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. Our Zinio edition does not include the DVD but it DOES INCLUDE the full software, samples and tutorial files to download. Full details inside. Download does not include Producer Masterclass in-studio video. This digital edition is not printable.

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Cherry Audio: Waking the titans • Founded in 2018, Cherry Audio has become one of the most beloved softsynth creators, recreating yesterday’s legends virtually. We spoke to CTO Dan Goldstein to find out more about the company’s latest release: Novachord + Solovox

15 questions with… Shida Shahabi • With a stripped-back production process but a heavyweight sound that mixes electronic processing and classical textures, Shida Shahabi is claiming her own calm space in music. It’s an approach that means largely ignoring outside influences, ‘best practice’ and orthodox methods. Perhaps it’s an ethos we can all learn from…

Classic sounds & vintage techniques FOR THE 21ST CENTURY PRODUCER • Classic music production techniques and gear can breathe life and humanity into your digital productions. And it’s cheaper than you might think. In this feature, we’re going to look at some of the finest vintage plugins out there, and learn how to get revered sounds for free with the Plugin Suite

#29 Punchy commercial-sounding bass • Recreating the impactful bass sound of commercial hits like Jax Jones’ Whistle needn’t be difficult. Let’s learn how…

#09 Add level rides to a mix • Level riding can be a vital way to control a mix. Here’s when and why your faders should react with super-fast dexterity

DJANGO DJANGO • Reborn with a new retro house-inspired sound, Django Django’s new double-album Off Planet is a flurry of hypersonic colours and energy. We spoke to the band’s cofounder David Maclean about the record’s influences, tech and evolution…

Hands-on with Logic Pro for iPad • Excited by Logic Pro for iPad? Deciding whether you should buy a new iPad just for the experience? Made the jump already? In this feature, we’re taking a deeper look at this new tablet-oriented spin on Apple’s beloved DAW, exploring its new features, what benefits it has over its desktop parent, and how to make the most of it

Toneworks Catalyst €79 • Bored of programming via the piano roll? Try jazzing up your riffs with this inventive step sequencer that can host VST instruments

Erica Synths Zen Delay Virtual  £155 • Modelled on 2019’s hardware delay, the virtual incarnation of the knob-packed atmosphere-carver surpasses its parent in more ways than one

Sonora Cinematic Verticale £49 • Creating the perfect felted upright piano takes time, perseverance and four layers of vertical felt!

Spitfire Audio British Drama Toolkit: Brass and Reeds £169 • Whether you’re scoring a film or scouting for evocative textures, Spitfire has a dramatic new proposition to capture your imagination

AIR Music Tech AIR Delay Pro £50 • Not your everyday delay. AIR Delay Pro brings bundles of otherworldly shaping options to the table, and serves up a hat-trick of unique additions

Baby Audio BA-1 $99 • Baby Audio has set the effects world on fire with a string of top releases. Can it do the same for synths with its first instrument plugin?

Nektar Aruba £255 • Sprucing up its MIDI drum controller with a raft of new features, Aruba offers a slick new way of performing your software drum instruments

Soundware round-up

ACUSTICA AUDIO FIRE: THE COMP • We’ve got a...