High quality sampled bass sounds that you can play from any MIDI keyboard, sequencer or drum machine are offered by the 360 Systems MIDI BASS. Tony Hastings assesses its performance.

MicroComposing with Roland

The new MC-202 MicroComposer examined in depth

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.

a budget kit 'first'

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.

The Mix's terrestrial bulletin board

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Just when you thought all DDLs were the same, Ibanez come up with a budget model that still manages to incorporate a maximum delay time of over three-and-a-half seconds. Review by Paul White.

MIDI Sequencer

Micro Composer under the microscope

Marantz PMD740 Cassette 4-Track

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

More of your unfeasibly weird secondhand bargains valued and judged by Paul Day.