Getting Started

This month film music composer Robin Lumley discloses his own route to fame and fortune in an effort to get you started on yours...

ExpanderCheck

An idea whose time has come — a sample-based expander. Tony Reed slaps it around

Our roving reporter Mark Jenkins takes a look off the beaten track at some of the more interesting French equipment shown at last month's Paris Music Fair.

What you can get from a MIDI Implementation Sheet, apart from total bafflement.

Software for Apple Macintosh

Our resident Mac user Martin Russ steps his way enthusiastically through two of the best written software packages for the Apple Macintosh computer [in this part] - 'Performer', a comprehensive multitrack sequencing program.

This month: the Crumar Roadracer to the Dubreq Stylophone! Peter Forrest is your guide

Software for Apple Macintosh

Our resident Mac user Martin Russ steps his way enthusiastically through two of the best written software packages for the Apple Macintosh computer [in this part] - 'Professional Composer', a music transcription program.

This month: Farfisa to Fuller.

Digital sampling keyboard

Much rumour and speculation has surrounded the launch of what Ian Gilby reckons to be the best mid-priced sampling keyboard on the market. So what makes Emax special? Read the UK's first in-depth review and find out.

This month: Hohner

What is 'New Age' music? Who plays it, and why is it apparently so popular? Our resident musicologist Mark Prendergast traces its development back to the work of 'new music' composers Arnold Schoenberg and Erik Satie.

A complete guide to all the hardware interfaces for home micros available so far, plus the software that goes with them.

The new-wave sound

...'The first genuinely NEW keyboard since the DX7' proclaims our review. Mixing four different waveforms together in a technique christened 'vector synthesis', Sequential's new baby can create some stunningly different synth sounds. Could it be what the market's looking for? Mark Jenkins reports.

Dave Crombie checks out the Oberheim 4-voice polyphonic synth.

Another selection of brand new products about to be launched in this country.

Dave Crombie tinkles the RMI Keyboard Computer — not so much a synth, more a souped-up organ.

Digidesign's sound-editing software for the Emulator II has now been adapted for the Prophet 2000: Brian Devereux gives it the thumbs-up.

Dave Crombie's review of the Prophet 5 synth leaves us speechless.

Paul Wiffen peers inside the latest SP12 to find a host of clever modifications: they help keep the E-mu machine at the top of the beat-box tree.

A subjective look (what else?) at some of the electric and electronic pianos currently on the market, by Dave Crombie.

Fancy putting that percussion sound you sampled with your keyboard into your digital drum machine? Rick Davies discovers that all things are possible in California.

All creatures great and small: Dave Crombie glides from the huge Yamaha GX-1 to the minute Korg Micro Preset.

What a difference a show makes - or further thoughts on the British Music Fair '86.

Keyboards

SI in association with Dave Crombie Productions Inc present The Moog Story, starring Robert A Moog...

BMF Report '86

The Editor struggles through tech-laden stands, lively demos, liquid lunches and hordes of musicians to bring news of Britain's best-ever music show. If you missed it, you missed out.