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Article from Electronic Soundmaker & Computer Music, March 1984

Selected releases


The latest from the music industry

At the time of writing the Frankfurt music show is still a few weeks in the future, but clearly the music industry has a few treats in store, with particular emphasis on computer and synthesizer-based instruments. Yamaha have had a major success with their DX synthesizers despite limited supplies, and intend to back up the series with various computer and MIDI units. A complete compositional package seems to be on the cards with a new keyboard and terminal combination fitted with MIDI outputs. In addition the remote MIDI-equipped keyboard for the DX series (also theoretically compatible with, for instance, the Prophet 600, Roland JX-3P and retrofitted Korg Poly-61) should be available shortly.

Yamaha also promise a digital delay to match the recent R-1000 Digital Reverb, and possibly a digitally sampled drum machine. The mixer front is also active, with the introduction of the RM-2408, a 24 into eight recording console designed to match the existing 1608 and 804 models.

Sequential Surprises



Sequential Circuits were a little more forthcoming concerning technical details of their Frankfurt introductions. Perhaps most interestingly, as exclusively predicted in our Prophet T8 review in October last year, they have at last come up with a digitally sampled drum machine, the DrumTrax. It features 13 sounds with individual trigger buttons and can store up to 100 songs of 100 steps each, and 100 patterns of 100 bars each with a copy/append feature for editing. 'Swing' or human feel and auto-correct are included in addition to comprehensive interfacing including MIDI. Priced around £950 the DrumTrax promises to be a winner, particularly since it will be one of the first drum machines to fully satisfy the MIDI conventions. This implies that the connection of a MIDI keyboard to the DrumTrax will allow playing of the percussion sounds off the lower notes of the keyboard.


The next part of the new SCI system is the 6Trax, a six-voice, one oscillator per voice polyphonic synthesizer with 100 memories. It has a 4-octave keyboard and a 6-track independent program sequencer, allowing six monophonic lines each with a different sound to play back simultaneously. Any combination of monophonic and polyphonic lines up to a single 6-note polyphonic sequence is possible and the usual Prophet voicing quality should make this a winner at £854.

Lastly the Commodore 64 Sequencer interface which we looked at in October 1983. It links the Commodore 64 computer to the MIDI input of a Prophet 600 or 6Trax, giving 4000 note storage, up to nine individual songs, multitracking and sequence chaining to form songs and full sync facilities to drum machines including Roland models. Used with the 6Trax only it allows a keyboard split to be programmed, and costs £172, which even with the addition of a Commodore 64 (currently plummeting in price) represents a unique bargain in polyphonic sequencer technology.

Having A Ball



Still in the States, Steinberger have licensed the use of their patented tuners and double ball system to Westheimer and to Cort Musical instruments, who have each produced a Steinberger-style guitar at a budget price. Westheimer's is a 6-string, the Lotus, while Cort's is a dual pickup bass. Although other patented features of the Steinberger such as the electronics and body shape are not covered by the licensing agreement, both guitars have a futuristic look to them and could be popular over here if dealership is arranged. More information from Steinberger Sound, (Contact Details).

IMA Member



If you want to keep up with new products in the MIDI field you could do no better than join the International MIDI Association (IMA) which at present costs $40. Membership incudes regular newsletters, use of the MIDI DataBase for programme information and NOSYN, which keeps track of serial number based equipment updates, user contact lists and product information. IMA's first newsletter contains information on the Roland MPU-401 MIDI Processing unit, which at present interfaces the Apple and IBM Personal Computer to MIDI instruments and can perform programme saves, loads and graphics while music is playing. U.S. hardware cost is around $200 and software around $100. Contact the IMA for a membership application, (Contact Details).

Sounds Like Video



Problems of poor sound quality on video in the home may soon be a thing of the past with the introduction of the Beta Hi-Fi and VHS Vi-Fi systems. Additional helical heads code the sound information via FM techniques, but the existing linear heads are retained so that conventionally recorded videos can still be played. Because the entire tape width can now be used, the s/n ratio can shoot up to an amazing 90dB, ideal for the most demanding types of music reproduction.

Panasonic UK have now collaborated with Rank Phicom Video Duplication by supplying several NV850 VCRs for assessment of the industrial viability of video HiFi duplication. RPVD's clients include RCA/Columbia, MGM/UA Home Video, Warner Home Video, Rank Video, Embassy Home Entertainment and Video Tape Centre (VTC). Hopefully the system will catch on rapidly and become a cost effective method of audio recording as well as the summit of video audio technology.

Korg Latest



As previously mentioned, Korg are now offering a retro-fitted MIDI interface for the Poly 61 — this is only possible as the machine was designed with this addition in mind, so it's not possible on the Poly 6 or Trident for instance. There's also to be a new Korg, the Poly 800, which seems set to largely supersede the Poly 61.


The Poly 800 is an 8-oscillator polyphonic which can play in 8x1 or 4x2 mode but has a stereo chorus to thicken up sounds in the single oscillator mode. A built-in polyphonic sequencer can dump information to tape as can the 64 memories, and there's a MIDI interface included. A 6-digit LED display shows the programme information and memories can be stepped through using a footswitch. A single Digital Access Control alters all 50 parameters and there's a chord memory function. The Poly 800 only weighs 10lb and can be operated from batteries or mains; fittings for a guitar strap allow it to be toted around the stage and a wireless transmitter would give the keyboard player total freedom for the first time with a polyphonic keyboard.

Perhaps the best thing about the Poly 800 is its price, £635 including VAT, which should allow it to sweep up whatever's left of the budget polysynth market. Stocks are due in the shops by the time you read this.

More MPC



Elsewhere in this issue we've reviewed the Music Percussion Computer from MPC Electronics, who have now expanded its possibilities with a set of live playing pads. The pads interface through a multi-pin connector on the back of the MPC, or alternatively to a set of voice modules soon to be available which will duplicate and extend the drum synth capabilities of the MPC. More information is available from MPC or from Musimex, (Contact Details).

ABC Warriors



ABC Music of Surrey have announced the opening of a new branch in Slough managed by Barry Lyons. The shop will have ABC's usual selection of Roland, Yamaha, Sequential Circuits, Moog, Casio and Korg keyboards and other equipment, plus a comprehensive hire and service department. The shop is located at (Contact Details).

Junoesque



As an update to last month's Roland Revelations article, we can now exclusively reveal the latest model to be presented at Frankfurt. It's the Juno 106, intended to replace the Juno 6 and 60 and selling at an astounding £800 or so. For that you get a 5-octave keyboard, 128 memories in two banks, polyphonic portamento and MIDI, with DCO's and chorus giving an overall sound similar to the earlier Junos. The MIDI bus can include information on LFO modulation, bender, patch changes and keyboard information, and there is a Through socket in addition to In/Out. Styling is mid-way between the Junos and the Jupiter 8, with an eye-catching central LED display of patch number.

Roland have also announced price changes for much of their range. There are increases in the region of 5% on much equipment, one notable exception being amplifiers — as these are now assembled in England, prices are actually dropping by 10%. Price increases do not apply to much of the new equipment discussed last month such as the RAM packs used to program the GR700 polyphonic guitar synth, which will be £29 (2K) and £69 (8K). The 19-inch mounting MIDI voice modules mentioned last month are going into production, with the MKS 10 (piano) at £899, the MKB 1000 wooden weighted MIDI keyboard at £1499 and the MKS30 (synth) at £749. Another region for big price cuts is the Amdek kits — according to MD Brian Nunney, "there's no point producing them without a significant price differential over assembled units, and with a significant price differential there's no point producing them." Cryptic! Stocks are expected to sell out by March, so grab your last chance for a £30 Phaser, £50 6-channel mixer or £30 Hand Clapper.

Special Offer



Mensa is going into the rock music business with a band called Mensala, consisting of members of the organisation's electronic music special interest group. An appearance on Tomorrow's World served to demonstrate that the band are developing new musical devices as well as using existing technology. ES&CM have secured a special offer on their first product, an interface box which allows the Sinclair Spectrum to act as a sequencer and composing device for MIDI-equipped instruments. Capacity is 3500 notes on a 48K machine, with a full VDU display of notes programmed, and the device is expandable in the future. The band are soon to cut a single which will make full use of pre-programmed MIDI information in the recording process. Details of the Upstream interface and our special offer appear on page 12.



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Publisher: Electronic Soundmaker & Computer Music - Cover Publications Ltd, Northern & Shell Ltd.

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Electronic Soundmaker - Mar 1984

Donated & scanned by: Mike Gorman

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