor andy.jones@futurenet.com

ISSUE 293 APRIL 2021

contents

Cover feature

/experts Make a track with

BITWIG STUDIO

8-TRACK

A complete tune in no time! P16

Features 42 HOW TO RECORD VOCALS After last month’s Recording Special it’s time to deal with the most important ‘instrument’ of all…

48 THE ART OF COMPING And once you have recorded many vocal takes – or other audio – here’s how to comp the best together

/ Interviews

62 SONGWRITING ‘Borrowed’ composition advice from Dave Clews

64 SEQUENCING PT2 Scot Solida follows up part 1 in a logical way

66 PRODUCTION The Audiotent experts on creating FM beats

Producer Masterclass 32 FOURWARD The Austrian drum & bass artists break down a track and reveal some amazing production advice…

Reviews 748 ORCHESTRAL TOOLS MODUS

97 BACK ISSUES

12 AMIRALI After his head-turning debut,

788 BABY AUDIO SPACED OUT

684 SUBSCRIBE 98 NEXT MONTH

808 SOUNDMORPH DUST

54 UÈLE LAMORE The Parisian who’s taking

828 NUGEN AUDIO PARAGON

classical composition into the electronic realm

The platinum-selling hip-hop producers on… Garageband

Essentials 6 NEWS

768 THE 6 BEST… BASS PLUGINS

94 DILIP & OTXHELLO

72 IK MULTIMEDIA AMPLITUBE 5

From hip-hop uber producers to classical electronica, via Iranian ‘weird’ grooves

he’s back after a decade!

848SOUNDWARE REVIEWS

4 / COMPUTER MUSIC / April 2021

downloads / contents <

downloads

Get this month’s content from filesilo.co.uk – see p87

free plugin BITWIG 8-TRACK A complete DAW to download and a massive tutorial to help you make a track today… for free See p16 for more

free samples CHILLED PADS

ALL NEW + CM CLASSICS WINTER ATMOSPHERE

Two all-new chilled sample packs plus some reverse classics On this month’s DVD or download from File Silo (see p87)

free videos PRODUCTION ON FILM

Modular, Producer Masterclass, Bitwig and songwriting tutorials come alive on video Download via File Silo (see p87)

plugin suite THE CM PLUGIN SUITE

DOWNLOAD

An all-new PDF detailing the complete Plugin Suite of instruments and effects Download from File Silo (see p87) April 2021 / COMPUTER MUSIC / 5

> cover feature / make a track with bitwig studio 8-track

Make a track with

BITWIG STUDIO

8-TRACK

Get to know this month’s cool free DAW by making a complete track!

16 / COMPUTER MUSIC / April 2021

make a track with bitwig studio 8-track / cover feature <

This month we have a rather excellent giveaway. Bitwig Studio 8-Track is a crossplatform DAW for Windows, OS X and Linux and is an entry level version of Bitwig’s feature-packed DAW. But when we say entry level, all that means is that it has some intentional limitations such as overall track count, effects sends and bundled content. Beyond these it still looks and behaves just like the full version. This means you can take full advantage of Bitwig’s simple drag and drop workspace, its powerful modulation system and of course its blended timeline and clip launching options. The 8-Track licence authorises the Essentials

software pack, which includes Bitwig-ready loops, various sound generating devices such as the excellent Drum Machine, FM-4 and Polysynth, and a bunch of Bitwig’s own processors. These are all supported by an extensive set of production-ready presets and a powerful browser. In our tutorial, we’ll build a track from scratch, using components from the Essentials bundle as well as some choice sounds, instruments and effects from our very own Studio. This is available from filesilo. co.uk/ComputerMusic and to follow the tutorial you need to install two instruments (DopeVST Beat Machine CM and Dmitry Sches Thorn CM) and four effects (Surreal Machines microfuse,

OverTone DSP PTH2A-CM, D16 Frontier, PSP cmDelay). You can follow the various steps as closely as you like, or simply open the included tutorial song to see what we did. To get started visit the link in the ‘Bitwig 8-track instructions’ document at FileSilo.co.uk (sorry, we have to place it there to stop piracy). You’ll get a code emailed to you. You are now ready to start our tutorial! Your registered copy provides a discounted upgrade path to both Studio 16-Track and the full version, Bitwig Studio. BItwig is a little like two sequencers within one DAW, and this makes it one of the most creative and intuitive ones we’ve used. But you don’t have to take our word for it, dive in! April 2021 / COMPUTER MUSIC / 17

> producer masterclass / fourward

Producer Masterclass

FOURWARD

Austrian drum&bass stars Fourward take us through some of their production techniques in an exclusive video and over the following in-depth workshops…

32 / COMPUTER MUSIC / April 2021

fourward / producer masterclass <

Austrian producers Fourward started making their successful brand of drum&bass back in 2007. They began as a four-piece comprising Dominik Rank, Ludwig List, Lukas Roher and Niklas Bruckne but are now producing as the duo with List and Roher, who pick up their story.… “We have been friends for years and also shared the same interests in music and DJing back then. “Over the years we’ve released music on labels like Shogun Audio, Elevate, Vision, Virus, Mainframe, Eatbrain, Subsonik Sound, Planet Funk or Fokuz. “In 2019 Dominik and Niklas left the group but we (Lukas and Ludwig) still keep pushing the Fourward sound and are looking forward to releasing fresh music hopefully this year.”

Fourward have released three albums so far, including last year’s critically acclaimed Lose Control on Elevate. They have also remixed and collaborated with some of the biggest artists in drum&bass (and beyond) including Moby, Foreign Beggars, Mefjus, Friction and Icicle. Over the following pages and in an exclusive video (see link on next page), they detail some of their production skills used on the single How (ft. Dakota Sixx) from Lose Control. Before that, however, we catch up with both Lukas and Ludwig to talk gear, studio advice, the band’s detailed studio and mixing production tricks, and how the future of music could involve DAWs controlled by the mind. You heard it here first…

April 2021 / COMPUTER MUSIC / 33

tutorials <

Become a better producer now with pro advice, expert videos and audio examples from our gurus

Easy Guide

Songwriting with Dave Clews

Modular Masterclass

Monthly synth work with Scot Solida

Production and Sound Design with Audiotent

Can I borrow some chords please?

The sequencer part 2

Designing percussion

Dave guides you away from the same old chords by showing you how to steal, sorry, borrow others…

There’s only one way for Scot to follow up last time’s Sequencers Pt 1 tutorial. Welcome to Sequencers Pt 2

It’s time to learn how to create your own hits – percussion hits that is – with our easy guide April 2021 / COMPUTER MUSIC / 61

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CMU293.dvd_cover.indd 1

27/01/2021 11:37

DVD SDNUOS YTILAUQ-ORP

NOITCELLOC SNIGULP MC

DELLIHC SDAP EREHPSOMTA RETNIW

ART-8 GIWTIB SELPMAS BG 1.3 KC dna WAD taerg siht daolnwoD skcap elpmas wen owT selpmas sretsampooL selpmas tekraM elpmaS resreveR :tluaV

lairotut ruo htiw kcart a ekam

STUDIO 8-TRACK

STNEMURTSNI SNIGULP MC EROM 49 !SULP KU.OC.OLISELIF TA DEDULCNI STCEFFE DNA

PLUS 3.1GB FREE SAMPLES PLUS 3.1GB FREE SAMPLES 1202 lirpA / 392MC UE eht ni edaM

Made in the EU CM293 / April 2021

PROBLEMS? If you have a query about using your disc’s interface or its content, or any technical issues relating to your disc, please visit our readers’ support website at www.futureplc.com/disc-support where you can find solutions to many common problems. Alternatively, contact us by sending an email to computermusic@futurenet.com and we’ll help you out. Please note that we can’t give technical support over the telephone. In the unlikely event of your disc being physically damaged, we’ll send you a new, working version within 28 days. We recommend you copy any required folders from the DVD to your hard drive before use.

PRINT ONLY THIS IS A FUTURE COMPUTING DVD-ROM This disc 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 disk before using this disc. Future Publishing cannot accept responsibility for any disruption, damage and/or loss to your data or computer system that may occur while using this DVD, or the programs and data on it. Consult your network administrator before installing any software on a networked PC.

STUDIO 8-TRACK

£22.70

Two new sample packs Loopmasters samples Sample Market samples Vault: Reverser

PLUS! 94 MORE CM PLUGINS INSTRUMENTS AND EFFECTS INCLUDED AT FILESILO.CO.UK

Download this great DAW and make a track with our tutorial

BITWIG 8-TRACK 3.1 GB SAMPLES WINTER ATMOSPHERE

CHILLED PADS

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CM PLUGINS COLLECTION

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April 2021 / COMPUTER MUSIC / 69

reviews <

The latest computer music gear tested and rated! Our promise We bring you honest, unbiased appraisals of the latest computer music products. Our experts apply the same stringent testing methods to all gear, no matter how much hype or expectation surrounds it.

What the ratings mean 1-4 A seriously flawed product that should be avoided

This product’s problems

A decent product that’s only

7 8

Solid. Well worth considering

Very good. A well-conceived

Excellent. First-rate and

outweigh its merits held back by a few flaws

72 IK MULTIMEDIA AMPLITUBE 5

and executed product

One of the first ever emulations of pretty much anything gets updated to version five, but is this amp simulation a stimulation?

among the best you can buy

10 Exceptional. It just doesn’t get any better than this!

74 Orchestral Tools Modus

76 The 6 Best: bass plugins

78 Baby Audio Spaced Out

80 SoundMorph Dust

82 Nugen Audio Paragon

84 Soundware roundup

Awarded to products that challenge existing ideas and do something entirely new

A product has to really impress us with its functionality and features to win this one

If the product exceeds expectations for its price, it will receive this gong

In the opinion of the Editor, the best product reviewed in the magazine this month

April 2021 / COMPUTER MUSIC / 71

downloads <

downloads

Get this month’s content from filesilo.co.uk

free plugin BITWIG STUDIO 8-TRACK

Create a complete track with our free DAW this month – go back to p16!

free samples

CHILLED PADS WINTER ATMOSPHERE

WINTER SOUNDS, REVERSE AND MORE! We have some amazing chilly and backwards samples for you… for free

The home of great downloads, exclusive to your favourite magazines Secure and safe online access, from anywhere Free access for every reader – print and digital Download only the files you want, when you want All the downloads from all your issues, in one place

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free videos

TRACK PRODUCTION SPECIAL… ON FILM

Compose a complete track for free and watch the pros in action this month

Register your FileSilo account and log in. Even if you have a subscriber ID, you’ll still have to unlock each mag separately or migrate your old Vault account (see step 3)

plugin suite

THE CM PLUGIN SUITE

An in-depth guide to all of the plugins in our Plugin Suite can be found as a PDF at filesilo.co.uk

Log in at filesilo.co.uk/computermusic Register this issue for instant access to our plugins, samples, videos and files on your desktop computer

Free for digital readers, too!

Head back to the Computer Music page (filesilo.co.uk/computermusic) and choose an issue to unlock. You’ll need to answer one question to prove you’ve purchased the issue

Read on your tablet, download on your computer

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BACK ISSUES Catch up on what you’ve missed – all of these issues include FileSilo downloads!

ISSUE 292

ISSUE 291

ISSUE 290

ISSUE 289

ISSUE 288

ISSUE 287

• Essential Recording Masterclass for guitar, bass and drums • FREE Simple Concept synth from Krotos, worth $24 • Krust interview

• Fix Your Mix – pro studio results using the Plugin Suite • FREE! IK Syntronik OXA worth €59.99 • Philth, Claude VonStroke and Kelly Lee Owens

• Ableton Live 11 and Cubase 11 – an in-depth preview of what’s new • FREE! Noizz sub • Roisin Murphy and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

• The 100 Greatest Apps for Music Making. DAWS, synths, drums and more! • FREE! Kilohearts Slice EQ worth $79 • 3000 free samples • Solardo Masterclass

• Play Keys Like A Pro – our massive keyboard skills workout for all levels • SynthWave Keys offer worth $79 • Chillout sample special • Hot Chip interview

• Synth Special – make great synth tunes and even better sounds! • SynthMaster Player offer worth $29 • $19 Pro Sample Pack • Holly Herndon interview

ISSUE 286

ISSUE 285

ISSUE 284

ISSUE 283

ISSUE 282 June 2020

May 2020

• Make Better Electronic Beats guide – create, sequence and mix • Amped Studio DAW offer worth $50 (open to 30/9/20) • Ultimate Beats DVD with 6,500 samples

• Logic vs Live – Logic’s latest update pitted against Ableton Live • FREE compressor worth €50 + 2,000 samples • 22-page guide to getting perfect acoustic drums

• Logic Goes Live – Logic Pro X 10.5 explored • FREE Baby Audio delay plugin + $20 pro pack • Sleaford Mods interview • Comprehensive guide to mastering bass

• Make a Track – from start to finish • Interviews with Sub Focus and John Foxx and The Maths • Loopcloud offer worth £35 and other freebies

• 90s Special – era-specific gear, top tips and sounds • 7GB of samples! • Ferry Corsten and Black Box interviews • FREE Pro sample pack worth $20

• Make Music for Free – build a complete studio, for literally nothing • Audified Tonespot CM • The Orb interview • Make EDM, techno and house tracks… for free!

March 2021

October 2020

February 2021

September 2020

January 2021

August 2020

MORE BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE Vault downloads available only from

182 onwards. See bit.ly/cmvaultfaq.

December 2020

July 2020

November 2020

Autumn 2020

ISSUE 281

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> next month

Next issue

The feature we’ve all been waiting for…

40 THE

GREATEST

SYNTH SOUNDS OF ALL TIME

And how to recreate them using the CM Plugin Suite You voted… and now we can reveal the 40 most popular synth sounds of all time. Best of all, we show you step-by-step and on video, how to recreate these iconic sounds using nothing but the free synths from our mighty CM Plugin Suite!

ON SALE

WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH

PLUS!

Strings Part 3

Modular Effects

Top interviews

Creating realistic string sounds the easy way

How to use a modular synth setup – hard or soft – as an effects rack

Mogwai | Blay Vision Roosevelt

98 / COMPUTER MUSIC / April 2021