Run To The Hill

Good news for Rock bands both of North London and further afield; the Muswell Hill Centre, a community centre, has started a series of monthly Rock reviews featuring emerging bands plus local talent. If you're interested in going (the proceeds are to be split between the performers and the centre, which is a registered charity) or playing, get in touch with Malcolm Chapman at (Contact Details).

MAX-A-MILLION SELLER?

Sequential Circuits have confirmed their commitment to the world of the musical computer with their latest product. The MAX is basically a similar synthesizer to the Six-Trak, with the added proviso that the performance controls and user-programmable presets are less complicated and extensive. Thus, on its own it functions as a sort of preset Six-Trak.

However — and there is the great advantage of the MAX — once connected, via a MIDI link to a computer it comes into its own. The 80 existing sound presets are complemented with 20 that you can programme yourself, and you can take advantage of the six-channel built-in sequencer to expand your system by adding other keyboards and modules. At £725 it's £110 less than the Six-Trak, but you'll need a computer to make the fullest use of it. Contact your local dealer for details, or try Sequential's UK office at (Contact Details).

Brighton Beautiful

Plans are now well underway for the 1985 Home Recording Show, to be held in Brighton and organised by that town's Tape Shop.

This Mecca for the South Coast's (and elsewhere's) home taping freaks will be at the Norfolk Hotel on Brighton seafront from Friday 19th April to Sunday 21st, and is promised to be even bigger and better than last year's extravaganza, which by all accounts was a pretty scorching success. For more details, whether you're a prospective exhibitor or an eager visitor, contact Dianna Lower at The Tape Shop, (Contact Details).

DD to NY via NBC

In a super-complicated bit of satellite-linked transatlantic skulduggery, Abbey Road studios managed to get Duran Duran interviewed from New York recently — while the band were in London.

All this went on absolutely live from the studio's Penthouse, and the star of the show, despite its lack of makeup or teen appeal, was undoubtedly the new Neve 8128 32-channel desk. It had only been on stream since the preceding month, but handled the load of phone-in questions, interviewers' chat, Duran banter and the occasional jingle in perfect stereo with no problems. Once mixed down, the programme was transmitted via satellite to NBC's New York HQ and re-transmitted to over 100 radio stations in America.

Should you wish to undertake a mammoth phone-in or just a minor mixdown, you can contact Neve at (Contact Details).

Spring Vesta

There's a replacement out now for the popular Vesta Fire RV-1 spring reverb unit. The new one, called imaginatively the RV-3 offers more facilities, including true stereo, three band Eq on both channels, and built in limiters and noise gates.

But the really novel thing is that this improved version actually costs less than its dad. At just £215 including VAT, the RV-3 has to be high on the list of acquisitions for studios both home and professional. For more information, contact MTR at (Contact Details).

Rhino pushes Pickups

EMG pickups, the low impedance units used in all the best guitars and basses from the US of A (ask the Police, the Stones or hotshots ZZ Top) have been relaunched after their initial attack in 1983. This time, the distribution will be on a wider scale and is being handled by Rhino Music Spares.

The pickups, which work from a small battery and are claimed to offer low noise, attack, string separation, and natural sustain, are in models suitable for almost all old and new guitars and basses. For further information, call the Rhino people at (Contact Details).