February 2024

Computer Music

The complete guide to making music with a computer

Computer Music2 min read
Welcome
It’s often said that the best way to figure out where we’re going is to look back at where we’ve been. Across 2023 we strove to cover as many of the thousands of new releases across software music production as possible. While some of our highlights
Computer Music5 min read
News
The newest in its growing stable of properly vintage synth emulations, Cherry Audio reveals Pro Soloist… Cherry Audio is riding high after a year of solid classic synth-resurrecting releases: its latest release, Pro Soloist, continues to re-love thos
Computer Music11 min read
Silk
For better and for worse, the relationship between modern music artists and social media is intertwined, meaning that while small-scale DIY artists can suddenly achieve global success and generate massive audiences overnight, the requirement to have
Computer Music10 min read
Minimal Audio: Current affairs…
Jacob Penn (Founder/CEO)Ben Wyss (Co-Founder/Head of Audio R&D)Nathan Wexler (Co-Founder/Head of Sound Design) cm: Hi guys, can you give us an overview of how Current differs and expands on what you’d typically expect from a software synth? Jacob (J
Computer Music5 min read
#35 Create A Gated Synth Sequence
As any regular to our synth tutorials will know, ZebraCM (our chosen steed for the Synth Masterclass, available in the CM Plugin Suite) is no slouch in the sonics department, despite being a relative freebie. One of its biggest strengths lies in its
Computer Music20 min read
Linux In The Studio
Picture the scene: You’re in your studio, the creative juices flowing liberally and freely, working on what is sure to be the most important moment in the history of music since John turned to Paul and said “D’you fancy forming a band, mate?”. You’re
Computer Music5 min read
#02 How To Make A Killer Drop
In dance music vocabulary, the ubiquitous ‘drop’ refers to the section of a track where the main melody is introduced, and you can recognise it instantly for the fact that it has the highest energy level in the track. The drop is preceded by a build-
Computer Music5 min read
#15 Mix Bus Compression
Mixing is typically a spiral process where we gradually make smaller and smaller adjustments as we return to different aspects of the track. Processing the mix bus can play an important role in this and help achieve a finished mix that’s ready for ma
Computer Music29 min read
The Awards Issue 2023
It’s been quite the year for Computer Music, though the start of the year brought a slight internal re-alignment (with the departure of editor Andy Jones, and the arrival of new editor Andy Price) we’ve continued to keep hyper-focused on tracking the
Computer Music4 min read
Sonic Charge Synplant 2 $149
Leave your expectations at the door and let Synplant draw you into its weird and wonderful world and show you how to do things differently. The first version was massively bonkers back in 2009, with the idea of creating evolving sounds by growing bra
Computer Music4 min read
Soundiron Quadral 3 $59
Over the last decade, Soundiron has built up an impressive range of virtual instruments and sample libraries aimed at music producers, classical musicians and film/TV/videogame composers. There’s everything from synths to choirs, from a Theremin to a
Computer Music4 min read
Baby Audio Transit $99
Creating polished transitions between different sections of your track ensures that the track momentum is maintained, while contributing to the overall finesse. But creating these transitions is often a fiddly process that uses a combination of progr
Computer Music4 min read
Austrian Audio MiCreator Studio $199/$199
In a short period of time, Austrian Audio has certainly made a mark with its mics and headphones. It has models of each for just about every occasion, yet the company only started out some six years ago. However, its latest product, MiCreator Studio,
Computer Music4 min read
Solid State Logic G3 MultiBusComp £192/$240
There are many reasons why SSL’s SL 4000 G large-format mixing consoles elicit such dewy-eyed praise. In a nutshell, it’s because every system and circuit within a G Series is designed to deliver astonishing audio clarity and a musically sympathetic
Computer Music3 min read
Soundware Round-up
A timely ode to the bumping basslines and squiggly synths found slap-bang in the centre of the Dirtybird record label’s most recent releases. The fat drum sound and tech-funk flavours currently whipping up clubs Stateside is all in here, in force. Wi
Computer Music2 min read
Kicks and Complex Beats
Download all assets for this issue at bit.ly/cm330downloads We need a solid foundation for our beat, and our man Robbie has built some bone-vibrating low-end elements… “There are no right ways to approach the low-end thumps and bumps, and it can be f
Computer Music7 min read
Beatskillz Chorust
A quality chorus is a must-have for your processing toolbox. It provides quick access to both rich, thickening tones and subtle modulations, which helps to add polish to your mixes. Beatskillz is an established developer with a growing stable of proc
Computer Music2 min read
Ultimate Vocals
We’ve gathered our best ever vocal samples, all in one place (OK two places, including the bonus collection below). In the first of these collections, the Ultimate Vocals pack, you’ll find five folders of Female Vocals from some of the best singers i
Computer Music1 min read
Loopmasters 330 samples
Download all assets for this issue at bit.ly/cm330downloads 01 IQ Samples Dance Pop & Vocals 02 Apollo Sound Lo-Fi Textures 03 Samplestate Lucio Agustin Minimal Deep House 04 Dabro Music Lost Knights Tearout Samples 05 Loopmasters Latin House Bangers
Computer Music6 min read
Magnetic Skies
Could you give us a bit of background on Magnetic Skies and how the band first formed? Simon Kent: “It was really at the end of a solo project that I had around 2018. It kind of came to a natural conclusion. I had a festival date booked for the summe
Computer Music1 min read
Cm/video
Follow along with the video as we introduce this hardware-inspired chorus plugin, free with this issue! Read the full article from p84 Our resident music production gurus walk you through their specialist field every month Read the full article on
Computer Music1 min read
Next Issue
Over the last few years, virtual and sampled pianos have become nigh-on indistinguishable from their real-life counterparts, and next issue we’re guiding you through the current cream of the crop, with tutorials on piano mixing, classic tones and mor
Computer Music1 min read
Computer Music
Future PLCQuay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UATel: 01225 442244Email: computermusic@futurenet.comWeb: www.musicradar.com EDITORIAL Editor: Andy Price, andy.price@futurenet.com Art Editor: Mark White, mark.white@futurenet.com Senior Managing Editor:

Computer Music

More Issues From Computer Music