AT 85 is about to hit, chock full of yuletide goodness. It’s the first time we’ve not had a human on the cover for years, but it’s not every issue that we’re able to exclusively provide you with one of the first full reviews of ProTools 10 in the world. If you’re a ProTools user – from LE to HD – then you’ll want to get your hands on this issue – find out if Avid’s big release is going to rock your world.
If ProTools 10 wasn’t on the cover then Coldplay may well have been. This issue we spend time with British mix engineer maestro, Mark ‘Spike’ Stent, in his new-ish LA studio. Spike mixed most of Mylo Xyloto and offers some real insight into how he shaped the Coldplay sound. Yes, he’s packed up his beloved G Series SSL from his old London digs… and his ever-reliable KRK 9000 monitors.
We head backstage on the Kings of Leon tour. FOH Engineer Brent Rawlings was very generous with his time and expertise. His fortunes have almost exactly followed the band’s – he’s been their first and only FOH sound guy – and it’s fascinating to hear how Brent has raised his game and improved his chops, to cater for the bigger arenas and greater expectations. He mixes a great-sounding show. You’ll want to hear about his drum miking technique especially.
Videogame fans will be right into the Batman Arkham City feature. If you harbour any lingering suspicions that sound for gaming is somehow a poor cousin to ‘real’ recording and sound design then the story behind Arkham City – with over two hours of orchestral score, thousands of sound effects, and 13,000 lines of dialogue, populating some 40+ hours of game-play – will disabuse you of any such notion.
AT85 is bulging with reviews of some serious new gear. Apart from PT10, we run the rule over Reason 6 (with the Balance controller), Studio One v2, and preview the Steinberg CMC modular controllers. We get one of the first looks at the new TC Helicon VoiceLive Rack, Digico SD11, the Zoom H2n, the Line6 wireless mic systems… and Greg Simmons gives the rectangular diaphragms of Swedish mic stalwarts, Pearl, a thorough going-over.
Finally, send us your thoughts on mobile audio apps – your favourites, how they’ve changed your work methods etc. We’ll publish the best contributions in AT86 and lavish prizes on you.
Have a great Christmas holiday season and a fabulous new year.
AT Team.
