March 2023

Computer Music

The complete guide to making music with a computer

Computer Music6 min read
No NAMM In Jan, But We Have News…
As you might know, the NAMM show is usually in January, and so full of releases that our news is usually ‘bumper’ at this time of year. However its dates have been bouncing around like a pinball in recent years thanks to COVID so 2023 sees it pushed
Computer Music1 min read
Welcome
There’s no doubting that after the initial rush of excitement caused by software instruments back in the early 2000s, the next wave of wonder was supposed to be delivered by the hardware that controlled it. (I should add that when I say ‘excitement’,
Computer Music2 min read
Mpe Mvps
Expression and music have always gone hand-in-hand, and while the humble MIDI keyboard has served us well as the bedrock of our computer music infrastructure, even greater means to explore sounds are available now. Scanning the range of MPE controlle
Computer Music2 min read
MPE Controllers
One of the originators of five-dimensional control surfaces, Roger Linn’s LinnStrument contains rows of illuminated squares which can be assigned to consecutive semitones, and tuned to match that of a real instrument, leading to a robust, real-instru
Computer Music6 min read
The History Of Deep Control
As computer musicians, we can’t deny the fact that we’ve occasionally glanced across at our real-world instrument-toting colleagues with more than a whiff of envy. Sure, with our hefty plugin arsenals, sample libraries and pristine-sounding virtual i
Computer Music1 min read
MPE Synths
Melding analogue and digital synthesis approaches, Quanta 2 is a ten-voice polyphonic granular synth with a complex modulation system. A deep and rewarding synth, Quanta 2 is also a fully-fledged MPE-supporting playground. You can assign any of your
Computer Music6 min read
The Innovators
The most extraordinary controllers all start with an initial idea. Whether it be re-thinking the entire approach to MIDI expression, harnessing multi-directionality or being led by an astounding new design philosophy. Launching anything that goes aga
Computer Music5 min read
Enhancing Modulation With MPE
From almost the time of their birth, artists and musicians have viewed synths as less an instrument with which to master, and more a field of research in which to explore. Carving out new realms of previously undiscovered sonics, evolving textures an
Computer Music2 min read
Gesture And Movement-based MIDI Controllers
A wearable MIDI ring that allows the application of dynamic effects and modulation control to your movements. The Wave responds to all manner of hand-based movements, including tilt, roll and flick. While a wholly different route than a MIDI keyboard
Computer Music6 min read
Touchscreen Tech
At the time of its launch, Apple’s iPad made many of us weak-at-the-knees with its promise of keyboard-free music-making. Apple’s tablet was all set to fulfil the fantasies of many of us who dreamed of a type of interfacing with our DAW akin to Tom C
Computer Music4 min read
Future Proof
So far, we’ve largely talked about multidimensional MIDI control, touchscreen-based interfacing and standalone controllers, yet what it is we’re controlling – our music production environments – remains exactly the same type of screen-based space as
Computer Music5 min read
#24The Infinite Riffing Synthesiser
There was a time when music technology would only allow the sequencing of a few notes. A far cry from the DAWs of today, the limit of four, eight or even 16 notes (if you were lucky) was very much the norm. As with all things creative, the level of t
Computer Music5 min read
#03 Equalising During The Mix
Equalisation (EQ) is one of the most important mixing tools, yet also one that’s quite easy to get wrong. But there are a few simple methods that can really improve your chances of success. Let’s assume you already understand that an EQ includes vari
Computer Music7 min read
Universal Translation
A trap that it’s all too easy for the aspiring music producer to fall into is that of creating mixdowns that only work well on one kind of playback system. It’s an infuriating problem, as we tend to assume that once we’ve got our productions up to a
Computer Music10 min read
Atau Tanaka
An electronic music setup covers anything from a simple MIDI keyboard with a laptop and headphones, to a huge modular setup. But none of this applies for Atau Tanaka, a Japanese-American artist who appears to be pulling sounds out of the air through
Computer Music3 min read
EastWest String Machine £170
EastWest’s penchant for pro-level orchestral libraries and malleable vocal suites has made their software stable a comfortable go-to for many working in the industry. While aimed at serving the needs of modern composers first and foremost, EastWest’s
Computer Music4 min read
Modalics Beat Scholar £69
For those not rhythmically inclined, beat-programming can often be an arduous process. While some opt for a robotic, metronomic approach, those who crave the type of humanity and improvisation in their patterns that a real drummer can bring to table
Computer Music3 min read
Spitfire Audio Speculative Memories £29
Unlike orchestral themes of old, modern soundtracking largely works around more subtle atmosphere-enhancing approach. What we now recognise as a film’s main theme tends to co-exist among other elements, skittering across a sea of evolving textures. H
Computer Music3 min read
Eventide Physion MkII $179
The clue, as they say, is all in the name. Eventide’s Physion has been updated to MkII, and it’s got some pretty clever technology going on, drawing on similar concepts to Eventide’s innovatory Split EQ plugin. While this plugin is packed to the brim
Computer Music4 min read
KRK GoAux 4 £399
Working on music with proper portable studio monitors while you travel might be the stuff of dreams for some of you… but probably nightmares to your fellow travelling companions. But if this is you, then you are one of the target audiences for KRK’s
Computer Music3 min read
Audified GK Amplification 3 Pro £70
While the various thrills of being in a band tend to outweigh the downsides, one of the biggest burdens is being forced to lug weighty amp heads and cabs from practice room to show, up flights of stairs and into the back of vehicles. But, it has alwa
Computer Music7 min read
Free software DOPESONIX BASS ENGINE 1 AND 2 CM
A few months ago we relaunched our fantastic DopeSonix Beat Machine drum machines. This month we turn to another DopeSonix classic, Bass Engine CM, which is also updated and back on the block. The good news is, much like Beat Machine CM, Bass Engine
Computer Music3 min read
Ring Mod samples!
Robbie at Cyclick Samples takes us through his batch of all-new ring modulation samples “The use of ring modulation as an audio effect goes back to the start of electronic music. First time users may struggle to make sense of how to use it, often end
Computer Music1 min read
Soundware Round-up
107 hand-crafted presets for Knif Audio’s Knifonium – The awesome monophonic synthesizer powered by a colossal 26 vacuum tubes. The Audiotent knobtwiddlers have wrestled some monster noises out of the software, offering up a library that covers a wid

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