If you intend to make samples of acoustic instruments or events, you're going to need a microphone - but which one? David Bradwell checks the various types and their uses.

Noise reduction is an essential part of any professional recording; but there's more than one way of providing it and more than one way of using it. Silence is golden to Vic Lennard.

User Report

Noise Reduction System

There are more sources of noise in a studio than recording tape -and a noise reduction unit ought to be able to cope with all of it, right? Vic Lennard thinks he's found one that does.

Noise Reduction

Noise reduction explained.

David Kenny gives these units the once-over

How to sound like Phil Collins in two easy moves: (1) enter this simple competition to win the superb Gatex four-channel expander/noise gate, and (2) buy yourself a set of drums and start practising!

More readers' queries are answered by the expert teaching staff of London's Gateway School Of Recording & Music Technology.

Take one noise gate, add a drum machine plus a dash of imagination, then see what happens.

If you're swamped in hiss, then you may need this — the full SP on gates and their uses. But listen carefully: I may be asking questions.

It took the importing enterprise of Audio Services to bring us a new range of well-priced effect units from Dutch company IQ Systems. Sound engineer Gareth Stuart checks out two of the range: the dual noise gate, and stereo clarifier - a psychoacoustic sound enhancer.

This, however, is the bit where we tell you gossipy tittle-tattle you've never heard before.

Recording guitar

Fade away and radiate with Primal Scream's engineer Brian O'Shaughnessy

Signal Processors - the saga continues

Phil 'Distortion' Walsh and the continuing saga of signal processors

David Hughes tries out three new low-cost companions to the Alesis Microverb - the Micro Enhancer, Micro Gate, and Micro Limiter. Are they the Accessit range of the Eighties?

home recording FX regime

Rebis Modular Effects Rack System RA200 Series.

A look at some of the newer modules currently available for the Rebis rack.

Studio Test

Curtis Schwartz assesses a new departure for Drawmer — a 'MIDI management system'

Taking the hiss?

'Guitar-style' effects pedals are frowned upon by conscientious recordists but, surprisingly, some can yield very good results as we discovered.

Handy Recording Tips & Techniques

A useful selection of technical information and tricks of the trade — a masterclass in miniature!

A Producer's Guide

The Paul Wiffen production guide

Design and development