Simon is both a musician and a producer. This month he talks to Paul White about, amongst other things, his work doing 12" remixes for Nik Kershaw.

The MT guide to CD-ROM

Entertainment format of the future, or simply a handy digital storage medium? Ian Waugh writes the (Yellow) book on CD-ROM.

Riverside Recordings

Riverside Recordings — from bedroom Revoxes to 16-track slickness.

Tony Visconti's studio, Good Earth, in the heart of London's West End owes its success to a combination of the right services and good management.

Dave Simpson relates the saga of how his recording dreams became a reality. The Thatched Cottage sixteen track studio must be every home recordist's idea of a success story.

Power Station, NYC

We visit the world-renowned studio, and talk to owner and producer Tony Bongiovi.

Rivalled only by War and Peace for its length and emotional content, this article by our own Neville Unwin presents both sides of the 'blank tape levy' argument.

Take one of the most influential electronic composers of the current generation, a Fairlight, an entire library of vocal recordings from all over the world, and a few more-than-talented guest musicians, and you have the recipe for Zoolook, Jean-Michel Jarre's latest album. Here he talks about its creation.

The blurred fingers of the guitar star focussed by the blurred gaze of Richard Walmsley

How To Write Lyrics

Richard Walmsley takes a look at the under-estimated art of lyric writing

Transistor Power Amplifier Surgery

They've been a mainstay of electronic music for over 20 years, they're less expensive than ever before, and they still make sounds the digital machines can't. Analogue synthesizers have been receiving some digital assistance of late, but at heart they're still analogue synthesizers - and if you want to make them perform magic, you need to speak their language. Craig Anderton is your interpreter...

With its ability to manipulate sounds and music, the digital sampler has probably caused more arguments than any other musical instrument to date. Peter Ridsdale takes an alternative view.

Multi-effects Processor

This month's Masterclass looks at the way equalisation can be used to creatively enhance your music.

PC Hard Disk Recording System

It's British designed and built, but is it the best?

An intriguing evaluation of the way the human body reacts to music.

Which is better, analogue or digital? Elka back the horse both ways by providing synths of both persuasions, with modular versions of both, too. Paul Wiffen thinks they're onto a winner, whichever way you look.

Sample Playback Keyboard

With the popular Proteus series of sample playback modules as its inspiration, E-mu's new synth sounds as good as it looks. Simon Trask explores the Master Performance System.

New gear to cheer.

In which five of E&MM's writers pick their fave things of the year. If your personal preferences aren't there, don't take it out on us.

The largest event of its type in Europe, Frankfurt is the showcase for all that is new and innovative. This three page preview looks at some of the products that will be there.

Yamaha's DX21 polysynth offers FM sound quality at a low, low price, plus a few features even the DX7 doesn't have. Simon Trask investigates.

(But Were Too Afraid To Ask!)

PART 10: Martin Russ continues his in-depth demystification of these powerful MIDI messages with a look at 'handshaking'.