Another round-up of new products, plus news from the world of hi-tech music.

Martin Russ takes a close look at Peavey's long-awaited DPM SP dedicated sample player, and its sample input partner the DPM SX.

Paul Ireson reports from Frankfurt on Europe's biggest music fair.

Is the hard disk about to crash? Kendall Wrightson looks at the latest developments in mass storage technology, and discovers an optical future.

Forget towels, deodorant and trashy paperbacks, what you really want to pack in your suitcase come the Summer is a go-anywhere MIDI studio. Paul Ireson advises on suitable travelling companions.

Following hot on the heels of the DPS-D7 and R7 digital delay and reverb units comes a third dedicated processor in Sony's DPS series — the DPS-M7. David Mellor wonders whether this marks the end of the line for multiple effects units.

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.

By using elements of equalisation combined with established psychoacoustic principles, the SPL Vitalizer enhances the entire audio spectrum. Paul White reviews the unit that is now a vital ingredient of his mixes.

Julian Colbeck takes a look at what's on offer in the world of digital reverbs, delays and multi-effects units, and explains how to choose between them.

The sound of Korg's 01/W keyboard is now available in the compact frame of the 03R/W expander. Nigel Humberstone checks it out.

With features enough for a low-end one-inch 24-track studio, and a price low enough for the top end of the quarter-inch 8-track market, Dave Lockwood finds the Allen & Heath GS3 too good to be ignored.

If you use a drum machine or programme drum parts on your sequencer, chances are you need help. Warren Cann explains why in this introduction to his new series on drum programming.

You may be a whizz with the little black boxes, but how are you at recording real sounds and real performances? Wilf Smarties serves up a selection of tasty studio tricks.

Thomas Dolby is back after a four year break, without the mad professor image but with an excellent new album in Astronauts & Heretics, his most personal recording to date. Paul Tingen spoke to him about the long road from solo synthesist to globe-trotting collaborator.

David Mellor concludes his 2-part review of the latest version of Steinberg's Cubase sequencing software with an investigation of some of its more complex features: the IPS, MIDI Mixer, and Logical Editing.

David Mellor concludes his guide to this low-cost high-quality console.

Karlheinz Stockhausen has had a profound influence on modern music from the 1950s onwards, and pioneered the use of electronics to create genuinely new music. Mark J. Prendergast reviews his career.

PC music software still has to come some way to catch up with that for the Atari and Mac, but good, graphic, sequencer programs like Cadenza are a big step in the right direction. Peter Cudmore takes a closer look.

Martin Russ is your guide to the world of music on the Atari ST, in this new monthly column...

...while Kendall Wrightson tackles the Mac...

...Brian Heywood pores over the PC...

...and Phil South stays friends with his Amiga.

Paul Overaa takes a look at SuperJam, the new Amiga music composition package from Blue Ribbon Soundworks.

Martin Russ looks at how Yamaha have drummed up card support for their successful RY30 drum machine, with new cards containing the sounds and rhythms of big name drummers.

Wilf Smarties looks for the perfect beat in two new HitSound sample CDs, from production team Coldcut and drummer David Ruffy.

Keyboard amplification to match the best of today's instruments!

More hints and tips from the software publishers themselves. This month: C-Lab; Opcode; Coda; Dr. T's.

Samplers generate their own specialised jargon — so here's a quick guide to help guide you through some commonly used terms.