Dave Sinclair sorts out seven significant strikers

useful companions of the animal kingdom

Paul Wiffen tortures the CASIO MT-800

Winter NAMM 1987

Our spectacular show coverage starts here, with masses of information - backed up by colour photographs - on the biggest Winter NAMM show there's ever been...

MIDI Patchbays

Much has been said about MIDI patchbays and their near indispensability in a modern MIDI setup. Vic Lennard questions their importance and looks at the alternatives.

Ampcheck

Costly but classy. Review by Paul Bacon

Who'd have guessed that Akai Iceland were about to release a MIDI bass controller and major software updates for the DD1000? Mørv Smørdilørv proves that you never can predict innovation.

A Tour With Jethro Tull

Not another tedious account of a top band on tour, but a carefully worded roadie's-eye view of what really goes on behind the scenes. Antony Freeman gives an account of the happenings as Jethro Tull hit Germany.

Real World

Real World music

Editing Techniques

In the second part of this series, Richard Dean turns his attention to the equipment and techniques you need for removing the dead wood from your hard-won demo or master tape, and shows you how to make the kindest cut of all...

gets better

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.

The other half of the World

Jay Chapman continues his 'back to basics' description of MIDI with a light-hearted pot-pourri of handy hints and tips.

A step-by-step guide to wiring phono connectors.

Amstrad today, Binatone tomorrow

A chance to check out some of the forthcoming new products that might tempt you to dig deeper into your pockets later this year.

Simmons SDX Drum Sampler

Lurking inside this angular-looking monster is a versatile computer system that will turn what is ostensibly an electronic drum kit (albeit a state-of-the-art 16-bit sampling one) into a formidable MIDI workstation. Ed Jones test drives Simmons' powerful, new SDX system.