| Product: |
Computer Music |
| Date: |
06/07/01 (84 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Good to read, even if you don't have all the latest kit, great advice, tips and reader submissions sections, classy mag, for both PC and Mac
Disadvantages: You'll need some knowledge of computers and music first..., I haven't got VST
But I haven't got Cubase, or any other VST sequencer. Ah, says the little voice again, but you will have it in the future, won't you?
I love Computer Music. There, that's the synopsis. I love it even though I don't have an all singing all dancing sequencer. I'd like to have one, but I just can't afford one right now. Neither can I afford the 'net costs of downloading a (ahem) copy. But I don't mind. So 30% of the magazine is useless right now. I can read the rest of it. Yes.
Computer Music is a relatively new magazine, and the Future guys must've realised that if people pay so much for the equipment to make music on a computer, they'll be wanting a high class magazine to guide them through it. I began reading at issue 2, and I try to buy it whenever I see it. The mainstay of making music on a computer is the sequencer. Now these can be expensive blighters, from £90-£500. And many people, like me, only dream of such purchases at the moment. But not to worry. I have been making music on computers of one kind or another for years, and all I can do is record some midi (from a keyboard) and make mod (what they used for the old Amigas) music. Not brilliant, but hey.
Computer Music is aimed at people who have a computer, an electronic keyboard of some sort with a midi conection, and a VST sequencer. VST is a standard for plugins, instruments etc that can be used with various sequencers like Steinberg's Cubase. As I said, this can mount up, but really its the only way to make decent music on a computer. But if, like me, you will buy a sequencer one day, just not yet, Computer Music is still good. I usually read the news, letters, reviews and reader submissions pages, and I tend to skip the tutorials on how to make various VST effects, programme my own, etc. This is because I have all my old CM's hanging around so the second I get the sequencer, I'll have a good pile of tutorials to play with.
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Computer Music is great to read, whether or not you have all the kit yet, as they explain it all as they go. They do cater for Mac people as well as PC people, and most of the tutorials and advice is the same for both, as the software is the same. Obviously as Macs can't use PCI sound cards, these will be lost on Mac and laptop people, but you still read them as they tell you about emerging technologies. Much of the magazine is about technologies and techniques, liek using reverb properly, or writing good drum rhythms. They do round-up reviews each month, so if you're looking for a new keyboard there'll be a review of them all every few months to help you decide.
The reader submission section is also really helpful as you can listen to (via the cover cd or the website) what people have sent in, then read what they suggest to improve it. Sometimes its obvious that the vocals are too loud or something, but often it's something subtle like the synchronisation of the melody to the beat, or the level of use of flange. If you are a total beginner, there is now a central insert in the magazine that guides beginners through buying a sequencer, or installing a sound card. This can be very useful if you are new or unsure of something, so don't be put off if you're a computer music virgin.
Computer Music does assume that you know your way around the computer, what a midi port looks like, that kind of thing. They also assume a working knowledge of music, like chords, instruments, tonality etc, so if you don't know what something like that is, you might have to refer somewhere else as they won't explain it, except maybe in the beginners section.
I would thoroughly recomment Computer Music to anyone who like making music and is interested in using their computer to do it with. If you're new to computers and music you will struggle a bit, but once you have some idea you'll understand more.
If
music be the food of love, press OK.
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