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NEW RELEASES • COMMENT • INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS
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SECRETS OF SOUNDTRACKS
Making music for picture is now one of the most rewarding roads that a music-maker can travel. So, sit back as we arm you with the knowledge and tools to start your own soundtracking journey...
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Writing to picture
Shifting to ‘writing to picture’ mode requires you to respond musically in conjunction with the visual events on-screen. In this first section, we’ll explore some of the best practices that will serve you well during this process
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Sound design approaches in modern scores
The boundary between sound design and score has blurred in recent years, as melody and abstract sonics fuse to create today’s modern soundtracking norm
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The composer’s core toolkit
With such a massive array of soundtrack-aimed products out there, it can be tricky to know how to start. From expansive orchestral libraries, malleable atmosphere-carvers and thunderous impact engines, let us guide you through some of the best big-screen tailored tools around…
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Sync and placement
Sync licensing and production music creation can be a stable route for jobbing soundtrack composers, but it can be a tricky world to navigate for those not familiar with the related rights and licensing factors...
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The future of soundtracking
With a constant stream of visual content competing for our eyes and ears, we wonder what the future will look like for soundtrack composers. And wonder whether AI is friend or foe?
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6 of the best sound design plugins
An integral facet of modern soundtracking, sound design is a practice well catered for by any of the following…
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6 of the best writing to picture DAWs
Not all DAWs can handle the processing required to run video, but these are all more than capable...
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6 of the best orchestral libraries
The power of an orchestra lay behind many of the best scores ever…
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Create classic Depeche Mode sounds
This month, to celebrate the new Depeche Mode album, Memento Mori, we take a look back at some of the band’s classic sounds and sequences: from See You to, yes, The Last Of Us!
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#05 Metering tools
Mixing might be mostly about using our ears, but there are other senses we can bring in too, specifically our eyes
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FabFilter Twin 3 €129
Twin is one of the few softsynths to have reached ‘legendary’ status. After 14 years, it now reaches version 3, but was it worth the wait?
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Arturia MiniFreak V €199
Having emulated practically every significant synth ever made, Arturia turns its attention to one of its own creations
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Spitfire Audio Albion Colossus £399.00
Should the world ever entertain an Apocalypse, it’s great to know that we have the correct scoring tools to hand. Spitfire’s latest epic goes colossal!
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Tracktion/Dawesome Kult $129
With ‘Strange Attractor’ oscillators – 30 of them – plus easy FM and AM synthesis, Kult might well be the synth of the year. And it’s only March
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Modartt Pianoteq 8 €139 to €799
The highly-regarded piano – and so much more – instrument reaches version 8, but is Pianoteq still one of the best you can buy?
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Audient iD24 £299
If input audio fidelity is important to you, Audient’s latest analogue-inspired desktop interface could be exactly what you need...
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Orchestral Tools Salu €399 +VAT
If you’ve ever wondered how an eclectic selection of close-up acoustic samples might sound, you’re in luck!
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Fluid Audio Image 2 £1,799
Fluid Audio might well be known for less costly speakers, but Image 2 will certainly change that… and possibly the world of studio monitoring
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Best reverb plugins
We reveal the best plugins for adding atmosphere and pro polish to your mixes! It’s time to make ‘space’ for these on your hard drive
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W.A. PRODUCTION VOCAL LIMITER
Get to know this month’s free software gift
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Movie time!
As it’s a cinematic theme this issue, what better than two new sample packs to build your own soundtracks? Download them from bit.ly/cm320downloads
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Classic samples Cinematic Drama
We’ve grabbed a vintage cinematic sample collection from the vault so you can get your tunes and soundtracks onto the A-list…