Sounds, samples, & software upgrades for the modern studio

New software, systems, sounds, updates

Record releases from Propaganda, Kate Bush, Man Jumping and others vie with another load of readers' demos for the attention of E&MM's music critics.

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.

A nostalgic look back at 1985 by the people who bring E&MM to you each month. Was it really that bad?

Wilf Smarties gives a new batch of CDs a spin.

all the singer needs to know, part 2!

David Kenny gives these units the once-over

In a world of divided people, music is regarded as being one of the great equalisers - but that's only as long as you've got the cash for the gear. How equal are you?

Who you (the readers) voted as best musician, and what you (still the readers) voted as best gear. We shake the world.

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.

There's an awful lot of hi-hi-history involved, y'know

Yamaha CS80

Once infamous as a roadie's nightmare, the CS80 has settled in synth history as an instrument of almost unmatched character. Peter Forrest rediscovers the pain and the pleasure.

rubbish bin

Don't touch those Level and Pan controls - you may be able to solve your mixing problems more easily than you think. Robert Rich explains how the timbre of a sound affects its performance in the mix.

Sampling

This month we focus on the hows, whys and whats of sampling.

Greater reliance on hi-tech instruments in the studio means there's more demand for people able to programme them. Paul Gilby spoke first to Karin Clayton about her recently formed agency that supplies programmers for studio sessions, and then to Fairlight programmer Simon Lloyd about his work.

Sound On Sound's DEFINITIVE guide to DX7 RAM & ROM cartridges

We bring you Sound On Sounds DEFINITIVE guide to all ROM/RAMs available for the Yamaha DX7 in the UK. Over 2500 voices tested and everything you need to know about the products revealed in a comprehensive round-up and table.

whither EMI in the 1960s

From the profound to the downright silly, we wind up a year's chit-chat

A few simple rules to help you get professional-sounding vocal tracks every time.

As you've probably already got your sampler playing drums, horns and strings, getting it to sing to you may sound deceptively easy. Tom McLaughlin explains there may be more to sampling the human voice than you'd heard.

Duran Duran, Alan Stivell

Jim Betteridge, The Damned and the man who made Eloise