Computer Music

Computer Music's goal is to help its readers create great music with a PC or Mac. Each month find easy-to-follow tutorials for all sorts of music software, unbiased reviews of the latest products and answers to technical questions. Our Zinio edition does not include the DVD but it DOES INCLUDE the full software, samples and tutorial files to download. Full details inside. Download does not include Producer Masterclass in-studio video. This digital edition is not printable.

welcome

When you can’t stand the heat • It’s hot! But not on the release front. Here’s our summer news roundup…

Get with the programmers • Steinberg have recently ditched the dongle in favour of a better and faster licensing system. Here’s the company’s Ben Timms to explain all…

App watch • We report on the latest developments in phone and tablet music making

10 years back • Our monthly shake-of-the-head at our earlier selves’ news choices…

Spitfire announce a complete orchestra, for free

Ins & outs

The Maghreban • With three decades of production in many different genres under his belt, Ayman Rostom’s latest album, Connection, could be described as ‘a bit of a melting pot’ of different styles. But with praise from Pitchfork, The Quietus and Resident Advisor, plus fans including Ben UFO, Benji B and The Horrors, it might well be a candidate for dance album of 2022…

DELAY TACTICS • The delay effect is the pro producer’s favourite effect. Here’s how to get creative and cost effective with your own set of delay tactics

DELAY DECADES • All good effects begin with a great sound source, and they don’t begin in a more organic setting than this

Using delays • There is more choice in delays than there are repeats created from the feedback control, so we guide you through the best place to use certain styles and types

6 of the best paid-for delays • When it comes to choosing the perfect delay, there’s plenty of choice and delay types out there. Here’s our round up of the top paid-for contenders

6 of the best free delays • Despite the lack of pricetag, there are still some highly impressive delays to call upon, if you’re working to a tight budget. Here’s our rundown of the best freebies…

Jean-Michel Jarre-style delay • Throughout the early years of electronic music production, tape delays were a reliable tool for thickening textures. We draw a little ’70s inspiration, and apply some tape work to a String Machine

The WEM Copicat delay • The WEM Copicat was one of the first tape delays to be widely available. Fast forward and Computer Music has its very own tape-style delay from PSP Audioware and we’ll put it to some good guitar use

Create Jon Hopkins-style delay degrading • We’ll now use a delay to influence a reverb and some bit-crush distortion, a popular effect used by many of today’s electronic artists like Bonobo and Jon Hopkins…

#18 Kate Bush’s synth sound • Recreating a synth sound from an ’80s classic? Stranger things have happened, and that’s the hill we’re attempting to run up this month

PRO TIP

Dave Gale

#7 Create chill-hop drums • In this tutorial you’ll learn how to combine sampling with synthetic tools to create your own drum patches

PRO TIPS

Ashley Thorpe

CHICANE • Dance music legend Chicane, aka Nick Bracegirdle, is back in the UK and revisiting the blissed-out, Balearic beats he’s renowned for – his new release celebrates the 25th anniversary of his debut album Far From the Maddening Crowds, produced with an all-digital computer music setup

Kit list

Old-school vibes for the new Chicane album • When he was getting ready to start work on his new album – a reworking of his acclaimed debut album, 1997’s Far From The Maddening Crowds, Nick...