Articles by Roland Schmidt

Roland Schmidt is a professional programmer, sound designer and producer, who has worked in collaboration with a number of successful production teams over the last 25 years. He can also be found delivering regular and key-note lectures on the use of hardware/software synthesisers and production, at various higher educational institutions throughout the UK

Articles by: Roland Schmidt

“A unique world of realism, which in piano terms makes this a Holy Grail”: Synthogy Ivory 3 German D review

By Roland Schmidt published 31 March 24

€299
$279

One of the most highly regarded piano libraries around gets an update. Does it strike a chord?

“Armed with 450 presets, it has the capacity to impress with its scope for diverse sounds and creativity”: Cherry Audio Pro Soloist review

By Roland Schmidt published 30 March 24

£42
€48
$49

A bit of a diva in synth clothing? We travel back to 1972 for a reimagining of an ARP classic with soloistic tendencies

How to design a filter-thumping bass patch

By Roland Schmidt published 25 March 24

Following our deep-dive into the oscillator section of BazilleCM, we follow the signal flow to create a beastly bass sound

“Accurate and very usable results in all stylistic scenarios”: Mastering the Mix RESO review

By Roland Schmidt published 8 March 24

£49
€59
$62

If pesky frequency spikes are troubling your instrument channels and mixes, maybe it’s time to find some RESOlution

“These SDX packs are best in class”: Toontrack Stockholm & Stories SDX Expansions review

By Roland Schmidt published 7 March 24

£155 per pack
€179 per pack
$162 per pack

In its quest to create the most flexible drum suite on the planet, Toontrack hit the road. We are hot on its tail

How to design a fractal sync tone: "When it comes to lead synth sounds, oscillator sync is about as iconic as it gets"

By Roland Schmidt published 5 March 24

In part two of our new deep-dive into our Computer Music Plugin Suite’s best software, we take another look at BazilleCM’s oscillators, and harness some fractal resonance!

“The most fantastic-sounding Moog package, which can provide a ton of synth bass detail”: Moog Mariana review

By Roland Schmidt published 2 March 24

£30 iOS / £99 PC/Mac
€35 iOS / €105 PC/Mac
$30 iOS / $99 PC/Mac

Looking for absorbent synth bass sounds? Moog’s new software synth bass plumbs new trench-like depths

“Boundless amounts of creativity in the smallest of footprints”: Waldorf Iridium Core Desktop review

By Roland Schmidt published 24 February 24

£1555
€1789
$1629

Waldorf’s latest desktop synthesizer shrinks the groundbreaking Iridium to its Core element. We push the button

How to design a bass sound using phase distortion synthesis

By Roland Schmidt published 19 February 24

In the first of a new series exploring Computer Music's Plugin Suite, we prove that phase distortion synthesis doesn’t have to be perplexing, using the mighty BazilleCM

“A brilliant facsimile which has some serious depths in its detail”: Cherry Audio PS-3300 review

By Roland Schmidt published 17 February 24

£43
€48
$49

Cherry Audio’s latest software adaptation recreates a mythical beast, Korg’s PS-3300. We go hands-on with a legend reborn

“Like having the greatest hits of synths on speed-dial”: UVI Synth Anthology 4 review

By Roland Schmidt published 16 February 24

£118
€149
$149

From the very old to the über new, UVI’s latest library has been collated with care. We blow off the dust on some classics

“The next best thing to a ‘real’ OB”: GForce Software OB-X review

By Roland Schmidt published 25 January 24

£119
€127
$119

First they brought you Vintage Synth Trumps, now GForce add this bona fide classic to the fold

How to design a gated synth sequence

By Roland Schmidt published 9 January 24

Adding motion to a characterful synth pad can completely revitalise your track. We take two LFOs and get modulating

How to design a funky synth patch that sounds like the Clavinet

By Roland Schmidt published 5 January 24

Recreate the distinctive sound of the Clavinet, a keyboard favoured by everyone from Snarky Puppy to Stevie Wonder

How to design a 'glide and rise' lead synth patch

By Roland Schmidt published 22 December 23

Creating an interesting synth lead for an arpeggiated hook in your track isn’t difficult. We just glide ’n’ rise!

How to design a tape-inspired string synth patch like Moby's Porcelain

By Roland Schmidt published 21 December 23

When you want a hint of vintage, but you’re keeping things contemporary, try programming this tape-inspired string synth sound

How to design a harmonic 10th synth bass sound

By Roland Schmidt published 20 December 23

Sometimes you want a bass sound that not only occupies the bottom end, but provides some major harmony. We’ve got both for the price of 1!

Spitfire Audio Jupiter review

By Roland Schmidt published 19 November 23

£99
€115
$129

Spitfire Audio taps into the collection of one of the most iconic producers of the last 50 years. We find out whether it’s a gas or a pass…

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