A synth without a keyboard for the best part of £4000? It sounds unrealistic, but this module is possibly the most versatile currently available. Paul White gives his verdict.

On the Emax Hard Disk Sampler

Unlike some samplers, Emax has stayed the course since its introduction over 18 months ago and has developed into a mature, well groomed specimen. Having released a Hard Disk version of the machine almost a year ago, Emu Systems have recently given Emax yet another lease of life with their Spectrum Synthesis upgrade, which turns the sampler into a powerful additive synthesizer. David Hughes tries it out

to 8-track, what's involved

Chris Thomas & Glyn Johns

producers Chris Thomas and Glyn Johns

If you're short of a new source of samples you could do worse than to turn to the glass (not the bottle). Tom McLaughlin explains how a wine glass can provide a wide variety of unusual tone colours.

Peter Gabriel at Selhurst Park

LED Wall Art - Visual Environment Machine

Footpedal roundup

Ortofon/Stanton cartridges

Scratching and backtracking without tears

...of which the most fashionable right now must surely be the conga. Here we present facts, not fashion.

Sampling upgrade for the K2000

Now you can upgrade Kurzweil’s market-leading synthesiser, the K2000, with a sampling interface. According to Simon Trask - and who are we to argue? - you can mingle your own samples with the synth’s onboard sounds, and edit the whole lot to your heart’s content in up to 64Mb of RAM. Whistle Kurzweil while you work, indeed.

Easy Guitar Tab

A step by step construction guide of this pitch splitting device.

Our guide to Yamaha FM synthesis continues: this month, Jay Chapman looks at the delights of sub-algorithms.

AWM Expander

Every so often a product comes along which changes everyone's idea of what they can expect at a certain price. Yamaha’s new £250 box sets a new standard in price/performance for sampled piano (and other) sounds. Paul Wiffen gets excited enough to spend his own money!

how they work

Sound sampling Dodolator and the Kaleidosound picture machine for the Apple

Electronic Drum Module and Super Pads

To complete their recent flurry of new products, the Cambridgeshire company have come up with a programmable drum synth module and a set of 'Super Pads' specially designed for it. Nigel Lord takes the system for a trial run.

How To Be A Non-Musician

An invaluable guide for the anti-instrumentalist.

Akai MPC3000

Sampler, sequencer, synchroniser

MIDI Programmable Mixer

A programmable mixer that will find a good home in a home studio.

Get broken very easily, especially when you throw guitar strings at them. Make them hard with Making Music.

Single, dual or delayed beats

Recording/PA Mixing Console

Slow-Down at the O.K. Corral