Latest articles by Roland Schmidt
“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
How to humanise your virtual acoustic instruments in your DAW projects
Duff notes, timing errors and quirky performance choices are often the elements that underline the humanity of acoustic performances.
How to master virtually any software synth
Don't let your software arsenal overwhelm you - sometimes the best route to creative success is to mine just one instrument
Our go-to plugins for adding flavour to our sounds
With so much processing available in modern DAWs, we take a look at some of the more left-field plugins and approaches for maximising the colour of your audio signal
How to record virtual and live instruments more smoothly by taking stock of your sample buffer
Latency on your plugins and audio recordings can derail a developing musical idea - but if you get a handle on managing your sample buffer you’ll have a much smoother ride
The lesser-heard theory tricks that lay behind the magic of the Beatles' Yesterday
We take a deep-dive into a much-beloved classic that still sounds like it was recorded only yesterday…
“We’ll push the boat out here and say that this could be its finest synth plugin to date”: Cherry Audio ODC 2800 review
“One of the most iconic synthesizers of all time, in a highly usable and great sounding piece of software”: GForce Software Oberheim TVS Pro review
Introducing a software rebirth, based on a hardware reissue. GForce presents two seminal voices in a single legendary Oberheim
“The big take-home is the overall playability of this wonderful keyboard, we simply got lost for hours in the enjoyment of playing”: Nord Piano 6 review
The Nord Piano reaches its sixth generation, with some sizeable upgrades. We sit on a stool and take notes!
Want to record some real musicians in your studio? Here’s how to prep for success
One of the biggest learns when becoming a producer is just how you manage - and work with - real musicians.
"There’s potential for a degree of chaos here": Cherry Audio Yellowjacket review
The EDP Wasp gets the Cherry Audio treatment
How music production became accessible to all thanks to a handful of innovators
We sat down to write a track with our laptop, and pondered how we got here? Maybe via our spare bedroom…or even a kitchen?
“The included sample content is sonically amazing”: Spitfire Audio BBC Radiophonic Workshop review
This long overdue curation of one of the most distinctive archives in Electronic Music history, finally brings Radiophonics to your DAW
“A superb-sounding, pro-end keyboard”: Roland V-Stage 88 & 76-note keyboards review
If you’re a gigging keyboard player, the new Roland V-Stage could be the next major addition to your rig
“The perfect environment for creating iconic drum sounds, which have scope to move beyond their original sonic remit”: GForce Software IconDrum review
In the return of an Iconoclastic instrument, GForce revisits one of the most influential drum machines of the ’80s, and beyond
"Potential for Aphex-style bleeps and mayhem": Cherry Audio KR-55C Software Drum Machine
Steppin’ Out with Cherry Audio’s post-punk beatbox that provides more than a few surprises
How learning and understanding chord symbols can prove a major benefit for sharing your musical ideas
Chord hieroglyphics can take several forms. We unravel the mysteries of one of the most symbolic and common examples
"A painstaking facsimile of the original in software form": Waldorf Microwave 1 Plugin
Described as the ‘return of a legend’ in software, we reheat some wavetables with Waldorf’s reincarnated classic
“It’s a favourite with jazz and funk players, but it's just at home in hits by artists such as Jessie Ware”: Expand your chordal colours with 9ths
Building an extension to a chord doesn’t require planning permission, but it might require a degree of design. We add 9ths to our extension palette
