Turn your Atari ST into a complete software music system for well under a ton. Ian Waugh fires up a new all-in-one music program from an independent British company.

news from the equipment world

Part 4: Further Hardware Details

The resumption of our series describing the design of Clef Products' new computer music system for the BBC micro, the PDSG. Designer Alan Boothman takes up the story.

Electropop veteran Vince Clarke and latest partner, Andy Bell, discuss composing, sampling and singing following their debut album release. Tim Goodyer takes notes.

A look at several of the more significant new products to be launched at this year's British Music Fair at Olympia.

Atari ST Software

In a completely different vein to Cubase, MusiCal is a music learning program aimed primarily at the educational market. Ian Waugh goes back to school.

Another low-cost digital reverb from Alesis, a SMPTE/EBU to MIDI event synchroniser, new DX ROM/RAM cartridges, and a visual editor for Akai's S900 sampler are all amongst the forthcoming crop of new products.

A talk on the cheap side as the duo explain the democratisation of electronic music, and what they use to achieve it. (Including a preview of the UMI-2B interface).

We conclude our series on synchronisation by looking at Time Code and its applications in the video and music industries. Film editor Richard Atherton is your guide.

Software for Archimedes

If you're looking for computer scorewriting, Rhapsody could be what you need - as well as helping to save the Archimedes from musical oblivion. Ian Waugh gets to know Clare and Archie.

...was the title of The South Bank Show's much-criticised electronic music extravaganza of a couple of months back. Here the programme's musical consultant, composer Tim Souster, argues the case in favour of the show's content.

Sampling Module

An inquisitive Gordon Reid poses the question "how much sampler can you get into a single rack space?". Roland's S330 sampling module replies "more than you might expect".

IBM PC-Compatibles & Apple Macintosh

Part 1: All four of the major computers can be used for musical applications, so which one should you choose? This month, Richard Elen puts the case for the Apple Macintosh whilst Brian Heywood advocates the benefits of the IBM PC-compatible.

Newcastle CAT School of Music

A personal view of the School of Music at the Newcastle College of Arts and Technology, by one of its students, Paul Evans.

...of an English kit builder.

An insight into the problems and pleasures of constructing electronic music kits - by Godric Wilkie, who’s built hundreds.

Scorewriting packages are becoming more and more popular Clive Grace looks at Dr T's top of the range offering

David Ellis buys a Commodore Amiga and looks at the latest software written for it. The music is good, the graphics are better - but what does the future hold?

Brian Heywood puts the new Aries PC through its paces

ICMC Report

Fresh from his exploits at Steim Studios, Ron Briefel takes a look at what last year's International Computer Music Conference had to offer in the way of new instruments, new music, and new ideas.

A Guide to Recording, Electronic Music and Popular Music Courses in Britain

The first ever published guide to all Recording, Electronic Music and Music Courses available in Britain today.

Software for the Atari ST

Until now writing MIDI software has been the preserve of a few dedicated individuals, but T-Basic offers to make MIDI programming accessible to the masses. Ian Waugh gets online.

The man who took the credit for production on Pink Floyd's superlative 'Dark Side Of The Moon' album has since had ten years of album success with his own creation: The Alan Parsons Project. Richard Elen managed to track him down to London's Mayfair Studios, to discuss the appliance of music technology in his recordings.

Fostex’s SMPTE reading/writing, MIDI syncing, auto-locating, remote transport control unit recently underwent a serious internal re-examination. Ed Jones assesses the newly implemented features and describes their practical application.

Last month we gave you advice on choosing a computer for musical applications; as a follow on, this month Mike Barnes provides a comprehensive rundown of available music software for the Atari, Macintosh, IBM PC, and Amiga computers.

Computer music at Goldsmith's College