New Audio Stuff: iZotope Ozone 5 and RX2

   I took the plunge a few days ago and decided to actually spend some money on the activity I like to call my profession. Based on a wide selection of reviews and from speaking to fellow "sound guys" I bought iZotopes Ozone 5 mastering suite and RX 2 noise reduction software. I decided that I couldn't afford the Advanced versions but the lower priced standard editions are still incredibly powerful tools.

Go to the iZotope website for more information on them and their advanced bretheren:

Ozone 5
RX2

   My initial impressions are extremely positive. Even though I'm no expert at operating them, the various presets are actually very good and work as excellent starting positions for most work you'd care to do in them.

Audio: Review: AKG K271 MKII studio headphones

     The AKG K271 mkII headphones are the, closed-back, bigger brother to AKG's own K240 mkII headphones. They feature very similar design aspects, but have a few little tweaks to make them much more suitable in use as your go-to set of professional cans. Keen readers will know that I reviewed the K240 mkII's last year, and that I liked them quite a lot; but they weren't without their flaws (not least their open backed-ness).

Music: New original track by me "Supernova"

I've been off work and ill since Friday, but I haven't wasted my time in front of the TV or playing video games... I've wasted it making music! Well maybe not wasted, but used for extra curricular pursuits. I've been toying with idea of writing an album/EP for a very long time, and I've always had a few little ideas which needed turning into bigger ones to make something worthwhile (longer than 1minute 30 anyway).

I had a little idea at the start of January. Just a lick over a little melody. It lasted maybe 10 seconds. It's become a monster 3:30ish song with at least two parts of a song structure! I'm relatively pleased with it in it's embryotic state. Have a listen


Link to the Soundcloud page

Tech: Android: Creative Essentials

Android gets slated occasionally for not having the same wealth of creative apps that iOS devices deliver for musicians and artists, but the fact is there's a good fewapps on the Android Market that can quench your mobile creative requirements. Whether you are a musician, artist, writer or whatever there is probably something on there for every need. Obviously this list isn't an exhaustive one, but I reckon I've found a few essentials everyone should check out.

Recording: Setting up Ableton Live for Recording

I wrote this beginners guide last year on the DV247 music forum, but for some reason never thought to re-post it on here. I think it's a useful guide to getting more from Live once you've got the default install up and running. Re-reading it has reminded me about a few features that I rarely use, so it could be worth a read for anyone using Live out there. Any edits on the original have been made in the classic square brackets.