The August Issue of RECORDING: Working In The Box: Plugins, DAWs and Software

[Paul Vnuk Jr.]

 

Sit down, “plug in” and get creative with the August issue of RECORDING Magazine. You may have guessed that this month is all about plugins, DAWs, soft synths and more!

 

Reviews

 

August is a veritable plugin-a-palooza as we bring you 16 software-focused reviews…more if you consider that many of these are collections and bundles.

 

Kicking off our deep dive in digital land, we start with the latest FX Collection V4 from Arturia with four new plugins and many enhancements. This is followed by the Moog collection of Moogerfooger Effects Plugins comprised of emulations of 8 classic analog stomp boxes.

 

We have three reverbs on tap as we step inside the Hitsville Reverb Chambers from Universal Audio and head out to The Farm Stone Room from IK Multimedia. Then we check out the new Soundtoys Super Plate. In the world of effects style filters, we have Supermodel from Polyverse and the Slate Digital Storch Filter.

 

We also have the “Neve-based” BB N73 from KIT Plugins, the Lexicon PSP 42 V2 delay plugin from PSP Audioware, we get low with the Solid State Logic Subgen plugin, and we take note of Jotter from NUGEN.

 

Finally, in the worlds of effects and processing plugins, we travel into the new AI-powered StudioVerse from Waves.

 

Moving on to soft synths, we tickle the ivories on the new EZkeys 2 from Toontrack and get mechanical with the official Rhodes V8 Plugin. Combining synths and effects, we have the ORANGE VOCODER IV from Zynaptiq.

 

 

Finally, we check out the JBL 708P 7 Series studio monitors.

 

 

Interview

 

Classic Hip-Hop production and wizardry with Keith Shocklee. Producer, beat creator, and DJ Keith Shocklee was a founding member of the Bomb Squad, helping craft some of the most iconic hip-hop albums of all time, including Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back and Fear of a Black Planet. Keith takes us on a journey from the early days in his and his brother's studio in their mom’s basement to his current studio and gear choices.

 

Features

 

RECORDING’s 2023 Plugin Bundle Roundup

 

Plugin bundles can be a great, one-stop shop for filling your VST, AU and AAX folders with all the tools you need for a great mix. In this issue, our editor Paul Vnuk Jr takes a look at some all-inclusive top-tier offerings from over 27 plugin companies.

 

 

In this issue’s Studio 101, Joe Albano brings us an Intro To DAWs as walks us through the history and basic functions of the Digital Audio Workstation. Next, in Session Log, producer Marc Urselli talks about not only his favorite plugin tools but why when to reach for them.

 

This month in Inside the Studio, producer Mark Hornsby takes his studio on the road in the first installment of his three-part Airstream Sessions.

 

In this month’s Fade Out, Aaron Trumm shares his thoughts and opinions on DAW workflow and more.

 

Get plugged in and join us in the August issue of RECORDING Magazine!