A look at what's new in the recording and hi-tech equipment fields including Applied Microsystem's new synchroniser, Oberheim's rack-mount Matrix-6 expander and more...

Contractual hassles have kept musician/producer Bill Nelson hopping from one record label to another since the demise of Be-Bop Deluxe, yet he has still managed to record some exemplary albums using the facility of his 16-track home studio. Ian Gilby finds out how he put his new album together.

Martin Russ reviews the superbly professional Southworth 'Total Music' software recorder for the Apple Macintosh computer.

Who wants a programmable modular mixer and three-band sweep EQ system that offers full MIDI control of channel routing/muting and all fits neatly into a 19-inch rack? "I do!" shouts Paul Gilby. Read why...

...'The first genuinely NEW keyboard since the DX7' proclaims our review. Mixing four different waveforms together in a technique christened 'vector synthesis', Sequential's new baby can create some stunningly different synth sounds. Could it be what the market's looking for? Mark Jenkins reports.

Ian Gilby reckons that before long every studio will have a MIDI patchbay as well as an audio one and the low-cost ME30P Programmable MIDI Patchbay from Akai could well be it.

Intrepid reporter/cameraman Ralph Denyer ventures into the wild suburban jungle of East London to capture the rarely heard thoughts of this lesser-spotted songbird and re-mix producer who has recently taken delivery of his very own Synclavier system.

If your studio's musical output is largely synthetic in nature and you are considering an increase in tracks, then Steinberg Research's Pro-24 recording software for the Atari 520ST micro could prove a better option than a conventional tape recorder. Tony Hastings tells why.

This new multi-function unit lets you physically access and modify hex code MIDI signals amongst other things. Jay Chapman discovers it may be rather more useful than most would think.

Akai's first foray into the sampling market, the S612, was a resounding success. Their new sampling system, aimed more at studios, is considerably more advanced yet still a respectable price. Eventually it will incorporate a multitrack event recorder and harmonic synthesis module, but just released is the first system component - the S900 rack-mount sampler. Mark Jenkins checks it out.

The first in a new series that takes a behind the scenes look at companies specialising in the development of hi-tech music and recording products. This month Tony Hastings catches the night boat to Hamburg to report on MIDI software designers Steinberg Research.

Part 7. In this penultimate episode Jay Chapman explains the usefulness of MIDI's all-important System Exclusive messages.

Ramsa may not be a familiar name in the pro microphone world just yet, but engineer Dave Lockwood reckons they will be judging by their latest range of miniature electrets which includes both a headset and a mic that can handle an SPL of 158dB!

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