African Rhythms

The quest for the secrets of rhythm programming continues - this month it takes the intrepid Nigel Lord and his faithful drum machine into the heart of Africa.

Atari Sequencing Software

Son of Cubase: this stripped-down version of Steinberg's powerful sequencer retains many of its best functions. Nigel Lord and ST, and Cubase makes three.

The beat goes on: this month Nigel Lord's essential drum programming series takes him into the deep south of the African continent, and into deep rhythm.

Previous episodes of MT's definitive drum programming series have covered rhythms from around the globe. Nigel Lord takes stock and considers some patterns that belong only to the beatbox.

Another selection of excellent drum patterns appear in this month's edition of the definitive beatbox programming series. Nigel Lord hands put a good beating.

The drums, the drums, everywhere I go I hear drums. Nigel Lord presents another selection of rhythm killers for you to program into your drum machine or sequencer.

Studio Monitors

Why choose between "flat" studio monitors and hi-fi speakers when you can have one pair for both jobs? Nigel Lord cranks up Peavey's 308s's.

If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing again - so says Nigel Lord as he devotes this month's rhythm programming feature to double bass and snare drums.

Leaving convenient music labels behind, Nigel Lord approaches his beatbox in a fresh way in this month's drum programming column. Off the Beaten track?

Returning to the subject of classifying rhythms sooner than expected, Nigel Lord investigates the relationship between the beats and the notes.

The secret of good comedy is timing... right? Nigel Lord reckons it's also the secret of some fascinating rhythms - and this month's beatbox programming column.

"Build a better mousetrap", they said, "and the world will beat a path to your door". Nobody warned Nigel Lord that writing a drum programming column for MT has the same effect.

Cassette Multitracker

When cassette multitrackers were new they said everybody should have one - now that there are machines like the X28 around, everybody can. Nigel Lord says small is beautiful.

MT's beatbox programming series survives the acid test of the recording studio. Nigel Lord renews his efforts in bringing the rhythm divine to your drum machine.

Soaking your drum voices in reverb effects gives great sounds but it makes programming drum patterns much harder. Nigel Lord explains how to fit larger-than-life drums into a song.

Imagine buying a drum machine full of good factory preset rhythm programs - instead of the usual collection of cliches. Nigel Lord offers a solution to pre-programmed predictability.

Drum Modules

Repackaging a powerful and popular drum machine as a rackmount and adding drum triggers is sure to attract more interest to it. Nigel Lord explores the new Cheetah MD16.

After some 30 months, Nigel Lord's seminal On The Beat series draws to a close. Over the months, it has covered programming skills and a wide range of drumming and percussion styles, and proved popular with amateurs and pros alike - it will be copied but never bettered.

Multi-fx Processor

In their efforts to establish their signal processors as strongly in the UK as they have in the States, ART can't seem to bring out enough effects units. Nigel Lord evaluates the ART with aspirations to be number one.

(Slight Return)

The beat is back - but only for a while.

A crush on the wheels of industry.