ENHANCED EDITION WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO | S Issue 288
Making the future since 1992
Technique and technology for making music The
Synth ISSUE
The world’s most powerful synths go head-to-head | Rare factory tours and designer interviews | The ultimate guide to CV & MORE
THE TRACK
Melé
Watch the British beatmaker break apart his new track The Ritzy on video
EXCLUSIVE SAMPLEPACK 1l
EXCLUSIVE SAMPLEPACK 2l
Sci-Fi Toplines
Fuzz-Psych
Tutorial videos
Layer on a dose of retro-futuristic funk
Psychedelic distortion effects aplenty
Producer’s Guide to the Sub 37 & loads more
ENHANCED EDITION WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO Issue 288
Making the future since 1992
Technique and technology for making music The
Synth ISSUE
The world’s most powerful synths go head-to-head | Rare factory tours and designer interviews | The ultimate guide to CV & MORE
Synth demos | REVIEWs |
IN HE STUDIO
studio TECHNIQUE
Mid/side masterclass Get creative with this powerful mix technique
IN the studio with
BASEMENT JAXX// PANDA BEAR
The studio secrets of the UK Dance icons and the Animal Collective innovator
“Without doubt the most elegantly simple yet deep synth I have ever programmed.” James Wiltshire, The Freemasons
“It’s a really cool synth and I’ll be using this a lot in the studio and on stage.” Richard Barbieri “Distills the essence of the Lead 4 into something that’s fun, intuitive and addictive.” Future Music Magazine
“Creative, addictive, simple and a joy to use.” MusicTech Magazine
“A gorgeous-sounding synthesizer ... like its big sister the Lead 4, it’s an inspiration machine” Keyboard Mag
TECHNOLOGY
Nord is distributed in the UK by Sound Technology Ltd. Please call 01462 480000 for more information.
The Lead A1 combines our latest analogue modelling engine with a streamlined user interface for fast-track programming. Whatever your synth programming experience, the Lead A1 is an addictive instrument delivering sensational sonic results.
Discover the Nord synthesizer range:
ww
www.nordkeyboards.co.uk
nordkeyboardsuk Handmade in Sweden by Clavia DMI AB
NEW
PULSE 2
ANALOG SYNTH
SOMETIMES THEY DO COME BACK, AND THIS TIME, IT’S WITH EVEN MORE BRUTE-STRENGTH POWER ONBOARD Pulse 2 is a complete analog synthesizer that accurately delivers what synthesizer enthusiasts around the world truly crave. Three analog oscillators in combination with a true analog cascading filter is what Pulse and Pulse 2 have in common. But we didn’t stop there. The filter circuits now also offer Highpass and Bandpass modes.
NEW
WALDORF 2-POLE
ANALOG FILTER
WALDORF STREICHFETT
NEW
STRING SYNTHESIZER
2-Pole is giving the guitar player, the DJ, or the keyboard player access to the heart of the Waldorf sound - with an inspiring user interface with a one knob function philosophy.
Combining the best of the now extinct string Synthesizers of the 70s and early 80s. Dual sound engines feature a fully polyphonic strings section and a monophonic solo section.
SPL PHONITOR 2
WALDORF ROCKET
NEW
WALDORF BLOFELD
MINI SYNTHESIZER
BLACK EDITION
The Waldorf Rocket Synthesiser is a super compact and insanely powerful synthesiser that delivers incredible sound and bone crushingly fat bass synth sounds.
Waldorf is back in the game with the Blofeld. This synthesizer offers all the unique qualities that made Waldorf a truly legendary brand. Now available in limited Black Edition.
NEW
EVENT OPAL EXTREME INNOVATION
120 VOLT AMPLIFIER SPL introduce the successor of our legendary Phonitor 2 headphone preamp. Keeping all proven features while incorporating some major improvements.
After many years of research and engineering, Event has defied conventional audio philosophy and created the Opal. Its woofer, tweeter, amplifier and cabinet all feature innovative and unique design.
“THE OPAL IS A STAGGERING ACHIEVEMENT AND THE BEST ACTIVE NEAR-FIELD MONITOR I’VE EVER HEARD...” FUTURE MUSIC
SPL CRIMSON USB INTERFACE & MONITOR
NEW
EVENT 20/30
THREE WAY PERFORMANCE Event’s very first three-way studio monitoring system. The Event 20/30 monitoring system provides unmatched performance in its class. It combines three discrete drivers with precisely engineered acoustic design.
SPL Crimson combines a USB interface with high-quality preamps and a separate, fully-featured monitor controller. You can play and play back, record and convert, control and listen with one single device.
“IF YOUR BUDGET EXTENDS THIS FAR, YOU COULD FALL FOR THEM VERY QUICKLY”
10 recording, 4 playback and 20 monitoring channel Two boutique level, discrete Class A, 60V mic-preamps Two Hi-Z instrument preamplifiers
RESIDENT ADVISOR
Connect and control two stereo speaker sets
SPL SMC
SPL MTC
EVENT 20/20BAS
The SPL Surround Monitor Controller (SMC) is a one-point analog volume control and switching matrix for system-independent 5.1 surround and stereo monitoring.
MTC combines volume level control, source switching and loudspeaker management for stereo monitoring with comfortable talkback and cue mixing functions.
Now Event is proud to announce a new generation of clarity, transparency and definition with the release of the 20/20BAS. This two-way front ported speaker incorporates a number of fundamental improvements over the original model while remaining true to its tonal character and performance strengths.
SURROUND MONITOR
D
I
S
T
R
I
B
U
MONITOR & TALKBACK
T
I
O
N
A MODERN CLASSIC
For more information regarding any of the products featured, please contact us on the details below: WWW.HANDINHAND.UK.NET - EMAIL: INFO@HANDINHAND.UK.NET - TELEPHONE: 01752 696633
Welcome Future Publishing Ltd. Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA Tel: 01225 442244 Fax: 01225 822793 Email: futuremusic@futurenet.com
Editor Si Truss, simon.truss@futurenet.com Reviews/Features Editor Simon Arblaster, simon.arblaster@futurenet.com Art Editor Phil Cheesbrough, philip.cheesbrough@futurenet.com BIG THANKS TO… Catherine Hood, Joe Rossitter, Jono Buchanan, Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman, JoE Silva, Danny Turner, Hamish Mackintosh, Bruce Aisher, Al James, Roy Spencer, Mike White, Kevin Lake, Joseph Branston, Olly Curtis, Mo Volans, Stuart Bruce, Jon Musgrave, Trevor Curwen, Robbie Stamp, Mark Gyver, Tom Jones, Oli Bell, Chris Barker, Will Seelig ADVERTISING For Ad enquiries please contact: Leon Stephens, leon.stephens@futurenet.com MARKETING Group Marketing Manager: Laura Driffield Marketing Manager: Kristianne Stanton PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Production Controller: Fran Twentyman Production Manager: Mark Constance Printed in the UK by: William Gibbons & Sons Ltd on behalf of Future Distributed by: Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1A 9PT, Tel: 0207 429 4000 Overseas distribution by: Seymour International CIRCULATION Trade Marketing Manager: Michelle Brock Tel: + 44 (0)207 429 3683 SUBSCRIPTIONS UK reader order line & enquiries: 0844 848 2852 Overseas reader order line & enquiries: +44 (0)1604 251045 Online enquiries: www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Email: computermusic@myfavouritemagazines.co.uk LICENSING International Director: Regina Erak regina.erak@futurenet.com Tel: +44 (0)1225 442244 Fax: +44 (0)1225 732275 MANAGEMENT Content & Marketing Director: Nial Ferguson Head of Content & Marketing, Film, Music & Games: Declan Gough Group Editor-In-Chief: Daniel Griffiths Group Art Director: Graham Dalzell
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All contents copyright © 2015 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored, transmitted or used in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price and other details of products or services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any changes or updates to them. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Future a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine, including licensed editions worldwide and in any physical or digital format throughout the world. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for loss or damage.
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Hardware Heaven
It’s just over a year since FM published our Mini Synth Special (issue 274), in which we rounded up the recent wave of affordable wonders, put each side-by-side and tested the best qualities of each. Almost as soon as that issue was put to bed, we knew that at some point we’d have to replicate the exercise for ‘the big boys’. That’s what this issue is all about; exploring the most powerful, innovative and exciting electronic instruments in the world today, and meeting some of the teams behind them. Head to page 28 now to join us on the journey… As the (hopefully) ideal accompaniment to our synth feature, we’ve a host of hardware-focused tutorials in this issue. Head over to page 58 now for our comprehensive guide to getting creative with control voltage, and check out the latest Producer’s Guide To… on page 105, in which we go in-depth with the Moog Sub 37’s duophonic synth engine. Plus, in the latest edition of our Modular Monthly column we get our DIY on and show you how to create casings on the cheap. Be sure to check out this issue’s disc/downloads too, for demos of all the cover feature synths, videos for every tutorial and audio for the latest reviews.
Si Truss, Editor simon.truss@futurenet.com
expert contributors this month…
Joe Rossitter musician, producer
Bruce Aisher musician, producer
Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman musician, producer
It’s not just hardware in this month’s FM. This issue sees Joe breaking out his plug-ins and unlocking the power of Mid/Side processing. Head over to page 72 now for his guide to this often misunderstood, but hugely powerful mixing technique.
Card-carrying patch lead addict Bruce is the man behind this issue’s guide to control voltage on page 58. Head there now to discover the wonders of old-school analogue interconnectivity. As Bruce says, you can never have too many cables.
Our resident synth expert has been in instrument Nirvana this month, after taking the lead in analysing and exploring every one of the gorgeous synthesizers included in our massive cover feature. Head to page 28 now to join his guided tour…
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Contents | This Issue
contents Issue 288 | February 2015
44
IN THE STUDIO WITH: Panda Bear Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox aka Panda Bear meets up with FM to talk tech, touring and Octatracks on the release of his uplifting new solo album, Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper
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