RECORDING MAGAZINE NOVEMBER Become a fan of recordingmag on Facebook Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/recordingmag reviews 42 Features 20 26 Reviewed & Revisited: Apple Logic Pro X. It’s been several years since the last big update to this genre-defining DAW, and the new version takes Logic to the forefront of current DAW capabilities. Write—Record—Release—ROCK! A California rock band’s journey from song ideas to a successful album release has many lessons for songwriters who want to be heard and taken seriously. REVIEW BY JOE ALBANO BY ELEANOR GOLDFIELD 20 38 The Windup... And The Pitch. Pitching songs isn’t easy, and this author sees more useless “solutions” than practical techniques out there. A successful music-licensing songwriter talks hard truths about what works. BY ERIC ALEXANDRAKIS 46 44 36 We care about your success as a songwriter, and there are things you need to do to succeed. And that’s why we’re here to talk to you today... Yamaha HS7 Monitors And HS8S Subwoofer. An affordable and appealing speaker system for the small studio marries the visual legacy of the famed NS10M to all-new sonic clarity. BY FRANK GRYNER 56 DPA Microphones d:facto II Handheld Vocal Microphone. Innovative modular design and world-class capsules combine to create a microphone that’s at home on stage and in the songwriter’s studio. 48 Be Ready! The difference between success and failure in the studio all boils down to one thing: preparation. Here’s how to get the most from the preproduction process, in your own studio or at someone else’s. REVIEW BY LORENZ RYCHNER 42 Songwriter’s Intervention. BY JOHN MCVEY REVIEW BY PAUL VNUK JR. 44 Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 23: Compression—Part 2. Focal Spirit Professional Headphones. This month, we focus on the controls featured on dynamics processors and how they affect your audio. The first reference headphone from a company that makes uncompromising audio gear for high-end listeners. 36 REVIEW BY LORENZ RYCHNER 60 BY ERIC FERGUSON regulars 4 48 Millennia Media NSEQ-2 EQ For The Universal Audio UAD-2 and Apollo. A powerful and flexible hardware equalizer becomes a versatile DAW plug-in. Also in this review: a look at Millennia Media’s remarkable NSEQ-4 hardware equalizer. REVIEW BY PAUL VNUK JR. 14 interviews 14 Fade In. 8 Talkback. 10 Fast Forward. 64 Readers’ Tapes. 72 Fade Out. The Song Is Still The Thing. Creativity And Community: A Chat With Kristian Bush. Sugarland’s top-charting songwriter shares his thoughts on the creative process, on the tools and strategies that led to his success, and on making a meaningful place where your successes can thrive. COVER DESIGN BY SCOTT SIMMONDS BY MARTY PETERS GUEST EDITORIAL BY SVEN-ERIK SEAHOLM 65 Advertiser Index. INTERVIEW BY MIKE METLAY 38http://www.twitter.com/recordingmag http://www.twitter.com/recordingmag