Digital drum machines may rule the waves in the R&D labs, but one obsolete analogue device is still the record producers' first choice. Tim Goodyer dissects the appeal of Roland's classic TR808.

Rhythmcheck

Bob Henrit samples a top bracket product from a company that could have been started by Paul Hardcastle

Akai S612 MIDI Sampler

A reduction in price and the introduction of their Quick Disk make Akai's S612 MIDI Sampler an even more attractive investment. Paul Gilby was suitably impressed.

An expert's opinion better than an exploding onion

PRS - The Performing Right Society

The first of an occasional series in which David Mellor takes a look at the organisations that help musicians and composers earn an honest crust in this hard world. This month: the Performing Right Society.

As sound-sampling becomes accepted as a technique, what will musicians do with their machines after the novelty has worn off? Chris Meyer takes a sideways look.

Everything you ever wanted to know about samplers... 48 models compared! Paul Gilby surveys the current sampler market, exposes the 'spec wars', dispels the 16-bit myth and explains in simple terms how sampling really works, before telling you what to look out for when buying secondhand.

Commodore Sound Studio

The first of our new series on the very live issue of sampling, taking all the technicalities into account. Dom Foulsham begins with an examination of the law as it currently effects all involved. An indispensable guide, if you're concerned about clearance and want to avoid that nasty little rubber glove

The CDP is a non profit-making co-operative formed by a group of professional composers and researchers at York University, whose intention was to create an affordable personal workstation — a ‘desktop IRCAM’ - on which to run powerful synthesis and signal processing programs. Richard Dobson reveals the power of this Atari ST-based system.

Chas de Whalley gets down with the Scottish Sultan of Soul, Steve Harvey

Digital Quality — Analogue Feel

Roland's acclaimed S770 sampler has been quietly growing in popularity, and the release of version 2.0 software and the floppy drive-only S750 should ensure that Roland samplers become still more popular. Wilf Smarties explains why.

This month: Farfisa to Fuller.

Vintage technology strikes back

Collector’s corner - including the A to Z of Analogue

A modest newcomer to the sampling arena is Boss' DSD2 pedal. Paul White finds out if it's capable of more intelligent iterations than 'hangover'.

Sampling clichés and how to avoid them.

Just the ticket? How to do it yourself explained by Richard Walmsley

Turbo-charged recording techniques

Roland MS1

Ground-breaking miniature sampler