Emu Emax II

The first in an occasional series in which David Mellor looks at well-established and respected pieces of musical and audio equipment, and tells you what you need to know to start making music with them.

The Korg M1 is one of the best and most popular keyboards around. David Mellor explores some of its prime features.

They've been a mainstay of electronic music for over 20 years, they're less expensive than ever before, and they still make sounds the digital machines can't. Analogue synthesizers have been receiving some digital assistance of late, but at heart they're still analogue synthesizers - and if you want to make them perform magic, you need to speak their language. Craig Anderton is your interpreter...

READOUT: Yazoo/single/control panel plans/sound guide... GOSUB

Part Two of our two-part Programmer's Guide To The Casio CZ range of synthesizers catches Phil South explaining the nuts and bolts of sound modification, with tips and hints on how to approach the creation of your own PD sounds.

In Part One of this two-part Programmer's Guide to the Casio CZ range of synthesizers, Phil South maps out the territory beyond the factory presets.

More music with mainframe computers

Martin Russ reflects on a cult phenomenon: Kawai’s K5 additive synthesizer.

Want to add multi-mode filtering, additive synthesis, three extra envelopes, microtonal and fixed frequency tunings, and eight independent effects units to your Ensoniq ESQ1 or SQ80, without invalidating your warranty? Greg Truckell reveals how...

How would you like to hear a filter sweep, or digital delay effects, coming from your Kawai K1? Greg Truckell looks at how to make a K1 do six impossible things before breakfast.

Modular synthesis

A plaintive request for a return to modular synthesis, what it means and what it can do for the creative musician.

Using Sequencers with Modular Systems

More about modular sequencing and the effects it can be used for. Steve Howell educates.

Percussion Sounds

Steve Howell investigates conventional drum-kit sounds and how to synthesise them, using even the most basic of instruments.

Producing String Sounds

A new in depth look at building up complex patches

Vocal Effects

The sound of the human voice is one of the most difficult acoustic tones to reproduce electronically, but reading Steve Howell's step-by-step guide should set you on the right track.

More on Using Sequencers

The last instalment, not only of Steve Howell's look at using sequencers, but also of the series as a whole.

Bass Sounds

Woodwind Sounds

Woodwind sounds - from both the Western and non-Western worlds - are the subject of this month's missive from Steve Howell.

Synthetic Percussion Sounds

Steve Howell finishes off percussion sounds and how to go about synthesising them.

Using Sequencers with Modular Systems

In something of a break from tradition, Steve Howell begins a look at how using a modular synth can expand the horizons of the common or garden monophonic sequencer.

Brass Sounds

Creating and playing brass sounds.

Click-tracks Continued

More on click-tracks and how to use them, by E&MM's resident literary module, Steve Howell.

Using Sequencers with Modular Systems

Steve Howell looks at different methods of triggering modular sequencers from click-tracks on tape.