(But Were Too Afraid To Ask!)

PART 11: Martin Russ explains how he overcame some puzzling MIDI problems on a Kawai R50 drum machine, and takes a SysEx eyes' view of the Alesis DataDisk.

RCM Synthesis explained

In this second part of our in-depth review of the SY77 synthesizer, Martin Russ delves into Yamaha's ultra new synthesis method: Real-time Convolution and Modulation.

(But Were Too Afraid To Ask!)

PART 12: Martin Russ concludes this 12-part series designed to demystify one of MIDI's most important and useful messages.

Roland’s Computer Music range

Martin Russ looks at the evolution of Roland's approach to computers in music, culminating in their latest CM products.

How To Obtain Extra Drum Sounds For Free!

Bored with the sounds your drum machine makes? Martin Russ provides a bunch of tips to help you perk up your percussion.

XRI Systems XR400 MIDI Mate

Is your MIDI system just an accident waiting to happen? Here's an easy way of bringing order to your present tangled mess of MIDI connections. Martin Russ checks out XRI Systems' clever XR400 MIDI Mate.

Composition Centre

Announced over a year ago, the all-American DPM3 has finally landed on our shores. Martin Russ takes the wraps off Peavey's much publicised first foray into the hi-tech keyboard market.

Part 1: Martin Russ sets off on a wild and wacky expedition through the MIDI Programming Jungle.

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

Does Education Need MIDI?

Martin Russ plays devils advocate and states why MIDI systems are not what school music departments need.

Part 2: Martin Russ continues his trek through the MIDI programming jungle with an investigation of running status.

Part 3: Martin Russ hacks his way deeper into the heart of the MIDI jungle. This month: Buffer size, and how to deal with status swaps.

Part 4: Martin Russ looks at how mapping can help in traversing the MIDI jungle.

Martin Russ looks at how you can make the most of your computer power, through a range of software and hardware.

Part 5. The adventure continues - the master of MIDI manipulations, Martin Russ, does the time warp!

CMS MIDI Analyst

Martin Russ looks at a solution to all your MIDI analysis problems - not software, but a new rack unit from Computer Music Systems.

Part 6. In this final episode Martin Russ returns to base camp, and completes his exploration of the MIDI programming jungle with a de-briefing for his fellow travellers.

Yamaha TG77 Tone Generator

Yamaha's flagship workstation, the SY77, has now given birth to a new top-of-the-range expander, the TG77. Martin Russ conducts the examination.

Martin Russ looks at solutions to the perennial problem of where to put all those keyboards that MIDI musicians accumulate.

Does every silver lining have a cloud? Martin Russ looks beyond the 'low prices' at a few facts for potential buyers of the new Apple Macintosh computers.

The Studio In A Box?

A studio in a box? Martin Russ looks at Roland's latest entry in the ongoing competition to fit the most functionality in the smallest box...

Atari ST & Commodore Amiga

Part 2. Concluding our look at the relative merits of the big four music computers, Martin Russ puts the case for the Atari ST and its variants, and Paul Overaa explains why his heart belongs to the Commodore Amiga.

The Feel Factor

Martin Russ rydes with the rhythm as he explores Yamaha's latest percussive product.

Auto-Accompaniment — With Style

Martin Russ gets inside version 4.1 of Band-In-A-Box — now with user styles!

Hardware

The first part of a short series in which Martin Russ expands, exploits and explores the Atari ST computer.