12GB+ samples, video & audio to download
EXCLUSIVE ACCESSl
IN-DEPTH TUTORIALSl
Mr Virgo on creating Wiley’s Holy Grime
Parallel Compression
IN THE STUDIO: Steve Bug, Tom Demac & more!
Essential mix techniques
Issue 329
Making the future since 1992
PRO-LEVEL
MASTERING IN YOUR DAW ABLETON
Release-quality results at home > Plugin guide > Theory explained > Video lessons
LIVE 10
In-depth review & extensive tutorial guide
ON TEST
ANALOGUE SOLUTIONS
FUSEBOX FOCUSRITE CLARETT 4-PRE NI Effects Series Mod Pack
Future PLC Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA
FM | WELCOME
Editor Si Truss, simon.truss@futurenet.com Reviews Editor/Online Content Manager Simon Arblaster, simon.arblaster@futurenet.com Production Editor Kate Puttick, kate.puttick@futurenet.com Art Editor Phil Cheesbrough, philip.cheesbrough@futurenet.com BIG THANKS TO… Joe Rossitter, Danny Turner, Tim Cant, Roy Spencer, Ben Wilson, Jono Buchanan, Bruce Aisher, Jon Musgrave, Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman, James Russell, Joseph Branston, Mark Gyver, Adam Lee, Marie Staggat-Bazile, Catherine Hood, Tom Jones, Oli Bell, Olly Curtis, Will Ireland, Robbie Stamp ADVERTISING For Ad enquiries please contact: Steve Hymas, steve.hymas@futurenet.com MARKETING Direct Marketing Executive: Will Hardy PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Production Controller: Fran Twentyman Production Manager: Mark Constance Printed in the UK by: William Gibbons & Sons Ltd on behalf of Future Distributed in the UK by: Marketforce (UK), 2nd Floor, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU Tel: +44 (0) 203 787 9001 CIRCULATION Head of Newstrade: Tim Mathers 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 Licensing Director: Matt Ellis, matt.ellis@futurenet.com Tel: +44 (0)1225 442244 MANAGEMENT Managing Director: Aaron Asadi Editorial Director: Paul Newman Music Group Editor-In-Chief: Daniel Griffiths Art & Design Director: Ross Andrews Head of Art & Design: Rodney Dive Commercial Finance Director: Dan Jotcham
Future plc is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR) www.futureplc.com
Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Peter Allen Chief financial officer Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244
We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. The paper in this magazine was sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards. The manufacturing paper mill holds full FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification and accreditation All contents © 2018 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced 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: 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 of products/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 other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/or have the necessary rights/ permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in any/all issues and/or editions of publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions.
Mastering demystified
There’s an often repeated cliche that mastering is a kind of ‘dark art’ – a deep and impenetrable science that is beyond the capabilities of mere mortals. However, given the amount of tutorials, courses and mass-market plugins out there, all designed to tackle the mastering process, this is clearly nonsense. In recent years, more and more artists are starting to master their own tracks. Take Four Tet, for example, who claims that none of his recent albums have been passed by a mastering engineer. In fact, there are now several online services out there, such as LANDR and BandLab, which claim to be able to master your tracks automatically, using algorithms in place of professional mastering experts. That’s not to say that the process doesn’t require a fair amount of skill and expertise, but given the power of modern DAWs and plugins, these are now techniques that even the most cash-strapped producer can get to grips with at home. Head for this issue’s cover feature, on page 28, and let’s dive into some essential mastering tools and techniques...
Si Truss, Editor simon.truss@futurenet.com
5
Contents | This Issue
FM | CONTENTS
40
IN THE STUDIO WITH: Steve Bug & Langenburg A meeting of minds, as the techno supremo tells us more about his longtime-coming collaboration with German house don Langenburg
6
This Issue | Contents
96 92
100 86
62
IN THE STUDIO: Tom Demac the Welsh producer serves up his latest genredefying oeuvre; FM investigates…
reviews
TECHNIQUE
82 Ableton Live 10
28
In-depth tests of all the latest gear
Essential production advice and ideas
86 Dexibell J7 Digital Organ
INCLUDES VIDEOl
Pro-level mastering in your DAW – we explore the dos and the don’ts
90 Audiority Tube Modulator
57
92 Analogue Solutions Fusebox 96 Native Instruments Effects Series Mod Pack 98 Focusrite Clarett 4Pre 100 Group test: Wireless Headphones 102 Korg iMono/Poly 104 Sounds & Samples
INCLUDES VIDEOl
Producer’s Guide Ableton Live 10
82
70
INCLUDES VIDEOl
REVIEW: Ableton Live 10 The long-awaited update is finally here – what’s our verdict?
102 98
Modular Monthly AJH Synth Ring SM
78
INCLUDES VIDEOl
Toolkit Parallel compression
7
Contents The Vault | This YourIssue Bonus Content
FM | FILESILO
Your bonus content…
filesilo.co.uk/futuremusic This issue’s bonus samples, videos, audio and bonus archive samples are all available to access via FileSilo. At the link above, log in or register, then unlock over 10GB of goodies!
Sample Packs
Exclusive new sounds with every issue groove criminals present…
Modular Drums
We patch up our Eurorack system to create a pack of synth-powered, glitchy percussion hits and loops.
VIDEO & AUDIO
In-depth tutorials and more! video AUDIO & FILES video,
> Mastering in your DAW > Toolkit: Parallel Compression > Modular Monthly: RJH Synth Ring SM
plus
> Producer’s Guide: Ableton Live 10 > The Track: Mr Virgo on producing Holy Grime > FM Sample Archive
cyclick samples present…
Inspirational Mistakes
Get inspired by this bumper bundle of errors and oddities. Studio mistakes turned into FX and loops!
PLUS ACCESS THE FM SAMPLE ARCHIVE!
Download the ‘Sample Archive’ packs and get over 10GB of loops, hits and instruments from our back catalogue of high-quality and royalty-free samples. From vintage synths and beats to esoteric sounds and FX – think of it as our best of. All the samples you need to create great music!
8
50 INCLUDES VIDEOl
THE TRACK: Mr Virgo, Holy Grime (Wiley ft. Devlin) – the grime beatmaker shows us how he gets his trademark sound
This Issue | Contents
28
FEATURE: Pro-level mastering in your DAW A comprehensive guide on how to go it alone from pre-masters to the finished product
72
IN THE STUDIO: Thomas Schumacher The German DJ/producer gives us a glimpse at his studio and tells all about his Natural Rhythm EP series
12 18 14 15
features
Expert tips, techniques and tutorials 18 Classic Album: Riva Starr, If Life Gives You Lemons... 25 Album Reviews 28 Pro-level mastering in your DAW 40 Steve Bug & Langenberg
48
14
In The Studio With: Tom Demac
57 Producer’s Guide: Ableton Live 10 70 Modular Monthly 72 Interview: Thomas Schumacher 78 Toolkit: Parallel compression 108 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 12 Softube Weiss mastering tools
Follow us on Twitter @futuremusicmag
14 UAD 9.5 Helios emulation and more‌ 15 Behringer Neutron 15 Le Sound AudioTexture
Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ futuremusicmagazine 9
Contents | This Issue
BONUS samples
See this month’s selection of free demos at www.filesilo.co.uk/futuremusic
01
02 03
04
05 06 www.loopmasters.com 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
Loopmasters Artist Series Kissy Sellout Extreme House & Bass Loopmasters Pres. Abstract Future Hip Hop Soundbox Future Tech Grooves Soundsmiths Hybrid Beats: Future Grime & Trap Industrial Strength Hard Techno Loopmasters pres. Nu Disco & Boogie 5pin Media Hybrid Afro-Indian Percussion Loopmasters Nordic Electronic
07 08
10
Filter | The Future Of Music
FM | FILTER
highlights… 14 UAD 9.5 Helios emulation and more…
12
14 Audiority Tube Modulator
15 Behringer Neutron
15 Le Sound AudioTexture
SPECIALS & GUIDES
myfavouritemagazines has over 100 one-off guides and specials which celebrate your favourite subjects. There’s something for everyone treat yourself or give gift.
DELIVERY INCLUDED
https://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/guides
Or call now – UK: 0344 848 2852 Overseas: +44 344 848 2852 MyFavouriteMagazines is the official magazine subscription store of Future. You can save up to 74% on a huge range of popular magazine titles. Every magazine subscription will be delivered direct to your door, and includes free UK delivery; guaranteeing you don’t miss a copy of your favourite magazine.