MusicTech Magazine

21 May 2020

As we continue our collective journey through these unprecedented and surreal times, many of us are lucky enough to be feeling a renewed surge in creativity and rediscovering our love of music-making. But, though we may be bolstering our studio environments and beginning new lockdown projects, right now it’s all too easy to feel lonely as we hole up in isolation – but it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way. There are countless ways to collaborate remotely with other musicians. In this month’s lead feature, starting on page 014, Jono Buchanan explores the technical steps you’ll need to undertake to get your studio set up and ready to work with others via the web, and outlines several platforms that were made to foster this kind of long-distance creativity. Elsewhere in this issue, on page 024 sonic juggernaut Tycho, AKA Scott Hansen, gives us a fascinating and insightful look inside his studio and explains in detail how he manages to craft his distinctly textured sounds using a blend of hardware, software and an unwillingness to follow conventions. Of course, we’re also bringing you a vast assortment of tutorials for all the major DAWs, and reviews of the latest products to capture the industry’s attention, not least of which is Universal Audio’s one small step into the world of DAWs. Read our giant leap into Luna on page 074. Also under our spotlight this month are new interfaces from Arturia and Avid, sample libraries courtesy of Spitfire and Sonokinetic, and something special from new kids on the block Ashun Sound Machines. I hope you enjoy this issue.