The Beyer Facts (again)

Beyer Dynamic, manufacturers of ribbdn and moving coil microphones, have introduced a ribbon head-microphone of studio quality specifically designed for the playing musician.

With a frequency response of 20-20,000 Hz and a figure of 8 polar pattern, the HM 560 head mike achieves a high degree of unwanted sound reflection.

The mike can be attached to either left or right side of the headband and is continuously adjustable for distance and angle to the mouth. The microphone can also be attached to the DT 100 headphone by means of a conversion plate.

The complete unit costs £141 plus VAT and the attachment conversion will cost £1.44 plus VAT.

The Crucial Combination

If you were as interested as we were in the Linn 9000 drum machine that we reviewed last month and are itching to hear it, then it's worth getting a copy of this month's Electronic Soundmaker & Computer Music which carries an impressive demo of the 9000 on tape, played by the Linn men from the States.

For £2 ES&CM also carries reviews, in print and on tape, of Pearl's new electronic drum kit (reviewed in this IM), an interview with electronic innovator and experimenter Stockhausen (featuring a piece of music on the cassette) and a peep into the future of home recording with Compusonics' home digital set-up for around £500 that should be with us at the end of the year.

Sampling is definitely one of many musicians' primary concerns, particularly when we have something like The Mirage arriving and with this in mind ES&CM are running their own high quality sampling package for the Spectrum micro on their tape this month which should costless than £20 to get going.

Power Play

To meet the demand for a portable Keyboard Mixer/Power amp, Peavey announce delivery of their new KB 400. Based around a new 400-K Power Module, the KB 400 develops 220 watts RMS into four ohm speaker load.

The mixer has been designed to meet the requirements of professional keyboardists and to offer maximum flexibility in operation.

Each of the four channels features high and low gain inputs, pre-Eq send and return, level, four band Eq and twin effects/reverb sends. The master patch panel features a comprehensive routing for effects and Eq patching and Bi-Amp facilities via the built-in variable cross-over. A nine band graphic Eq complements a full set of master effects return, level and reverb controls. Peavey's patented DDT (distortion detection technique) compressor has been specially developed for this model to accommodate the percussive performance of electronic keyboards.

For further details contact: Peavey Electronics (UK) Ltd, (Contact Details).

Odyssey — The Remake

Odyssey has recently completed a major re-fit to its Number Two studio as part of a major investment at the Marble Arch headquarters.

Wayne Bickerton, Chairman of Odyssey said, "What we have now in that studio represents one of the most advanced and sophisticated studios of its kind in the world. We have incorporated an American acoustic diffuser system which has not been used before in Europe, plus a Solid State 6000 Series desk. We also have Barco monitoring to improve our audio visual facilities. We are also in the stages of reequipping our other studios within the Odyssey complex."

Recent clients at Odyssey have included Alison Moyet, Bob Sergeant and Kevin Kitchen.

The Great Yamaha Price Drop

Yamaha have happily announced that in spite of a strengthened Yen, recommended retail prices in the UK of many of their popular models of electric guitars are reduced as from now.

Overall sales of Yamaha Electrics in 1984 showed a very healthy upward trend and it is Yamaha's intention this year to consolidate and strengthen the competitiveness of their range in tandem with the recent introduction of new models, notably the SE Single-Coil Series, SJ range and new SG's and BB's to the all black SG 1300TS and Active EQ Bass, the BB1100S.

Details of models where amended pricing applies are as follows:-

PPG Wave Goodbye

PPG, groundbreaking digital synth manufacturers, are to wind up their UK operation. A spokesman for the company announced that:

"Due to a reorganisation in the structure of the German parent company, there is at present no room in the revised company structure for the UK arm."

Details are vague at the moment, but it seems that a number of interested parties are negotiating to take over some aspects of the UK business, so the chances are that someone will continue to represent the company here in the future. We'll let you know about further developments as they happen...

No FT, No Comment

Spectrum Audio Limited has announced a new power amplifier in their professional FT range. The new FT100 is the low output impedance companion to the already highly successful 100V line transformerless output FTL100.

The FT100 is two units high and fits a standard 19" rack. In terms of power output the FT100 will deliver 120 watts RMS continuous into an eight ohm load or 200 watts into a four ohm load.

The FT100 includes a number of additional features normally associated with more expensive units, for example: delayed turn on to reduce loudspeaker 'thump'; excess LF and DC protection of the loudspeakers; and thermal overload protection.

For further information please contact: Spectrum Audio Limited, (Contact Details).

Eastenders

A different kind of rehearsal room has recently opened for bands in the East end of London. The rehearsal room has a stage, full parking facilities but no PA, hence the price tag of £2 per hour. Better rates can be organised for block booking and all proceeds go to charity. The hall is situated near Burdett Road, off Commercial Road, and anyone interested should contact Alan Marcusson on (Contact Details).

Food For Thought

Over 46 of the world's top recording artists co-operated in a no-holds barred recording session that is expected to raise millions for starving Ethiopians. Virtually all of the studio time, equipment costs and performances were donated by the various supporters of the event. Producer Quincy Jones oversaw the effort and made use of two new Mitsubishi X-800 32-channel digital multitracks at Kenny Rogers' Lion Share Studios for recording and mixdown.

The production has already yielded a single, We Are The World as well as a 12" extended play version, and an album — all of which will also be digitally mastered with the studio's Mitsubishi X-80 Digital Master Recorder.

Using one recorder already owned by the studio and a second hired in the systems were locked together with a BTX Softouch Synchronisers allow 64 tracks of digital capability. In order to support the expanded tracking capability of the Mitsubishi X-800's a special console was brought in to augment Lion Share's Neve board.

Engineer Humberto Gatica supervised the engineering chores under the direction of Grammy winner Quincy Jones.

"They assigned the solos so they'd be dramatic, with Springsteen's voice plunging in right behind a duet by Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, leading into a duet by Lionel and Stevie," explained event producer Ken Kragen. He was, of course, referring to Messrs Blair and Davis.

Club 30-60

Gleamway Ltd, the specialist audio/visual systems manufacturers announces a range of 30 Watts rms amplifiers with music power output a high 60 Watts, three mixed channels, six inputs including tape input and output.

The three channels are fully mixed, with bass, treble and volume independently adjustable for each channel.

A master volume control overrides all other controls to provide full system volume control. The amplifier also provides speech over music.

For further information contact Bob Andrews, Gleamway Ltd, (Contact Details).

Search Party

Part & Parcel, the U K's leading supplier of custom guitar and bass parts is to offer a new 'PartSearch' facility, seeking out much sought-after and rare parts for all types of guitars.

The Part & Parcel catalogue, released in November 1984, met with widespread acclaim from both amateur and professional guitar builders, as well as from customisers, for the massive stocklist of every conceivable piece of custom or replacement hardware. The new 'PartSearch' facility extends the P&P Service beyond their 1,000+ line catalogue, and was created due to demand from customers with vintage or rare instruments for whom location of replacement parts is almost impossible.

Customers must send full details of the part(s) they require, with templates if any cover or scratchplate is required. Special stocks of scarce hardware are currently being compiled, including log and linear potentiometers, open and closed machine heads (including the rare 'stone button' Gibson type), a wide selection of covers and scratchplates (including brass!), plus traditional tremolo systems, and even old fashioned knobs and switches.

Customers may have to wait slightly longer for such specialist parts, but will be notified as soon as the hardware is found.

Details of Part & Parcel 'Partsearch' is available from: Part & Parcel, (Contact Details).

Budget Shure

At a time when there seems no end to the rise in the US Dollar the new Shure Prologue line comes as a welcome change to ever-increasing prices and slots in right at the bottom of Shure's microphone price range.

Shure designed and quality controlled in the US, the range is manufactured in Japan, and is aimed at the beginner whose budget cannot yet stretch to a Shure SM58 or SM87, but who nevertheless want a workmanlike unit suitable for vocalist, musician, or audio/video hobbyist.

There are three models, all available in high or low impedance versions and retail prices including VAT start at under £25. Each model features an all metal die-cast case, on/off switch, professional XLR connector, and is furnished with a swivel adaptor, and of course all parts are replaceable for service convenience.

All This And Olympia 2

The UK's first major exhibition of all types of musical instrument and other products used in the making of music, is to be held later this year in Olympia 2, the prestigious new show venue in central London.

Open to trade visitors from 30 July, the British Music Fair will run for six days up to Sunday 4 August. The last three days will be open to the public, and the new exhibition will be the first opportunity for many UK and overseas companies to display their new products to music enthusiasts, active musicians and also retailers.

With supportfrom the Association of Music Industries (AMI) and the Electronic Keyboard and Organ Distributors Association (EKODA), organisers of the new show Philbeach Events Ltd are already able to announce an impressive line-up of major companies who will be exhibiting.

Free concerts will be arranged throughout the three public days, catering for a wide range of musical tastes. Exhibitors are inviting professional musicians, including many world-famous celebrities, to visit the British Music Fair to demonstrate the range of instruments on show and to meet their fans.

Show features include soundproof booths where display instruments can be played, a musical 'clinic' where technique can be discussed with experts in their field, and central displays of instruments through the ages of instrument craftsmen.

Further details are available from Simon Boyd, Philbeach Events Ltd, (Contact Details).

The British Music Pair at Olympia 2 will open as follows:

30 July — 1 August
9am — 6pm (trade only)

2/3 August
10am — 7pm (trade and public)

4 August
10am — 5pm (trade and public)