Beat English

Beat combines competent hardware and software tests with dedicated reviews as well as reports and interviews from musicians and the music business. We will report on music production with the latest synthesizers and computers, introduce new trends in recording, and always have our finger on the pulse with up-to-date reports. Many well-known specialist report on the widespread music production solutions and experienced editors take care of the most important entertainment and scene topics. This magazine is a platform for musicians and contains a regular demo and MP3 section for readers as well as a download with high-quality sample and music files for creative musicians.

SOFTWARE HIGHLIGHTS

Navigator: Best of Beat # 201

Magazine

MODULAR TOTAL ALL EASY PATCHING WITH & WITHOUT RACK FREE: VCV FINALLY AS A PLUG-IN! • Modular gear is no longer the „fiddly topic for nerds“, but can now be found as hardware or software in most studios. Synth manufacturers have joined the trend and are equipping more and more sound generators with CV interfaces. So it‘s time for an overview: We review must-have modules and new releases, provide virtual patches, and show how you can take advantage of the modular world even without a rack. In addition there are not only tips directly from the manufacturer, but also from YouTube pros like Venus Theory, Lucas Marchal and many more. Look forward to the most comprehensive modular special ever in BEAT!

The wonderfully crazy world of modular MIDI

Entering the modular world Key answers from:

Live performance with the rack? • Not such a complicated matter! Thanks to handy racks and compact modules, a varied show is relatively easy to manage and won‘t even overload your travel suitcase. A tested live setup from our author Marco Scherer we show you here …

The filter shootout • Unlike the Highlander, whose credo is famously „There can be only one“, you can usually never have enough filters. After all, they are not only significantly involved in the sound design, but also fundamentally different among themselves. With the above mentioned modules from AJH Synths and Verbos Electronics, we present three candidates that only at first glance perform the same tasks.

Prototyping in Max4Live and Bitwig

From newcomer to mixdown expert Key answers from:

From triggers to -noises Key answers from:

Finally: The modular no-brainer as a plug-in!

The humble sequential switch

Modular without modules? • A flashing wall of VCOs, VCAs, filters, effects, sequencers and tools, plus endless masses of patch cables… such a modular system looks quite exciting. But the unlimited freedom can also be too much – for your head and your wallet. But who says you need a big rack and a lot of modules for extensive sound design? After all, many synthesizers are equipped with CV ports, if they don‘t belong to the semi-modular candidates anyway. That‘s why we present here a small example setup with sound generators that are not modular, but still communicate with each other exclusively via CV. Fully compatible to a „real“ rack.

From echo to texture: 4 delays at a glance

More room in a small space: reverbs & multi-fx

Troubleshooting in the rack Key answers from:

From ground loops and live sessions Key answers from:

Multiphonics CV-1 modular synthesizer Key answers from:

Important answers to the most frequently asked questions

Big knobs = big fun

Bridge building • Once started as an indie rock band with a post-punk influence, Editors have changed a lot over the years and have tried several things. Also electronic music played an important role, first appearing on the 2009 album „In This Light And On This Evening.“ On 2018‘s record „Violence“ the band collaborated for the first time with the electro artist Blanck Mass...