The Return of the Modular Synthesizer

Digidesign continue to add to their innovative range of synthesis programs which use the flexibility of computers for sound creation and the hardware of MIDI samplers to replay the sounds. Paul Wiffen finds he loves the former but hates the latter.

AES Show Report

Forthcoming new products from the hi-tech music recording field.

Once you've got your sequencer up and running you're gonna need some extra sound sources. Paul Wiffen guides us through the MIDI Expander jungle

Paul Wiffen goes stateside to find out what new products we can look forward to from the U.S of A

Rack-Mount Sampler/Sequencer

A rack-mount version of the EPS was something Ensoniq swore they would never produce, but they have finally bowed to public pressure. Paul Wiffen looks at the extra memory, extra outputs and SCSI applications, and concludes it has been worth the wait.

Paul Wiffen takes an exclusive look a Ensoniq's latest offering in the field of sampling

Intrepid reporter Paul Wiffen jets over to Chicago for an exclusive peek at the latest goodies from the States

Multitimbral Expander

From the home organ division of the Japanese giant comes a box which wipes the floor with anything that Yamaha’s Professional Keyboards division can currently produce. Paul Wiffen reveals the secret of the black box...

The Tokyo Expo is normally a fairly low-key domestic affair, but this year several major new products were unveiled for the first time ever. Our man in Japan, Paul Wiffen, was there to report on some of the hi-tech instruments that will be vying for your money in the coming year; including Yamaha's new mega-synth, the SY77

Paul Wiffen tinkers with the synth/workstation that has made the competition sit up and listen

Paul Wiffen reviews the new Casio FZ Sampler

Akai S1000KB Sampler with DAC R4000 Syquest Drive

The S1000 has been with us for almost two years now, and the removable Syquest drive has become the most popular way of accessing a large library for it. But suppose you put them both in the same box with a weighted keyboard? Paul Wiffen discovers to his joy that someone has!

Form Or Function: What Are We Paying For?

Do manufacturers and distributors care too much about the appearance of products and not enough about performance? Paul Wiffen offers an insider view.

16-Bit Stereo Sampler

Akai's S1000 is without doubt the industry standard professional sampler, so why try and improve on the best? Paul Wiffen finds that SMPTE cue listing, AES/EBU real-time output, and built-in effects are a good start (with hard disk recording to follow).

Paul Wiffen braved the sun, surf and sand of California to bring you the latest highlights of forthcoming hi-tech products shown at NAMM '91.

Sampled Percussion Performance Module

What is it about programmed drum parts that make them sound programmed. Paul Wiffen goes in search of the secret of realistic drumming, and finds it in the Emu Procussion.

Part 1: The Shoot

We all know how modern cost-effective musical instruments and recording equipment allow professional standard tapes to be produced at home. But does the similar trend in video gear mean that the average musician can now shoot his own promo? Paul Wiffen and Darrin Williamson thought so. This is their story.

Part 2: The Edit

Last month we looked at how you can use a domestic format like S-VHS to shoot footage good enough for use in a video demo. But getting the right footage is only half the battle as Paul Wiffen and Darrin Williamson found out. This month we follow them through the editing stage.

Passport AudioTrax

MIDI and hard disk recording on the Mac for only £260? It sounds too good to be true, but Paul Wiffen pinches himself and finds he is awake!

Yamaha TG100 General MIDI Tone Module

A lightweight multi-timbral module, with 28-voice polyphony and 192 sounds, which also acts as a MIDI Interface for your computer — where's the catch? Paul Wiffen looks hard but just can't seem to find it.

Atari Falcon030 Computer