Latest articles by Chris Barker
NAMM 2012: IK Multimedia announces iRig Mix
A nifty hardware mixer is unleashed for the iOS DJ
Abbey Road Studios opens its doors to the public
An exclusive presentation in Studio Two, open to the public on 10th March 2012
In pictures: Fernando Garibay's LA studio
See Inside the incredible studio of Lady Gaga's musical director
NAMM 2012: Moog announces Minitaur analogue bassline synth
A younger brother for the Moog Taurus
6 things you didn't know about the making of Do They Know It's Christmas
We reveal a few anecdotes from behind the scenes of Band Aid's Christmas hit
Me in my studio: Turzi
The French, electronic post-rocker gives us a tour of his kit filled studio.
Free synth from Native Instruments
NI serves up Skanner, built by the father of Reaktor, Stephan Schmitt
Win the first ever Nektar Panorama P4 Reason controller
Answer five questions to be in with a chance of winning serial number one!
Interview: the making of Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas?
Mix engineer Stuart Bruce tells us how it was recorded, mixed and mastered in just 24 hours
Umek & Beltek's making of Out Of Play
The techno duo explain the techniques behind their new album's title track.
10 great Christmas edits and remixes
We uncover some festive floor-fillers for your DJ bag
How to get the sequence sound in David Guetta's track Without You
We break down the sound of that fantastic 1/8th note sequence
VIDEO: Nile Rodgers talks basslines, Chic and the music industry
Chic main man and legendary producer talks to us at the Red Bull Academy, Madrid
Musical Red Bull
Here's an interesting competition that could win you some free studio time. "On March 1st 2008 Red Bull energy drink launches ‘Red Bull Can Make Music’, a creativity contest that challenges students to make and build a unique piece of music using only a Red Bull can at redbullcanmakemusic.com until June 1st 2008." "Supported and judged by music heavyweights and Red Bull Music Academy Alumni DJ Zinc, Zed Bias and Tony Nwachukwu entries will be scored on creative concept: individuality and ingenuity and conceptual execution: composition and construction." "The creator of the winning track will get to spend a day in the studio with a judge of their choice. In addition the top entrants will be invited to London for an exclusive showcase party where the winner will be announced by the judges." We're thinking a version of 'The Can Can' played in the style of Krautrockers Can using reCycle? Any other suggestions? If anyone can win this competition FM readers, um... can!!
Ella, ella, ella...
So yeah, people make hit records using GarageBand loops, obviously... Check out the WAV file below to hear a slowed down version of one of Apple's GarageBand loops. Is it just us or does it sound exactly like the drum loop from Rihanna's huge hit Umbrella? Check out the YouTube link and the WAV download to compare and let us know what you think. WAV file here or alternatively find 'Vintage Funk Kit 03' and slow it to around 88bpm if you're a GarageBand user.
What we'd spend £1000 on...
Daniel Griffiths - Editor "It's really boring but I really want a dedicated desktop studio machine so I don't have to use my laptop as a jack of all trades. I guess the Mac Pro would be the one, but then they're a bit over £1000 aren't they? So maybe I'll fill up the MacBook with Arturia's V-Collection and maybe hook up the Virus Snow...?" Chris Barker - Reviews & Features Editor "I'm torn between spending it wisely on the stuff I need such as studio furniture, cables, and a new computer monitor with blowing the wad on stuff that makes noises. I'd probably get a Roland JP8080 from eBay for around £350, a Novation Remote Zero and hopefully squeeze the budget enough to have change for a Yamaha Tenori-on!" Declan McGlynn - Production Assistant "Oh man, I'd get loads of stuff. Definately a Yamaha TX7, a DrumTraks, something that sounds like a Jupiter 8 and that Russian keytar (Formanta MINI above*) from eBay! That's probably more than £1000 though... Will Seelig - DVD Editor "Ah, easy! I'd love a Rhodes, ideally the newly re-released one as they are bloody amazing. But, as it's a bit over the £1000 budget I'll happily settle for an mkII or something from eBay."
FM vids all over the internet!
Forums all over the net have been alight with the links to our DVD footage, so we thought we'd collate them all up here in their rightful FM home! Check out next month's issue to see Steve Mac touring us around his Brighton studio, plus the following month we'll be in the studio with House Music superstar Ian Carey! Phew, and we ain't slowing down anytime soon! Let us know who else you'd like to see in these videos in the comments box! Hybrid Coburn Stonebridge Freemasons Steve Angello D.Ramirez