Computer Music - March 2017

116 Pages·2017·13.62 MB·English

CHoRDS & 2.8GB

SCalES aPP
EXCVLIUSDIVEE O
Dom & RolanD
The Metalheadz legend
£6.25 / March 2017 / CM240 builds a DnB banger
HOW TO WRITE
Theory tips
Sound design
Creative composing
HOOKS
Track analysis
Pro producer advice
& moRE!
37 effortless ways to create catchy,
infectious riffs and melodies today!
30
18GB
VIDEo
DoWnloaD
TUToRIalS
mERGE GEnRES
GET ORGANISED
FolEY BEaTS
REASON 9 GUIDE
FREE SOFTWARE
AUTOTONIC CM CUBaSE
PRo 9
Always play in key, lock MIDI to scales and
grasp music theory with this real-time app
The updated DAW
VOL. 41 FREE SOUNDWARE FREE PLUGIN COLLECTION gets the CM verdict
2.8GB 69
SAMPLES
INSTRUMENTS
TRANSITION 500 rises, uplifters and FX to AND EFFECTS
TOOLS
power up your arrangements FOR PC & MAC ON THIS DVD

intro / computer music <
DoWnloaD
See page 5 to find out
how to download this
HOW TO USE 
issue’s exclusive content
Wherever you see this icon, there’s
downloadable content such as videos, welcome
software, samples and tutorial files. See
download the Contents on the next page to find out
how to access our Vault download area.
Tutorials featuring this icon make
use of our own Plugins – find
out all about them on p108. Sometimes, the classic blend of epic cover feature,
free plugin and killer sample pack all combine to form a
This icon means there are extra files
TuTorial to help you follow a tutorial feature: triple-header that’s truly unmissable… and this is definitely
FileS project files, audio examples, etc. one of those issues!
First up, no matter what genre of music you make, it’s
There’s extra video content a track’s hook – the catchy riff, vocal, percussion loop,
wherever you see this icon.
sample or any other focal element – that will turn an
average production into
VIDEO See and hear the latest software in “Power up
action! Get the video on the Vault, or something truly memorable.
2 WM II NT HU…TES youtube.com/computermusicmag So, to power up your riffing
your riffing
powers to pro level, we’ve
enlisted our top music theory
powers to
and sound design experts to
WWW
www.computermusic.co.uk pro level” create the ultimate melody-
writing course! Fastforward to
[email protected]
p20 to get started.
www.facebook.com/computer.music.mag Once your hook-writing skills are well and truly
sharpened, head to p54 and fire up our hot new MIDI
www.twitter.com/computermusicuk
assistant app, AutoTonic CM. Lock your keyboard playing
www.youtube.com/computermusicmag to specific keys and scales, explore new and exciting
scales, and grasp the basics of music theory in no time!
And if that’s not enough, we’re bringing you a treasure
trove of Transition Tools samples (p106) – 500
pro-quality FX sounds designed to help your
tracks ebb and flow smoothly.
Before I go, the team would like to
bid a fond farewell to our Trackers &
Demoscene column, a regular part of
the mag since issue 97. Keep your eyes
Subscribe to
Computer Music! peeled for a fresh new mobile music-
See p44 making section starting next month!
Until next time…
Where to get
Enjoy thE issuE
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in stores and online for PC, Mac, Android, iPad & more
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for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch for Android & Chrome for PC/Mac
www.computermusic.co.uk/cmdigital play.google.com
issue 240 MARCH 2017
contents
Cover P roducer
feature masterclass
HOW TO WRITE
HOOKS
Grab your listeners by the ears with
our guide to catchy tunewriting, p20
46 d om & roLANd
Get a glimpse into one of
production’s finest minds as he
works on an unfinished track

Free App Feature
/experts
Your guides for the ever-expanding
world of production are here
every month to show you the way
54 AutotoNiC 59 GeNre
Cm mAsH-up
76 easy guide: Perfect scales and chords Inspiring tutorials for mixing
combined scales are an installation away up the best of both worlds

Tutorial Interview
67 reAsoN 9 82 soNNY
78 studio strategies: 80 dr beat: tHe Guide FoderA
getting organised found-sound drums
Master all the new features The down-under DJ
of Propellerhead’s ace DAW talks production tips
R eviews E ssentials
90 steinberg cubase pro 9 10 n ews
94 d16 group repeater 14 freeware news
96 a ccusonus regroover 16 what’s on your drive?
98 psp audioware stompfilter 42 next issue
99 slate verbsuite classics 44 subscribe
114 blast from the past:
pLus 18 more produCts reviewed 57 back issues la-3a
4 / Computer musiC / March 2017
DownloaD Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
On your PC or Mac, go to Click ‘add a magazine’ in the Go to ‘my vault’ to see all your
Get our software,
vault.computermusic.co.uk, top bar, select the issue you mags – click a cover and use
samples and videos then either register for a want to add to your Vault (eg, the links to download! You can
new Vault account, or log in this issue is 240), and answer a download as much or as little
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High-quality videos to guide you through
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AutotoNiC Cm
Be completely in key all the time with
this month’s software giveaway – see how
you can get the best out of it on p54
See this issue’s entire video content on the next pages

sample packs
TRANSITION TOOLS

Tutorial files
500 whooshes, falls, drops and
more; royalty-free and in WAV
A folder full of audio examples, synth patches
format – grab them on p106 and project files to help you follow our tutorials
LOOPMASTERS CM240
This issue’s stack of premium-quality samples,
compiled from a handful of the soundware
kings’ biggest and best packs, p107

Cm plugins
Our exclusive collection of
free plugins for Mac and PC.
This digital content has been thoroughly scanned and tested at all stages of production, but as with all new software, we still recommend that you run a virus checker
See what’s available on p108 bdeamfoareg ue saen. dW/oer a llossos r teoc yoomumr deantda tohra ct oymoup uhtaevre s ayns tuepm-t toh-data mtea bya occkcuupr o wf hyioleu ru hsianrgd tdhriisv me baegfaozrien eu’ssi pnrgo tghrea mcosn atenndt/.o Fru dtautrae. cCaonnnsoutl ta ycocuerp nt reetwspoornks aibdimlitiyn ifsotrr aatnoyr dbiesfrourpet ion,
installing any software on a networked computer. If you have problems using our Vault download system, please contact [email protected].
March 2017 / Computer musiC / 5
video
Every tutorial feature in this issue comes with pro video guides.
Grab them on your cover disc or download from the Vault
HOW TO WRITE
HOOKS 9  Orchestral-style 17  Designing a bendy
pounding action drums trap lead from scratch
Make sure they can’t get your music out of
their heads with these 21 video techniques
for making your most ear-catching tunes yet
10  Primal tribal 18  GrimeBoy hooks with
Read the full article on p20
percussion workouts AudioThing miniBit CM
1  Building a monophonic 4  Using the same hook 11  Reducing note lengths 19  Creating a filthy bass
lead synth with Bazille CM in different genres for immediate effect hook with Dune CM
12  Shaping 20  Making
transients for a riff from
more punch a sample
13  Stuttering 21  The call
vocal hooks and answer
technique
2  Using basic theory 7  Overlaying hooks 14  Crafting a 22  Creating
to build a simple hook DJ Snake-style your own
patch chord stabs
15  Program 26   
a DJ Snake- Rhythm-first
style hook melodies
16  Three
processed
vocal hooks
3  Building a complex 8  Crafting tonal
hook from layers percussion lines
6 / ComputeR musiC / March 2017
video
To download all these videos onto your PC/Mac, just head
along to vault.computermusic.co.uk and register this issue
P roducer Masterclass*
AutotoNiC Cm
Keep your MIDI notes in scale with this free
standalone software app for Mac and PC
Read the full article on p54
Dom & RoLAND
See Dom at work in his studio, divulging
saintly DnB production tips as he goes
1  Setting up and using AutoTonic CM Viewing instructions on p47
5  Um cumquam rem
DownloaD Our fantastic software, samples, videos to register nenwo insssueeqs uaen dd deo vwenrslopaids t dent
and tutorial files are now available to more content. For more info, see our
download! To get access to this content, Vault FAQ: bit.ly/cmvaultfaq
go to vault.computermusic.co.uk
on your PC or Mac’s web browser. You’ll * Please note that the Producer
be asked to register and answer a few Masterclass video is not available as a
simple questions to prove that you’ve download via our Vault, but is made
got the mag. You’ll then be given access available via internet streaming.
to our content! You can sign in any time See page 47 for details.
March 2017 / ComputeR musiC / 7
video
Grab this issue’s videos via Vault download – see p5 for details
ReAsoN 9
tHe Cm GuiDe GeNRe mAsH-up
We expose the updates to Propellerhead’s DAW Make the right decisions with your stylistic collisions
Read the full article on p67 Read the full article on p59
1  Getting started with TIP  Getting the most 1  Switching up rhythms 3  A modern take on
Reason 9’s Player Devices out of audio and MIDI classical mash-ups
EASY GUIDE STUDIO STRATEGIES DR BEAT
CombiNeD GettiNG fouND-souND
sCALes oRGANiseD DRums
/experts
When you mix different Get your sessions back Get real-world
scales, sparks can fly. in order with the advice sounds into your DAW
Our resident music See how to make it work in this video tutorial and make ’em hit it
production gurus
walk you through
their specialist field
every month
Read the full Read the full Read the full
Read the full article on p76 artRicelaed o tnh pe7 f8ull article on p80
article on pxx article on pxx
8 / ComputeR musiC / March 2017

> news

New releases • commeNt • iNdustry happeNiNgs
XILS-lab PolyKB III
Mark III of the analogue-modelled monster synth gives you more, more, more
The RSF PolyKobol II was a legendary
80s analogue polysynth that
should’ve been a synthesist’s dream. Yet it
was a commercial disaster due to
unreliability, unfinished features, high
cost, and the unavoidable fact that it
launched in an era when analogue was
deeply unfashionable. Digital was the
next big thing, with Yamaha’s iconic
FM-based DX7 redefining synthesis in
1983 – unfortunately for RSF, the same
year the PolyKobol II launched, achieving
only double-digit sales figures. Still, RSF’s
flawed masterpiece became revered
amongst aficionados owing to its god-like
sound – hear it at bit.ly/PolyKobol.
But hey, it’s the 21st century! What better
way to sidestep the rarity, price and
unreliability of original ancient hardware PolyKB III revives and
dramatically enhances a
than with a virtual recreation? Analogue
forgotten legend of synthesis
modelling experts XILS-lab thought likewise,
releasing the original PolyKB back in 2010,
our 9/10 review praising its “pure music-
making joy” and “some of the best modelled Seven years on, and not only has PolyKB II PolyKB III adds a third oscillator; a second
oscillators software has to offer”. Those reached 2.5 status, but there’s a powerful filter with third envelope; a modulatable
oscillators are – like the real PolyKobol II – successor, PolyKB III. Both feature a new mixer for balancing the two filters; extra
smoothly morphable through triangle, saw, GUI with more space for the sequencer modulation destinations; a double-sized
double saw, square and pulse shapes. Other and X/Y panels (which can modulate modulation matrix; and brings in the idea
features include a polyphonic sequencer, each voice or place them in stereo space). of input selectors for filters, allowing
per-voice modulation, six-voice unison, and Filters now feature band- and high-pass serial routing.
analogue-modelled delay, chorus, phaser modes in addition to 24dB low-pass, and PolyKB III is out now, priced €159,
and EQ. There’s even a version of PolyKB II in the sequencer can be used as a four-track including a license for PolyKB II.
the Plugins collection! step affair. URL www.xils-lab.com
Acustica Audio Nebula 4
Almost a decade after the release of Nebula 3 comes
v4, Acustica’s “fastest-processing, best-performing plugin
creation yet”. Not your average multieffect, Nebula is
based on a ‘beyond-convolution’ effects-sampling
technique. Included is a 10GB library of 450+ hardware
emulations covering preamps, EQs, compressors, tape
machines, filters, reverbs, modulation effects (chorus,
flanger, phaser, etc), and so on. New for Nebula4 is the
Nebula’s
processes Core9 engine, 12+ generic skins, preset browser/window,
are ‘sampled’
a dedicated metering window, and more. It costs €239.
from the
original URL www.acustica-audio.com
hardware
10 / Computer musiC / March 2017