FabFilter make some of the sweetest instruments and effects that money can buy, and with CM144's prize giveaway, we're giving your the chance to win a massive Total Bundle worth £380. This includes all of FabFilter's effects: Pro-C, Timeless 2, Volcano 2, Twin 2, FabFilter One and Simplon. We have three Total Bundles to give away!

Cakewalk, Intel and OurStage.com are offering budding rock and urban musicians the chance to win a spiffing laptop studio set-up.


The competition is open until the 21st of November at www.OurStage.com/go/AnytimeAnyplace, and while entries can be created with any music production software those who don’t have anything suitable to hand are invited to use the fully-functioning (for 30 days) Sonar trial.


The six winning acts will receive an Intel Core i7 Mobile processor-powered laptop, Cakewalk's V-Studio 100 portable recording solution, Cakewalk MA-15D studio monitors, and copies of Sonar 8.5 Producer and Rapture.


You can also register to judge the entrants, and two fans will get the laptop, copies of Cakewalk Music Creator 5 and Cakewalk pyro Audio Creator 1.5, a Cakewalk UA-25EX audio interface, and a pair of Cakewalk MA-7A micro studio monitors.

Here’s a cool little video we saw on CDM the other day – it might not have an awful lot to do with computers, but it superbly demonstrates people’s intuition when it comes to rhythm and pitch. Check it!

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Microsoft are attempting to encourage people to host Windows 7 launch parties. Yes, they want you to get some mates round, boot up the PC and have a 'party' with it to celebrate the release of the new OS next month. There's even a video campaign to go with it, and it's right up there with their infamous Songsmith ad (cynical demographic cliches – check; excruciating actors – check; astonishing lack of contemporary marketing insight – oh, hell yeah). Prepare to be amazed...

Fresh from the trauma of having to rename Eloquence as Thesys, Sugar Bytes are dropping the price of Artillery 2 until November 1st. That’s a mere €79, or $99 if you’re living on the other side of the pond.


If you’ve used the special Computer Music version (Artillery 2 CM – you can find it in the CM Studio on the CM DVD), you’ll know that this MIDI-triggerable multi-effect is tons of fun. Click here to check out the special offer.

Here at CM we had our doubts that the interactive MXP4 format would ever catch on, but there seem to be plenty of big names jumping on the bandwagon. Check out this interactive version of La Roux’s “Bulletproof”:

The music piracy debate is dividing artists, labels and the music industry as a whole. Some artists, such as Blur sticksman Dave Rowntree, believe that there should be no legislative action taken against those using P2P (peer-to-peer) file-sharing networks, where the illegal uploading and downloading of vast quantities of music is rife – the frontline of piracy, if you will. The major labels, of course, want to completely ban the use of P2P software for downloading their artists' work for free, and it seems that the UK government are fully behind them.

After a report in early 2008 by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, calls were made for a law compelling internet service providers (ISPs) to deal with anybody using their networks for illegal file-sharing. Since then, the ISPs have been in voluntary discussions with various record labels to try to reach an agreement on subscription services for downloading their content.

Now UK Music, the collective representing the UK's commercial music industry, have issued a statement clarifying their stance: "Tackling the issue of unlicensed P2P file-sharing is critical to this future, as well as enabling a commercial environment where sustainable, licensed digital services can prosper. Services that will benefit creators, investors and consumers alike." Those currently getting their music for free probably won't be overjoyed by UK Music's comments on how to deal with offenders: "In context of an evolving licensed digital music market, we believe that Government intervention is extremely welcome and that, subject to assessment, Ofcom should be granted appropriate and proportionate powers as directed by the Secretary of State."

What this ultimately means is that UK Music are angling for the suspension of internet access for repeat offenders. UK Music will submit their full collective response to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (the office currently reviewing the proposed legislation) on September 29. We'll let you know what happens.

It might sound like a dubious new offering from Apple, but iNudge is actually a Flash-based, Yamaha Tenori-On clone. You can share your music with others and embed the player on your social networking page. Check it out!

Would a Sugar Bytes plug-in by any other name taste as sweet? With so many bits of software in the world, it’s no surprise that the names appear to be running out. Sugar Bytes’ new MIDI sequencer plug-in used to be called Eloquence, until the owners of another Eloquence (this one a trademarked development environment for business applications) weighed in with their lawyers.


As a result Sugar Bytes have renamed their product Thesys. As we write this it’s still called Eloquence on the Sugar Bytes website, but apparently the product will be updated by Monday the 14th of September. Unfortunately CM144 went to press just before the announcement so the review was printed using the old Eloquence name.


So, what piece of music software would you rename, and why?

The latest musical iPhone app to catch our eyes is called “I Am T-Pain”.Well, who wouldn’t want to step into the shoes of the world’s most beloved RnB crooner?


This real-time pitch-correction app from the man himself and Auto-Tune creators Antares allows users to sing along with T-Pain’s hits and perform just the kind of extreme Auto-Tune effects Mr. Pain has become famous for. Witness the fitness:





As massive T-Pain fans we at CM can’t wait for this to hit the UK App Store, but who would you like to become via an iPhone app?

Get the cover image for your desktop here.

• Propellerhead Record guide featuring Jon Carter
With the help of superstar DJ Jon Carter's new band, Roosevelt High, we put together a complete track in Propellerhead Software's hotly-anticipated recording app Record! From setup to recording, mixing and mastering, it's all explained in crystal clear detail in our step-by-step tutorial.

7.8GB OF CONTENT ON THE DUAL-LAYER DVD

• 1121 Loopmasters samples
Over 1GB of amazing sounds from one of the best sample library producers and distributors in the business: Loopmasters. You'll find loops and hits selected from 52 libraries created by such top-flight sample producers as Mutekki Media, Goldbaby, Wave Alchemy, and, of course, Loopmaster themselves, who've dipped into their Artist Series to give you sounds from the likes of Jody Wisternoff, Danny Byrd and The Nextmen

• 2000 24-bit FX samples
This month's exclusive CM samples are all about FX – you'll find Foley room work, vocal treatments, abstract soundscapes and more

• Producer Masterclass tutorial and video: John "00" Fleming
This hugely respected veteran of the UK dance scene reveals tip after tip in an exclusive video masterclass. Watch and learn as he takes us through the making of his trance remake of Jean Michel Jarre's 70s synth classic Oxygene part IV!

IN THE MAG

• Logic Pro 9 reviewed
The fantastically feature-stuffed new version of Logic Pro is subjected to the scrutiny of a CM review - can it hold on to its status as the most well-rounded DAW on the market?

• Massive Attack
What are transients and how can they be controlled to improve your mixes? Our guide explains all – you'll have punchier sounds in no time!

• Focus on Dubstep
Urban beats and basslines explored in our guide to making a heavyweight dubstep floor-wobbler

• Fightstar interviewed
The alternative rock four-piece discuss their move from record labels to self-releasing, plus their DIY approach to making music.

• Reviewed!
Propellerhead Record • Apple Logic Pro 9 • Avid Sibelius 6 • FXpansion DCAM: Synth Squad • XILS-lab XILS 3 • Intelligent Devices Marshall Time Modulator • D16 Group Nithonat • Lexicon Ionix U22 …and more

Plus!
• Building beats in FL Studio and SliceX: Get bigger, badder, better beats
• Payback Time: How the PRS For Music group can you help you claim what's rightfully yours
• Guitar Lab: Generate creative guitar sounds using echo effects
• Synth Essentials: Scot Solida goes beyond squelching TB-303 sounds
• Off The Dial: rachMiel experiments with musical gravity
• The Easy Guide: The melodic minor scale is under the spotlight this time
• The Burning Question: Is the MIDI keyboard outdated?
• And much more!

You can order this issue (as well as recent back issues) by calling 0870 837 4773 in the UK, +44 1858 438795 everywhere else, or emailing future@subscription.co.uk.

Subscribe to Computer Music now and save over 23% (UK only) at the following address: www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk.

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subcycle labs main man Christian Bannister has recently been hard at work developing a way to visualise and manipulate bass sounds. His 'low frequency entity' is a real-time, multi-touch interface that can be used to adjust various synthesiser parameters on the fly. These comprise thing like filter modulation rate, feedback, oscillator phase, sample rate reduction, frequency modulation and sample and hold effects. Everything is represented by a 3D shape that twists, turns and vibrates in time with the various parameter levels.
Of course, this sort of thing really makes our mouths water when we think of what software might be able to do in the near future – especially if multi-touch tablet computers become a feasible reality for musicians. Anyway, Christian's low frequency entity has to be seen to be believed, so check out the following video:

low frequency entity - subcycle labs from christian bannister on Vimeo.

Feed your sample addiction with CM143's monstrous Loopmasters competition! The prize for one lucky CM reader is a copy of each and every physical title in Loopmasters' catalogue, which amounts to 38 titles in total, worth £1335. Highlights include the Artist Series, with samples produced by such leading lights as Marshall Jefferson Aquasky and Coldcut; the classic Origin series; and other goodies like Deadmau5's XFER disc.