Pino Palladino, Mark King, Robbie Shakespeare and Geddy Lee — student of the groove Chris Maillard gets some lessons

sampling keyboard spectacular

Behind the scenes on the tour of one of the world's most popular live bands

If you rely on the electric guitar in your recording but daren't annoy the neighbours, then this is what you've been dreaming about.

This month's question: sounds or notes? Perhaps it's time for keyboard players to rediscover emotion in playing music instead of providing an intricate background for those musicians who never forgot it.

Guitarcheck

Dave Burrluck on the progress of a British labour of love

Studio design

Building the perfect inner wall

Emulator III Sampling Keyboard

If there is one company which has made its name on sampling that company is E-mu Systems. The term 'Emulator' is now synonymous with sampling and now the third instrument in this distinguished series is on the market. Paul Wiffen checks it out and finds E-mu bang up to date.

Bend Me Scrape Me

a photo guide to guitar string bending tricks

Turn your ZX Spectrum into an echo machine with sound sampling capabilities using this month's unique project

SMPTE Events Controller

The increasing popularity of SMPTE has meant a corresponding growth in sync units. We take a look at this one from Bokse.

Micon Audio LMTC Synchroniser

Micon Audio's LMTC Processor Controller Synchroniser does for owners of Tascam multitracks what the MTC1 did for Fostex users: integrates multitrack recorder control into the sequencer environment. Dave Lockwood gets that syncing feeling once more.

Martin Russ has fun turning his Atari computer into a multi-function sampler, drum machine and digital effects unit with the aid of Microdeal's low-cost Replay 4.

Goes Chrimbo Crazy

A special seasonal waft of your favourite news and gossip column, this time drifting through the whole magazine and including mini-interviews with the likes of China Crisis and jokes from the likes of us. The fun starts here.

Software for the IBM PC

Turning his back on the Atari ST, Ian Waugh boots up a comprehensive sequencing package for the IBM PC (and compatibles). If you thought the Atari ST and Macintosh had it all their own way, read again.

a history of progressive rock - is there a new day dawning for the dinosaurs?

Many people own one and even more would like to, for the E16 is the 16-track tape machine to aspire to. Gareth Stuart finds out why.

Peter Gabriel at Selhurst Park

Our series continues with the voice, whether synthetic, sampled or the real thing.

Human Rhythm Composer

Roland's R70, their new top-of-the-range beat box, is the first drum machine to feature on-board digital effects. Ian Steele sits in judgement.