Contents

!!MODERN MASTERING TECHNIQUES PART 1

REVIEWS

060 Native Instruments Guitar Rig 2 Boasting nine modelled amps and 25 cabinets,is this the complete solution for guitarists?

063 Universal Audio LA-3A Solid-state compressor/limiter re-creating a vintage vibe.

065 Native Instruments B4 II Faithful re-creation of the revered Hammond B3.

069 Access Music Virus TI Standout synth updated and re-released.

073 Zero-G Nostalgia Resurrecting four decades of classic synths.

075 Digidesign Mbox 2 Affordable hardware route into the pro-level realms of Pro Tools.

078 Fervent Software Studio To Go! Dedicated audio and sequencing tools complete with Linux OS.

080 Waves APA44-M Drain the strain from your CPU with a dedicated DSP processor.

083 Fatar Studiologic VMK-188 Plus 88-key weighted,programmable keyboard complete with USB.

084 VirSyn Cube 2 A new approach to additive synthesis?

087 Lexicon MX200 Dual-processor effects unit designed for both stage and the studio.

088 Echo Digital Audio AudioFire 12 Marry your analogue outboard gear with your computer workstation via Echo’s latest interface.

091 Mini Reviews Everything You Need To Know About...Setting Up A Bedroom Studio,Electric Guitar Handbook,HALion String Edition 2, Trancematic,Shure E4C Earphones

4 January 2006 MusicTech MAGAZINE

69ACCESS MUSIC VIRUS TI

*5M-AUDIO MBOX 2 80WAVES APA44-M

80WAVES APA44-M

60NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GUITAR RIG 2

30: MASTERING THE EMBRACER IN CUBASE

30MASTERING THE EMBRACER IN CUBASE

37CREATE A BUZZ BY PODCASTING

#5BUILDING A PROJECT STUDIO

SUBSCRIBE! Sign up for 12 issues of MTMand get all 12 issues for the price of 9,delivered direct to your door and guaranteed to be in stock. 58

JANUARY 2006 CONTENTS

FEATURES

022 Modern Mastering Part 1: Aims,Tools and Principles Arguably one of the most crucial,but often misunderstood tasks facing the home and project studio enthusiast,the mastering process can transform a lacklustre mix and take your recordings to a new level.Mark Cousins demystifies the art of the mastering engineer. 030 Cubase SX/SL3 Workshop The Embracer is highly regarded as a quality pad synthesizer,but it’s not limited to working only in stereo. Hollin Jones shows you how to take advantage of its surround sound capabilities. 034 Ten Minute Master No71: Basic Properties of Sound The fundamental building block of everything that takes place in the studio,sound and the ways in which it behaves will affect the way you approach recording,as Grant Bridgeman explains. 037 Create A Buzz By Podcasting Podcasting is just another method you should consider exploring if you want your creative endeavours to reach the ears of a wider audience.JoE Silva explains what a podcast is,how it can benefit you and how you can get your own podcast online. 040 Ableton Live Workshop Markkus Rovito explores Live 5’s Beat Repeat,remixing beats and other audio in real time to create unique, spontaneous rhythms and surreal effects. 042 Ten Minute Master No72: Latency Although becoming less of a problem recently thanks to the ongoing development of faster processors,latency can still blight the life of the studio engineer.Mark Cousins explains what latency is and examines existing technologies designed to combat it. 045 Project Studio Conversion Fed up with the constraints of working in a tiny spare room, Grant Bridgeman describes how he turned a ramshackle outbuilding into a dedicated two-room studio. 050 Logic Pro 7 Workshop Throw conventional methods of writing and sequencing music out of the window and check out some of Logic Pro’s lesser-known ways of working. 051 Questions and Answers

006 On your MTMcoverdisc 009 News The latest developments in the world of music technology. 020 Rack ’em up New products coming soon to a music store near you. 058Subscribe to Music Tech MagazineGet the next 12 issues of MTMfor the price of 9! 095 Write for reply Your views,comments and suggestions. 097 Back issues Missed an issue? 097 Next month Next time in MTM. 098 Back Track A Band Of Bees,Chicken Payback

MusicTech MAGAZINE January 2006 5