Digital Delay, Dynamic Control and Arpeggiation emerge from the MIDI jungle. Paul Gilby observes this rare species.

Effectscheck

Curtis Schwartz gets affected by Akai's latest

arpeggiator, delay, mixer

Pocket Filter, Pedal & Merge

What's the size of a fag pocket, comes in enough varieties to ease almost any studio problem and isn't covered by British drug laws? Vic Lennard investigates a new line in MIDI effects.

American company Aphex bring us a new concept in the "humanisation" of machine-generated music, in the form of their Feel Factory. Robert Rich finds himself in the world of grooves and Feel Algorithms.

Akai MIDI Effects

Three 19" rack-mounted modules that act as a delay, a dynamics controller, and an arpeggiator respectively. Simon Trask gives them the critical treatment.

Darrin Williamson takes a look at the Phillip Rees range of hardware designed to help the flow of your MIDI data

Even a relatively modest MIDI setup can create MIDI routing problems, and solutions to these aren’t always easy to find. Paul Ireson investigates the range of Philip Rees MIDI management boxes to see what they can offer.

Philip Rees 2M & Groove Electronics MIIM MIDI Mergers

When the usual MIDI In, Out and Thru that appear on most of your MIDI gear are unable to manage your MIDI data, outside help is in order. Vic Lennard has the urge to merge with Philip Rees' 2M and Groove Electronics' MIIM.

Oberheim Cyclone and Systemizer Performance Effects

Oberheim's two Performance Effects units are something of a new direction for a company associated with classic analogue synths. Paul Ireson tries them out and finds a few surprises in store - not all of them pleasant.

Interactive Drum Pattern Sequencer

If your drum patterns sound uninspired it could be because you lack the subtle touch of the human drummer. Simon Trask looks at an electronic aid to drum programming.

MIDI Processors

An interactive drum sequencer and a keyboard to guitar chord convertor are the first new products to emerge from revitalised synth pioneers Oberheim Electronics. Kendall Wrightson gets on the case.

Keyboard to Guitar Chord Converter

Latest in Oberheim's Perf/X series is a unit designed to bridge the gap between keyboard and guitar. Simon Trask perfects his Jimi Hendrix impression.

If your master keyboard is not living up to its name, Oberheim's Systemizer may provide it with the MIDI performance features you need. Simon Trask gets into the system.

Other musicians' playing technique is the one element that often eludes the modern keyboard player - one solution lies in this month's competition prizes: Oberheim's new Strummer and Drummer.