Innehållsförteckning för 11/2023 från Beat English

Your last FM-Synth Waves Flow Motion* For many, Electron‘s Digitone is the best modern FM synthesizer. If you‘re looking for a software alternative, there‘s no better choice than Flow Motion from Waves. The combination of FM and subtractive synthesis boasts fantastic sonic variety, and the Snapshot Sequencer makes it a secret weapon for sequences, making it a must-have in your plug-in folder! Download: see page 9 | Infos: www.waves.com win | mac All serial numbers safely accessible: The Beat Serial Center To ensure that none of your serial numbers are lost in the future (for instance, in the event of a new installation, Outlook crash or disk crash), you can now conveniently manage them online. The advantages are obvious: The editorial team can send you targeted software updates, you have…

Better preamps for Focusrite audio interfaces Focusrite has modernized some models of its Scarlett audio interfaces with the 4th generation. This concerns the compact interfaces Solo, 2i2 and 4i4, which should be of particular interest for recording beginners. For the 2i2 and 4i4, the preamps have now been improved, so that a higher gain of 69 dB should now be guaranteed. For the converters, Focusrite has made use of its in-house premium league RedNet, so it should be possible to achieve a dynamic range of 120 dB. The Air mode, which adds more sparkle and presence to the upper frequencies, has also been optimized. Furthermore, Harmonic Drive, a function that colors the sound, has been integrated. Another positive aspect is that headphones and the output for the monitor can be…

We live in a world of numbers. And the numbers don‘t lie: in 2023, hip-hop is the only genre of music that truly matters. The breadth, depth and globality of its community dominate global music markets. It is the music with the strongest forward momentum, the lowest barriers to entry, the fastest paths to breakthrough. It is also the style with the most contradictions: Retro-nostalgia and visions of the future live side by side here. Sometimes the frictions are painful. But they also combine to shape the soundtrack of the 21st century. Trap has been the core of the hip hop movement for almost a decade. Its defining elements: Minimal arrangements, sluggish tempos, heavy bass frequencies, psychedelic atmospheres and synthetically glittering sound design. Similar to DubStep, Trap is defined primarily…

Beat / Hi Matthias, you are insanely active and know the scene inside out… what do you think are the most outstanding changes of the last three years? Has the lockdown brought out more producers? Matthias / In general, digitalization has simplified many things and further advanced developments in the scene. For example, access to good equipment has become easier, and nowadays you no longer need expensive tools to make music at home. In a very short time, musicians can publish their songs on all common platforms, for example, via recordJet. Producing and releasing music took place even more during the lockdown period, because otherwise no income could be generated. The instrumental lo-fi market is now so oversaturated that the stores can hardly keep up, because every producer also has…

Beat / How did you get into music in general? And when was the moment for you when you fell in love with electronic music? Luc / Well, my mother’s side of the family is mostly classically trained and they really value music and the performing arts. She never pushed my siblings and me to invest as much time into it as her parents did, but she always encouraged us to explore creative outlets. My siblings also played a big role in shaping the music I grew up with and gravitated towards. My brother introduced me to programs like GarageBand and Logic when I was around 11-12, and I became really interested in music production. I think once I found a supportive community on platforms like SoundCloud and Audiotool, my…

1 Space Reverb is an essential tool for creating depth of sound. It simulates the natural reverberation time of sounds in a room. By increasing the amount of reverb for certain instruments, you can give the impression that they are further away, creating an immersive listening experience that adds depth to the mix. 2 Reverb positioning If you want to move an instrument or a sound further back in the mix, you can do this, for example, with the fruity reverb 2 plugin. Load it onto the mixer channel and experiment with the wet and decay controls until the spatial expansion of the sound is as desired. Something similar is also possible with a Delay. 3 Highs and lows Anyone who has ever been to an open-air festival can tell you from…

1 Transfer library Since we can‘t present all 4,934 waveforms here, we‘ll focus on a few selected ones whose techniques you can then apply to others. To begin with, we will copy all the folders from the download archive to the Digitakt and then load some from the „Pack one_50 Void Vertex Single Cycle Waveforms“ folder into the project. 2 Build bass As a first waveform, we use DIGI.wav, which we assign to Slot 2. We set the PLAY MODE to FWD.L or REV.L (it doesn‘t matter in which direction a single-cycle waveform is looped), which makes the sample sound very obtrusive at first. So, let‘s tame it with the filter: Lower the FREQuency to 27, as well as the RESOnance; and set ENV to the same value. 3 Second…

1 Straight bassline Like in the last issue, we used a small Electro Pop track [1] as the basis for our remix. After creating a new, rather complex groove at 128 BPM from it, we now want to create a straighter bassline, because variety is the key in remixes, too. For the new bassline, we use the first bars of the track. 2 Cut up bassline However, this contains a beat, as well as the bassline. What do you do if you‘d rather use your own beat? With the Split tool, we simply cut the audio file into ⅛ snippets and mute the odd events. To further enhance the pumping off-beat rhythm, you can bring the X-Trem plug-in into play. 3 Melodic accents We put the straight beat „ph_drlp_128_solidgroove“ from…

Are you a Sound Adventurer and always on the lookout for valuable sound treasures and the holy sound grail? Me too! I especially love plug-ins that let you really put the audio through the wringer. So I was even more excited about the XL version of FilterShaper, which is a free upgrade for owners of version 3. Machete or whip? A true sound adventurer always has the right weapon at hand. FilterShaper XL comes with a whole arsenal of sonic weapons - everything you need for a musical voyage of discovery! At the heart of the plug-in are two powerful filters, each of which lets you choose between 20 different filter types. The warm models were modeled after the Sallen Key Filters used in the legendary Korg MS-20. If more…

Polyverse Music Filtron Filtron is an effect whose heart is a state variable filter (SVF) with a 12dB slope. It can be blended continuously between lowpass, bandpass and highpass; the resonance goes up to self-oscillation. The sound depends on the volume of the input signal, the filter reacts quite audibly to a hotter start. This internal saturation sounds pleasantly warm and round. But if you want a heavier distorted sound, there‘s a downstream overdrive with two modes: Cold offers the nasty distortion you know from screeching 303 sequences, while hot sounds more like harmonic tube distortion. For more width, the VCA can be modulated in the stereo field. Sonically, Filtron impresses with zero delay technology and internal oversampling, both soft Oberheim sweeps and weird and experimental filter orgies are easily…

The term Arrangement is mostly used today for two different aspects of a song: the instrumentation (as in which instrument plays what, at what pitch, and in what rhythm) and the song structure. But before we take a closer look at how a good arrangement works, in terms of instrumentation and song structure, it may help to analyze a „bad“ arrangement, or at least one that doesn‘t work properly (Image 1). What stands out about an arrangement that works against the song? Listen to your own music, or tracks from friends, or even commercial tracks. And don‘t listen to volume or harmony. Rather, focus on what each instrument does and when. Where are the places where it seems too full? And what is too much? Which transition runs out of…

With the POM series, the Swedes have tried to gain a foothold in the trendy modular sector in 2019. This did not really succeed, because the possibilities of the stylish mini modular system supplied as a kit were too rudimentary (at least at first glance) in relation to the price, especially in view of the competition, especially from Behringer. The design experts at Teenage Engineering have now realized this and reduced the price by a good half. And for under 300 €, it‘s well worth taking another look at the top model painted in eye-catching yellow with 3 analog oscillators plus noise, filter, LFO, 2 envelopes, random generator and 16-step sequencer. Solderless kit First of all, however, the child in you is challenged, because the modular pocket operator comes as…

1 Choose master sound Route your instrument or mic to an Audio Track. Set Monitor to In. Unless you have loaded an audio effect rack with parameters already assigned to the Macros, you can create an effect rack from any effect device and assign your preferred parameters to the Macros. To do this, load one or more audio effects into a track. 2 Start decomposition For example, take pedal, spectral time, auto filter and delay. Group all devices. Open the Macro View and map all Dry/Wet controls to different Macros. Map various parameters to the remaining Macros. When mapping, avoid Feedback, Output and similar parameters that make the sound uncontrollable. 3 Create snapshots Create variations as the next Macro Controller. To do this, open the Macro Variations view. Change the…

11 GB 11 GB drums & vocals for Hip-Hop, Soul & HouseM Make your sonic dreams come true with the Flow Motion flexible FM synthesizer from Waves. Thanks to the combination of FM and subtractive synthesis, you can create breathtaking sounds. In combination with our second issue highlight Audiomodern Chordjam Lite, you can also create catchy chord sequences that will inspire you. Back to the roots is the motto this month for our Zampler with the AMIGA FLASHBACK soundbank. Let yourself be inspired by the charming 14-bit sound and 66 thrilling presets to make the dancefloors of your next club hit shake. Our 11 GB sample library will take your music production to a whole new level! Dive into a world of pulsating techno drums, versatile construction kits for RnB,…

1 Theme and message Before you start writing a text, you should think about a topic or message. Think about what you want to talk about - be it personal experiences, social issues or emotions. A clear theme will give structure to your text before you start writing. The ultimate discipline is to tell a whole, cohesive story with your song. A good example is the track „99 Problems“ by Jay-Z. For example, in the second verse, he recounts an experience when he was stopped by the police in his car for allegedly speeding and resisted the search of his vehicle. One of the most famous and probably best examples of storytelling in rap is „Stan“ by Eminem. Here he raps from the point of view of a morbid fan,…

1 When it comes to microphones, I have three mics that I actually always try out with each artist. The Sony C 800G, the Telefunken Ela M 251 and the Audio-Technica AT4060. In addition, the Tube Tech PM 1A is in my analog chain as a pre amp and the CM 1A as a compressor - although I set the compression very moderate. 2 At the beginning of my chain is the Slate Virtual Mix Rack. Here I add a desk emulation if necessary and do a suitable low cut. For surgical procedures, the FabFilter Pro-Q 3 is my scalpel. It works really well for me and, by the way, is perfect for filtering out unwanted resonances. 3 For vocal recordings, you have to be flexible. If I…

1 Means of choice? The classics for beatmaking are undoubtedly drum samplers like MPC, SP-404 or SP-1200, but also workstations like Yamaha‘s Motif. Although the first two are still relatively mobile and space-saving, even that is too big for hand luggage. And perhaps too complicated, because you first have to understand and then be able to use current MPCs. 2 Small it must be! Manufacturer 1010music has understood the problem and delivers the ideal groovebox for the pocket with its Nanobox Razzmatazz [1]. Power comes via USB, so a powerbank is perfectly sufficient, as is the USB port in the bus or hotel. The eight drum pads are fed with samples or deliver drums via FM synthesis - or both. 3 Headphone sampling But it only gets really fun and spontaneous with live…

Beat / Why don‘t you let us know why you built and set up your studio the way you did? Anika Götze / My dream has always been to have my own space where I can just be creative. I didn‘t have a specific plan for how I wanted my „studio“ to look. I set it up based on aesthetics in the way that looks best to me; and the way it is now is the way I feel most comfortable. I‘ve set up a little „jam“ corner for myself. There‘s an amplifier, an older laptop and a MIDI keyboard for a few ideas in between. Otherwise, everything takes place at my large workstation. Beat / What tip can you give to other readers, what trap should they not fall…

British dark rock band Placebo has not been making much of a splash with its music for quite some time now. A recent performance in Turin, however, brought them right back to the top of the headlines. In between songs, singer Brian Molko called Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni „a piece of shit, a fascist, a racist“. [1] At almost the same time as Molko‘s tirade, an Egyptian musicians‘ union spoke out against allowing Travis Scott to perform, after some of Scott‘s fans had waved the rainbow flag at previous gigs. [2] In Malaysia, on the other hand, The 1975 were banned from performing for life after frontman Matt Healy kissed his bassist Ross MacDonald on the mouth on stage during the Good Vibes festival, commenting on the country‘s restrictive…

1 Load the Loop We load the Apple Loop Monster Chord Layers onto a track in Logic Pro X. For our manual stutter effect, it‘s best to use loops with a melody and maybe some instruments in the background, but without drums, since we‘ll be rhythmically processing the sample later and have more freedom that way. Of course you can still try it! 2 Gate the Noise We load a noise gate and set Hysteresis and Hold to 0 dB to make the gate more responsive. We also select fast Attack and Release times of around 10 ms. Now we have prepared the gate for the next step. We now create a track for software instruments and load the in-house ES M synth.. 3 Silent Synth We mute the synth by selecting the menu…

1 Inspiration from the 70s Tove Lo‘s „2 Die 4“ is set to a danceable 118 BPM. Create a Cubase project at this tempo and load Retrologue to recreate the sound of the synth hook from „2 Die 4“. By the way, in the original version of „Popcorn“ by Gershon Kingsley, this sound was created with a Moog modular synth. We start with the Retrologue 2 Init preset. 2 Pluck sound Select the Square waveform for Oscillators 1 and 2 and increase Shape to 50% for each. Set Phase to Fixed Phase to keep the Attack of the sound consistent. By slightly detuning in the opposite direction by +/-8 cents with the Fine control, the sound gets a bit fuller. The percussive course of the volume envelope is crucial here.…

The idea for this multi-effect comes from the Canadian music producer Andrew Huang, who may also be known to many as a busy YouTuber with lots of helpful videos. For its implementation, he teamed up with the developers at Baby Audio, who had already attracted attention in the past with other extraordinary creative effects such as Crystalline and Spaced Out. Transit shares with these plug-ins the clearly and attractively designed interface, which is divided into different sections and offers direct access to all relevant parameters. Menu diving or switching between different pages is not necessary and we barely had to even look at the manual during our testing. Semi-modular Transit has a semi-modular design. Seven slots are available for effect modules, the eighth slot on the top left is reserved…

The Recording Pack includes a USB audio interface, microphone, headphones, matching cables and useful software bundle. In typical Arturia style, the hardware is sturdy and immaculately finished, and the components, available in black or white, look sleek and sophisticated. MiniFuse 2 audio interface The heart and namesake of the Recording Pack is the Minifuse 2. With dimensions of 200 x 100 x 43 mm, the compact audio interface fits on any desktop and, at a weight of only 500 grams, can also be easily packed into a gig bag for mobile use. Power is supplied via the USB-C port, and a cable to Type A is included. MiniFuse2 is class-compliant, so it can be used without special drivers and is therefore also suitable for iPad & other devices. The built-in…

» I’ve been using cheap, $ 100 passive speakers for my height channels. And they work just fine. « Beat / Most rock gigs are in stereo and techno is often in quad on the dance floor. So why would Atmos provide you with a more “natural” sound? Bob Clearmountain / I’m not sure if it really is more “natural.” But, as opposed to a live show with the artist on a stage, for a studio recording I often try to imagine I’m sitting in the middle of the studio with the band set up and playing all around me. Of course, often recordings have many layers of overdubbed vocals, guitars, keyboards and synthesizers so I’ll tend to spread them out in as natural a way as I can, without…

Beat / Hi Marc, the Studioszene is about to open its doors with the LEaT con. For whom is the event relevant and what is there to discover? Marc / The Studioszene is actually interesting for everyone who is involved in music production, that is, Recording, Mixing and Mastering, as well as Songwriting. We have an extensive program on these topics and also have a Dolby Atmos or immersive audio program. In this area, we also see ourselves a bit as ambassadors. LEaT con also offers a comprehensive training program in the field of Live Audio. Beat / The Studioszene is known for its direct practical relevance with the Masterclass workshops. What are the topics and are the workshops only for Professionals or are they also suitable for Beginners? Marc /…

1 The Sony C 800G is a classic for vocal recordings. But it is also suitable for Rap vocals. The microphone has its own character, which is demonstrated by a high presence and crispy highs. At the same time, the tube gives you a warm sound in the lower frequency range. Thus, this mic is also perfect for Rap vocals. 2 In combination with the Neve 1073, the Sony C 800G sounds even better. Artists like Mariah Carey and Drake rely on this combination for recordings. But this chain can also be heard on countless other productions. The Neve delivers a warmth and distortion all its own. These characteristics are a great starting point for Rap vocals. 3 KLet‘s move on to plug-ins from my digital vocal chain that…

1 The technology There are talented artists who play their beats via the keys of a keyboard. That‘s fantastic, but we‘re not one of them, because for us the typical 4x4 matrix of common drum pad controllers has proven itself. Accordingly, the following tips are designed for it, but can easily be adapted for other controllers and keyboards. 2 The dominant hand It is absolutely essential to create your own drum kits so that they are designed for your playing style. The most important question is: Which hand should trigger which sounds? The most common approach is for your dominant hand to play the backbeat, usually a hi-hat, while the non-dominant hand takes over kick and snare. 3 Pad layout The classic layout (for right-handers) is a kick on pad 1 and…

» To learn something new is pivotal. That’s fuel for me! « Beat / You‘ve quoted Dead Can Dance as an influence. In which way? Bedless Bones / Naturally, Lisa Gerrard‘s creativity and way of singing have influenced me, particularly with improvisation and more abstract vocalisations. I try to refrain from direct imitation. It wouldn’t even be possible because my abilities and voice are different. But something of her spirit is often with me. Her perception of the world is that of a true artist, and the way she communicates through music is very inspiring and beautiful. There’s an amazing documentary about Lisa, called “Sanctuary” - I very much suggest that to anyone who has been moved by her work. Beat / Dead Can Dance were known to include mediaeval…

1 Sequence for Ambient Flow Motion masters an immense sound palette with ease. Its absolute strength lies in impressively animated sequences and textures with wow factor that are perfect for Ambient and Chillout, for example. The first step to a new sequence is the preset Full Reset. We want to turn the sine sound into a pluck sound. 2 Basic sound Increase the Ratio value of the first Oscillator to x4. Then, switch to the Motiontion Page and activate the Filter. To influence the Filter Frequency with an LFO, we turn the Cutoff knob all the way to the left. Then, select the LFO Mode at Modulator A. Drag the symbol in the upper left corner to the left modulation slot of the cutoff control. 3 Modulation Now you can adjust the modulation…

1 Create hi-hat groups Create two hi-hat groups on two tracks. The first group fills the upper frequency spectrum. Load an empty Drum Rack and select an open and a closed hi-hat and a ride cymbal from the Drum Hits folder. Program an open hi-hat on the offbeat, a 16th note figure with the closed hihats and an eighth note pattern with the ride. 2 Program beat The second hi-hat group consists of open and closed hi-hats, and a cymbal instead of a ride. Select samples with a fuller, slightly more metallic basic sound. Set the same choke group for all of them. Program the open hi-hat back on the offbeat, the closed hi-hat syncopated to give the beat more groove, and the ride on the quarters. 3 Create texture To generate an…

1 Workflow killer If you don‘t strictly separate Mixing, Sound Design and Arrangement - probably not many people do - and don‘t have the benefit of two monitors, you‘ll have to switch back and forth between Mixer, Rack and Sequencer every few seconds in Reason. This can significantly hamper the workflow, especially when it happens with a mouse click. 2 Is there another way? Fortunately, Reason comes with keyboard shortcuts F5, F6 and F7 out of the box, so Windows users are off the hook. On MacOS, however, F7 is intended for controlling audio apps. This can be switched off, but then it applies to all F keys. Also stupid. But enough of that, because there are solutions - for both systems! 3 Set shortcuts The ideal option for Mac…

Overloud GEM EQP Passive equalizers are valued for their wide, smooth filter curves and vintage sound. The best known representative is the Pultec EQP1-A, which is often used to make sounds warmer and fuller with its subtle harmonic distortion. In one convenient interface, this plug-in integrates three iconic equalizers from Pultec: EQP1-A, the MEQ-5 midrange equalizer, and the HLF 3C low and high pass filter. Thus, this plug-in offers a section for powerful basses and silky highs, a two-band midrange section with musical coloring, and a pleasant-sounding lowpass and highpass filter duo. As you would expect from the manufacturer, GEM EQP has been given additional features that its hardware predecessors do not offer. The adjustable operating level for each section opens up more exciting possibilities for coloring the sound. This…

The TR-909 from Roland is already 40 years old this year. In 1983, Roland presented the successor to the no less legendary TR-808. To offer more expressiveness and control, Roland engineers decided to take a hybrid approach with the 909: customizable analog circuitry for the kick, snare, clap and toms; digital samples for the cymbals. With its unique sound and inspiring sequencer, the TR-909 achieved cult status with the beginning of the Techno wave at the time and has shaped this music genre, but can also be heard in numerous pop and dance songs, especially from the 90s, and has barely lost any of its popularity to this day. Additional effects Drumazon was already one of the most popular virtual replicas of the TR-909 in Version 1. This was partly…

66 CRISP PATCHES FOR LOFI, CHILL & TECHNO For those who have yet to experience the Amiga in all its glorious glory, understand its revolutionary influence on the origins of Techno. Its charming 14-bit sound has shaped history and still brings fresh energy to modern tracks. Are you ready to dive into the world of Amiga? We proudly present 66 crisp patches specially sampled for Hip Hop, LoFi and for the ultimate Techno sound! www.zamplersounds.com Facts AMIGA FLASHBACK for Zampler: ▴ 1,080 MB soundbank for Hip Hop, LoFi, Ambient & Techno ▴ 66 Patches ▴ 23 Crisp basses ▴ 34 Leads & synths ▴ 8 Pads, 2 FX ▴ Compatible with UVI Falcon, NI Kontakt, Steinberg HALion and all samplers that can load SFZ files. AMIGA FLASHBACK for Akai MPCs:…

Not only because of the additional controls on the logically structured user interface, the UNO Synth Pro X appears much more mature. The elimination of the touch keyboard in favor of normal buttons and the surface made of metal instead of fingerprint-attracting black plastic also make the X version appear significantly more valuable. The sound generation features three oscillators and two filters, plus three digital effects from the areas of modulation, delay and reverb that can be used in parallel, and an analog drive. External sound generators can also be sent through filters and effects. UNO Synth PRO X also has a 64-step sequencer with parameter automation, CV and gate and a special bassline mode. This sounds like a convincing package for analog riffs. Prehistory IK Multimedia has been developing…

Mastering is essential to give your tracks a professional finishing touch. The possibilities range from an overwhelming number of tools to fully automated solutions with artificial intelligence. But don‘t panic, in addition to all the important basics on the subject, we provide you with a complete overview of the available hardware and software including practical examples, tricks from mastering experts, as well as fabulous 18 effect chains of the star musicians for your DAW – to squeeze the best quality out of your tracks. Test: Norand Mono mkII At first glance, Norand Mono is a simple-looking mono analogue synth with two analogue oscillators with continuously adjustable waveforms and a multimode filter. In addition, however, there is a complex digital modulation system that can assign each parameter its own envelope and…