Akai's new ASK90 is designed to convert any form of audio input signal to MIDI code including velocity data. Ideally suited to their S900 Digital Sampler, it is especially useful for drum and percussion control. Retailing at around £169 including VAT, the ASK90 comes with internal operating software, enabling the utility mode on the S900 plus a disk containing three drum programs and 12 samples.

Details: Akai (UK) Ltd, (Contact Details).

Alligators on the Loose. Several thousand pounds worth of Alligator amplifiers were stolen from Langlois Son & Partner Ltd earlier this month and John Lalley, the Managing Director, is offering a reward of £500 for information leading to the return of the equipment. If you have any information on the missing Alligators, contact John on (Contact Details) and you could be in line for a monkey.

This Autumn AKG Acoustics are offering two days free holiday accommodation for two people, to the purchasers of one of five selected microphones or five hi-fi headphones from the current product range. Select your holiday break from any one of 400 hotels in the UK, France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Holland or Luxembourg. The offer operates for each individual purchase during the promotion period which ends January 31st 1987.

And that's not all. AKG have also brought out the C410 mic, a condenser mic designed for vocalists, mounted on a head boom. Frequency range is 20-20kHz and impedance 300Ω.

Details: AKG Acoustics Ltd, (Contact Details).

At the AES show in Los Angeles this year, Amek are planning to exhibit several new consoles. The Classic is a general purpose console angled slightly towards the broadcast market and features eight mono and two stereo busses. The APC1000 is the first of a new range. Complete consoles settings including fader and control pot positions can be stored as a page of RAM and recalled instantly. 99 pages are available in total. The standard console options allow for 32 to 80 inputs, but this can be expanded up to 120 if need be. 48 mono and 12 stereo busses are provided. The third new mixer that will be displayed is the G2520. This is based on the older M2500 and features 40 inputs, 24 mono busses, and in-line monitor, 4-band EQ and eight aux sends. Other Amek products will also be displayed. Details: Amek Systems and Controls, (Contact Details).

Audilec Distribution Ltd, have just revealed the latest additions to the 800 Series range from Audio Technics. The AT831a and the AT803a are two versatile miniature condenser microphones. The AT831a features a unidirectional polar pattern, and the AT803a, with its flat response, is suitable for both voice and music reproduction. Also, sound distortion is greatly reduced as the AT803a operates in sound pressure fields as intense as 130dB with no more than 1% THD.

Details: Audilec Distribution Ltd, (Contact Details).

Audio Engineering Services of Chelmer House, Woodham Walter, Maldon, Essex CM9 6RZ, have just made available a 24-hour phone line for technical enquiries: (0245) 415083.

FWO Bauch Ltd have recently been appointed exclusive UK distributors for the Lexicon RD-1, a hard disk based Audio Production System. The system will perform multitrack digital recording, editing, time alignment, mixing, signal processing and overdubbing.

Bernard Babani Publishing have just announced a new catalogue covering books on electronics and computing. This may be obtained free on application to: Bernard Babani Ltd, (Contact Details).

We should really tell you more about the Hands On Show. Firstly, an error crept into last month's news page, the correct address for the Hands On Show should be the Strand Palace Hotel and the show will run from the 22nd to the 23rd of November. The show is a must for anyone even remotely interested in recording and the H&SR staff will be on hand to answer questions and offer impartial advice. This year the show covers some 3200 square feet and there are some very interesting attractions planned. Don't miss it.

Despite the fact that they are already manufacturing four different models of Portastudio, Harman UK have announced a new one: the Porta Two. Nothing much is known as yet about the Porta Two, but Harman may tell you something if you contact them on: Harman UK Ltd, (Contact Details).

Audio enthusiasts in Britain and the USA are forming an independent consumer group to improve quality standards, called the International Audio and Musical Association (INTERAMA). They aim to increase public awareness of good quality audio, improve the quality of sound in the home and in public places, and improve communication between consumers and all sections of the audio and music industry. The association also plans to present awards to companies and individuals who make substantial contributions towards quality improvements in the industry. Annual membership will cost £19.95 and members will receive a special benefits package including a unique insurance cover scheme for their record collections and audio equipment, free listing in a national security register, and membership of the organisation's record club. Organised trips to international audio and music fairs are also promised — and regular copies of INTERAMAs own magazine 'Integrity'.

Details: International Audio and Music Association, (Contact Details).

The new Maplin catalogue is out. It's their biggest one so far, with many new products. It also features many special offers.

Details: Maplin Electronic Supplies Ltd, (Contact Details).

Marquee Electronics are pleased to announce the launch of a new control room monitor from the equally new company, Jones Loudspeakers. These compact monitors utilise a metal coned bass driver and a metal domed tweeter driven from a third order crossover and are claimed to offer superior bass performance and acoustic power output when compared to conventional monitors of a similar size.

Details: Marquee Electronics, (Contact Details).

Platinum have recently announced a monitor console option to their level IV range, incorporating a new monitor input module, the P53. The monitor mixer is available in up to 3 frame sizes, from the 16:12 through to the 24:13 up to the 32:12 console. The meter bridge is optional with all inputs having their own bar graph display and the EQ is 3-band. Each channel has separate mic and line inputs that can be actively mixed on the channel with the unique ability to accept DId signals. The channel also incorporates standard features such as 48v phantom power, 30dB pad and phase reverse and a 6dB feedback chaser button. All inputs can be muted or soloed for maximum user control, all outputs can be seen on VU meters and heard through an extensive solo system. Details: Platinum (Contact Details).

Quads Stolen. No, not a multiple baby snatching but three Quad 405 power amps stolen from Quad's warehouse. These are export models having 100 volt transformers so if any dealer or private buyer is offered any unusual Quad 405s, please phone Quad or the local Police. The serial numbers of the missing amps are 87043, 87119 and 87120.

Audio Kinetics have appointed Raper & Wayman as agents for the new Pacer Chase Synchroniser.

Details: Raper & Wayman Ltd, (Contact Details).

Roland's new DEP-5 Stereo Digital Multi-Effects processor is a 1U 19" rack unit unique in it's ability to reproduce four different, high quality and fully programmable effects: reverb, delay, chorus and parametric EQ. Moreover the DEP-5 bears the humble price tag of only £675. We have a review model in our hands now and will be bringing you the full story next month.

Details: Roland UK Ltd, (Contact Details).

There will be a chance to see both Roland and Toa gear in action if you can catch the Tommy Snyder Tour, sponsored by both companies. The tour will be as follows. Cret Hotel, New Bridge street, Newcastle - 10th November, Liberty's, Greenside House, 25 Greenside Place, Edinburgh - 11th November, A1 Music, 88 Oxford Street, Manchester - 12th November, Portland club, 100 Icknield Port Road, Edgbaston - 13th November, The Logan Hall, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1 0AL - 14th November. All shows start at 8pm. There will also be a masterclass held be Tommy Snyder and Francis Seriau at 3pm on the 15th November at Ronnie Scott's club, 47 Frith Street, London.

Details: Alan Townsend, Roland UK Ltd, (Contact Details).

Skysound Communications in Cambridge have just released an instructional cassette intended to help those inexperienced in the studio field. Primarily aimed at those using mid-price studios, it comprises twelve sections, describing the process from rehearsal to the finished demo. Price is £5.50 including p + p from: John Walker, Skysound Communications, (Contact Details).

The new Soundtracs MIDI series of console is unique in so much as it is MIDI intelligent. It is of an in-line format with a 16 or 24 input/output module mainframe and 16-track monitoring and 16 sub groups. Designed primarily for keyboard workshops, the MIDI series has 32 or 48 MIDI-controlled inputs with additional MIDI control on four auxiliaries, plus eight optional MIDI-controlled effects returns. The MIDI series requires no external computer, and is designed with user-friendliness in mind. The built in microprocessor enables straightforward programming of the console which may be designated to any of the 16 MIDI channels currently available.

Additionally, control of external MIDI effects may also be programmed from the console.

Details: Soundtracs, Soundout Laboratories Ltd, (Contact Details).

TAC are launching new products at the forthcoming AES show in Los Angeles. The SR9000 features 40 inputs, 16 mono sub-groups, one stereo buss, a 16:8 output matrix, eight independent mute groups and 16 aux sends. New options for the Scorpion will also be displayed, including one that incorporates eight aux sends (instead of four) per input module. Details: TAC, (Contact Details).

Technics range of speakers have been extended with the introduction of the SB-RX50 coaxial flat speaker system.

Manufactured specifically for the UK market, these speakers incorporate newly developed drivers made of improved materials resulting in sound reproduction that's virtually free from distortion and colouration. In response to the increasing trend for using speakers as part of a complete audio/video centre, the SB-RX50s feature a magnetic shielding which helps reduce flux leakage and so reduces interference problems with nearby TV sets. Retail price is around £449.95.

Details: Susan McLean/Guila Ovidi, Panasonic UK Ltd, (Contact Details).

Tower Records have opened a huge store in Piccadilly Circus occupying four floors of the old Swan and Edgar building. Stock will include records, CDs, tapes and videos and all fields of music are covered. The store is open every day of the year from 9am to midnight Monday to Saturday and till 11 pm on Sundays.

Over the next two months, Yamaha will be presenting a travelling musical roadshow featuring the Yamaha X-Press band and the full range of X series equipment, DX synthesisers, RX drum machines and QX sequencers. There will be a free draw at each venue and additional giveaways. The itinerary is as follows. The Moat House, Bournmouth, 5th-7th Oct. Griffin Hotel, Leeds, 10th-11th Oct. Sandown Park, Esher, 19th Oct. Holiday Inn, Plymouth, 25th-27th Oct. Ladbroke Hotel, Birmingham, 2nd-3rd Nov. The Moat House, Liverpool, 9th-10th Nov. Magermarne House Hotel, Larne 12th-13th Nov. The Old Ship, Brighton, 16th Nov. Novotel, Hammersmith, London, 21st-22nd Nov.