Can You Dig It?

Sound engineer David Mellor checks out the most boring Compact Disc in the world: Korg's first digital collection of sound samples!

There may be few instruments in the world that have not yet been sampled, but there is still an infinite number of ways it can be done. David Mellor auditions the Sonic Images sample library volumes 2 and 3.

Valhala International Gold M1 Sound Cards

David Mellor goes in search of inspiration, and finds it in three of Valhala's International Gold voice cards for the Korg M1.

Budget 24-Track

Volume 6 Starts Here

Generally regarded as 'The Bible' of the recording world, David Mellor reviews this handbook of recording techniques and equipment produced by the Association of Professional Recording Studios.

LSW Poolside Drums Sampling CD

David Mellor tastes a hot product from the London Sample Workshop.

Radio Microphones

Radio mics free the vocalist from the restrictions imposed by cables - David Mellor presents a beginners' guide to the subject.

Volume 7 Starts Here

The Best Approach?

How To Upgrade Your Akai S900

What do you do when your 12-bit Akai S900 sampler starts to seem a little underspecified in comparison with the latest models? Upgrade it with a '16-bit injection' from Marion Systems. David Mellor reports.

David Mellor reviews this sample library for the educated user.

The BBC's sound effects records have been the staple diet of many a film, TV and radio production. Now there is a new generation of digitally recorded sound effects available on compact disc which are ideal for sampling. David Mellor assesses their worth.

Our regular column devoted to readers' hints and tips about their recording equipment, instruments, software and playing techniques.

S900 owner David Mellor receives a package in the post from Akai, which rekindles his enthusiasm in the sampler which was one of the first to combine a wealth of facilities with a reasonable price. Will the Version 2.0 software update bring the Akai into line with the latest samplers on the market or has it become old technology - just after its first birthday?

The first of a series of articles in which David Mellor explains the tricks and techniques of the studio trade and how they can be successfully applied by the home recordist. This month's technique allows multi-instrument recordings to be built up using minimal equipment, and is known to its practitioners as 'sound on sound'. Now where have you heard that phrase before?

Bits & Pieces

PART 9: It is easy to list all the glamorous' items required for a home studio - synths, sampler, mixing console, tape machines, etc - but the small things are important too. In this final part of the series, David Mellor gathers together all those essential bits and pieces.

As the world of musical synthesis shrinks ever more into a 19" black box format, where do we find the MIDI master keyboard to persuade these expander modules to give up their sounds? Since the big manufacturers currently seem reluctant to give us soundless MIDI keyboards, is there a small company we can turn to who can supply us with the equipment we need? David Mellor lets the cat out of the bag.

Following his guide to using the B77, David Mellor offers some basic advice for newcomers to the Sony DTC1000ES.

It has been predicted that by the year 2020, the world will be entirely covered by a ten metre deep layer of home recording equipment. David Mellor begins a new series that offers advice on how to set up your home studio.

Sony DTC M100

David Mellor compares the new Sony DTC M100 Digital Audio Tape recorder with the studio industry standard - the Sony DTC 1000ES.

Bob Clearmountain Sample CDs

On a clear day you can usually tell the difference between sampled and real drums. But if the quality of the samples is high enough, will there come a time when you can't tell which is which? David Mellor listens to two new sample cds.