...multitracking at home, that is. Bob Clifford, he of the Frog, introduces us to the many ways of doing much with little.

Looking for a reasonable raita, an affordable axe, a cheap tubular bell? Read on!

BUYING & USING: percussion

how to choose percussion instruments, and how to use them once you’ve got them home

Sessionmaster Direct Recording Pre-Amp

The Sessionmaster spurns unnecessary extras best left to other effects units and concentrates on producing a quality DI guitar sound. Dave Lockwood approves.

In the first of a series, Fred Dellar looks at the chequered career of Gus Dudgeon.

Playing Keyboards With Elton John

Elton John goes on tour this month to promote his new album The One; Julian Colbeck took the opportunity to talk to keyboardsman Mark Taylor about equipment, entertainment, and Elton.

Speakers

Etcetera

Trish McGrath gets the lowdown on a whole stack of readers' own synth sounds, while Paul Wiffen gives an appraisal of a new library of samples for the Ensoniq Mirage.

a poly to compare and contrast

Guitarcheck

An electro-acoustic and the cheapest Strat copy this side of War On Want. Review by Dave Burrluck

Now at last, it can be revealed! The veteran producer spills the beans about those 70s Genesis albums... and updates us on work in progress

Jon Tiven talks to Gus Dudgeon about Elton, Bowie and recording in general.

hot shot oriental entries

a novice engineer's guide to what all the knobs and switches on a mixing-desk do

All the latest info on tomorrow's gear, and more free details if you need them.

Simon Jeffes, leader of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, loves acoustic instruments...so why are we talking to him? Because we think he's got some pretty sound theories...

DREAM MACHINE: ludwig snare

the return of the ludwig black beauty snare drum

If you thought vocoders were just an obsolete way of making a singer into a Dalek, you've been missing out. Tom McLaughlin explains music technology's most overlooked innovation.