Bass Slate

The life history of the bass guitar.

electronic drums

Soundcheck

The keystone of Japan's national sport comes under the oriental gaze of Martin Moody

That's the way Tony Attwood sees it. See if you agree.

Jazz-Rock Fusion, Movement of Jah People

Atari ST Software

One emerging trend in software sequencing is that of endowing your computer with musical "intelligence". Ian Waugh contends that machines can have feelings too.

The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society

The second of an occasional series in which David Mellor takes a look at the organisations that help musicians and composers earn an honest crust in this hard world. This month: the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society.

Keyboard programmer Paul Wiffen brings you the latest developments on the Sequential sampling system: the new 2002 rack-mount, and the superb Digidesign visual editing software. He also takes a look at the Prophet 2000 and passes on some useful tips for using its 'mapping' function to the full.

Electronic Percussion System

Marketed in the US as E-Drums, these Swedish-built percussion units combine high quality digital samples with immense constructional sturdiness. Dan Goldstein again.

After several weeks of collating your replies, an explanation of the results of this revealing survey.

Programmable MIDI Reverb

In the first of two appraisals of digital reverb units that offer real-time control of parameters via MIDI, Rick Davies analyses Korg's affordable approach...

Who's making the cash out of record sales - the artist, the record company, the management, the record shops? David Bradwell investigates record royalties.

Equipment news

Bob Williams has one of the finest collections of analogue synthesisers in the world, and cherishes them with a care that would make the Science Museum blush. Peter Forrest crosses hill and dale to Cornwall to take a long, loving look, and uncovers a whole network of Moog and Mellotron devotees. Whatever next - 'The Antique Rhodes Show'?

Steve Hackett, Bernard Szajner

Remember, you'll read it here first!

Oldies identified: Epiphone, Ibanez, Fender, Eros, Radiotone, Hofner, Rickenbacker, Excetro and Fasan.

The Roland Sound Canvas is far more than a successor to the MT32— it's the first of a whole new generation of MIDI instruments, conforming to the General MIDI standard. Special Agent Paul D. Lehrman investigates.

Dan Goldstein sifts through the stack of independent vinyl that landed in the E&MM offices following our appeal, and finds each record has a different tale to tell.

A look ahead at what's new in the shops.

Programmable Phase Distortion Polysynth

At last, Casio come up with the pro keyboard goods. Paul Wiffen tests the first of a whole range of synth gear from the calculator people, and concludes that it's 'probably the best Casio of all time.'

Annabel Scott talks to one of the synth world's younger composers about a new album of raunchier, dynamic music, the result of his first sessions in Jive Electro's equipment-laden studio, Battery.

The Return Of Die Krupps

Miranda Sex Garden: Sampling The Nation's PA Systems