ENHANCED EDITION WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO Issue 292
Making the future since 1992
Technique and technology for making music
MODULAR
MADNESS AT MUSIKMESSE ’15
technique
DYNAMIC
DRONES Get experimental!
Roland’s Eurorack range revealed, hands-on with Modal 001 & more
reviewed
Pocket Operators
The full verdict on Teenage Engineering’s compact wonders
THE TRACK
in the studio
Portico
GEORGE FITZGERALD// JAMES HOLDEN
Watch the London trio break down Living Fields from their new album EXCLUSIVE SAMPLEPACK 1l
EXCLUSIVE SAMPLEPACK 2l
Foley FX
Sequencer Funk
Tutorial videos
Unique real world risers, rushes and more
Old school arp-powered basslines and leads
Additive synthesis essentials & loads more
See inside their very different, but equally hardware-stuffed studios
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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, Jono Buchanan, Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman, Hamish Mackintosh, Tim Cant, Bruce Aisher, Joe Rossitter, Al James, Roy Spencer, Jon Musgrave, Kevin Lake, Joseph Branston, Richard Ecclestone, Stuart Bruce, 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: futuremusic@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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Another Fine Messe
After NAMM – which we covered back in January – Frankfurt Musikmesse is the biggest event in the annual music technology calendar. As ever, FM were on the ground to check out all the latest developments and hottest new gear announcements. There were several show-stopping reveals at this year’s event, with at least three exciting announcements coming from one company alone: Roland. Not only did we manage to get fully hands-on with their hybrid beast the JD-XA, but we got our first glimpse of their foray into the realm of modular synthesis, with not one but two Eurorack systems unveiled. Check out details of them all, plus all the other Messe news, on page 14. Also this issue, we’ve finally got our hands on one of the highlights from this year’s NAMM show – Teenage Engineering’s compact, wallet-friendly Pocket Operator range. Do they live up to the hype? Find out on page 80. As ever, we’ve plenty of tutorials for you to get your teeth into too. Get experimental creating complex evolving drones on page 32, take your breaks to the next level on page 72 and harness the sonic power of additive synthesis on page 58. We’ve plenty of audio and videos on this issue’s disc/download to help you along too.
Si Truss, Editor simon.truss@futurenet.com
expert contributors this month…
Joe Rossitter musician, producer
Bruce Aisher musician, producer
Roy Spencer producer, DJ
Drum ‘n’ Bass producer Joe knows a thing or two about working with breaks. He’s the ideal person then to show us how to take this classic Junglist technique into the 21st century with a few cutting-edge sound design and processing techniques.
Ever a fan of an experimental soundscape, Bruce has been going all ambient this issue, helming our Dynamic Drones tutorial feature. Head to page 32 now to have him guide you through this complex sonic wilderness.
Our regular Classic Album columnist (aka DJ Moneyshot) has been busy with his own musical endeavours. Look out for Kickin’ Up Dust, his new funky, beat-driven EP as one half of The Allergies, which drops via Jalapeno Records on 25th May.
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Contents | This Issue
contents Issue 292 | June 2015
42
IN THE STUDIO WITH: George FitzGerald One of the hottest names in House, DJ and producer George FitzGerald, catches up with FM to talk about his move away from the dancefloor with new album Fading Love
8
This Issue | Contents
92 86
88 96
52 INCLUDES VIDEOl
THE TRACK: Portico, Living Fields The London trio break down the creation of the title track from their new album
reviews
72
In-depth tests of all the latest gear INCLUDES AUDIOl
80 Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators 84 Audio-Technica AT5045
TECHNIQUE
86 M-Audio BX5 Carbon
Essential production advice and ideas
INCLUDES AUDIOl
88 Modor NF-1
32
INCLUDES AUDIOl
92 UAD V8.0 Effect Plug-Ins 94 Alesis SamplePad Pro INCLUDES AUDIOl
96 Synchro Arts Revoice Pro 3 98 Audient iD22 Audio Interface 100 Mini Reviews
80
INCLUDES VIDEOl
REVIEW: Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators They’re affordable and fun but can they create worthwhile music? We test drive the three POs…
98 94
Dynamic Drones Build long, sustained, evolving soundbeds
58
INCLUDES VIDEOl
Additive Synthesis Use additive to make pads, basses and FX
72
INCLUDES VIDEOl
D ‘n’ B Breaks Create and process modern breakbeats 9
Contents | This Issue
01 GROOVE CRIMINALS PRESENT: Foley FX Add some real world textures to your tracks with this pack of ‘found’ dramatic sounds. CYCLICK SAMPLES 02 PRESENT: Sequencer Funk The classic sound of funky arpeggiator and sequencer-powered basslines and leads. FROM THE ARCHIVE: Guitar Loops Get all the six-string action you’ll ever need with this assorted pack of loops and lines. 03
DOWNLOAD
Get your samples, audio and more here No disc drive? Bought a digital edition? And get even MORE content to accompany this issue online from vault.futuremusic.co.uk
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64
INterview: James Holden FM visit the studio of Border Community owner, producer and modular master
This Issue | Contents
102
MODULAR MONTHLY: Dave Smith Modules and Spring Reverbs The latest news, reviews and creative ideas from the world of modular synthesis
32
FEATURE: Dynamic Drones All you need to know to create drones – from a simple held synth note, to intricate and evolving soundbeds
17 16 17 22
features
Expert tips, techniques and tutorials 22 Classic Album: Boca 45, Pitch Sounds 28 Album Reviews
58
18
Technique: Additive Synthesis
64 Interview: James Holden 72 D ‘n’ B Breaks
42 In The Studio With: George FitzGerald
105 The Producer’s Guide to… Apollo Expanded
52 The Track: Portico, Living Fields
108 Advice 112 Gear Guide
FILTER
Find us online at www.futuremusic.co.uk
Watch our videos www.youtube.com/ futuremusicmagazine
All the latest gear from around the world 14 Roland JD-XA and Aira Modular
Follow us on Twitter @futuremusicmag
16 Modal 001 and 008 17 UA Apollo updated 26 Subscribe to FM
Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ futuremusicmagazine 11
Contents | This Issue
BONUS samples
See this month’s selection of free demos at vault.futuremusic.co.uk
01 02 03 04
01 02 03 04
05 06 07 08
05 06 07 08
http://sounds.beatport.com 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
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Deeperfect Deep-House Vol 4 Protoolz EDM Sylenth Patches Samplemagic House Nation Sounds To Sample EDM MIDI Melodics Triad Sounds Future House Class A Samples Superstar Patches Vol 2 Deep House Hy2rogen EDM Waveform Recordings Organic Techno 2
www.loopmasters.com 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
Famous Audio Presents Big Dirty Bass Loopmasters Maison Records Presents Real House Music Loopmasters Presents Future Sound Of Ambient Particular Samples Spectrality Temporal Air Impulses Lab Samples Presents Total Science CIA Volume 1 Niche Audio Dirty Bass House Loopmasters Francesco Farias Presents House To Spacefunk Samplestate Little Helpers Presents Minimal, Tech & Deep House Vol II
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