Computer Music

Computer Music's goal is to help its readers create great music with a PC or Mac. Each month find easy-to-follow tutorials for all sorts of music software, unbiased reviews of the latest products and answers to technical questions.

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App watch • We report on the latest developments in phone and tablet music making

Get with the programmers • Mixed in Key and Captain Plugins have been helping musicians and DJs around the world. Here’s their story

COMPUTER music 10 years back • Our monthly shake-of-the-head at our younger selves’ news choices…

Ins & outs

Mason Maynard • After last month’s 15 Questions With Shane Codd, we have another young producer who is making it big in the world of dance music. Mason Maynard already has the backing of BBC stars and some top production legends plus a studio packed with the best hardware and software. And it all stems from a school lesson when he was asked to produce on a computer. “There was another way to make music…”

The Roland TB-303 • It’s issue 303 of Computer Music so there really was only one feature that we could lead with – one comparing and contrasting the attributes of a hardware 303 with its many software counterparts. It’s time, then, to explore the finest pieces of software inspired by the legendary Roland TB-303…

303 software versions • Fancy getting some of that Roland Bassline, filter-squelch in your tracks? Help is available at numerous price points. You simply don’t have to part with thousands of pounds for an ageing second hand 303, to include that spirit in your productions…

Classic 303 Sound – Josh Wink • Many tracks feature the 303, so we thought we’d make a classic patch with the TB at the heart of the song’s hook. Inspired by Josh Wink, let’s go to a Higher State of Consciousness…

Bonus 303 patch - random envelope mod patch • For our second patch, we’ll explore the Roland 303 plugin’s on-board modulating envelope, to add punch and resonant squeals. Plus: how to get the Sequencer to generate patterns…

Ten 303 tracks you need to know about • The 303 gets a starring liner-note credit on all of these iconic tracks…

Conclusion

Create a great guitar sound Part 2 - the tone • In any guitar recording situation, your first consideration is just how you want the guitar to sound in the mix; are you after bright chiming chords? Distorted riffage, ethereal washes or soaring solos? Whichever way you’d like it to sound, building your own unique tonal palette is part of the fun of being a guitar player – while a gamut of software suites are on hand to enable you to sculpt your tone

DAWs for guitarists • The best DAWs for getting a great guitar tone…

Amp sims • Some of the best software to simulate guitar amps

EFTERKLANG • Producer Mads Brauer explains how the experimental Danish trio have gone back to basics for their latest album – and back to nature…

The joy of recording with analogue synths

#04 Problem-solving mixing • Part of the job of a mix engineer is to solve problems that might arise at the recording stage. Software – and creative thinking – can help!

PRO TIP

Ashley Thorpe

#09 A TB-303 via Zebra CM • TB or not TB! It’s not so much a question, as how we use our own Zebra CM plugin to recreate the sound of a TB-303 for our 303 issue!

PATTERN TOP-TIPS

Dave Gale

Back to BASICS The pro producer’s guide to • Using ducking and sidechain compression to lower the volume of certain noises can help your mixes sound louder and clearer, and also be used for famous effects.

Four classic sidechain compressor plugins

AMON TOBIN • Amon Tobin’s new release, How Do You Live,...