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Daws and Pluggins 2014 Digital
Daws and Pluggins 2014 Digital
GUIDE TO
A Special Promotional Publication From Intent Media
Daws &
Plug-ins 2014
Produced By:
In association with:
CONTENTS
>>> CONTENTS
>
>
>
10
>
12
>
14
>
16
Steinberg
>
18
Directory
DAW Distinction
Getting Plugged in
Merging Technologies
Presonus
Source Elements
>ADVERTISER INDEX
Advertiser
Sonnox
Page
2
iZotope
Lexicon
Prism
15
Waves
19
Presonus
20
www.audiomedia.com
Darrell Carter
darrell.carter@intentmedia.co.uk
> Editor
Jory MacKay
jory.mackay@intentmedia.co.uk
> Designer
Jat Garcha
jat.garcha@intentmedia.co.uk
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2014 NewBay Media. All rights reserved.
May 2014 03
DAWS
DAW Distinction
The rise of the DAW has been one of the defining moments in modern music production.
Stephen Bennett looks at whats next for the all-mighty digital audio workstation.
THE TRANSFORMATION of the early
computer-based sequencer into the Digital
Audio Workstation (DAW) of today has been
a gradual evolution, with each generation
of software from the various manufacturers
leapfrogging each other with respect to features
and power. The DAW market is a mature one,
with basic facilities, such as those enabling
the arrangement of audio and MIDI data,
editing, mixing, automation, use of Virtual
Instruments (VIs), and effects processing using
the computers central processing unit (CPU)
being common to nearly all of the software
currently on the market.
However, there still appears to be room for
innovation with every iteration of competing
DAWs bringing something new to the table.
Although each DAW may have a specific
feature that different users might find useful,
most engineers whove been in the game a
while will choose their DAW by inertia no
one wants to learn a new way of working unless
they have to. Confusingly, many DAWS have
completely different descriptions for similar
functions, making choices of which piece of
software to use based solely on feature set
difficult. Sonically, DAWs may differ when pan
laws and plug-ins are brought into the equation,
but many null tests have demonstrated that,
where conditions are identical, all DAWs sum
audio in the same way its just adding numbers
together, after all. However, the internet is rife
with claims that despite mathematical proof
that files exported from the summing engines
of DAWs are indeed identical, people still
claim to hear differences between competing
software though most of us are unlikely to
choose our tools on such shaky foundations.
DAWS
PLUG-INS
Getting Plugged In
Stephen Bennett talks to a number of top plug-in developers to find out what the latest and greatest
advancements have been in this increasingly crowded market.
AUDIO SOFTWARE companies were quick
to take up the idea of allowing third parties to
add functionality to an existing Digital Audio
Workstation (DAW) via plug-ins. Avid (was
Digidesign) was among the first to exploit
the concept within Pro Tools with its offline
AudioSuite and Time Division Multiplexing
(TDM) plug-ins the latter requiring
additional DSP hardware to perform real-time
processing. However, it was the introduction of
the open Virtual Studio Technology (VST) by
Steinberg in 1996 that allowed programmers to
easily take advantage of the increasing power of
the computer itself to create real-time effects
and virtual instruments that could be used
within existing DAWs.
Since that time, many plug-in formats have
appeared, such as Apples Audio Units (AU),
Avids Real Time AudioSuite (RTAS) and
AAX plug-ins, and Steinbergs own VST3, but
most serious developers code software for most
formats. Other companies choose to bring their
technology outside the DAW itself to create
standalone processing tools, while some aim to
combine the haptic immediacy that hardware
brings with the world of digital audio.
SOFTWARE TOOLS
One of the earliest developers of DAW
software add-ons was Waves with its L1
Ultramaximiser, which allowed engineers to
increase overall loudness levels in a way not
possible before. The company now markets an
array of plug-in solutions, many of which still
push the envelope for software innovation. The
Vocal Rider is simple in concept, but contains
some clever processing under the hood. We
were very happy with the Vocal Riders success
as it coincided with our realisation that we
should refrain from concentrating on selling
bundles to businesses, says Amir Vinci,
Waves director of pro audio products.
It was also a technological breakthrough.
Vocal Rider is like a compressor, but it works
on a longer range of time on the loudness of the
vocal and is also sensitive to the levels of other
audio. Its a result of the research weve done
into making a good mix easier to achieve.
While Universal Audio (UA) has an
extensive range of DSP-assisted emulations
of classic outboard hardware, the company
also offers some unusual processing tools for
PLUG-INS
MERGING TECHNOLOGIES SA
Pyramix Virtual
Studio 9:
MassCore
Unchained
Pyramix 9 arrives with a new mixer,
a new hardware interface, and true
64-bit operation, making the most
powerful audio engine on the market
even more powerful.
MERGING TECHNOLOGIES SA
NEW MIXER
Being able to construct mixers bigger than
any other DAW could ever create means that
specialist tools need to be incorporated to
help users in navigating through the hundreds
of channels, auxes, subgroups, and master
busses in a way that does not slow down their
workflow. The main addition to the new mixer
is the Signal Flow view of the metering. Now,
with any strip, or range of strips selected,
MERGING TECHNOLOGIES SA
Is a Swiss manufacturer with over 20 years of
experience in developing ground-breaking,
professional Audio and Video products for
a wide range of entertainment and media
industries. With a dedicated user base in
the elite end of the music, film, television,
mastering, and performances industries,
Merging is committed to developing product
ranges with unrivalled quality and flexibility,
no matter what the application. Merging
builds tools for people who want more from
their systems, have an inherent need to push
boundaries, and believe that quality always
comes first, every time.
AES67 NOW!
Hapi STATS
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INFORMATION
Worldwide Headquarters
Merging Technologies SA
Le Verney 4, CH-1070 Puidoux, Switzerland
W: www.merging.com
E: info@merging.com
Merging UK Offices
Emerging UK ltd.
23 Easter Park,Benyon Road, Silchester, Reading
RG7 2PQ, United Kingdom
T: +44 (0) 118 402 5090
E: sales@emerginguk.com
April 2014 11
Studio Ones unique Project page is intelligently linked to the Song page and provides
tools for mastering, disc-burning, digital release, and direct upload to the Web
12 April 2014
The Song page allows you to track, edit, and mix in one
easy-to-navigate window
www.audiomedia.com
MASTERING WITH
STUDIO ONE
PROFESSIONAL
No other DAW offers
You can import a QuickTime video into the Song
an integrated mastering
window for scoring to picture
suite comparable to
Studio One Professionals Project page. As you
add songs to a project (collection of songs), the
songs and the project are intelligently linked so
that changes to one are automatically updated
in the other. Studio One Professional provides
the tools for professional mastering, including
INFORMATION
a phase meter and spectrum and peak/RMS
level meters with K-System options. A Scope
plug-in provides oscilloscope functions.
WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION
INSTANTLY!
Mastered albums can be digitally released in
multiple standard formats and can be saved as
disc images and burned to CDs and DVDs, all
within Studio One Professional. You get DDP
Export and PQ editing and can include song
and album art.
Better yet, upload your finished projects
to the Web and start distributing them
immediately with Studio Ones built-in
Nimbit client and free Nimbit account. Youll
get up-to-date statistics (number of fans,
number of active promotions, and sales) from
a Nimbit dashboard on the Start page. Want
to share your tracks? Studio One Professional
includes a SoundCloud client and dashboard,
too! No other DAW has these features.
A WEALTH OF PLUG-INS
Studio One Professional supports ReWire,
VST 2 and 3, and Audio Units and comes with
COMPREHENSIVE UNDO
Studio One enables you to view and undo
all edits done since the file was opened,
even if you have saved since then. This is a
April 2014 13
SOURCE ELEMENTS
SOURCE-CONNECT
Source-Connect, the well-established and most
popular ISDN alternative, has new capabilities
enabling everyone to work with remote clients
in 5.1, stereo, or mono. New features allow
connections with the same remarkable audio
quality without requiring firewall configuration,
while also professionally molding itself into the
most security conscious networks. With SourceConnect Pro X, Source Elements is breaking
new ground releasing the most affordable
5.1 surround / multi-channel codec available.
Directly integrating into Pro Tools 10/11 64-bit
or any DAW using AAX, RTAS, VST, and
AU, Source-Connect is the IP audio solution
from the high end to the home user, Windows
and Mac.
NEW: SOURCE-NEXUS
A companion to Source-Connect Now and
an indispensable plug-in in its own right, turn
any application into a Pro Tools plug-in. Two
versions: Basic for mono/stereo or Standard up
to 24 channels. Coming to AU and VST soon.
NEW: SOURCE-LIVE WITH VIDEO
Source-Live with Video makes it possible for
post-production editors, designers, and
composers to work with clients remotely along
with HD picture. Superior and artifact free
compared to consumer options, Source-Live
with Video captures video and audio from any
desktop application (Media Composer, Final
Notable users:
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Source-Connect Pro and its Remote Transport Sync feature when conducting domestic
and international ADR and mix sessions for various high profile projects and clients.
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Connect Pro X to play back 5.1 mixes live with picture sync to producers at Chase Audio
in Los Angeles.
www.audiomedia.com
[ ]
INFORMATION
April 2014 15
www.audiomedia.com
About Steinberg
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this
year, Steinberg is known the world over
for its music and audio software and
hardware solutions. The company has been
developing, manufacturing and selling
innovative products since 1984. Used
by Grammy and Oscar award-winning
composers, engineers and producers, the
Steinberg range of products has long
since found world renown in all aspects
of modern digital audio processing, and
form the backbone of facilities specialised
in music composition and production,
mastering, restoration, broadcast, sound
design and audio post for the film industry.
INFORMATION
(Manufacturers HQ)
Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH
Frankenstr. 18b
20097 Hamburg
Germany
W: www.steinberg.net
(US distributor)
Yamaha Corporation of America
6600 Orangethorpe Ave
CA-90620 Buena Park
USA
April 2014 17
DIRECTORY
MASSEY PLUGINS
www.masseyplugins.com
CELEMONY
www.celemony.com
+49 700 2353 6669
ABLETON
www.ableton.com
+49 30 288 763 231
CENTRANCE
www.centrance.com
+1 847 581 0500
ADOBE
www.adobe.com
+1408 536 6000
CHANDLER
www.chandlerlimited.com
+1 319 885 4200
MACKIE
www.mackie.com
+1 425 892 6500
ALGORITHMIX
www.algorithmix.com
+49 7741 91 930
CYCLING 74
www.cycling74.com
+1 415 974 1818
MCDSP
www.mcdsp.com
+1 650 318 0005
AMS NEVE
www.ams-neve.com
+44 (0) 1282 457 011
DALET
www.dalet.com
+1 212 269 6700
MERGING
TECHNOLOGIES
www.merging.com
+41 (0) 21 946 044
ANTARES
www.antarestech.com
+1 831 461 7801
DANGEROUS MUSIC
www.dangerousmusic.com
+1 607 965 8011
APOGEE
www.apogeedigital.com
+1 310 584 9394
DB-AUDIOWARE
www.db-audioware.com
APPLE
www.apple.com
+1 408 996 1010
ART
www.artproaudio.com
+1 716 436 2720
ARTURIA
www.arturia.com
+33 438 020 525
ARX
www.arx.com.au
+61 3 9555 7859
AUDIOEASE
www.audioease.com
+31 30 24 33 606
AUDIOFILE
www.audiofile-engineering.com
AVID
www.avid.com
+1 650 731 6100
AXIA AUDIO
www.axiaaudio.com
+1 216 241 7225
BBE
www.bbesound.com
+1 831 688 1311
DIGIGRAM
www.digigram.com
+33 (0)4 76 52 47 47
DTS
www.dtsonline.co.uk
+44 (0) 118 934 9199
ECHO
www.echoaudio.com
+1 805 880 5590
EVENTIDE
www.eventide.com
+1 201 641 1200
FABFILTER
www.fabfilter.com
FAIRLIGHT
www.fairlightau.com
+61 2 9975 1777
FLUX
www.fluxhome.com
FOCUSRITE
www.focusrite.com
+44 (0) 1494 462 246
FXPANSION
www.fxpansion.com
GRM TOOLS
www.inagrm.com
BITWIG
www.bitwig.com
HARRISON CONSOLES
www.harrisonconsoles.com
BORIS FX
www.borisfx.com
+1 508 573 5100
IK MULTIMEDIA
www.ikmultimedia.com
+39 059 285496
BRAINWORX GERMANY
www.brainworx-music.de
+49 (0) 2173 204 1852
IZOTOPE
www.izotope.com
+1 617 577 7799
CAKEWALK, INC
www.cakewalk.com
+1 617 423 9004
LEXICON
www.lexiconpro.com
+1 801 568 7567
CEDAR AUDIO
www.cedar-audio.com
+44 (0) 1223 881 771
18 May 2014
LYNX STUDIO
TECHNOLOGY
www.lynxstudio.com
+1 714 545 4700
MAGIX
www.magix.com
M-AUDIO
www.m-audio.com
METRIC HALO
www.mhlabs.com
+1 (727) 725-9555
MINNETONKA AUDIO
www.minnetonkaaudio.com
+49 2162 1062 622
MOTU
www.motu.com
+1 617 576 2760
MSOFT INC
www.msoftinc.com
MS PINKY
www.mspinky.com
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS
www.native-instruments.com
+49 (0) 30 61 10 35 0
NEYRINCK
www.neyrinck.com
NOMAD FACTORY
www.nomadfactory.com
NOTION MUSIC
www.notionmusic.com
+44 (0) 20 8899 6090
NOVATION MUSIC
www.novationmusic.com
+44 (0) 1494 462 246
OHM FORCE
www.ohmforce.com
OVERLOUD
www.overloud.com
PRESONUS
www.presonus.com
+1 225 216 7887
PRISM SOUND
www.prismsound.com
+44 (0) 1353 648 888
PROPELLERHEAD
www.propellerhead.se
RME
www.rme-audio.com
+49 08133 91 810
ROB PAPEN
www.robpapen.com
ROLAND SYSTEMS
GROUP
www.rolandsystemsgroup.co.uk
+44 (0) 1792 702 701
SADIE
www.sadie.com
+44 (0) 1353 648 888
SERATO
www.serato.com
SEVEN WOODS AUDIO,
INC
www.sevenwoodsaudio.com
+1 617 489 6292
SLATE DIGITAL
www.slatedigital.com
SLATE PRO AUDIO
www.slateproaudio.com
SOFTUBE
www.softube.se
+46 13 2116 23
SOLID STATE LOGIC
www.solid-state-logic.com
+44 (0) 1865 842 300
SYNTHOLOGY
www.synthology.com
TASCAM
www.tascam.com
+1 323 726 0303
TC ELECTRONIC
www.tcelectronic.com
+45 8742 7000
TC HELICON
www.tchelicon.tc
+45 8742 7000
TERRATEC
www.terratec.com
+49 2157 8179 0
THE SOUND GUY
www.sfxmachine.com
+1 408 646 5271
TOONTRACK
www.toontrack.com
SONALKSIS
www.sonalksis.com
+44 (0) 151 324 0022
SONIC CORE
www.soniccore.com
+49 2241 3019595
URS
www.ursplugins.com
UNIVERSAL AUDIO
www.uaudio.com
+1 831 440 1176
VIENNA SYMPHONIC
www.vsl.co.at
VIRTUAL KATY
www.virtualkaty.com
+1 772 924 0026
VIRTUASONIC
www.virtuasonic.com
SOUNDFIELD
www.soundfield.com
+44 (0) 1924 201 089
V-PLUGS
www.v-plugs.com
+972 52 633 9077
SOUND TOYS
www.soundtoys.com
+1 802 951 9700
WAVE ARTS
www.wavearts.com
+1 781 646 3794
SOURCE ELEMENTS
www.source-elements.com
+1 312 706 5555
WAVES
www.wavearts.com
+1 781 646 3794
SPECTRASONICS
www.spectrasonics.net
+1 818 955 8481
WHOLEGRAIN DIGITAL
SYSTEMS LLC
www.wholegrain-ds.com
SPL
www.soundperformancelab.com
+49 2163 98340
XILS-LAB
www.xils-lab.com
SRS LABS
www.srslabs.com
+1 949442 1070
YAMAHA
www.yamahaproaudio.com
+44 (0) 1908 366 700
YELLOWTEC
www.yellowtec.com
+49 2173 967 30
STEINBERG
www.steinber.net
+49 40 210 35 0
ZOOM
www.zoom.co.jp
+81 35 835 2206
STILLWELL AUDIO
www.stillwellaudio.com
ZPLANE
www.zplane.de
+49 30 854 09 150
SYNCHRO ARTS
www.synchroarts.com
+44 (0) 1372 811 934