http://www.prosound.co.za

CONTENTS3BEATS PEOPLE MUSIC• •

W EDITOR’S NOTE

NOV/DEC 2012 | EDITION 64

ith no intention whatsoever, other than just doing Samson’s first foray into keyboard controllers. BPM welcomes our thing as usual, I realised a short while back that another accomplished tech reviewer, David Scott, to our team as we’ve put a lot of focus this year [and last] on DJ he gives us the lowdown on both the Carbon 49 and Graphite 49 gear, more specifically DJ controllers and Media by Samson. He also looks at the Akai Synthstation 49, an iPad players. This is not totally surprising considering the dedicated controller. David has his own production project called huge popularity of dance music and as I’ve said a The Kiffness [who have supported Goldfish several times] and he

dozen time before, ‘every kid wants to be a DJ now.’ This is great; epitomises the young producer scene that has developed in South great for business, great for dance music and certainly great for us Africa.at BPM Magazine who started this journey almost 10 years ago Elsewhere we look at Native Instruments’ new Maschine2 - with the sole intention of propping up the dance music scene in stalwart DJ and producer, Dave Skinz, takes it through its paces. this country with good media exposure. Skinz also looks at the Avid Artist Mix, a very handy and

But hey! There wouldn’t be any dance music to play if people professional 8-fader motorised controller that he swears will have weren’t producing it right? Right! Making your own beats is the you touching your keyboard and mouse less and less when next natural step for some DJs; I say some because I believe that managing your DAW. the art of DJing is and always will be enough for many of us. But There’s still room for one DJ controller review though and I there are those that reach a point in their career where they had a chance to play with the very impressive Reloop TerminalMix wanna create stuff similar to what they are playing out. The digital 2. You can check out my thoughts on Pg. 16. age has afforded all of us this opportunity with home studios so whilst digital has been mooted as a big factor in the demise of

DAVE MACmusic sales (easier to pirate and share), digital has also brought music making into all of our homes.

Don’t forget to visit www.bpmmag.co.za for daily gear news.This edition we have focused a bit on studio and music making tools as opposed to the DJ gear. Our cover features

Editor-in-Chief

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EDITORS NOTE & INFO

COVER FEATURE :

SAMSON CARBON 49 & GRAPHITE 49

GEAR: AKAI SYNTHSTATION 49

GEAR NEWS

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS' MASCHINE 2

DJ GEAR: RELOOP TERMINALMIX 2

STUDIO GEAR: AVID ARTIST MIX

PRODUCTION TIPS: WITH JON S SHAW

TUTORIAL: HOW TO MAKE DUBSTEP WOBBLE BASS

EDUCATION: TO WHAT DEGREE?

SAMSON CARBON 49

Price: R 1,395.00 incl. VATSupplier: Audiosure (Pty) Ltd

Tel: (011)-790-4600Web: www.audiosure.co.za

A SIMPLE, SLEEK WHITE MIDI CONTROLLER WITH AN INTEGRATED IPAD SLOT

4 COVER FEATURE By David Scott

What Is It?

In Use

The Verdict

Who Should Own One?

*iPad not included.

The Samson Carbon 49 is a simplistic and stylish white USB powered MIDI controller that looks like something made by Apple; simple, clean and easy on the eye. It even comes with a slot for your iPad which further endorses my sentiments on the Apple styling.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to use this controller. You plug it into your computer and it's ready to use. I was happy that I didn't have to download any IPad lovers. If you don't have an iPad or drivers. The keys are semi-weighted, and don't intend on getting one then you although a bit plasticky and clunky, they won't find much use in the iPad slot. Even provide pretty accurate velocity response. if you own an iPad, you might get

The pitch bend and modulation frustrated with the fact that you have to impractical without a Camera Connection

wheels are surprisingly smooth and nice pull out the camera connection kit and Kit for your iPad.

to use, and I like the rubber grip it recharge your iPad every few hours.Nevertheless, for the price it's a real provides. The controller provides useful Apart from that, the sheer simplicity

winner and is very usable. The Carbon 49 octave as well as transpose buttons. Most of the controller (with the aid of its good also includes Native Instruments' MIDI controllers only provide octave looks) leads me to think that it is aimed 'Komplete Elements' software bundle buttons so the transpose buttons on the towards beginners or someone who's which adds great added value to the Carbon is a surprisingly nice little feature, keen to mess around on Garageband. overall package.allowing you to shift the song into a However, it could be useful for any

favourable key for lazy musicians like musician that needs a simple USB-myself. (Nobody likes playing too many powered controller to lay down some black keys if they can avoid it). ideas.

The only other buttons the keyboard provides are a volume slide, a data encoder and an edit button which provide a few more options, but you'll have to pull out the Owner's Manual to Great value for money. At R 1,395 you're figure them out. not going to find a 49 key MIDI controller

The integrated iPod slot is useful but in the same price range. The attractive slightly misleading. I was expecting some price obviously comes with reduced kind of integrated iPad dock connection, functionality, but it's perfect for laying but the slot is nothing more than a groove down ideas. The iPad dock is neat but in the controller - a glorified iPad stand. It also requires an iPad Camera Connection Kit to connect the controller to the iPad. So unless you have a connection kit or you don't mind spending an extra R 700 to get one, it makes more sense to use this controller with your laptop (which of course won't fit in the slot).

SAMSON GRAPHITE 49

Price: R 2,995.00 incl. VATSupplier: Audiosure (Pty) Ltd

Tel: (011)-790-4600Web: www.audiosure.co.za

A ROBUST MIDI CONTROLLER WITH GREAT MIDI FUNCTIONALITY

5

What Is It?

In Use

The Verdict

Who Should Own One?

As the name suggests, the Samson Graphite 49 is an upgrade from its forerunner; the Samson Carbon 49. The Graphite offers the same 49 semi-weighted, velocity sensitive keys with the addition of aftertouch (a nice little bonus) and has nearly identical octave and transpose buttons, but offers many more bells and whistles than the Carbon. With forward together it triggers the panic, 4 drum pads, 8 encoders, 9 faders and 16 which is useful in case the controller function buttons the Graphite gives you freaks out. what you'd want from a controller for the

I love the encoder and function studio and live performance alike. for me is the weight. My personal

buttons. They're compact, easily accessible controller is around 2 kgs and with all my

and I really like that there are lots of them. other equipment to carry around too, a

If there's one criticism it’s that the controller that's nearly 6 kgs is a bit heavy.

function buttons don't light up when you Although the Graphite 49 does not press them (a feature that I was

The first thing I notice when unboxing this have an actual iPad stand (like the Carbon expecting), but they are displayed on the beast is that its rather heavy for a 49) it is worth noting that you can still LED screen which I guess is an alright controller with only 49 keys. Isn't graphite connect one.alternative. You can change each button's meant to be light? It's twice as heavy as

function individually to Toggle (on when the Samson Carbon - maybe 'Samson

you press it and off when you press it Lead 49' is a better name. However, the

again), or momentary (on when pressed 5,8 kgs of mass reassures me that it's not

and off when released) with relative ease. just a piece of plastic junk. (Hopefully it's The Graphite 49 is a really practical and

It normally takes a while to figure out how as strong as graphite.) versatile unit with more functionality than

to do that. most 49 key controllers out there. The Again, I'm impressed with Samson's

The sliders are okay but slide a little drum pads aren't great but the sliders, design. With its rounded edges and bit unevenly at times. The pitch bend and encoders and function buttons make up aesthetically pleasing control surface, it modulation wheels are a little too bulky for it. For R 2,995 it's a bargain. I think looks like an elongated iPhone with a for my taste, but otherwise work perfectly. with this being Samson's MIDI controller piano app open. All the knobs, buttons

debut it was a good move to make the and faders are placed cleverly and I can't price appealing because they're going up fault them on the design - everything is against some big competitors. If you're still where it should be. not convinced that it's a great deal, The LED screen is user friendly. Someone with a firm understanding of they've thrown in Native Instrument's Whenever you press a button, move a MIDI functionality; this isn't a child's toy. I 'Komplete Elements' – a really awesome slider or encoder its name and parameter find it a bit clumsy for studio use, but it's production suite with 3GB of quality values appear on the screen. really fun to play and will get really good samples and effects.

The drum pads are a nice size, about mileage in a live situation. The main issue 2,5cm². However, they're a bit too stiff for my liking. I prefer drum pads that have a bit of give. You really have to hit them quite hard if you want to get any response out of them, so unfortunately the velocity sensitivity isn't that accurate.

Below the drum pads Samson have put rewind, fast forward, stop, play and record buttons - especially useful for live application. If you press rewind and fast

AKAI SYNTHSTATION 496 GEAR REVIEW By David Scott

ANATOMY

THE VERDICT

WHO SHOULD OWN ONE?

WHAT IS IT?

THE SYNTHSTATION APP

ANALOGUE MEETS DIGITAL WITH A MIDI CONTROLLER SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE IPAD

Price: R 3,995.00Supplier: Musical Distributorswww.musicaldistributors.co.za

* iPad not included

perform and loop live drums and synths - a similar concept to session view in Ableton Live. At first it's quite difficult to understand how it works but when you get into it you can start looping and performing your own arrangements.

My favourite feature in the performance mode is the XY effects pads on the synths which are fun to play around with on the touch screen. You can control the marker manually or you can send it bouncing around the XY square making weird and wonderful sounds. The "edit mode" is a bit finicky and difficult to navigate, but then again I think the SynthStation is designed primarily for performance rather than editing.

Someone who's looking for a dynamic performance tool. It would serve well as a

specially dedicated Drum, Poly Synth, Mono synth for a keyboardist onstage, for almost any

Synth 1 & Mono Synth 2 buttons.genre of music. Dom Peters from SA's leading

The docking station is easy to plug your electronic duo, Goldfish, recently acquired a iPad into. The iPad charges while you use it so Synthstation and had this to say “If you already The Synthstation is the first MIDI controller to you don't have to worry about running low own an iPad the SynthStation is an amazing be fully customized to work with the iPad. on battery, a great feature. way to get a Moog, an MS20 or whatever Working seamlessly with the Synthstation app,

other apps you want all in one keyboard. Plus the device offers a palette of customizable it's a 49 key midi controller. Stoked!”drum samples and synths. It has two 1/4" jack

outputs, so like an analogue synth you can take the sound straight to the stage. It also has a USB output so you can plug it into your Mac

I was a little upset that I had to buy the or PC as a MIDI controller.

SynthStation app. Although it's only $2, they should make it available for free since you've A clever concept and AKAI have done well in just spent R4k on the controller. The app itself making the iPad a serious performance tool is pretty intuitive and works really well with for musicians. The SynthStation offers a great the controller. It was not long before I got the array of sounds and has plenty potential as a Not surprisingly, the Synthstation is another hang of how it all works. The drum sounds are live instrument. The app works really well with example of AKAI's impeccable craftsmanship. alright, but a bit too reminiscent of the controller and is easy to navigate. Because In metallic black, the controller looks like Garageband with presets called “cheesy kit” it’s a relatively new concept, I feel the app something straight out of Darth Vader's lair. and “techno kit”. Fun, but nothing too amazing. support could be a bit better but with time Although it looks quite bulky the keyboard is

The synths sounds are surprisingly fat. we should see more intuitive design features. surprisingly light, supposedly because the The interface is fun and and easy to work Perhaps the price is a bit steep weight that would've gone into the sliders and with, and there are loads of parameters to considering that it doesn't come with an iPad buttons is now inside the iPad and weighs tweak to get that perfect sound you're looking but well worth it if you want to get the most nothing more than a few Megabytes. for. The presets are a good starting point and out of your tablet. The keys are very well weighted – they you can hear that there's been some thought

As a lover of both the analogue and have just the right amount of spring, and don't into making sure they don't sound too cheesy.digital realms of music I feel the Akai make a racket like you'd expect from a

"Performance mode” allows you to Synthstation has found a good middle ground.cheaper keyboard. The modulation & pitch bend wheels are also quality and have been placed above the keyboard presumably to save space.

The nine back-lit MPC style drum pads have a great feel, but I'm not sure why they didn't opt for 16 pads like they have on the MPC. There are the customary transport buttons (play, stop, octave etc) including

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS MASCHINE 2GROOVE BOX FOR A DIGITAL AGE

What Is It?

So What’s New?

8 STUDIO GEAR By Dave Skinz

Price: R 8,995.00Supplier:

Tuerk Music TechnologyTel: (011) 792 8402

Web: www.tuerkmusic.co.zawww.nativeinstruments.com

rotaries to control and trigger the rubberized to cement the controller in displayed functions. place.

The four most important functions Native Instruments have also seen are astutely positioned in the top left the potential for peripheral add-ons to Let me start by saying that there is no corner of Maschine and they are the Maschine system so you can now get way I could fit all the info and nuances of <Control>, which lets you muck about on an angled stage stand and a host of a device like Maschine into this article, so the fly, <Step> which will trigger your magnetic faceplates to accessorize your please excuse me if I leave something you sequencer, a <Browse> button to check beast. The master section has also been deem important out. Maschine is Native out the extensive library and then the spruced up with a large rotary control for Instruments unique way of integrating <Sampling> button. volume, swing and tempo functions. traditional hardware groove box music

Another wicked inclusion to the production into the digital age. Maschine package is the inclusion of So while at its core Maschine is a Massive and Komplete Elements in great digital catalog of all of your samples addition to the already impressive sound and loops bundled in a comprehensive packs and effects on-board. Now any of way to control and utilize them, Maschine your existing Native Instruments VSTs can The most striking change for the new can also be used on its own or as a digital be accessed through Maschine and have Maschine is the colour-coding system to plug-in via VST, RTAS or AU into your all been tagged and labeled so tracking let you “see” your sounds. Colours can be DAW. Couple that with the ability to also down specific sounds or effects has never allocated to groups, sounds, patterns and utilize it as a MIDI controller without been easier. And you can create and scenes so you always know what is interfering with any of the above group your own sounds and patches. assigned and where it is. processes that are already going on and

From a software perspective you begin to see why so many producers The pads themselves have also seen Maschine 1.8 has added time shifting and speak so highly of Maschine. an improvement making them more pitch correction and a couple of really sensitive and dynamic while still being able The first thing that catches the eye is impressive tube effects to the impressive to take a repeated pounding. The velocity Maschine's 4 x 4 matrix of backlit list of over 20 effects but one of the sensitive pads can also be linked to trigger pressure sensitive pads, used for triggering biggest changes has to be in the workflow off each other, so you can launch complex sounds, generating loops, and even as a of the controller. For instance, when events with a single button. step sequencer to build your own loops plugging in your DAW the transport the “old fashioned” way. Patterns can also The displays also see some redesign section of Maschine now controls your be combined and switched on the fly to by being inverted which creates a better global transport. Another example is using give some really interesting permutations. viewing contrast in a host of different Maschine as the host for any VST's or AU The rest of the facia is made of the 8 conditions. Another area that has seen and having all of the parameters already group buttons, transport section, master some remodeling is the USB and MIDI mapped to Maschine for you. section and then the two side-by-side connection ports to avoid them being

screens with its 8 buttons and 8 infinite pulled out and the feet are now

The Verdict

9

Who Should Own One?want to load up the latest versions of Guitar Rig 5.1.0, Kontakt 5.0.3, and Reaktor 5.7.1

The Maschine is a versatile piece of studio I consider myself an experienced gear for anyone looking for a spark in campaigner when it comes to music their creativity but it is certainly more production systems even if I haven't program loops and get a basic structure orientated towards the electronic music perfected my craft, so when something and parts before taking it into a DAW. producer. It makes beat creation more comes along that fires up the creativity

You can even take it a step further engaging and easier to come up with and then makes it engaging to compose, it away from the studio and use the NI quality results, thanks to its workflow, but is certainly worth taking notice. Maschine Maschine iPhone app to doodle and also down to the over 6 GB of samples, on its own is a powerful control interface create grooves on the go to later export loops, effects and synth patches to work but when combined it with NI's world into the software. with. Just on its own that is a huge leading sound packs, effects, and plug-ins it

So what's not to want?addition to any setup. really does take it to the next level. Not only can you produce quality beats it For the DJ's out there you can also becomes less of a slug to get that project integrate Maschine into Traktor for a host done. of new creative ways to add to your

performance. I've dabbled with a couple of hardware devices like Grooveboxes and samplers and while the tone is always wicked, the ease of use is not so amazing. And The manual is very handy for setting up ‘RTFM'ing’ (reading Maschine but useless when it comes to the f*cking manual) actually using it. So I highly recommend is always like getting making yourself comfortable and visiting through Tolstoy’s Native Instruments website or their War and Peace YouTube page and taking in the tutorials which I didn't finish to induct you into the world of Maschine.either. This is where

Install time was about 20 min, due to the Maschine

the large amount of patches and data, comes into its own.

over 6 gigs worth! But the updates took While you could

even longer once the NI service centre utilize the VST,

upgrades you to Maschine 1.8.1 and the RTAS or AU plug-in

latest versions of Massive 1.3.1 and very easily, I found

Control Editor 1.5.1. While it was all myself using

pretty simple on my MacBook you will Maschine like a

need in excess of a gig of data to update doodle pad to

all the latest versions and over 2GB if you

http://www.hybrid.co.za

R

The Vestax VCI-380 is the new two-channel volume knob around the back Digital DJ controller update to the widely and a Master Out XLR pair popular Serato Itch VCI-300 controller that which is controlled by the Vestax released a couple of years ago. Vestax Volume knob on the face and Serato have taken the time to upgrade the of the VCI-380. There is VCI-300 in almost every area in order to come also a MIC 1 XLR input up with the new Vestax VCI-380 that DJ’s will with volume control love just as much or more than the previous knob and a MIC 2 version. The Vestax VCI-380 still holds onto the quarter-inch input same compact size making it easy to fit into a also with its own backpack or small DJ bag. It is a super-durable DJ volume control controller with its full-metal body construction knob. and heavyweight feel to it. The Vestax VCI-380 This controller is meant for users who can now function as a stand-alone mixer for want to use Serato as their software of choice those who want to plug in up to two external as this controller is not MIDI mappable. The devices or decks for mixing playback. Vestax VCI-380 is perfectly suited to current

Around the back of the unit are two RCA Serato Itch or SSL users who are looking for a inputs (one for each channel) with a button for compact controller solution for their DJ needs. each input to switch them to PHONO or LINE level depending on the type of decks connected. Each one has its own gain knob and they share a ground post for analog decks.

There is an RCA booth output with a

Rolling Thunder

www.rollingthunder.co.za

(021) 557-8630

DJs with cutting-edge controllers that continually Numark. “Our professional NS6, NS7 and V7 NUMARK ANNOUNCES advance the art form. A deep and long-standing customers will be able to take advantage of a partnership with Serato was established more whole new set of creative tools, and the SUPPORT FOR ALL-NEW than 6 years ago, and has resulted in an entire hundreds of thousands of Serato DJ Intro users range of professional controllers that have who own our controllers will be able to easily SERATO DJ SOFTWARE eliminated the line between hardware and upgrade to the most advanced DJ software ever software. The NS7, V7, and NS6 controllers created.”Leading manufacturer of DJ technology, Numark define the top tier of DJ performance, reigning as announced in October a collaboration with the go-to controllers for DJing and setting the Serato, a worldwide innovator in digital DJ standard by which all other controllers are software, to include their new Serato DJ judged.software with select Numark controllers.

“I can’t tell you how excited we are about For more than 20 years, Numark has set a Serato DJ,” said Chris Roman, Product Manager, pace in the world of digital DJing, empowering

SA Distributor: Viva Afrika

(011) 250-3280 | www.vivaafrika.co.za

Further endorsing ADJ’s products as such as: 12 DMX Channels for professional gear for all environments, a programming, 33 built-in color macros YouTube clip doing the rounds revealed and a 4-Button LED DMX Menu.30 Inno Colour Beam LEDs in action at The InnoColor Beam LED is also the Prodigy concert in Athens. Simply great in sound active mode with plenty search “30 INNO COLOR BEAMS @ of exciting built-in programs creating PRODIGY LIVE CONCERT IN instant light shows. Plus, non-DMX users ATHENS 2012” to watch the can use the easy-to-use UC3 Controller video. to operate this fixture.

The Inno Color Beam LED is a The New Narrow Color Beam high performance 108-Watt LED effect creates a great visual with fog. Moving Head fixture that offers a hard- Don't let his small fixture fool you. Its edge beam effect sought after by lighting unique optical system can compete with designers to help take their light shows high powered moving head spot fixtures. to a new level. This fixture features 36x Uses 36 x 3w Cree LED's. 3-Watt high quality CREE LEDs (8x Red, 10x Green, 10x Blue & 8x White).

This unit is compact and light weight and offers plenty of pro features

Legacy Brands | (021) 551-3296 info@legacybrands.co.za www.americandj.com

AMERICAN DJ’S INNO COLOUR BEAM LED DOING THE BUSINESS AT PRODIGY SHOW IN ATHENS

VESTAX REPLACES THE VCI-300 WITH THE VCI-380

GEAR & INDUSTRY NEWS12 GEAR & INDUSTRY NEWS

QTX QRC AND QS LOUDSPEAKER SERIES

QRC-SERIES ACTIVE PA CABINETS

Active PA speaker unit in contemporary styled moulded ABS cabinet with integral handle and constant directivity horn. Built-in mixer amp section delivers high output to the driver units to develop high SPLs

Titanium compression horn driver

PTC driver protection

Mic/line inputs with volume controls

Integral handles

Tone controls

35mm top-hat fittingLightweight ABS enclosure

Crossover fittedQS SERIES PASSIVE MOULDED SPEAKER Low impedance compression horn driverCABINETSM8 rigging pointsPassive speaker cabinets with tough yet

Easy-carry handlelightweight ABS enclosures, designed to satisfy 35mmØ top hat with locking screwthe demands of the modern DJ or musician. Trapezoidal designEach enclosure has a trapezoidal design with Supplied with stands for use as wedge easy-carry handle and 35mmØ top hat for stand monitormounting.

Rigid steel grille2 x Speakon® NL4 sockets

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TV Audio | www.tvaudio.co.za (011) 805-9910

DENON SAY - OWN THE PARTY! WITH THEIR NEW MC2000 DJ CONTROLLER

The brand new MC2000 brings, for the first time, the very best in Denon DJ professional quality and technologies, then integrates them it into a product that’s accessible to everyone. From the ‘plug and play’ link up with Serato DJ Intro to the intuitive layout and controls on the deck, now is your time to join the new generation of DJ Superstars.

The MC2000 doesn’t need to be plugged into a mains power supply for you to get thrashing out tunes – it’s USB Bus powered which means if you want to show off your latest mix then you simply need to power up your laptop and plug in the MC2000 with a USB cable (supplied). Serato DJ Intro software detects the controller automatically and is ready to work from the moment you take out of the box and plug in – giving you true ‘plug & play’ functionality*.

Audiosure

www.audiosure.co.za

(011) 790-4600

The DJ Kontrol 3 is a professional 2 channel MIDI controller for DJs (mobile, clubs, studio etc …). The unit is built from sturdy aluminum housing with a high glossy polycarbonate top surface and stylish white/blue lighting. Included in the box is the latest version of VirtualDJ LE, the ultimate DJ-software that can even mix video clips! Thanks to standard MIDI-communication this controller can also be used with any MIDI DJ-software you can imagine! Most of the buttons are backlit making the controller easy to use in dark venues. The Kontrol 3 can be used on any modern laptop or PC, running Windows® XP/Vista/7 or Mac® OSX.

Features include;

Built-in 24 Bit/192kHz premium quality sound card for excellent sound performance!

High resolution, touch sensitive scratch wheels with blue backlight

Needle drop sensors for ultrafast searching inside tracks.

2 Channel mixer:

3 band equalizer with push kill function

DJ-mic input and PFL headphones output

Crossfader with curve adjustment.

Balanced XLR-masters (+ unbalanced cinch)

Easy plug & play installation: no extra drivers or computer skills needed!

Fully optimized for use with VirtualDJ software:

“1-click" beat matching, automatic beat loops, instant beat detection

Beat synced samplers, very accurate master tempo, 3 cue points per track

Video mixing: creative mixing of video clips, including video effects!

Plays MP3, AIFF, OGG, WAV, CDA, WMA, and many more …

Fully iTunes compatible

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Sound & Light City | www.soundandlightcity.co.za(011) 312-1001

DJ KONTROL 3 BY JB SYSTEMS

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http://www.emendymusic.co.za

http://www.rollingthunder.co.za

RELOOP TERMINALMIX 216 DJ GEAR By Dave Mac

A PRO DJ CONTROLLER AT A VERY COMPETITIVE PRICE

What is it?

Anatomy

The Verdict

In Use

on an otherwise almost perfectly thought out device, are that I could not find a setting to stop one from loading a track into a deck that is in use and then also the track search feature for the left channel. First off, the button to assign a track to a deck is situated precariously close to the headphone monitor button. One could easily press this instead of the headphone cue button and inadvertently load a track into a running deck.

The other little irritation (and it is really quite minor) is that to scan through a track one

The Reloop TerminalMix 2 - on review here - The stand-out features of the TerminalMix needs to hold in a button while moving the jog-and TerminalMix 4 are the German 2 are several; the touch-sensitive jog-wheels are wheel. Not a problem for the right channel as a manufacturer’s newest 2 and 4 deck all-in-one 15.5 cm in size and are very nicely balanced. In right-handed person would spin with right hand DJ controllers. Designed for use with Serato DJ fact so nice, you’ll loathe to cop out and use the and depress button with left. But for the left Intro software which comes packaged with the sync button to mix. The unit is really fun to mix channel, the placement of the button literally units, both have the same layout and off; it has a proper oldskool feel! All the rotaries forces one to cross one’s hands over - or learn functionality except of course the TerminalMix 4 and buttons feel good and are easy to find. A to be ambidextrous very quickly. The deck has four individual channels to control the four silver trax encoder sits prominently between loading is a genuine concern, the second issue is decks. We got to test the 2 channel derivative. the platters, just above the channel sliders and me just nit-picking.

the transport buttons are rubberised, making the cue and cup functions pretty seamless.

Although the ‘Mix 2’ is a 2-deck controller, it actually can control up to 4 with the use of handy deck-toggle buttons, it’s just that the included Serato Dj Intro software supports just Unpacking the TerminalMix 2 reveals a Installation took less than 5 minutes and the the 2. You can download 4-deck mapping for supremely well-built device. The chassis is made unit worked absolutely seamlessly thereafter. Traktor Pro 2 which the website claims works from some sort of pressed metal and weighing The jog-wheels are really very good. I reiterate seamlessly. in at 3.65 Kg, you get the immediate impression what I said about not wanting to use the sync

Each channel has a respectable range of that this baby will survive the rigours of those button. It is that much fun. Serato DJ Intro is hot-cue, sampler, looping and FX functions. The drunken DJ bouts in the booth. Ergonomically also a very good DJ application. It may look software offers a small number of FX such as the layout is stock-standard although every unit really basic but that is really the charm of the HPF and LPF filters (seems a bit silly since there I’ve ever tested has 1 or 2 idiosyncrasies and program; very uncluttered but somehow still is a filter built into each channel on the master also 1 or 2 stand-out features. manages to host everything one needs and

section), flanger, mixing, effecting, looping, sampling proved to be echo etc. Serato’s intuitively easy after just 10 minutes of playing FX have always around. been fairly basic but very usable and you don’t run the risk of destroying your track with the depth knob. The Terminal Mix 2 (and assumedly its 4-deck

The unit big brother) is a proper, professional DJ sports balanced controller. The sturdy build plus the quality (jack) and buttons, encoders, rotaries and magnificent jog-unbalanced (RCA) wheels all add up to a unit that is well thought Master outs as well out, has plenty of features as well as a growth as RCA Booth path. outs. One external This is certainly one of the best units I’ve device can be personally tested in a while, for under R10K.plugged in via the single set of inputs, with options for phono or line in. The only negatives

Price: TerminalMix 2: R 6,795.00TerminaMix 4: R 7,995.00

Supplier: TradeliusTel: (031) 502 3080

Web: www.tradelius.co.za

http://www.tradelius.co.za

AVID ARTIST MIX18 STUDIO GEAR By Dave Skinz

AUDIO AND VIDEO CONTROL AT YOUR MOTORIZED FINGERTIPS

Price: R 14,399.00 incl. VATSupplier: MIDI MusicTel: (011) 417 3400

Web: www.midimusic.co.zawww.avid.com

What Is It?

Who Should Own One?

The Verdict

editors will also be hard pressed to find a device that fills that controller void without breaking the bank, so when you combine it with the other controllers in the range like the Artist Colour, Artist Control and Artist Transport you really begin to see the potential to build a pro editing suite with quality gear. Did I mention you can run up to four Artist Mix's with the Artist Colour, Control and Transport?

Most of the major music production and some of the video editing software companies are integrating EUCON into their industry standard platforms, so users of Pro The build quality of the Artist series is first The Artist Mix is a high quality 8 fader Tools, Adobe Audition, Apogee Maestro, class and has a compact footprint at 42.7 x controller that can be used for either audio Apple Logic (Pro and Express), Apple 24.1 x 3 cm which lets it fulfil its design or video software packages. After all, Soundtrack, Cakewalk Sonar, MOTU Digital purpose to sit neatly in the space between operating your editing or production system Performer, Steinberg's Cubase and Nuendo your keyboard and screen. I have used a from a mouse and keyboard is limited and are just some of the audio platforms available system similar to EUCON before and found not very engaging. Add a controller into the while Apple's Final Cut Pro, Avid Media that they were similar in that you didn't have mix and now you have hands on access to Composer and Avid Symphony round out the to guess where your parameters were moved your important functions with less clicks and video editing platforms. to. The screens provide you with an instant far more ease of use.

One of the best advantages of the reference as to what has been moved where The eight touch-sensitive 100 mm long EUCON however is that you can use the and it certainly cuts down on the numbers of throw motorized faders are the real focus of Artist Mix to control multiple applications clicks to get you where you want to be.the Artist Mix, and each of these 8 faders has with seamless switching between apps. You The system requirements are 32 or 64 bit its own touch and velocity-sensitive rotary can also lock parts of the controller to one Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or encoder, 6 backlit buttons and a 128 x 64 app while switching to the rest, which is very Ultimate, while Mac OS X 10.5 and up are pixel high resolution OLED screen to feed handy for monitoring or transport control. A supported but only for the Intel chipsets. Also you your information. The entire system runs practical foot-switch jack is also at one's setting up the network and router was off Ethernet which makes it 250 times faster disposal so you can punch in and out of relatively easy but I have set up similar than conventional MIDI and offers you 8 recordings hands-free. connections before. The faders and buttons times the resolution. This does mean though

all felt first class and I liked the dark grey finish that the Artist Mix needs to run off a rather than some of the silver one's I’ve supplied power transformer as normally that encountered. The Artist Mix is a device that juice would come from the USB or Firewire most studio-heads would welcome into their connection. hallowed space even more so if they have the The biggest lure to the Artist Mix is the If you use Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo or skill to handle both audio and video projects. use of EUCON (Extended User Control) Logic on their own or in conjunction with Also in the range: which is a high speed open control protocol Final Cut then this is the beast for you. Very

that a lot of the world’s leading software Control V2: R 18,699.00 few systems will allow you to integrate those developers are beginning to integrate into apps on one controller cohesively, and you Transport: R 4,299.00their products. After all MIDI as a digital can see that that is what Avid had in mind Colour: R 17,499.00language is nearly 30 years old and hasn't when conceptualizing the Artist Mix. Video changed a bit since it was first introduced in 1983. What EUCON does is offer you direct access to pretty much all of the software functions by simply selecting the module you wish to control and the rest of the functions will be auto-mapped to the controller for quick and precise manipulation of all the available parameters.

Jonathan Shaw is a professional record producer who has worked with a multitude of artists and record labels in a freelance capacity. Outside this, he lectures music business at the University of the Witwatersrand and provides business consultation to the music industry. jshaw@smstudios.co.za

TRICKS FROM THE PRO'S 15: 20 TUTORIAL: PRODUCTION TIPS By Jonathan G. Shaw

DARTH VOCODER

VARIOUS VOCODER PLUGINS

S

PLAY LONG AND PROSPER! RESISTANCE TO BETTER SOUND

IS FUTILE!

alutations and greetings BPMings! can play a tune with it by saying something.Now read my greeting again but Try having a vocoder on specific parts picture the old sci-fi robot voices of the song or mix up the voice for a wah-from some of your favourite movies. wah guitar and see what happens. Edit the While vocoders are some 80 years sounds with stutter and Autotune to create

old, you can still use them to create amazing unique effects!effects on vocals. If you haven’t experimented with them before they can be a nice addition to how you produce. Vocoders can be found in many music production packages like FL Studio, Reason, Antares and Ableton Live.

In brief, the theory to vocoding is something like this: take one signal and keep its characteristics, then get another signal to play those characteristics. These characteristics are a set of filter envelopes of multiband frequencies which make up the first signal (that is, it tracks the amplitude of the filtered sections of frequencies). These encoded sections, making up the formants of speech, are passed to a synthesizer, which decodes and plays back the amplitudes resulting in us recognising speech but the voice being quite, well, robotic. Suffice to say it’s a complicated electronic process.

So, when vocoding the human voice, the vocoder will track the signal’s formants, called the ‘modulator’, because it is going to use these envelopes of the voice to modulate the synthesizer. The synthesizer is called the ‘carrier’ and can provide all the fundamentals and extra harmonics which are not stored in the encoding stage.

Why all the theory? Because now you can look at a vocoder and understand that your voice needs to be routed to the modulator input (or ‘mod’ sometimes) and that you can set up any synth instrument to be the carrier wave input (or ‘car’). The bandwidth (or ‘band’) selector chooses the number of filter envelopes the modulator uses - lower bands result in grainier sounds. Other controls work very similar to any analogue synth. With both the voice and instrument channels muted, the result, while you talk, is the synth playing the speech. The instrument now controls the pitch and you

http://www.ase.co.za

HOW TO MAKE YOUR VERY OWN RAISE FX

T

22 TUTORIAL By Donovan Leon from DCL Studios

Pic1: Loading up the Malstrom Synth

his edition we’re looking at dance music. If we had to try and imagine unique, something that no one else has. “How to make your very own electronic dance music without this effect, Let’s get started!!!Raise FX” or for some it might the songs wouldn’t have such a great We going to be using Reason’s be known as “a Raising Pitch impact and the builds would just seem Malstrom Graintable synthesizer (version Effect”. weak. 5) for this tutorial but it will work with any

This effect is often used these days in There are many other quick ways to synth which has a pitch modulation electronic music and has become very actually create this effect by using envelope. Open up a new empty Reason popular. Typically it involves a sound, Portomento (Pitch Glide), automating the project. Load the 14:2 mixer and directly usually a synth, increasing in pitch rising up pitch bend or even using synths which underneath that the Malstrom Synth, either to the root note or all the way up have a pitch fader and automating this, which should open with a standard sine until the sound can’t even be heard. works as well. Also there are numerous wav Oscillator. A standard sine wav

amounts of producer packs out there Oscillator might sound a bit too boring Typical sounds used can range from from different Sample/ Loop companies for this actual effect, so let’s tweak it a bit either a melodic synth to a noise synth that offer these effect sounds, which is a to get a much more interesting and and this creates a greater transition quick way to get things done but in the unique sound.between the two different parts in the end what you want is to create something music, normally used to build up energy in

This tutorial was brought to you by Donovan Leon from DCL Studios.DONOVAN LEON is a Producer/ Engineer for DCL Studios and has had the opportunity to work and collaborate with many artists/ producers such as: Crighton Goodwill (Good Noise Studios), Robin C Khol (Jazzworx), L’loyd Cele (2010 Idol Runner up), Jamali (Popstars), CH2, Denim, Thembi Seete (Boom Shaka), Kwesta, Zubz, Sasha P (Nigeria), Jae, Ziyon (Liquid Deep), Verona, 37MPH and many, many more.

DCL Studios: Tel - (011) 615-8309 | Cell - 082 426-6400 | Email - dclstudioz@gmail.com / Donovan.dclstudios@telkomsa.net

BBM Pin: 28ED7476 | FACEBOOK: DCL. STUDIOS OR DONOVAN DA DON LEON | TWITTER: DCLSTUDIOS

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Pic2: Tweaking the Malstrom

Pic3: Adding different effects and widening the stereo image

I’m going to replace the sine wave in OSC A with a square wave by right clicking and selecting “square Wave”.

Now let’s add a second Oscillator to OSC A by switching on OSC B and selecting the desired wave right next to it the same way we did before. Yet again I’ve chosen the Square wav. We will need to now separate these two sounds so they don’t sound the same. Turn up OSC A’s cent by 10 % and turn Down OSC B’s cent by 10%. I have also dropped OSC B’s octave knob by 1 octave. Now that we have a much more interesting sound we are ready to start modulating it.

In MOD A select the rising wave form as per Picture 2, and turn up the pitch knob all the way up. Next turn down the rate (Speed) all the way to 0. Now play (on your midi keyboard) or paste a note in the low octave area of the piano roll and slowly start turning the rate knob up. Great, we now start to notice that the sound is pitching in an upward direction sounding as if we are about to take off somewhere. By adjusting the rate knob, we can control how fast we want the sound to rise. I’ve set mine to around 10. It all depends on how long you want your build to be so adjusting this just right is the key to a perfect rise effect.

Now that we have the effect we are after, we are ready to start making it stand out more. Insert a DDL-1 digital delay between the mixer and the Synth. Select Ms (Milliseconds) and bring that down to around 20Ms. Lets pan the delay all the way to the left then on the mixer pan the synth all the way right.

Now all we do is just turn up the Aux 1 knob (found on top of the mixer) to about 75 and presto we have a wider sound. Now exactly the same way we added the delay we are going to insert a CF -101 Chorus/ Flanger and mix it in with the Aux 2 knob to around 87 so that we get a chorus/ flanger effect mixed with the dry Signal. Copy the settings as per picture 3.

There you have it - your very own rising FX. Feel free to mess around, automate or even stutter with the sound effects and add some side chaining maybe or even a huge reverb. Don’t be afraid to experiment as you never know what will come out of it, the possibilities are endless!

Happy Producing!!

http://www.witsplus.wits.ac.za

TO WHAT DEGREE?

T

26 EDUCATION By David Maclean

o what degree should you study? But now you must pay attention, far greater prestige in society than a Diploma Should you set your limit at a because society will also have its say. Many or Certificate, but Dips and Certs would not Short Course, a Certificate, a will try to stop you with advice, such as: exist if they weren’t relevant; in fact, as Diploma or a Degree? The “That’s not a proper job”; “You’ll never earn qualifications they have made a significant pressure placed on you by society enough from doing that alone”; “Jonathan contribution to society for decades. The often distorts your reality before studied that and hasn’t found a job in two distinct advantage of a Certificate course is

you’ve even begun to be honest with years since graduating”; “Study X so that you that it only takes one year, focuses solely on yourself about: can take over Dad’s company when he retires”. the subject matter you are interested in, and

I bet most readers have heard some of these will of course be far cheaper in fees than a a) What do you really want to study, based before. Only when you know what makes Diploma or Degree. Regardless of what upon what you are really interested in?you really happy will you have the strength of qualification you choose to study, when you b) What is your deepest intention as to why, mind to forge ahead with your plan to equip get to the workplace you will start at the where and how you plan to use this course yourself with the knowledge you require to bottom and have to work your way to the of study in your life?earn your livelihood, possibly for the rest of top.

c) Can you visualise yourself doing this 8+ your working life. Any credible course or qualification is hours each day for 30+ years? So, you can enrol for a two-week Short designed to provide students with real skills

If you don’t have an answer for a) or b), Course, a one-year Certificate, a two-year for the real world. That means, upon or answered ‘no’ for c), then it is back to the Diploma, or a three-year Degree. Which is it graduation a student is ready to work. How drawing board you go. If you didn’t have to to be? this is achieved is what differentiates the think of your answer for a) because you’ve

various options you have to choose from. Your career goals, budget, and unique already known for a long time what you want Certs and Dips are more practically focussed, reality will largely dictate which you choose, to do; and b) why; and screamed “OF while Degrees are more rigorous but, the influence of others will very likely

COURSE!” for c), you have already pulled the academically. Degrees require more research, make an equally significant contribution to

trigger on what to study; you are on your writing, and intellectual enquiry from a your decision.

way.student. The ideal for many is a Bachelor Let’s cut to the chase: a Degree holds Degree that delivers both the practical and

27

intellectual aspects in equal amounts. In whom you interact with will dictate the structure, which makes entry into the contemporary society, a truly relevant degree choice you make. As with anything, do your workplace a challenge. It is this challenge that includes a large portion of hands-on practical homework so you can discern between is so exciting for many, and the element that

empirical fact and the opinion of others, separates those who are only ‘along for the training that forms the bedrock of being able because if you ask five people their opinion ride’ versus those that are eating, breathing to do something competently, and earn a about anything at all, it is likely you will get and sleeping their craft. living from it. five different answers.A Degree is one of the few things in If you study anything other than your

In the field of Education it is no ultimate love, you’re wasting your time, and society that does not go out of fashion, different. If you ask a competent professional often someone else’s money! Have the guts anywhere in the world. The value of a degree

on your résumé (from a reputable who has no tertiary qualification: “Should I to present your case to the world by being institution) does not date, tells the world you study for a certificate or a degree?” they may informed. To say, “I’m passionate about music” have a brain and are prepared to use it, and well say: “Don’t waste your time; get a job”. If will likely get a yawn and not a job offer. You may well allow you greater earning potential you ask someone who has taken a course of need to be able to answer the question: if you are on a salary. formal study, his or her answer may well be “Why would someone invest their time and

very different. Everyone’s opinions are based money in me?” If you don’t have an answer However, don’t be naïve and believe upon what they know, what they don’t know, yet, dig deeper. We live in a very competitive that a qualification of any nature will and what they have and have not world and need to be better than the guarantee you an effortless kick-start to your experienced. average to attract attention. career and a good life. Only a sustained

commitment to your craft, delivered with If you choose professions like law, or If you’re good at something, you will get integrity every day, can earn you this. In the medicine, you will need to study formally. In paid for it. But, always be humble, deliberate, bigger picture of business, clever and stupid is the music industry however, the parameters and on time. not the focus. How brilliant and reliable you of entry are completely undefined. This is a And lastly, leave the rubbish we’ve been are at what you do, is. blessing and a curse: a blessing because it taught that: “I want doesn’t get” at the door. If

allows anyone (in theory) to be involved, and I have not answered the question: “To we don’t know what we want, how can we to make up their techniques as they go along; What Degree?” directly. The reason is that get it!and a curse because there is no formal there is no silver bullet answer. You and

David Maclean | a Brief Biography David Maclean is a mastering engineer, educator and business executive with two decades of experience in the music industry and tertiary education sector. David is the Director of SAE Institute South Africa and is based at their campus in Cape Town. The SAE Group has 54 campuses across the globe. David understands the attitudes and opinions of the industry professionals within the creative media industries and the educators and authorities within Higher Education in South Africa and abroad based on his unusual portfolio of skills in business, education and creative media technologies.

http://www.imixsound.co.za

http://www.imixsound.co.za