More fun from the Spectrasonics site where another in their series of 'behind the scenes' insights lays bear another aspect of their forthcoming übersynth Omnisphere. We're following this one very closely as – quite frankly – it sounds like no other...

Future Music's 200th issue is on sale today!

Time to get out the bi-centennial tootle-pipe and give Future Music a right royal parping. Yes, Britain's best-loved music technology magazine celebrates is second centenary today. For 200 issues Future Music has been bringing you behind the scenes access to the great and the good in modern music. Starting with issue one's face off with Gary Numan, through to issue 200's studio sessions with Joey Negro and Benga, Future Music has 'done' the lot. And in that time we've covered every new trend in music making and reviewed every piece of gear from the early dawn of sampling through to the latest cutting edge synths and software. Respect is due, obviously.

To celebrate this fact DVD Ed Will has dredged his archives and put together an ace video showing off just some of the stars who've graced our pages and free monthly cover-mounted DVD. Click below for a journey through time and be sure to check out issue 200 of Future Music for yourself. It's on sale today. Parp!

If you're a Future Music subscriber (if not, why not?) the chances are you received issue 200 of Future Music through your 'box this morning. Yes. Issue 200. Already. Expect more 200-related postage to follow on the blog very shortly but for now – as promised in our fabulous 'We Are 200' feature within Future Music 200 – here's a video reposting of one of our highest highs. Quite literally.

Back in issue 177 we took a whole band up in a hot air balloon and recorded a track. No, really. It was Guinness certified and everything. We held the world record for 'highest altitude for a musical recording' and 'highest gig' - we sold two tickets, y'see. We'd still hold them today if Jamiroquai hadn't got wind of it via their sponsors Focusrite and recorded a track on a private jet.

Which - let's face it – is clearly cheating.

Anyway, watch the above video for the full 20-minute movie of the event. Just in case you don't believe us.

While messing around with everyone's favourite baby synth at the weekend, I discovered a little trick that might appeal to all you microKorg users. I downloaded the demo of Arturia's awesome Analog Factory 2.0 and was using my microKorg through a Uno MIDI-USB interface to play it as I don't have the dedicated controller.

Just as I started to map the controller knobs to the software, to my surprise, each knob was already mapped to the relevant controls in Analog Factory. Each channel the microKorgs CCs are sent on match that of the dedicated controller for AF, the only difference being that the four variable knobs on the AF controller aren't accessible through the microKorg as there aren't enough knobs. So you can control Volume, Cutoff, Resonance and Attack and Release instantly.

All in all, a great way to extend your microKorgs flexibility. Download the demo at Arturia's website and try it out for yourself.

Here's some of the Logic video tips we feature on the included Future Music DVD. These tips, from issue 189 take you through the process of building an entire track in Logic. We'll be posting more videos here as often as we can but remember to Subscribe to make sure you get all the very latest, full-quality tutorials on our DVD every month.

Is it just us or does this new product from Presonus look bloody amazing?! Specs from the release below, but check the next issue of Future Music to find out more, when we push and poke the faders at Music Messe in Frankfurt.

StudioLive Key Features:

16 inputs, 6 auxiliary mixes, 4 subgroups
16 class A XMAX microphone preamplifiers
Hi-Definition analog to digital converters (118dB dynamic range)
Unlimited headroom 32-bit floating point digital mixing and effects processing
22x18 FireWire digital recording interface
Compact 19" rack-mountable rugged steel chassis
Fat Channel Select:
High Pass Filter
Compressor
Limiter
Gate
4-band semi parametric EQ
Pan
Load/Save/Copy/Paste
2 Master DSP Effects (reverbs, delays, time-based effect, with load/save)
Load/Save Mixer "Scenes" - all settings
100mm long throw faders
Military grade quick touch push buttons
Fast-acting LED meters
Talkback communication system
StudioLive multi-track recording software

OK, so it's that time of year again and we're gearing up to see what new delights will be launched at Music Messe 2008 in Frankfurt. We've been getting a few rumours that Clavia are going to announce a new product, but nothing as yet on what this might be. Nord Lead 4? Nord Wave Rack?

Also, Native Instruments are certainly going to announce something. Seems like everyone has their fingers-crossed (again) for a dedicated Traktor controller, but here at the FM camp we doubt that will be the case. Steinberg are also said to announce something new, we’re thinking more Yamaha-integrated hardware? Or is a new Cubase 5 ready, with Logic-matching price point? We’ll have to wait and see...

Other rumours include a brand-new unit to free-up your VSTs from an, as yet, anonymous company. Catch up with all the news here and in the amazing 200th issue of Future Music on Sale 11th April.

Here's an interesting competition that could win you some free studio time.

"On March 1st 2008 Red Bull energy drink launches ‘Red Bull Can Make Music’, a creativity contest that challenges students to make and build a unique piece of music using only a Red Bull can at redbullcanmakemusic.com until June 1st 2008."

"Supported and judged by music heavyweights and Red Bull Music Academy Alumni DJ Zinc, Zed Bias and Tony Nwachukwu entries will be scored on creative concept: individuality and ingenuity and conceptual execution: composition and construction."

"The creator of the winning track will get to spend a day in the studio with a judge of their choice. In addition the top entrants will be invited to London for an exclusive showcase party where the winner will be announced by the judges." We're thinking a version of 'The Can Can' played in the style of Krautrockers Can using reCycle? Any other suggestions?

If anyone can win this competition FM readers, um... can!!

So yeah, people make hit records using GarageBand loops, obviously...

Check out the WAV file below to hear a slowed down version of one of Apple's GarageBand loops. Is it just us or does it sound exactly like the drum loop from Rihanna's huge hit Umbrella? Check out the YouTube link and the WAV download to compare and let us know what you think.



WAV file here or alternatively find 'Vintage Funk Kit 03' and slow it to around 88bpm if you're a GarageBand user.

$14,999 well spent

Looks like I'm going to have to see another opportunity to buy a CS-80 slip by. One day... Do you think this will go at that price? I know they're heavily sought after, but $15k (aprox. £7,500)? Good luck explaining that to your other half...

If you're seriously considering, or know someone who might consider buying this, please let us know! I'd like to get to know them...