December 2021 - 4

publisher: Thomas Hawley
associate publisher: Brent Heintz
EDITORIAL
i
FadeIn
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! December is a time
of celebration filled with the singing and playing of seasonal songs, parties filled
with funky sweaters, sipping hot beverages, and the giving and receiving of gifts.
It's also time for our annual Holiday Buyer's Guide. We made a list, checked it
twice, [thrice... Happy Holidays! -Copy Ed.] and asked our pro audio friends to
recommend an audio interface, microphone, pair of headphones, or set of monitor
speakers that would make great gifts for our sonically aspiring loved ones-for
$150 or less. Turn to Page 10 to see the results-there's not a white elephant in
the bunch. My twelve-year-old son is getting a popular two-channel interface and
a copy of Ableton Live Lite (don't tell him!).
Now, what can you really get for $150 or less? The answer is, actually, quite a
lot. It's often said that we live in a 'golden age' of recording technology; market
forces are raising the quality bar constantly. Affordable stuff is getting good-I
mean, really good-and this new and affordable gear is being used on hit songs
and stellar-sounding productions...
This golden age extends to cutting-edge technology like Atmos and spatial audio-not
just that you can sit in a room with a vast speaker array, but that mixes
can be folded down for soundbars, headphones and earbuds. How about the
new software that makes it possible for people to mix an album remotely, in real
time! Check out our interview with Still Woozy on Page 26 for an example of this.
Beyond our holiday preparations and partying, this issue has taken on a
thematic focus on the beginning engineer, whether they are " kids from one to
ninety-two. "
Our reviews start with a great selection of audio interfaces from ART,
Arturia and Focusrite. We have headphones from Austrian Audio, unique
in-ear monitors from Audeze, and also in the monitors department, we have
speakers from Pioneer DJ and Genelec. AKG sent us its new USB mic to check
out, and in the plugins department, we have a new vintage preamp model
from Black Rooster as well as a brand new surprise plugin from Reverb Foundry-my
new favorite reverb.
Our theme continues with Inside the Box as Joe Albano considers the latest crop
of entry-level DAWs and what they can offer, and Aaron J. Trumm reminds us:
Don't wait-create!
Producer Mark Hornsby helps bring your songs from the studio to the stage, and
we wrap up Marc Urselli's Session Log: The Making of AngelHeaded Hipster, a T.
Rex tribute album, with a look at the mastering process.
Thank you all for making it a great year!
Happy Holidays and Happy Recording from RECORDING Magazine!
editor: Paul Vnuk Jr.
músico pro editor: Rodrigo O. Sánchez
CONTRIBUTORS
associate editor: Alex Hawley
copy editor: Mike Scheibinger
Joe Albano, David Blascoe,
John Czerwinski, Mark Hornsby,
Bill Stunt, Aaron J. Trumm, Marc Urselli
SOCIAL MEDIA
Brent Heintz, Paul Vnuk Jr.
ART & PRODUCTION
production manager: Colin Courtney
art director: Colin Courtney
PLAYBACK PLATINUM SERIES
editor/producer: Lorenz Rychner
CIRCULATION
circulation manager: Tiffany Sepe
ADVERTISING SALES AND MARKETING
director: Brent Heintz
classifieds manager: Colin Courtney
ADMINISTRATION
accounts receivable: Thomas Hawley
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
president: Thomas Hawley
vice president: Brent Heintz
SUBSCRIPTIONS/ADDRESS CHANGES:
1-800-783-4903
ADVERTISING/CLASSIFIEDS:
(303) 516-9118
RECORDING MAGAZINE
(ISSN 1078-8352; USPS 002-298)
is published monthly, 12 times per year
CORPORATE OFFICE
Music Maker Publications, Inc.
5412 Idylwild Trail, Suite 120
Boulder, CO 80301-3523
Tel: (303) 516-9118
Email: info@recordingmag.com
EDITORIAL OFFICE
617 Hayes Ave, Racine, WI 53405
Tel: (414) 745-7262
Email: paul@recordingmag.com
Periodicals Postage is paid at Boulder, CO and at additional
mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
RECORDING, Subscriber Services, P.O. Box 3000, Denville,
NJ 07834-3000. Tel: 1-800-783-4903, Fax: 1-973-627-5872.
Subscription rate: $23.97 per year. Distributed to the music
trade by Hal Leonard Corporation. All material is subject to
worldwide copyright protection, and reproduction or imitation
in whole or in part is ex pressly forbidden without written
consent from the publishers. All reasonable care is taken to
ensure accuracy in the preparation of the magazine, but Music
Maker Publications, Inc. cannot be held legally responsible for
its contents. The publishers cannot assume responsibility for the
return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or materials.
All trademarked names, whether indicated as such or not, are
owned by their respective companies.
Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #41491032.
Canada Returns to be sent to Bleuchip International,
P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2
© Copyright 2021 Music Maker Publications, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
4 RECORDING DECEMBER 2021

December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2021

Fade In
Fast Forward
RECORDING’s 2021Holiday Buyer’s Guide
Arturia: MiniFuse 2
AKG: Ara Professional Two-Pattern USB Condenser Microphone
A day in the head of Still Woozy: Making modern pop and beyond
Austrian Audio: Hi-X15
Plugin Outlet: Black Rooster Audio OmniTec-67A
Inside the Box with Joe Albano: Free and Entry-level DAWs
ART: Project Series USB Pre IV Audio Interface
Plugin Outlet: Reverb Foundry Tai-Chi
Audeze: Euclid Closed-Back Planar Magnetic In-ear Monitors
Session Log: The AngelHeaded Hipster, Part 12 Mastering and Beyond: The Final Steps…
Genelec 8361A
Focusrite: Clarett+ 8 Pre
Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby From the Studio to The Stage
Pioneer DJ VM-80 Active Monitor Speaker
Fade Out: Don’t Wait—Create!
December 2021 - Intro
December 2021 - Cover1
December 2021 - Cover2
December 2021 - 1
December 2021 - 2
December 2021 - 3
December 2021 - Fade In
December 2021 - 5
December 2021 - 6
December 2021 - 7
December 2021 - Fast Forward
December 2021 - 9
December 2021 - RECORDING’s 2021Holiday Buyer’s Guide
December 2021 - 11
December 2021 - 12
December 2021 - 13
December 2021 - 14
December 2021 - 15
December 2021 - 16
December 2021 - 17
December 2021 - 18
December 2021 - 19
December 2021 - 20
December 2021 - 21
December 2021 - Arturia: MiniFuse 2
December 2021 - 23
December 2021 - AKG: Ara Professional Two-Pattern USB Condenser Microphone
December 2021 - 25
December 2021 - A day in the head of Still Woozy: Making modern pop and beyond
December 2021 - 27
December 2021 - 28
December 2021 - 29
December 2021 - 30
December 2021 - 31
December 2021 - 32
December 2021 - 33
December 2021 - 34
December 2021 - 35
December 2021 - 36
December 2021 - 37
December 2021 - Austrian Audio: Hi-X15
December 2021 - 39
December 2021 - Plugin Outlet: Black Rooster Audio OmniTec-67A
December 2021 - 41
December 2021 - Inside the Box with Joe Albano: Free and Entry-level DAWs
December 2021 - 43
December 2021 - 44
December 2021 - 45
December 2021 - ART: Project Series USB Pre IV Audio Interface
December 2021 - 47
December 2021 - Plugin Outlet: Reverb Foundry Tai-Chi
December 2021 - 49
December 2021 - Audeze: Euclid Closed-Back Planar Magnetic In-ear Monitors
December 2021 - 51
December 2021 - Session Log: The AngelHeaded Hipster, Part 12 Mastering and Beyond: The Final Steps…
December 2021 - 53
December 2021 - 54
December 2021 - 55
December 2021 - Genelec 8361A
December 2021 - 57
December 2021 - Focusrite: Clarett+ 8 Pre
December 2021 - 59
December 2021 - Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby From the Studio to The Stage
December 2021 - 61
December 2021 - Pioneer DJ VM-80 Active Monitor Speaker
December 2021 - 63
December 2021 - 64
December 2021 - 65
December 2021 - 66
December 2021 - 67
December 2021 - 68
December 2021 - 69
December 2021 - 70
December 2021 - 71
December 2021 - Fade Out: Don’t Wait—Create!
December 2021 - Cover3
December 2021 - Cover4
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