TECHNEWS words: MICK WILSON

162 TECH TALK — NIKO MARKS We tap up the unsung Detroit hero to talk about the making of 44 studio albums and counting...

165 IN THE STUDIO Emika on her orchestral ‘Melanfonie’ symphonies.

 168 THE MAC DADDY We explore Apple’s new Macbook Pro 2017... Paul Oakenfold THE TIDE IS TURNING Denon DJ and its Prime range of DJ gear is making a move to the top ranks... enon DJ made sure it was the talk of the Luke also delivered an exclusive workshop with the town at the beginning of the year with the Denon Prime series at the recent Dancefair Convention announcement and release of the new DJ Prime in Utrecht, Netherlands, for young DJs and producers: a D SC5000 media player, the X1800 mixer, VL12 good opportunity for Denon DJ to spread the message on turntable and Engine Prime music management software. the new range of kit. 171 UNLEASH It took the fight to Pioneer, which has held the top slot as THE BEAST the industry standard deck and mixer found in booths and The press release for this new selection of gear states: Arturia unveil new analogue drum clubs worldwide for over a decade. Not just content with “Recognising a critical need in the professional DJ space machine, the Drumbute. putting out quality gear, Denon is also getting some of the for equipment that delivers unprecedented levels of biggest names on the circuit to ‘Change their Rider’, as its performance, ease of use, musical file organisation and tag line reads. Laidback Luke was so impressed with the complete system synergy, Denon DJ’s Prime Series units Prime series when he first saw it, he has done just that — represent the future of the professional DJ experience”. It changed his rider. In another announcement made late is obvious that inMusic is giving it a massive push and that February, owners of the Denon DJ brand inMusic revealed there is a long list of big hitters who are all ready to jump that Laidback Luke had joined forces with Denon DJ as ship and switch over to the Denon DJ Prime gear. Oliver brand ambassador and product consultant, and switched Heldens will be DJing at our WMC Pool Party in May on the from his usual Pioneer set-up to their all-new, ground- Denon Prime kit, whilst Paul Oakenfold announced earlier breaking SC5000 Prime media player and X1800 Prime in the year that he will be playing with the new Denon DJ 174 TECH club mixer. Prime range on his Generations World Tour. The set-up for PRODUCER the tour will consist of a SC5000 Prime media player, the Killer Sounds, Sample Tank, Widely recognised as an extremely creative, tech-savvy X1800 Prime club mixer and VL12 direct drive professional performer, Luke is hugely influential as an online vlogger DJ turntables. Generations represents and celebrates Plug-In Corner and more... and influencer to upcoming DJs. The natural match of 30 years of Paul and his involvement in the dance music the Denon DJ Prime Series products to this uber-talented scene, acknowledging the past, present and future of DJ’s skillset will be apparent in Luke’s upcoming shows. dance music. It’s an appropriate tie-up with Denon DJ in

158 djmag.com TECH NEWS SOUNDBYTES STUDIO ESSENTIALS Mar-T & Luca Donzelli give DJ Mag Tech the lowdown on their Studio Essentials...

BACK TO BLACK Technics has released another new turntable. The SL-1210GR in black joins the SL-1200GR silver edition that was announced earlier this year. The latest unit is Technics’ first 1210 model in almost 15 years. Both the black SL-1210GR and silver SL-1200GR borrow technology from Technics SL-1200GAE turntable. •£1,299, technics.com

Ableton Live 9 “The latest upgrades of Live have really made our day in the studio. For us, it’s the ANOTHER REASON best software. You can have endless Propellerhead has released combinations of tweakable parameters and Reason 9.2, the newest effects. It gives us the best way to express update to their popular our emotions. Reason music production software. Reason 9.2 is a free update for Reason 9 Dangerous Music 2 Bus+ owners that supports further “This piece of equipment has changed our development for the Rack lives. It helps us a lot to create our original Extension plug-in platform, sound in the mixdown. In this beautiful and introduces the Software analogue summing mixer, you get a Development Kit (SDK) 2.5 versatile selection of analogue colours while to developers. The new never leaving the lush, open analogue sample-loading feature in mixing environment. It has an outstanding SDK 2.5 allows for an entirely flexibility for a fabulous result — it really new breed of instruments and adds life and warmth to our mixes. effects to be integrated into the Reason platform. •propellerheads.se Dave Smith’s Poly Evolver “We didn’t want to buy a classic synthesiser that everyone has used before, as our approach to making music is to always try something different. This beast has helped us a lot to achieve this. This synth combines both the analogue and digital worlds to bring you some of the warmest sounds. terms of the technology — the past with vinyl, present with media There’s no other synths out there that can players and the future with Denon DJ. PICTURE PERFECT be so creative; except another Evolver, of “We’re super-stoked to kick off early 2017 with two world-class Mixvibes has released course! and hugely influential DJs changing their riders for the new Remixvideo for Mac, an Denon DJ Prime Series gear,” Paul Dakyene from Denon DJ says. intuitive sampler to enhance “Paul Oakenfold commands massive respect and kudos from a DJ/artist’s set with video Waldorf Pulse 2 both the global DJ industry and his peers, and with Denon DJ playback. Remixvideo runs “This is another analogue ‘friend’ of ours in powering his upcoming Generations World Tour we’re all set VST/AU and Ableton Link, the studio. It’s a lovely little module. Super for an incredible journey ahead. Paul will not only be creatively and is the ideal add-on for compact, but at the same time intuitive and exploring the ground-breaking technologies of the SC5000 Prime live performers wishing to very powerful. Its sound is really modern media player, but spinning classic vinyl tunes on the VL12 Prime integrate video into their and has plenty of modulation options. The turntable. The iconic Oakey goes back to his roots, and back to the existing set-up. It can be used poly capabilities make it much more than future at the same time! in two ways: linking audio just another mono synth. “The team at Denon DJ are both honoured and privileged to samples to video pads in be working with and supporting these truly great artists with standalone mode, or playing the Prime Series gear,” he continues. “Plus we look forward to it as a video plug-in (VST/AU) Korg Prophecy welcoming more, soon-to-be-announced, A-list DJ talent as they within your favourite music “Old but gold. The Prophecy.” change their riders!” software. •denondj.com •£99, mixvibes.com

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KEEPING UP TO DATE… Native Instruments has released an update to its Maschine Software, version 2.6 now brings with it a wealth of new features, with the pièce de résistance being able to control hardware synths and drum machines directly from the software itself. Native has even created templates for a lot of the most popular gear currently being used, DAVID DOUGLAS which effectively means that users can route their hardware like plug-ins directly into CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT Maschine. The templates cover Roland’s ROLAND SPACE ECHO AIRA and Boutique range of synths and hardware, Moog’s Mother–32, Korg’s Volca synths, and Modal’s DIY CRAFTsynth. And Dutch producer and video director David more savvy users can create templates for Douglas’s new album ‘Spectators Of The their own machines and share them with the Universe’ is out now via Atomnation. Here is a larger community. bit of kit he just can’t live without… •native-instruments.com

“I just can’t live without the Roland 201 Space Echo. As a synth lover, I’ve got quite a lot of synths APP REVIEW and tape machines. But the Space Echo is the butter in my productions, it’s the sugar in the pie, APP: IMPC it’s the wine with a wonderful meal. If you use it DEVELOPER: AKAI/RETRONYMS right, it can bring everything together. Sometimes FORMAT: ANDROID (SAMSUNG) sounds and melodies suddenly come to life. If I use PRICE: £5.99+ my Arp Odyssey, Roland Juno 106, Solina string ensemble, or work on vocal FX or drum parts, I’ll AKAI IS ON A ROLL edge tools for almost always record it through the Roland Space at the moment, with composing, editing Echo 201 instantly. Because the Roland is an the release of two and mixing music on analogue tape-based delay and echo machine, the new hardware MPC a Samsung device. Galaxy devices. to 1/32T with latch synths become warmer. It’s my way of achieving an products that bolster iMPC for Android at With more than 1,200 control are also built- organic production. the existing range. launch will be an samples, 50 editable in. The app’s sampler “Sometimes I program the machine with as little The company has now exclusive to Samsung programs, 80 editable can record samples in delay as possible — this way the synth signal still turned its attentions phones and tablets, sequences and the three different ways: goes through the tape, and you get this tape-based to the Android format, as an in-app purchase iconic MPC workflow, 1) through the mic on sound. It’s warm, crispy and when you change the and more specifically inside Samsung’s iMPC is the first app to the Samsung device; speed of the tape (going through the machine), to the Samsung Galaxy Soundcamp. bring all the functions 2) through the line you can make the sound a little bit off-tune. I love range of mobile of the classic Akai input; 3) through the that. Since it’s a mono machine, I just bought two devices. Soundcamp is a Digital Professional MPC to multi-touch turntable of them, so now make a stereo sound [using them] The new iMPC app Audio Workstation a Samsung Galaxy interface in iMPC at the same time. And since both machines are very was previously an iOS app with professional Android Device. iMPC to record samples old, both sound different, which also works great.” exclusive, but Akai capabilities and an for Android includes directly from other has come together to intuitive interface, everything needed to music libraries. work on the project enabling users to create beats quickly It’s a pretty strong SOUNDBYTES with Retronyms and record, edit and mix and easily, including offering for Android SPIN SPIN SUGAR Samsung in order to up to eight audio/MIDI built-in effects, with users — though Stanton has announced the release of two new bring some of the tracks. There’s also the ability to create unfortunately only for turntables the ST.150 M2 and the STR8.150 M2. iMPC mobile music a piano roll editor. new sequences and those using Samsung The new turntables replace the previous ST.150 love to the Android Akai Professional has record and overdub devices for the time and STR8, and are not just updates to these camp. The app fuses worked closely with beats. Time correction being. previous models, as there is a wealth of new the same workflow as Samsung to optimise from 1/8 note to technology that has gone into the new versions. an Akai Professional the iMPC experience 1/32T with variable VERDICT Completely redesigned, they now come with a MPC (Music Production for the new Galaxy Tab swing, and Note copy of Deckadance 2 DDJ software. Center) with cutting- S3 and other popular Repeat from 1/8 note 8/10 •stantondj.com ALL DECKED UP… Dutch design company Rik ten Velden has released an amazing NEW DISCOVERIES bit of DJ furniture that will AIAIAI have come up with a music discovery complement any DJ set-up. The service with added bite. The new TMA-2 Selector’s Cabinet is constructed Discovery service is an interactive music-driven from wood with a steel frame experience, guiding users to a headphone and comes in a range of finishes. configuration that matches their individual It can hold a turntable or CDJ/ music profile. Linked with Spotify, it will scan a mixer/controller set-up, with listening profile and suggest a build/variation space to store records or other for TMA-2 Modular headphones, making it bits of DJing kit. Monitor speaker easier for users to create a set-up suitable for stands come as an additional their specific listening needs. option. •aiaiai.dk •£1855, riktenvelden.com

160 djmag.com GET YOUR MIX ON

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Untitled-1 1 11/11/2016 17:00 TECH NEWS TECH TALK NIKO MARKS is a name that may not immediately spring to mind when you mention Detroit techno, but he has been a mainstay in the genre and is one of the original forefathers, working with all the legendary greats that have come out of the Detroit scene. This prolific producer is now stepping into the light with his 44th studio album ‘Day Of Knowing’…

You have a lot of history with the and had a very decent sequencer Saying that, there are some wicked a lot more than I speak because Detroit scene, but you’ve always and cool quantising features. I used virtual recreations of some of this listening grants one the ability to remained in the shadows, why is to mix straight from the Fostex. classic kit, how do you find that part analyse closer the sounds taken in; that? Prior to obtaining this set-up, I had of production culture? whether it is someone speaking, the “As for me being in the shadows, it been sharing gear with a friend, so “Some of the virtual recreations of ambient sounds of life or musical has always been in part by choice and it became essential for me to have a the classic kits are really good, such tones. Ideas come from what I hear out of respect for whom I was working way to record without having to stop as Roland’s 808/909 Machine Hybrid; both physically and sound funnelled with at the time. However, it has because my shared time was up.” part of their Aira line. For me, the through my mind. To arrange all also been due to certain individuals Arturia V Collection 5 gets a high that sound and construct an audible who felt the need to suppress my What is your favourite bit of kit at mark; however, it could improve upon composition is where the fun or work contributions to this genre of music the moment? the electric and acoustic pianos. The begins.” in order that they might appear more “Presently my favourite kit is my virtual culture has been developing skilled than they actually were. I voice and the Zoom H6 field recorder. since its onset and seems to get What defines a studio musician? was never troubled by being in the It’s a great tool for capturing better and better with time, which “A studio musician should have shadows, as it afforded me so much ideas quickly, though I have been I feel is fantastic! At the end of decent knowledge of his/her opportunity to study and learn from experimenting with new software the day it will still depend on what instrument and be able to function some of the greatest minds in the art and working quite a bit out of the box one does with this ever-advancing well under instruction to deliver the of electronic music.” these days.” technology.” proper feel, colour and expression to a particular project or song. It also Forty-four albums that is a hell of a What are your thoughts on the How do you work in the studio, what helps to be able to work well with work rate, tell us more about that… newfound love of hardware, seeing is a normal working day like for you? various artists, and have patience to “With so many ideas in my head, I that Roland, Korg, Akai and Moog “I like to work in the studio without work through unstable attitudes.” would probably go insane if I didn’t are all releasing versions of the distraction or interruption, especially allow them to funnel through. instruments that helped to create at night. A normal day in the studio Being a musician, do you embrace Therefore, I developed a discipline the Detroit sound? for me is powering up, checking for the technological side of the scene? long ago to create a piece of music “As far as the new-found love of any project(s) in progress in need of “The technological side of music out of every idea that would not hardware… better late than never being completed, checking for any creation has assisted music makers leave my mind alone. The result of for those who are now getting scheduled recording sessions with in reaching a stage of completion that dynamic is 44+ albums. The plus acquainted with the difference of singers or musicians or both. That’s more expediently and helped mixing represents the tracks that haven’t analogue vs. digital sound and feel. when things are normal, which is not projects more efficient. It represents been released.” It’s great that Korg, Roland, Akai and always the case. It really depends on the advancement of our time. So, Moog are revisiting the products that what life has to send me on any given although there was a time when I was What was the first bit of kit that you made them popular. Also, the fact day.” reluctant to incorporate the digital bought? that they are bringing the gear back realm into my work process, I’ve long “My first hardware kit was made up of with digital compatibility, making Where are you getting all your since found areas of benefit and now a Roland 808, Korg DDD-5, Ensonique it easy to unite the two worlds of inspiration and ideas from? embrace today’s music technology SQ-80 and a Fostex 380-S. The SQ-80 analogue and digital.” “I think that being a good listener wholeheartedly.” was one of the early workstations, contributes to being prolific. I listen

162 djmag.com FABRIC’s NEW SOUND

pioneerproaudio.com | #madeintheuk | Pioneerproaudio

PIONEER_PRO_AUDIO_FABRIC_DJ_MAG_TOP-100.inddUntitled-1 1 1 17/03/201716/03/2017 14:21 12:42 Untitled-1 1 17/02/2017 16:02 TECH IN THE STUDIO

ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES Emika’s ‘Melanfonie’ symphony revels in the classical but openly embraces her techno production roots. We caught up with her to find out more… Words: MICK WILSON

THERE HAS BEEN a lot of creative techniques with which she arranged left and right — which created a left to right, the result being that collaboration between electronic the orchestra: stereo split that would be common they sounded like a shimmery pad artists and orchestras recently. “I wanted to have the bass in electronic production, but is a more than violins. Max Richter, Kate Simko and the instruments in the middle, in the different sound to what would be “The sound was wide with 16 violins London Electronic Orchestra, Pete centre and the back of the piece, heard if the orchestra recorded on one side and 16 on the other, Tong and the Heritage Orchestra the soprano being inside the traditionally. I wanted the violins it sounded massive. This is how I and Marc Romboy and the Dortmund sound and in the centre. I divided to sound like a Jupiter 8 pad that would mix them if I was mixing an Philharmonic Orchestra have all the violins — split them up to the moved across the stereo field from electronic piece. With classical, pushed the boundaries of dance music performance and production. Yet Emika, a Berlin-based techno DJ/producer intent on breaking barriers, has taken a completely different approach to this emerging fusion. Back in 2015 we featured Emika in the DJ Mag Tech pages when she was embarking on the first steps of her classical project with the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra. Now her new ‘Melanfonie’ project is complete, we thought it an apt time to revisit the artist and her neo- classical endeavours.

This true experiment of music creation has found Emika taking a novel route, using the vocal talents of the amazing soprano Michaela Srumova to create her own orchestral composition. It’s a cross-fertilisation using production techniques more at home with conventional electronic music production. Yet the result is more in-keeping with the classical genre, eagerly breaking away from the traditional rules of composing and composition. Emika recalls the

djmag.com 165 TECH IN THE STUDIO

the bass section is usually sitting on the right side and I didn’t really want that traditional seating plan. Nevertheless, the orchestra were great and just sat there sometimes for over half-an-hour patiently when so much unconventional stuff was going on around them. The seating plan was deliberately put together so when it came down to mixing it, I didn’t have to change things dramatically in post-production. I had already thought about where the players and sound were going to be in the soundstage. There were lots of real complex things going on sonically, which was tough, and the players had to adapt to the way I had put this together rather than what they would normally be used to.”

Emika was intent on using the technology of modern music production whilst holding as close as possible to a classical sensibility. However, there were issues. “There were things that I discovered whilst recording that wouldn’t be an issue in an electronic production,” she says. “I had really long notes that added to the amazing harmony and dissonance that was going on all at the same time, this huge wall of sound, but I soon realised that plan, so it was hard for some of for me I had time to be able to the various recording techniques. the players had to breathe, and the players to see the conductor. concentrate on the music. It was a At some stages you hear all the there would be gaps in-between We decided that the orchestra tough process, as at times I had to ambience of the room, then other some of the phrases. You couldn’t would play to a click track as well as have my producer hat on, so it was times, the intense sound of the tell them not to breathe, but this having a conductor on board. The impossible for me to really take in individual players or the ensemble, sort of thing isn’t an issue when players were amazing. Their level what was happening with the music, and then with other takes you hear programming electronic music, of concentration was incredible — but now that I listen back to it I feel the atmospherics and the breaths so we had to work around that. they could play for almost two hours the amazing energy in terms of how and the little subtleties. Going There are pros and cons working before having to take a break, in it was played, it was a very technical through the takes, I really needed to a modern approach, something fact the more focused and stressed process indeed.” to come back to my own studio to I didn’t factor in. I totally didn’t it got before the breaks, the better do the mixdown, as it was vital that think that brass players and wind the performance became. The result is this stunning piece this sounded like one of my own players need to breathe or the “The team I put together — the of music that is more than just records and not just me recording violin players couldn’t sustain conductor, the engineer — all straight up electronica or classical. an orchestra.” indefinitely, but we got around it, worked well together on this “We got an incredible sound using •emika-official.bandcamp.com which enhanced my initial thought project. The engineer could on how the sound should be. read music as well as being able “It all came down to working with to engineer the recording, so the orchestra, getting everyone whenever there were issues in terms settled in. It was really big and we of the process we could resolve had a non-conventional seating them really fast. Once again luckily

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Untitled-1 1 17/03/2017 13:58 TECH

Apple MacBook Pro 2017 Words: MICK WILSON

THE MAC DADDY Get your new MacBook Pro supersized for added enjoyment… ot to admit that when we new machine, rather than a simple different systems and enjoyed the update existing programs to further received the press release update. Style-wise, it now comes in experience. What we have here is a push the limits, which in turn leaves about the new MacBook two colours, with the deeper matt laptop that really does excel in the the older systems and eventually G Pro and then heard all grey version more appealing to our power and performance department. the newer ones wanting. However, the chatter about it, we were almost eyes than the old silver look. On the Years ago the sort of power that this the flip to this is that some software taken in with all the trash talk that peripheral side, the weight of the thing dishes out would have been in products are made more efficient and was going on. Nothing radically new machine is very light indeed. In comparison to the old top-of-the- run better than before because the different; no touch-screen; a touch- fact it’s a very compact laptop, which range Mac towers, hefty computing power is there and utilised. bar? No power supply socket, and makes lugging it around even easier. machines for audio and visual Once over the fact that the old worse still, none of the older-type Once powered up and running old applications of the day. Now what is connections are gone, and users connection ports — and only four favourite DAWs, music applications, on offer is serious computing power work out how to overcome this early USB 3 connections! We almost DJing software et al, there’s the in a machine that is roughly the size adopter issue, it soon becomes thought, boy, Apple have fucked it, realisation of what a step up in the of a sheet of A4 paper. apparent that Apple are pushing the and we hadn’t even seen the new power stakes the new MacBook Pro game here in terms of connectivity. machine yet. Not forgetting the new actually is. The 2016 MacBook Pro is perfect Four USB 3 connectors can now offer higher price. Lots of publications for DJs, producers... any media new powerful ways of connecting online and in print jumped off the POWER UP creatives, in fact. We ran a plug-in- additional hardware equipment (and fence and shouted it down, but We are long-time fans of Macs here heavy production session both on of course other manufacturers will here at DJ Mag Tech we like to be at DJ Mag Tech, using them for our Apple’s own (updated) Logic Pro X follow suit). pragmatic about new developments. creative and musical endeavours and Ableton’s Live, and the jump After all ‘change’ has definitely since moving on from the Atari in processing power was obvious. The new USB 3 (USB C) format shifts helped progress the electronic dance era. Don’t get us wrong — whilst The whole workflow in terms of the data back and forth at an incredible music scene. we are fans of Apple, we’ve also performance from the new MacBook rate. We’re not going to get all techy called them out on products that Pro was tighter. Now, the problem we with stats and numbers but what We immediately went about didn’t quite cut it: the Apple G4 end up facing is once a new machine users get is a faster way for the vital getting our hands on one of the Cube springs to mind. And just to is released and the power potential is information to be sent around their new MacBook Pros. Instantly we put the record straight we are not upped, software manufacturers then equipment. The new high-resolution realised this new machine is… a PC haters, and have happily used in turn make new bits of software or screen is even more detailed than

168 djmag.com TECH

its predecessor and when placed side display of the Logic viewer windows gigging or DJ set-up — we’ve got the by side, the difference is noticeable. and the hands-on element on MacBook Pro working sweetly in our VERDICT It is a thing of beauty. Taking time out Algorridim’s djay Pro really show off test studio, featuring the new Apollo from a demanding studio session and what can be done with the touch- Twin soundcard, an Apogee Elements BUILD QUALITY 9.0 catching up on the latest Netflix series bar. No doubt updates to existing 88 and a borrowed 5K monitor. Oh, EASE OF USE 9.0 via the display was all the better for it. software will make good use of it, and the MacBook Pro can hook directly FEATURES 9.0 and everything in terms of operation up to it via the USB 3 connector, VALUE FOR MONEY 8.0 HATERS becomes so much faster. which can be daisy-chained to a whole SOUND QUALITY 9.0 Some people reading this feature wealth of compatible equipment. are not going to agree and will moan The new MacBook Pro looks like HYPE about the changes, the price and it is being pitched to the creative This review is a first look at the new The new MacBook Pro is a superfast, powerful computer other statements made in this review – professional or heavy user. For those MacBook Pro. We are going to explore that offers more bang for the we understand that. But the long and in the market for a Mac laptop but it in more depth running the new buck. short of it is that the new MacBook who don’t need the power boost, the version of Logic Pro X and how it Pro, when time is taken to explore new Airs will deliver the same sort makes for a very strong production GRIPE the new features, is undeniably a of performance of the previous Pro system in another feature, as our The price and no heritage connections will pee a few beast and a vast improvement on model. It is obvious what Apple are standard double-page spread just people off. the old machine. The keys have a doing: the price hike is in reflection of won’t give us enough page space to great feel and the touch-bar, once the fact that the new model is a leap really get deep, down and dirty with Apple continue to make the you start getting into it, is actually ahead of the previous MacBook Pro what Apple have done. Until then, MacBook Pro the computer of really good and innovative, changing and earlier incarnations. we exalt the qualities of this new choice for music types who the way it works depending on the The new machine works perfectly with machine. need a machine that is slick software used. It essentially becomes the usual software and hardware that and powerful for all creative a controller in itself: the graphical would be associated with a studio, endeavors. 8.8/10 FROM £1,449 apple.com/uk

LOGIC PRO X LOGIC Pro X has been updated to exploit the new features of the MacBook Pro, the new version of Apple’s flagship production software now comes with even more new power features aimed at the jobbing music professional. The new Track Alternatives mode allows for multiple arrangements in a single track, perfect for checking out different recording ideas and ideal for re-edits and remixes. Selection Based Processing is another great feature that allows users to apply effect plug-ins to any part of an audio selection, or to multiple files at once. True Stereo Panning adds more depth to your mixes. The overall look and workflow has been tweaked to make for a more professional feel. DJ Mag Tech likes the new no-nonsense look to Logic Pro X, the graphic user display is tighter and visually more pleasing than before. Logic Pro X and the new Mac Book Pro make for a very serious production package indeed.

djmag.com 169 madeupltd.com

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Untitled-1 1 16/03/2017 16:28 TECH Arturia Drumbrute Words: MICK WILSON

UNLEASH THE BEAST VERDICT Arturia have unveiled a new analogue drum machine, the Drumbrute. Is it as ferocious as it sounds? BUILD QUALITY 8.0 EASE OF USE 8.0 rturia have been making sound. It would have been too easy FEATURES 8.0 huge waves with their for Arturia just to create a Roland VALUE FOR MONEY 9.0 hardware products. Their clone, and while we’re fans of the SOUND QUALITY 8.0 A Minibrute and Microbrute classic analogue Roland drum sound synths are very successful products, it is refreshing to hear a machine HYPE recently joined by the Matrixbrute, that brings something new to the A wicked-sounding analogue drum machine that looks the which has really set the production table, when needed. The clap has part as well. world alight. Now we have the a nice mid-range presence that Drumbrute. A rather compact also cuts through nicely in the mix. GRIPE machine, but one with plenty of bite. The Rimshot and claves have a nice Mini jack outputs. The Drumbrute follows Arturia’s woody tone, but as with the other mantra of offering very good- sounds can be tweaked. The hi-hats The Drumbrute packs so much sounding synths at a price that do the job nicely as well, but one into such a small frame and small price it is hard to believe makes them accessible to all. It’s thing to note — at the back of the how good this machine in the same vein as their Mini and drum machine the sounds have actually sounds. Perfect for Microbrutes, however with one their own separate outs. The hi- electronic and dance music omission: the Brute Factor, a wicked hats share an output, so balancing production, another winner distortion filter that was found on them is taken care of solely on the from the Arturia camp. the aforementioned synths. It added front panel; whilst we are talking extra bite and crunch to the sounds, outputs, it is also worth mentioning but has been removed from the that the outputs at the back of the 8.2/10 Drumbrute. Still, that doesn’t take Drumbrute are all of the mini-jack anything drastic away from Arturia’s variety. However, the mix output PRICE £399 drum machine. comes in the usual standard jack arturia.com size. IT’S THE BEAT A drum machine that focuses on SHAKE YOUR TAMBOURINE analogue sounds, the Drumbrute The toms and congas have a nice is a well-built unit with plenty of wooden percussive tone. The cymbal knobs and buttons and cool wooden has a metallic timbre that works panelling at the sides. There are nicely within the electronic music 12 standard instruments ranging spectrum. It can be used as a reverse from kicks, snares, hi-hats, varying cymbal just by pushing the button. percussion and a disco zap, that The maracas and the tambourine offer up a total of 17 sounds. The offer up a good percussive sound kicks pay homage to Roland’s 909 that once again suits the overall and 808 drum machines, but aren’t flavour of the Drumbrute. Finally, a mere facsimile. The kick sounds the zap harks back to those classic on the Drumbrute have their own disco zaps and works just as it identity — but it is obvious where should do. the inspiration lies. They sound great and work nicely in dance music It’s not just about the sounds production, and users can change though, as the Drumbrute is the sound and tone. This can be equipped with a decent sequencer done with all the sounds on the that allows users to build up Drumbrute. patterns and sequences that can be used live or recorded and saved The snare has a proper ‘crack’ to in the MCC (MIDI Control Centre) it, a cutting sharp tone that really software. There are a load more works its way nicely in the mix. things that can be achieved with the We spent a good few hours more sequencer and MCC software, and than we should have done tapping this, coupled with the great sounds away at this one — it sounds great from the Drumbrute, make for an coming through the speakers. The impressive analogue drum machine clap sound was also pleasing to that will sit nicely in any dance music our ears and had its own distinct producer’s studio or live set-up.

djmag.com 171 TECH ESSENTIALS

In our new feature, DJ Mag Tech takes a look at what’s on offer around the technology world...

HERCULEAN TASK? The DJ Control Instinct 8 from Hercules is a very affordable bit of kit that’s perfect for wannabe DJs just starting out...

Simple to connect and extremely portable, Hercules’ DJ Control Instinct 8 is the ideal bit of kit for someone starting out as a DJ. Fitted with a scratchable jog-wheel, loop, FX and sample functions, it connects to a PC or Mac and has HERCULES an interactive music library controlled via the DJ CONTROL interface. It also has a quantize option to allow users to sync their mixes. Even those without the INSTINCT 8 foggiest clue how to beat-match can still have plenty of fun with it. Which is what the Instinct 8 definitely come in handy at house parties. Brightly together, making it fiddly in the mix, and the jog is all about. coloured and with flashing lights, it’s a fun piece isn’t big enough to allow much subtlety when it While it’s a good introduction to the art of mixing, of kit that will fit easily into a rucksack, and once comes to full scratch-style control. However, this is it’s unlikely many pros will turn up to the booth pulled out at 5am it’ll delight the after-party a small gripe, taking into consideration the price and plug in the Instinct 8. However, that’s not rabble no end (but maybe not the neighbours). tag and the functions. to say it doesn’t serve a worthwhile purpose. At One of the main benefits — its compact size — is • £99 @ hercules.com just under £100 it’s extremely affordable and will also a drawback. The EQ knobs are a little too close

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE URBANISTA The Urbanista Seattle on-ear headphones are great for anyone looking for a decent quality pair of wireless SEATTLE ON-EAR headphones, but not wanting to spend excessive HEADPHONES amounts of money. The sound quality exceeded our expectations with very clear and precise high notes. There are good punchy kicks and bass that isn’t as dominant as some of its competitors, but perfectly blends with all other elements of the tracks we were testing them on without any frequency range standing out. Overall, very good sound quality.

While the Seattles can be used as wireless phones, they perform in the exact same way when used as standard wired headphones. One of our big worries was that the quality would decrease when switching from wired to Bluetooth, but we didn’t notice the change between the two. We didn’t experience any dropouts or breaks in the Bluetooth connection. The connection is very strong, and doesn’t decrease in quality either when moving about. The range is just under 10 metres with a clear path to the source, but this won’t present any problems on the go. The Seattles are very sturdy and solid. With soft padded foam cushions they sit very comfortably on the ears; we could happily have them on for a few hours at a time. They also sit tightly to the head while on the move, but keep the high level of comfort. Another plus is that they have a very short charging-time from 30 minutes to an hour, which will then happily last for the working week on the commute to and from work and throughout the day listening. If it does happen to run out of battery, simply plug in the provided audio cable and carry on listening.

They’re good value for wireless headphones, coming in at under £90. We appreciate having a pair of headphones that are so easy to use on the go, and they look great, with the aesthetically pleasing matte ‘Dark Clown’ finish. They portray exactly what Urbanista have tried to create, a product for the urban lifestyle with a beautiful Scandinavian minimalistic design — and a great sound for all music genres anytime, anywhere. • £89 @ urbanista.com

172 djmag.com Untitled-1 1 16/03/2017 16:46 PRODUCER Welcome to Plug-in TECH Words: MICK WILSON Corner, our monthly We reveal some handy tips and tricks to help you on the exposé of some of the best plug-ins around for road to wicked productions... creating electronic music... sponsored by

MANUFACTURER : ACCUSONUS PLUG-IN : REGROOVER FORMAT: VST, AU AAX PRICE : £47.95

REGROOVER FROM ACCUSONUS is a unique sampler, slicer and beat machine. It lets users chop and separate multiple layers from a single WAV or AIFF file. This means producers are able to import any piece of rhythmic material and isolate/extract different sounds to use within their own compositions.

This plug-in enables users to split their chosen material into a maximum of six different layers, and also play these layers back by triggering MIDI notes individually. Each layer can be played in full by simply holding down the specific MIDI notes to play the full sequence. Each of these layers THE PSYCHEDELIC VIBES OF TUBE & BERGER has their own independent controls, which allows the user to turn the layer on or off, ARNDT ROERIG and Marko Vidovic to our hit ​‘Imprint Of Pleasure’ by matter and that ​​everybody can​ feel ​​ EQ and pan, as well as adjust its volume. from Tube & Berger reveal how combining a spoken word voice fulfilledwith ​ ​ their lives. they got their Killer Sound on ‘We with some chilled beats and strings, “We produced the track in our home Are All Stars’… but as the recording sessions studio in Solingen, Rock City on progressed over the next six Cubase 8.5, and we mainly used the “We signed our album deal with ​ months, it evolved into a club track Sequential Prophet 6 ​and​ a Stingray Berlin’s Embassy​​​ of Music Records with cool harmonised psychedelic Music Man E Bass. For the harmonic back in July last year, and straight vocals for a chorus. We kept the vocal, we found a good sample then away started ​working ​on​ tracks. spoken word vocal as the intro. reconstructed it with a little help The direction: to blend the Tube “We are really happy with how it from some of our indie-rock buddies & Berger club sound with indie- has turned out and have chosen to create the psychedelic vibes rock and to experiment with more it as ​​​the album title track. ‘We you can hear on the track. Maybe downtempo and electronica sounds. Are All Stars’ perfectly ​sums up ​ there were some other psychedelic Regroover can also be linked to the host’s “‘We Are All Stars’ was one of the both our musical direction and ​ influences in the studio too, but BPM, meaning that there is no need to first tracks we worked on. Initially our ​philosophy, that all lifeforms we cannot possibly confirm or deny take the imported audio’s tempo into our aim was to make​ ​a follow-up ​ are made up of the same physical this.” account — it will sync up nicely by itself. Audio can also be imported to stay at its original tempo (and not time-stretched) if SAMPLE TANK: ‘DARK GARAGE’ (SAMPLE MAGIC) so desired. THE NAME IS QUITE misleading, as this new sample pack lends itself nicely to a wide range of urban and deep genres and not just the garage sound. It’s a really well- crafted pack that captures the essence of the blurb quite Although Regroover will analyse the nicely: “Moody, muscular, urban garage with a distinct chosen audio and create splits, it is UK flavour.” possible to dive into this further and add The drum samples are particularly good, and offer splits manually. This means that users up a lot more than the usual static drum-loops that can be selective in the sounds that they sometimes are dropped into these packs. These loops wish to use and also create more layers are quite inspiring and offer up a wealth of instant containing these sounds. inspiration for James Blake or SBTRKT-style tracks. All in all, it’s a hugely powerful slicer/ The melodic loops also offer up a good selection of beat machine/sampler, which will prove inspiring options. There are some really nice detuned beneficial for anyone looking to extract pianos and haunting leads and pads, with ghostly vocal grooves and sounds to use in their own samples to add more flavour to the pot; the atmospheric compositions. Regroover is available at samples sound good too. Plug-in Boutique in both ‘Essential’ and Also on offer is a selection of one-shot samples that ‘Pro’ versions, and is available for both can be used to build grooves or musical phrases. There are five custom kits for Mac and Windows. use with Maschine 2, Battery 4, Kong, EXS24 and Ableton Drum Rack, and five PRICE £34.95 sampler formats for Kontakt, NN-XT, EXS24 and Ableton Drum Rack. The pack can samplemagic.com Plug-in Corner is sponsored by be bought in individual segments or as the complete package. pluginboutique.com, your login for plug-ins!

174 djmag.com TECH PRODUCER VERDICT

BUILD QUALITY 9.0 EASE OF USE 9.0 FEATURES 9.0 VALUE FOR MONEY 9.0 SOUND QUALITY N/ A HYPE A unique way to store samples and use them quickly when needed. GRIPE None at the moment. This could be a game- changer in terms of sample library management and use, speeding up the whole creation process. 9/10 PRICE FREE CLOUD BUSTING loopmasters.com Can Loopmasters take sample libraries to a higher level with Loopcloud? HERE AT DJ MAG TECH we are lucky to get to see the sample will sound like when it’s in the mix, Loopcloud is the realisation of that goal, and we’re a lot of the new innovations before they have hit because it is actually in the mix. immensely proud of this new direction.” the street. Sometimes we are purely observers, and This is just one thing that makes Loopcloud a very other times we are part of a small and dedicated innovative prospect. At the basic level of use, The whole process really does speed up the workflow selection of industry professionals who test Loopcloud — as the name suggests — is a service and doesn’t bog producers down trawling through and tinker with these products before they are that allows DJs and producers to search for samples loads of hard-drives or folders trying to find the unleashed into the bigger community of DJs and online and store them in a cloud facility to be used sound from a certain pack. producers. however and whenever they want. The app interface The other ace in the pack is that the service is One new application we have been tinkering around is simple and also comes with a great pop-up tip box also a ‘thank you gift’ to existing Loopmasters with is Loopcloud, an innovative cloud plug-in for that quickly familiarises the user with the functions customers, as on launch it will be free to anyone music producers from Loopmasters. available in the software. who has purchased samples from Loopmasters. Users logging into a Loopcloud account will find INDUSTRY FIRST Sounds are searchable within Loopcloud by name, it populated with any sounds they’ve purchased Loopcloud is an industry first: a brand-new tempo, key and user-editable tags, and the simple from the Loopmasters sample shop, while future application for browsing and managing samples, interface makes it easy for sounds to be auditioned updates to the service will also include a store with MIDI files and presets, and bringing them into and downloaded. With a single log-in, users can millions of samples available to purchase, and the a DAW via drag and drop or the accompanying synchronise their sample library across multiple ability to upload and tag a personal sample library. Loopcloud plug-in, with tempo-sync. We’ve been computers, and the Loopcloud web app enables Everything can be kept in one place, perfect for testing it out at the Beta stage and have to admit access to it from any browser. studio collaborations and the likes. that we already like what we see, and believe that this is the future of sample integration. But it is so WORKFLOW As an incentive to non-Loopmasters customers who much more than just an online sample service; the The guys at Loopmasters told DJ Mag Tech that “… have not bought anything from the store, there beauty of it really kicks in when used as a plug-in for we want people to really be able to get the most will also be a chance for them to receive a few GB your favourite DAW. out of their sample collections by locating inspiring of samples as a free welcome gift, and there will be sounds really fast while they are making music, free weekly content, eg. 150 free samples. Everyone This process in itself is easy to engage. Simply select not sitting for hours to find the right folder with can enjoy free weekly sounds from the latest pro a free track and call up the Loopcloud plug-in as a the vocals being in a certain key. There are loads of releases at Loopmasters.com. virtual instrument. It will then sync with the main ways to search — tags, keywords, folders, bpm, key Loopcloud application, and the samples will be — and everything is in sync with your DAW. Loopcloud ultimately helps users to create their played back in perfect time with the host project “Everyone at Loopmasters makes music, and it’s own unique tags for their productions, upload their (time-stretched to fit with the current tempo). Add long been our goal to unify our ever-expanding personal sample library and reclaim precious hard FX, even side-chain from the kick, or send to a drum catalogue of samples and presets in a bespoke disk space, all within one application. buss. This gives users a great way of hearing what app that seamlessly integrates within the DAW.

PRODUCER TIPS: SHERIDAN TONGUE IN-IS “Sometimes I like to use an auto pan on continuous bright percussion or drum parts like hi-hats or cabasas. Those parts can take up too much ‘space’ in a mix — generally they are just there to add movement to a track — so by running them through an auto pan then they can be less obtrusive. I use the Logic Tremolo plug for my auto panning: set to 80% depth and usually with a three- or five-bar pan rate, sometimes with a faster pan rate depending on the track. I like to set it to odd bars to keep it unpredictable. An auto pan can also work really well on synth arpeggios or fast programmed synth parts — it will help spread the stereo image of these parts and make them a lot less specific in the overall stereo placement. So, when you do need something very specific in the stereo image — like a vocal or topline — then you now have the space in the mix to do this.”

djmag.com 175 Untitled-1 1 20/04/2015 16:58 Untitled-1 1 20/8/13 10:17:44 Lucky Seven Marc Romboy Words: HELENE STOKES “I thought it might be an exciting idea to step into a new When the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra got in touch direction, other than just making tech-house track number about working on a show together, things started to fall 50,609,” says Marc Romboy about the notions behind his into place. Marc took the process very seriously and took ‘Voyage De La Planete’, an album that beautifully merges music theory and music history lessons in preparation for classical with electronica. “It’s a question of evolution — I the concert. A union with violinist Miki Kekenj led to them was searching for a new way and for something else. collaborating, and inspired Marc to make something less We are working on a live show for 2018 with musicians, dancefloor-friendly than he’d first thought. “You can still play lots of string instruments, an oboe, and then also the a few tracks in the club, but the first aspect is just to listen to electronic instruments. I hope it works, because it’s a lot of it and to enjoy the trip,” he tells DJ Mag… preparation.”

The track that reminds you of your stopped crying you feel very relieved childhood? — this is a wonderful feeling, and it’s “We are working on a live show for 2018 with “Stevie Wonder ‘Superstition’. When I was thanks to this song. I hope that I can musicians, lots of string instruments, on oboe and a child I would check out my parents’ transfer the emotional part to my then also the electronic instruments. I hope it works, record collection, and when I was three or listeners as well. I’m a man, so men don’t four I began to paint on them — and one cry so often, which is actually a pity because it’s a lot of preparation.” or two years later I started to listen to this because we should show our emotions stuff. My parents owned a record player more.” that was completely automatic with records on the top, and it was amazing. What’s an album that you’re currently When the playing record was ready, the into? needle went back to the starting position “There’s a fantastic album by an Icelandic and then another record would come guy called Vikingur Olafsson on Deutsche down and the needle came to the starting Grammophon — he has interpreted point again. Now that I think about it, it several piano works by Philip Glass. Philip was something like a playlist. What really Glass turns 80 this year, so it’s a very hip fascinated me about ‘Superstition’ — and and stylish topic for everyone. He’s a it’s still a legendary song when it comes classical artist and he became very to mix-down discussions — is I was very popular because he has a lot of things in impressed by the drums, because they’re common with a few electronic artists. He really punchy and dynamic.” played the piano in a very sequential way, a little bit like a machine sometimes. His The first record that you ever bought? work called ‘Opening’ was a game changer “‘The Robots’ by Kraftwerk. I will never for me when I listened to it for the first forget this moment, together with my time. And Olafsson was able to play his mum I went to a record store in my home works, including ‘Opening’, in a very town. I went to the counter and the guy soulful way — I’m a big, big fan of this there asked me ‘OK, what do you want?’ album.” And I said, ‘I don’t know the title and I don’t know the group but can I sing it for The record in your collection that you you?’ And he said ‘OK, why not?’ So I sang most treasure? ‘We are the robots, dut dut dut dut’. That “It’s a 12-inch by Robert Owens called ‘I’ll was my first record, and the beginning of Be Your Friend’, because I collaborated my love of electronic music.” with him a few times and then I met him for the first time in 2005. He was at my What do you listen to that isn’t dance home and he was our guest, and we had music? great recording sessions and made two “A lot of classical music nowadays, also tracks together which came out on my new classical and a lot of composers from very first album called ‘Gemini’. And when the beginning of the last century — he left I gave him the record, and I said ranging from Debussy to Max Ritcher. But ‘Please sign it for me’. And he wrote also to Bach, plenty of classical composers something like ‘It’s nice that I made such influence me a lot at the moment.” a nice friend, thanks for the good times together’. It’s maybe not my favourite The track that’s guaranteed to make you track of his anyway, but due to these cry? wonderful words to my soul this record “There is one track on the album called ‘La means a lot to me.” Luna Et L’Etoile’, which is track number five. I finished that track and I didn’t Your all-time favourite track of all time? listen to it for about three months, and “Back to Kraftwerk, I’m afraid. They then I played it to my wife at around released a track in 1981 called ‘Numbers’ midnight. After the song was over I and it’s crazy because every time I listen started crying and I couldn’t stop. It’s a to this track I get goosebumps. It’s really weird feeling, and afterwards we incredible how this music is still emotional were really happy because it’s a to me, and when I close my eyes I see super-nice feeling. I don’t know what myself in the future somewhere in outer happens in your body when you cry but space — I feel like a cyborg. An amazing you can’t stop, and after you have track and from 1981, come on.”

178 djmag.com DJM-250MK2 MIXER MASTER THE ART

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PDJ_DJM-250MK2_DJ_MAG.inddUntitled-1 1 1 17/03/2017 14:2010:02 Untitled-1 1 16/03/2017 16:38