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...

Following on from last month's pictorial exclusive, this account of Europe's largest hi-tech music exhibition fills in the details. Tim Goodyer files the report.

An explanation of terms.

An Introduction to Digital Audio

Digital audio explained from the ground up — bit by bit!

The unique demands on the BBC Radiophonic Workshop have placed it in the forefront of developments in high technology music. Their latest development- a new style of MIDI suite - is an innovation not only in terms of the technology that's employed, but also in the geography’ of the working environment. Richard Elen takes an exclusive first look at the new studio.

Sound Module

Take 20 classic keyboards into the shower? Now you can just trigger and go with E-mu's Vintage Keys sound module, provider of sampled keyboard sounds from the Minimoog to the Mellotron. But who would you have in goal?, asks Peter Forrest

Touch-Sensitive Polyphonic Synthesiser

The new Sequential Circuits touch sensitive programmable poly synth

It Bites Play "Calling All The Heroes."

Guitarist Frank Dunnery shows you the chords to 'Calling All The Heroes'.

A British mixer built to survive.

Raising The Stakes

Zenon Schoepe gets to grips with the VCA automated desk that some British console manufacturers have not been looking forward to!

tasty tips from britain's cut-up kings - if it moves, sample it!

Reference Monitor

A very impressive pair of studio monitors at the budget end of the market.

Getting a heavy bass sound

BMF REPORT

The excessive heat in London's Olympia gave the latest hi-tech gear a run in the "who's hottest" stakes at this year's British Music Fair. Simon Trask sweats it out.

Mixing Desk

Tascam make their bid for the growing private studio/pre-production market with two brand new MIDI-controlled mixers. Tim Goodyer follows the expansion of automated mixing on a budget.

Several months after the MIDIVERB turned the world of stereo digital reverb on its head, Alesis look set for a repeat performance with their latest unit - a combination of digital delay, reverb and stereo enhancer. Paul Gilby seems lost for words.

Sony DTC77ES Four-Head DAT Recorder

Four heads can be better than one — and they needn't tax your overdraft, as Derek Johnson discovers with Sony's latest DAT recorder.

Wendy Carlos still loves digital synthesis. Through her pioneering soundtrack work on movies like Tron, and her synthesised interpretations of the classics, she has done as much as Jarre, Kraftwerk and Eno in making synthesisers both respectable and popular. She also used to be Walter Carlos. Daniel Rue investigates

SSSH... From You Know Who

Following last month's review of the Tascam MSR24S, Dave Lockwood turns his attention to Fostex's new one-inch 24-track with Dolby S: The G24S.

the instrumental side of touring

baby ford, golden boy of british acid, drops hints on getting the dancefloor moving

wanging for four strings