Recording - June 2021 - 4

publisher:

Thomas Hawley
Brent Heintz

associate publisher:

FadeIn

Beyond microphones, magnetic tape and speakers, nothing has significantly
impacted the recording landscape more so than computers. Somewhere in the
chain, your music creations will end up in the digital matrix. In this issue, we focus
on the programs and peripherals that make this possible... and fun!
We dig into the latest versions of Steinberg Cubase, Ableton Live and PreSonus
Studio One. Next, we plug into new offerings from Waves, NUGEN, Accusonus,
Focusrite and BOOM Library, and virtual pianos from Spitfire and Modartt.
In hardware, we look at an exotic new offering from Erica Synths and a sonic
factory from Moog. We have the latest keyboard controller from Arturia, and
we bring you the second part of our in-depth review of the Eventide H9000. We
round out our reviews with a handy new box from Radial, purpose-built to integrate stompbox effects pedals into your mixing workflow.
This month's interview is with one of my biggest synth influences, the legendary Richard Barbieri (Japan, Porcupine Tree). His work on the 1991 albums Rain Tree Crow
(featuring David Sylvian) and Stories Across Borders (Jansen/Barbieri) inspired my love
of atmospheric sound design. Richard takes us into his studio and shares the hardware,
software and processes used to create his latest album, the superb Under A Spell.
Also, in the following pages you'll find
discussions of plugins, analog emulation,
multiple DAW use and more.
This month I hope you 'dig-it-all' as much as
we do! Ok, I'll stop now, enjoy the issue.

In Memoriam: Al Schmitt
(April 17, 1930-April 27, 2021)
We are saddened to hear of the loss of audio legend Al Schmitt. As tribute after tribute flooded my social media feed by a saddened and shocked audio
community, one word that came up, again and again,
was love. Al loved his work, he loved the studio, and
he loved music. Al also truly loved his friends (and he
had many), and they loved him.
I was blessed to interview Al last year for our September issue. I will treasure the studio stories and history he shared. Al had no secrets, agenda or ego
when it came to the art and technique of recording,
and his humility was inspiring-it was easy to forget that Al was music royalty!
Al began his recording legacy with a trip to his uncle's studio at eight years old, and
over twenty Grammy Awards later, his resume included Duke Ellington, Rosemary Clooney, Harry James, Henry Mancini, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, Jackson
Brown, Al Jarreau, Ray Charles, Toto, Steely Dan, Diana Krall, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan,
Frank Sinatra and Paul McCartney. When I interviewed Al about mixing Josephine Beaver's Prime Time big band album at Capitol Studios (his second home), he was excited
to talk about sessions he had coming up with Melody Gardot for her 2020 album Sunset In Blue. It was inspiring that even into his 90s, Al was still hard at work, doing what
he loved. A quote from my friend Stephen Marsh (Marsh Mastering), sums it up best.
" He was the last of the shirt and tie engineers, he was once in a lifetime, he was
perhaps the greatest ever to have sat in the chair, he taught the rest of us how it
was done......he was unforgettable. "
We love you Al, thanks for the music!
4

RECORDING June 2021

EDITORIAL
Paul Vnuk Jr.
associate editor: Alex Hawley
copy editor: Mike Scheibinger
músico pro editor: Rodrigo O. Sánchez
editor:

CONTRIBUTORS
Joe Albano, David Blascoe, John Czerwinski
Mark Hornsby, Marty Peters, Bill Stunt,
Aaron J. Trumm, Marc Urselli
SOCIAL MEDIA
Brent Heintz, Paul Vnuk Jr.
ART & PRODUCTION
Colin Courtney
production manager: Colin Courtney
art director:

PLAYBACK PLATINUM SERIES
Lorenz Rychner

editor/producer:

CIRCULATION
Tiffany Sepe

circulation manager:

ADVERTISING SALES AND MARKETING
director: Brent Heintz
classifieds manager: Colin Courtney
ADMINISTRATION
Thomas Hawley

accounts receivable:

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Thomas Hawley
vice president: Brent Heintz
president:

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RECORDING MAGAZINE
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Recording - June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - June 2021