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plasticmoonrain · Post by **plasticmoonrain** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:07 am

So I got my hands on a copy of the first issue of the US version of Future Music. I'd been buying the UK version for almost a couple of years and it was costing me a fortune. So I'm glad this is a lot cheaper ($7.99). Thought I'd share my thoughts.

Yes, it has a disc on the cover, with 200 acidized loops, tutorials for Live and Logic, and the demo software for Absynth 3. I haven't gone through all the videos yet, but it looks promising.

Unlike the UK edition, which seems to be very dance/electronica oriented, this is much broader. Heck, the opening interview is with Nirvana producer/Garbage main guy Butch Vig, and then there's a lengthy interview with Alan Parsons.

The cover story is how to create mash-ups, like that one with the Beatles White Album and that rap black album. There's also a tutorial on using Ableton Live on doing one of these.

My favorite parts actually were the columns in the back. There's one about spectrum analyzers, and they have links to sites that have free ones. I downloaded one from one of the sites, so it's useful.

Lots of reviews in the back and there's one already on Reason 3.0, so that was pretty quick.

Overall, I'd say they are off to a good start. It's supposed to be coming out 10times a year. It's issue one, so I'm curious what else they'll be doing. If it's anything like Computer Music, that would be awesome.

Drew

blue on blue · Post by **blue on blue** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:11 am

where did you pick this up at? i'll have to check around town, haven't seen this yet.

plasticmoonrain · Post by **plasticmoonrain** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:31 am

The newsstand across the street from me on UNion Square in Manhattan.

Drew

plasticmoonrain · Post by **plasticmoonrain** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:33 am

Oh yeah, they got a web site too.

http://www.futuremusicmag.com

Drew

Igor 4000 · Post by **Igor 4000** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:42 am

I received the introductory issue a few days ago...they're trying to get me to subscribe. I think I will but, honestly, this mag doesn't seem much different from Electronic Musician or Keyboard. That is, aside from the CD.

plasticmoonrain · Post by **plasticmoonrain** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:10 pm

I think it is way different than those two mags. I think FM seems like they could end up being better than those two.

I find EM and Keyboard very hit and miss as far as usefulness. I end up tossing most of my issues of Keyboard after 15 minutes. EM is off and on. SOmetimes they'll get some good articles, and then there are others that have nothiung I can use or are interesting. How many times do I have to read an article with the same mixing tips over and over? That Jack Joseph Puig article was the biggest waste for me -- I got nothing out of it.

I gotta give credit to FM that they got a Reason 3.0 review now. I'm sure it'll appear in EM in another three months.

It's only the first issue so I'm sure it will only get better from here. It's a pretty decent start.

Drew

da adidas 12 · Post by **da adidas 12** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:42 pm

You can find the US edition of Futuremusic mag at Borders or Barnes and Noble.

Rhett · Post by **Rhett** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:52 pm

Sounds like the price is right. Its always been hard to stomach $14.99 for a rag. Wonder if they'll do a US version of CM.

How Americanized is the US version? Do they only cover US acts? If so, it would be a shame. How else would I have heard of Goldie Lookin Chain?

plasticmoonrain · Post by **plasticmoonrain** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 1:16 pm

It's hard to judge everything and everyone they are going to cover from just one issue.

There are artist-connected articles, but a lot of them are also about products and tutorials.

The artists include Sasha, Billy Sheehan, Amon Tobin, The Dissociatives (the side project from the Silverchair guy), Alan Parsons. The mash-up article is pretty big and features the guys who did the recent mash-up with Linkin Park and Jay Z. The articles focuses a lot behind the scenes with Jay Z and Mike Shinoda and how they did the song.

Clearly, the music range is really wide.

Drew

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 2:33 pm

Keep in mind it's a little less than half the page count of the UK FM. I saw them side by side at Borders and thought "half as big, features mashups and Acid loops... it's dumbed down!" and bought the UK version instead.

I very much dislike the fact it has the same name; that's going to confuse people.

plasticmoonrain · Post by **plasticmoonrain** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 2:44 pm

Page count is irrelevant between US and UK magazines.

I mean, the UK magazine has been around for years. This is issue number ONE in the US. Both countries have different publishing economic models and one country is one-sixth the size of the other. Both magazines have different paper stocks too.

The UK version also costs twice as much in some places.

From what I see that for the US version, they wanted to borrow concepts from the UK edition and put their own thing in.

Why do you equate mash-ups and acid loops with dumbing down? All the UK magazines have acid loops too.

Drew

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:12 pm

First impression triggered some latent elitist attitude I have I guess. To me, mashups are a DJ thing, and I would rather make music than toy with someone else's.

(No disrespect meant to DJs who actually have skill, particularly turntablists.)

TotcProductions · Post by **TotcProductions** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:25 pm

I haven't seen this either. Seems like it's a good idea though...i might actually get a subscription to this if it's good. Haven't seen it anywhere though...i'll have to look around. This might be why I can't find the regular future music anywhere anylonger.

peace!

mumpcake · Post by **mumpcake** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:16 pm

Rhett wrote:Sounds like the price is right. Its always been hard to stomach $14.99 for a rag. Wonder if they'll do a US version of CM.

How Americanized is the US version? Do they only cover US acts? If so, it would be a shame. How else would I have heard of Goldie Lookin Chain?

I also wonder if a US version of CM would be dependent on the success of FM-US.

LBN · Post by **LBN** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 4:02 am

The UK issue uses BIGGER TYPE, hence more pages.

The New US Version of Future Music