Latest articles by Roland Schmidt
The fascinating music theory behind the kicked-around track that Prince shaped into a hit
What happens when you write a hit for another band, but you want it back? We find out as we trace the complicated history and intriguing theory behind an iconic Prince classic
“One of the most unique, stylish and feature-packed workhorses available”: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 3 review
The flagship synth from Spectrasonics gets a major upgrade, but does it continue its omnipresent status?
“The stunningly impressive sonic and visual attributes immediately inspire, at a price which is affordable to all”: Cherry Audio Crumar Spirit review
Cherry Audio captures the Spirit of an Italian Mini, with a meticulous recreation of a unique classic
Just why are some producers so obsessed with tape?
Analog tape machines have played a central role in music production history. But why, in today’s digital domain, do some still lust after the sound of tape?
“It’s versatile and perfect for live performance and Hammond action!”: Nord Organ 3 review
If the thought of ‘Green Onions’ turns you to a ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’, Nord has something in mind, as its legendary Organ series climbs to version 3
How to record a real piano perfectly
Nothing adds organic character to a track like live piano, but recording one isn’t easy. We lift the piano lid and talk about pianistic logistics!
How Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush brought one of the most emotive songs of the 1980s to life
What happened when two musical icons joined forces? The birth of a timeless duet with a surprising country origin…
Ever wondered how a microphone really works?
If microphone terminology confuses more than it helps, this guide will illuminate the microphone basics
“It could be easy to think that the strings and brass sections are somehow weaker than their synthesizer counterpart, but this would be an enormous mistake”: Cherry Audio Trident mkIII review
Cherry Audio’s new mythological synth provides a three-pronged attack on an early '80s and underexploited classic
From the Prophet-5 to the Fourm, the story of Sequential in 10 synths, sequencers and drum machines
As the company releases its most accessible synth yet, we chart the rise, fall and revival of Sequential
The true meaning and dense theory of one of Gary Numan’s most beloved tracks
The true meaning and dense theory of one of Gary Numan’s most beloved tracks
The music theory behind a Depeche Mode classic
Dissecting one of Depeche Mode’s most cherished and universally beloved songs reveals some compelling inner-workings
“A fine example of modelling software, providing some really engaging sounds, particularly for the contemporary domain”: Expressive E Soliste review
Expressive E adds MPE to the physically-modelled world of solo strings. We pick up a bow and apply some virtual rosin
“An excellent build and pretty formidable soundset make it a desirable studio-based keyboard”: Arturia AstroLab 88 review
Arturia brings us a galactic-sized update to the AstroLab series, with a full 88 notes, more sounds and extended functionality
When sampling ruled the world - and drummers didn’t get paid!
Believe it or not, there was a time when drummers weren't paid properly for their samples, in fact they weren't paid at all!
“At certain points in music history it became fashionable to place accents on certain beats”: How to score a drum part
We explore the theory behind beats, and how we score kicks, snares, hats and percussion
Exploring the genius of Jeff Porcaro's Rosanna Shuffle
Having a groove named after you is possibly the highest accolade a drummer could ask for, so join us as we dissect the Porcaro Shuffle
How to make virtual acoustic drum performances sound like the real thing
If you find that your MIDI recreations of acoustic drum parts are sounding a little robotic, we've got some tips and tricks to bring them to life, along with some great suggestions for acoustic drum plugin suites.
How the drum machine grew into a viable alternative to real drummers
There's not much early-80s tech that still influences modern creativity, but the dominance of electronic drum sounds stems right back to 1980, and a bizarre series of unfortunate events…
“A classic Stage Rhodes, which plays like a dream and sounds every bit as classy as its timeless heritage would suggest”: Rhodes Stage 61 review
Owning a brand new Rhodes electric piano just became a viable alternative to the used market. We find out more, as we head for the Stage!
“Its authenticity is beguiling, as is its playability”: Rhodes Wurli review
If you prefer the sound of a Wurlitzer to a Rhodes, you’re in luck, because Rhodes now bring us a Wurli, in plugin form. Confused? We’ll explain!
The surprising origins and intricate musical theory behind an iconic Police masterpiece
We take one giant leap toward a song with one of the most recognisable bass lines of all time
Exploring the quirky production and music theory choices of Grace Jones’ classic Slave to the Rhythm
We take a closer look at one of the most iconoclastic songs of the mid-80s era; Slave to the Rhythm
How modulation effects work and how to use them
Phasing and flanging are often confused. We ask why - and demystify!
"It’s simple enough to create the perfect hard-tuned and harmonised effects within our DAW, providing you have the right software": How to harness hard-tuned vocals
That hard-tuned, robot-like sound, first popularised by Cher, has now become something of a staple in modern pop