Newsdesk Special

The Frankfurt Fair is still weeks away — but we’ve gathered together a whole mass of advance information on the new instruments that will make this year’s event the most competitive yet.

Software for the Atari ST

A new sequencer program for the Atari ST from British company Hollis Research sets out to be powerful and friendly without breaking the bank. Ian Waugh reckons it's on the right track (man).

A special report on the latest versions of these successful German instruments. Review by David Ellis.

Secondhand synths

A buyers guide for the second hand market.

The intrepid Dave Simpson looks back over the basic types of microphone in common usage and touches briefly on the principles behind their operation. As he gets paid by the word, he's already planning to write a sequel.

Mark J. Prendergast explores the recording process that surrounded Peter Gabriel's new album 'Passion' and takes a peep inside Gabriel's Real World studio complex.

As Yamaha's 'X' range of hi-tech hardware continues to grow, Dan Goldstein and Trish McGrath present an exclusive appraisal of two of the range's most affordable additions, the TX7 FM Expander and QX7 MIDI Keyboard Recorder.

a budget kit 'first'

Ben Duncan gives this power amplifier a thorough going over before telling you that he quite likes it.

Drumcheck

Bob Henrit draws a line between the Maxwin and the Professional and finds a good-looking, clean-sounding kit

Bass

Sample CDs

First they were sampling off other peoples' records, now they're selling records to sample off. Tim Goodyer listens while Simon Harris, Pascal Gabriel, Norman Cook, Ed Stratton and Coldcut put the case for sampling CDs.

Guitarcheck

French, Japanese, Dave B takes them all on

life histories for Gibsons jazz guitars

Guitarcheck

Do we really need more Strat copies? Dave Burrluck ponders the question

Following last month's explanation of computer-generated waveforms and their uses, we look at strings of waveforms working together to build complex sounds. Tom McLaughlin investigates wavetables.

Software for the Atari ST

Coupled with its success, the digital parameter access-editing of Kawai's K1 synthesiser has made it an obvious target for software editors - like these from Dr Ts, Soundbits, Drumware and Steinberg. Vic Lennard looks on.

Everything But The Girl take the Jazz to the Electric Ballroom. Report by Jim Betteridge

Akai's latest drum machine attempts to combine the best of programmable and preset rhythm units. Simon Trask assesses this marketing strategy while listening to some dope drum sounds.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly at Frankfurt's Musical Fiesta

Five pages of glorious colour on the exhibition to end all exhibitions - the annual Frankfurt Musik Messe. Dan Goldstein comes hotfoot from Germany to report on the latest developments on the hi-tech music scene. And there are a lot of them.

Then After A Few Years I Think I'll Be A Producer

making a career of knob twiddling

Personal Multitracker

The intrepid Nicholas Rowland continues his search for the ultimate in personal multitrackers; armed only with a blank cassette and a bedroom's worth of gear, he tackles Tascam's latest budget baby.

A glimpse of the equipment you could well be buying in the forthcoming year

Marantz PMD740 Cassette 4-Track

Can this stylish-looking cassette multitracker find a niche in an already crowded market? Check out our review...