Issue 74 opens with Andy Stewart setting the record straight on the issue of calibration; in other words, making certain your analogue equipment is feeding your digital equipment correctly, and vice-versa, and how to interface your analogue voltages with the world of 0dBFSD. We also feature Stargate, the Norwegian songwriting and production team behind the likes of Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Lionel Richie. We’ve also got the final word on mixing for 5.1 surround for broadcast applications. Then it’s back to more of a grass-roots vibe for an interview with John Butler about his recent hit independent album release, April Uprising. Of course we have our regular inclusions. Home Grown features one of Australia’s pioneering electronica acts, Itch-E & Scratch-E, PC and Mac Audio sees Martin Walker weighing up the worth of Solid State Drives, while Brad Watts points out how not to permanently wire your headphones into your ears. Plus Rick O’Neil is back to tell us about his new sporting interest involving a forklift.

Our tutorial section, as always, features the inimitable Michael Stavrou discussing colours, Mark Bassett sidetracks us on the topic of the compressor’s side-chain filter, and Michael Carpenter airs his concept of ‘un-engineering’. And it simply wouldn’t be AT without a look at some of the current crop of new audio gear wandering onto the market, with reviews of the Audio-Technica AT4081 and AT4080 ribbon microphones, the Mackie Onyx 1640i combined interface and console, DAS Audio Avant 12A and 18A powered PA speakers, Presonus Firestudio Mobile bus-powered interface, Korg SV-1 vintage style keyboard, SPL Frontliner 2800 outboard channel strip, the Retro 2A3 stereo equaliser, and a preview of the Alcons Audio LR14 ribbon line source array.