Shown for the first time at last month's APRS exhibition, Olympia, were four new E-Series tape recorders from Fostex.

The E-16 comes as the replacement for the world's best-selling 16-track recorder, the B-16, and other than falling in line with a new black colour scheme, it includes full microprocessor control over all functions and has a built-in two memory autolocate.

As the Fostex Model 80 has already taken over from the original A8 which established the 8-track ¼inch format, the new Fostex E-8 is a logical upgrade to the Model 80 and allows full professional size 10¼inch NAB tape spools to be used rather than the smaller 7 inch types. Both the E-16 and E-8 machines are fitted with switchable Dolby C noise reduction.

For stereo mastering, the Fostex E-2 is a high quality 2-track machine with a third centre SMPTE timecode track and if you really want the tops, the E-22 offers stereo mastering at 15 or 30 ips on ½inch tape, again with a centre track timecode facility.

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When it comes to compact mixers packed with facilities, the Seck 1882 is amongst the top contenders. Seck have now expanded their range with the introduction of the new 1282 mixer which is orientated more towards 8-track rather than 16-track users. The new mixer comes in the colour of the moment 'black' and is identical in specification to the 1882 except of course that it only has twelve input channels and 8-track monitoring.

However, if your need is for a live sound mixer you'll be pleased to know that the Seck stereo range of mixers has also been extended to meet the demand for 'more' inputs. The new 242 provides twenty-four input channels into two outputs.

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The latest company to introduce a stereo digital reverb is Ibanez with their SDR 1000. As a latecomer to the market place, the SDR 1000 obviously has to have something a little different about it to compete and in fact it does. The unit can be programmed as two independent channels of reverb or linked together for stereo operation. There's a choice of 30 preset or 70 user programs and 8 reverb characteristics are provided: Room, Hall, Plate, Gate, Dual Reverb, Dual Delay, Auto-Pan and Reverse.

Front panel controls are provided for all parameter editing and a 4-band EQ section is also included along with MIDI control. Audio quality-wise, the Ibanez SDR1000 is a 16-bit system with a 10kHz bandwidth and 90dB dynamic range.

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From Holland comes a new range of rack-mounted devices from the Dutch company IQ Systems, with UK distribution being handled by Audio Services of Stockport and London.

There are several units including a noisegate, spring reverb, guitar DI input and, more interestingly, a pitch shifter called the HT2 Harmony Transposer. This offers pitch shifting over +/- one octave range with coarse/fine pitch control and feedback for multiple harmonies.

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On show at the British Music Fair will be several new products from Akai and these include what is possibly the most sophisticated 'portastudio' type unit available - the Akai MG614. This unit encompasses all the usual features to be found on a 4-track standard cassette-based recorder, but it also boasts some very special extras.

The system has built-in computer assisted signal patching and routing for flexible monitoring, track bouncing and mixdown. There's an auto-locate facility with search, repeat, play and record functions for fast and accurate drop-ins and a unique 'fifth' track for sync code operation where a sequencer or drum machine needs to be used in sync with other material on the audio tracks.

On the audio side, the cassette will run at normal or double speed with dbx Type I noise reduction being used to keep the signal quality high. The six input channels offer two-band parametric EQ and two effects sends, each with a stereo return.

Staying in the recording domain, Akai have also introduced an updated version of their unique 14-track recorder/mixer the MG1212, this is the MG1214 and other than bringing it into line with current Akai cosmetics there is very little difference.

If you were always impressed with the idea of the 14-track tape system on ½inch format but were not so impressed with the mixer section, then worry no more. Akai have released the MG14D rack-mounted 14-track tape recorder. The MG14D is a 5U high unit incorporating the unique Akai Lambda tape system which utilises special videotape cassettes and uses dbxType I noise reduction. All transport functions and input bargraph meters are housed on the front panel but if further and more sophisticated control is required, the optional ML14 with ten cue points is available. The MG14D itself offers 12 audio tracks and two control tracks, one for its own auto-locate control and the other for external SMPTE timecode/MIDI use.

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In a continuing trend to make FM synthesis more user friendly, Yamaha are launching the FB-01 FM Tone Generator at the British Music Fair. This module is based on the tone generators found in the CX5 computer and offers 240 pre-programmed voices plus a further 96 user-definable memories. The FB-01 is an eight-voice system and the first Yamaha product to incorporate different MIDI channel assignment ie. they have finally implemented the MIDI Mono mode for independent voice control as on the Casio CZ range.

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If you are looking for a really versatile drum machine then the new DDD-1 from Korg could be the answer. Versatility comes in the shape of touch sensitive keys for dynamic drum sound programming, interchangeable drum voices via ROM cards and a sampling option to capture your own unique percussion sounds.

The DDD-1 is fully MIDI compatible, includes stereo/mono or six individual audio outputs, and all song and parameter information may be saved to cassette tape, RAM cards or via MIDI to the Korg SQD-1 Sequencer. The internal memory holds 100 different patterns and ten songs of up to 9999 bars long.

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When it comes to studio-quality power amplifiers, Quad have been producing classic models for donkeys years. The latest amplifier to join the range is the rugged looking Quad 606. This has been designed to operate at 180 watts per channel into 8 ohms and uses as Quad say "similar circuitry to the 306 amplifier but with more of what matters, where it matters". Nicely put!

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The Seiko MR1000 must represent one of the lowest cost real-time MIDI sequencers on the market today and it's been designed to operate just like a tape recorder with its Record, Play, Stop and Pause buttons. Tracks are built up one at a time by overdubbing, though at this time we don't know what the maximum number can be. Further facilities include loop play, tempo control and cassette dump of the performance memory.

Also from Seiko, but marketed under the name DMG (Digital Music Gear), are a collection of MIDI data control boxes. Six units are available which provide control over different MIDI data functions, these include the: DMG 100 MIDI Channel Converter, DMG200 MIDI Signal Filter, DMG300 MIDI Signal Mixer, DMG400 MIDI Switch Box, DMG500 MIDI Foot Controller and DMG600 MIDI Patch Box. In addition, the DMG700 is a fibre optic cable for linking MIDI devices over a distance of 10 metres. Both the Seiko MR1000 sequencer and all DMG units are being distributed by (Contact Details)

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To be released at this year's British Music Fair will be a series of new products from Roland. These will include the MKS-70 which is a rack-mountable version of their flagship synthesizer, the Super JX. On the effects side, the Boss Micro Rack series continues to grow with the introduction of the RCE-10 Digital Chorus Ensemble. This features new digital modulation circuitry for synchronised control of the chorus unit.

For the guitarist, Roland have developed two new products which offer true control and playability of MIDI synthesizers. The GK-1 is a retro-fit converter which can be added to any guitar without the need to drill holes in the body. Once fitted the GK-1 allows you to play the Roland GR-700 Guitar Synthesizer module without having to buy Roland's own guitar. Or by using the new GM-70 MIDI Converter, control signals from the GK-1 can play any MIDI sound module with accurate pitch tracking and pitch bending at any playing speed.

The GM-70 comes as a 19" rack-mounting unit and features 64 memories for storage of performance data such as MIDI Channel, Bend Range, String Selection etc and it may control external units on up to four MIDI channels simultaneously in Poly or Mono mode.

For existing Guitar Synthesizer owners, the GM-70 offers the same MIDI control to all G-24 BUS Roland systems.

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QUICK MENTIONS

Drawmer are releasing the M500 Dynamic Processor which follows the trend recently set by Yamaha's SPX90 in providing a variety of effects all in one box. The M500 offers a Frequency Conscious Gate, Expander/Gate, Compressor, De-Esser, Limiter and Auto-Panner with low noise performance and balanced inputs and outputs. A total of 128 presets are held in internal memory and a further 128 user programs may be stored. All programs may be changed via MIDI Program Change numbers and settings may be 'dumped' into another M500 via the MIDI socket.

The major difference with the Drawmer M500 over other similar units is that all the effects may be used simultaneously.

Also from Drawmer comes the LX20 stereo Compressor/Limiter for the budget minded musician who wants Drawmer quality.

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E-mu Systems will soon launch the Emax, a new low-cost version of the Emulator II which will be an eight-voice polyphonic keyboard with 17 seconds maximum sampling time at 28kHz.

Whilst we're on the subject of the Emulator, UK distributors Syco have announced the availability of the CD ROM from Optical Media International. This utilises a Compact Disc player for direct transfer of samples in the digital domain to the Emulator II without having to resort to analogue conversion. The CD ROM mounts on top of the EII and has a capacity of 536 sounds on one disc.

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MUSIC 5000, the successor to the MUSIC 500 system for the BBC Micro, will be launched on 24th July at the Acorn User Exhibition, The Barbican Centre, London. Existing MUSIC 500 owners have not been forgotten however as they can upgrade to the MUSIC 5000 with a special software package.

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Dbx have introduced a new series of budget signal processors which take the form of the increasingly popular half-rack width module. All units use one or two controls for fast and easy set up and the new series includes a Compressor, De-Esser, Noise Gate Expander and Type I Noise Reduction. Any two units may be linked together and rack-mounted.

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Amstrad computer owners will be pleased to know that a MIDI interface has been developed for the Amstrad CPC computers by DHCP Electronics. Software packages are also available and these include a Casio CZ Voice Monitor/Editor and a voice program library.

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