24 Laptop Producer

CONTENTS

REVIEWS

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PAGE 94.

078 Native Instruments Kontakt 3 Bursting at the seams with sound content and sporting an improved user interface, Native Instruments’ Kontakt is in its third revision...

080 Universal Audio UAD-Xpander Xpress The UAD-1 system has now made the transition to the laptop, but is the UAD-Xpander Xpress a realistic solution for processing on the move? 083 Steinberg Nuendo 4 Boasting a raft of new features plus re-worked existing ones, Nuendo 4 makes its much-anticipated entrance. 086 Telefunken ELA M 250F Vintage mics are often cited as being among the best – and this offering from Telefunken is vintage to the roots... 088 M-Audio EX66 Designed to meet some ambitious goals, are M-Audio’s new speakers fi t for the studio?

090 Roland SonicCell Packing plenty of features plus performance portability. 093 ESI nEar 08 ESI’s nEAR range of active reference monitors just got bigger, with the new 08 packing 140 watts of onboard amplifi cation. 095 Allen & Heath ZED 14 Entry-level mixers represent new territory for Allen & Heath, so can the ZED 14 cut the mustard? 096 PreSonus HP60 The PreSonus HP60 offers a professional monitoring solution at an affordable price. 098 Focusrite ISA828 Focusrite’s ISA828 boasts eight Rupert Nevedesigned mic pres, but is it a worthy successor to the revered ISA428? 100 Samson Audio G-Track Samson’s G-Track is the latest entrant in an ever-growing line-up of USB mics. 103 Mini Reviews

90 Roland SonicCell

4 December 2007 MusicTech MAGAZINE

78 NI Kontakt 3

83 Steinberg Nuendo 4 49 Remixer’s Guide to Drum Production

54 Logic Pro 8 Workshop

86 Telefunken ELA M 250F

59 Revitalise Your Samples

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Issue 57 Contents December 2007

FEATURES

024 Laptop Producer The laptop computer has fi nally evolved into a serious alternative to desktop-based audio production systems. Mark Cousins explains how a new breed of producers are using their laptops. 038 Ableton Live 6 Workshop: Envelopes and Macros If you sometimes fi nd yourself requiring an extra pair of hands when performing with Live, you might want to explore its envelopes and macros. Jon Margulies explains. 042 Ten Minute Master No 117: Surround Sound Mics Surround recording is becoming increasingly popular, but what are the essential techniques behind it? Grant Bridgeman reveals all. 044 Reason 4 Workshop: Automation Automation is a great way to add depth and life to your tracks – and Reason 4 approaches it a whole new way.

049 Remixer’s Guide to Drum Production There are a number of drum-production techniques that can help bring your dance beats up to speed. Mo Volans reveals his tricks of the trade.

054 Logic Pro 8 Workshop: Delay Designer Delay Designer is just one of several new plug-ins to be explored in Logic Studio. We show you how to master its unique delay-based effects. 059 Revitalise Your Samples If you’re tired of your samples and yearning for something fresh and new, help may be closer to hand than you think... 064 Sonar 6 Workshop: Working With Video: Part Two Digging deeper into Sonar’s talents for working with video will lead you to some tools and functions you may not have known it possessed. Brian Smithers is your guide. 066 Ten Minute Master No 118: Mixer Routing Mixers come in all shapes and sizes, but their common task is to route audio. 068 Cubase 4 Workshop: Creative MIDI Effects MIDI effects can be just as useful for creatively spicing up your tracks as audio effects, but they’re often underexploited. Hollin Jones welcomes them aboard...

073 Studio Answers

006 On your MTM coverdisc 009 News Music Tech brings you all the latest news. 020 Rack ‘em up New products coming soon to a music store near you.

036 Subscribe to Music Tech Magazine Save 30% and choose from one of three PC Publishing Tips books worth £9.95!

094 Competition Bag yourself a pair of Acoustic Energy monitors worth £799!

104 Christmas Subscriptions Give MTM to a friend or relative...

112 Write for reply Your views, comments and suggestions. 113 Next month What to expect next time... 114 Back Track Siouxsie and The Banshees Spellbound

MusicTech MAGAZINE December 2007 5