Visual Reports & Views

Hipgnosis collection is no walking antique: gosh I spin Magritte-like-are you hip enough to gnosis? (anag).

In some ways this budget-priced drum machine from Kawai is a major improvement over its big brother, the R100, not least in its use of 8-note polyphonic sounds and its built-in digital effects. Ian Gilby was more than a little impressed. Find out why...

Another year, another host of hardware to look back on. We take you through the goodies and the baddies that came out during '84, just in case you missed any of them.

Want to make real music on your Amstrad PC? Ian Gilby takes you through one of the best designed, professional MIDI recording packages there is. Voyetra Technologies' Sequencer Plus runs on any IBM PC compatible computer and offers 64 tracks, sync-to-tape, a programmable tempo track, extensive note and MIDI editing facilities, and... you'll have to read the review to find out more.

Actual factuals

Polyphonic MIDI Sound Sampler

A real advance in the field of accessible polyphonic sound sampling. Tim Goodyer finds out if the 612's beauty is more than price-tag-deep.

The Additive synthesizer

Once upon a time, 'additive synthesis' was an expensive and little used option on expensive computer music systems. Now, thanks to Kawai's latest keyboard, there is an instrument dedicated to this type of synthesis. Paul Wiffen, long-time advocate of creating your own waveforms, investigates.

Tittle-tattle on the hurly-burly

Paradise Studios

Synth players in search of Heaven need look no further than West London, where a recording studio puts the emphasis firmly on hi-tech musical equipment, but doesn't charge people the Earth to use it. Simon Trusk pays Paradise a visit.

Tips to help you achieve that 'modern' drum sound.

"It's surprising how little you need to imply a great deal."

By Dave Gregory, XTC.

The analogue versus digital argument - as seen by the man at the top.

Or Everything You Need To Know About Buying A Sampler, But Didn't Know Who To Ask. Julian Colbeck is your guide.

Our regular column devoted to readers’ hints and tips about their recording equipment, instruments, software and playing techniques.

Pickups, headsets, guitars...

No time to lose when it comes to odd metres. Nigel Lord takes a look at "difficult" time signatures in this month's instalment of MT's rhythm programming series.

Emu Proteus 3 World

Emu's new Proteus 3 is to hi-tech music what Phileas Fogg is to convenience foods. Nigel Humberstone tries a taste of authentic sounds from around the world.

There has been an enormous upsurge of interest in African music of late. Artists as diverse as Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads and Brian Eno have acknowledged its inspiration on their work. But there is little information around that explains the fundamental concepts behind it and how a musician can incorporate the sounds and ideas into their own work if they wish to. Kofi Busia suggests a few ideas.

Who's recording what where

The theme of this month's edition of Patchwork is decidedly traditional, as Casio's CZ101 joins the ubiquitous DX7 and D50 as the subjects for readers' programming dexterity.