Putting Heaven 17 in the past, Martyn Ware has masterminded a definitive meeting of classic singers, classic soul songs and state-of-the-art technology. Tim Goodyer listens to Words of Quality and Distinction.

Birmingham's Triangle Media & Arts Centre houses what is probably the largest 8-track recording facility in the country. It also runs some interesting extra-curricula activities in the form of a Rock Recording course. We asked the man in charge, Bruce Hart, to tell us more about it.

Software and Interface

David Ellis casts a critical eye over Passport Designs' first foray into the wonderful world of MIDI.

Chronicles of a moustachioed maestro. Philip Bashe reporting.

From Charlie Parker to writing his own software, jazz saxophonist and technophile Steve Coleman has a unique insight into music. Simon Trask tunes in.

Tricks and tips to get your guitar in near-perfect readiness for the playing of and that

Keyboard player to Rainbow, Black Sabbath and now Ozzy Osbourne, Don talks to Tim Oakes about his keyboards, how to Bark At The Moon, and life on the road with a werewolf...

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.

Fostex MC102 Keyboard Mixer/Cassette Recorder

What a good idea — a stereo mastering cassette machine and a mixer in a compact rack package!

From a clothes and record shop to an electronics company to a sound system to an excellent album and charting single, London's Funki Dreds are on the move. Tim Goodyer talks tech to Soul II Soul's Jazzie B.

(Sometimes)

Just as MIDI has made it as easier to produce great music, so it has facilitated the production of worthless garbage. Paul D. Lehrman explains the problem and how to avoid it.

After five years in the wilderness, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are back with a new LP and tour. Tim Goodyer talks to Andy McCluskey about the value of technology.

Upbeat pop from down under

In the last part of Ben Duncan's series, he examines the acoustic properties on Live End/Dead End studios.

Yet another selection of recently announced new products to whet your appetite!

Later with Jools Holland

Behind the scenes at TV’s premier music show

Mark Prendergast interviews this French-Canadian engineer/producer about his long-standing production partnership with Brian Eno and his recent involvement with Peter Gabriel and U2.

keyboarding Crusader with words of wisdom

Is there life after Limahl? Yup. The four shy boys take turns to explain how they do it, and what they do it on.

The original ambient funsters have a new studio album all but ready, a live album on the way and a major recording deal in the offing. Jonathan Miller encounters Dr Alex Paterson and Thrash on the verge of a higher plane...

As Soul II Soul return this month with a third album, Paul Ireson reports from their private studio on the writing and recording of more club classics.

Reports on recent appearances by two widely revered names in electro-music, Klaus Schulze and King Crimson.

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.

Is there more to Britain's latest megastars than a barrel-load of hype, a few jars of hair gel and a clever Giorgio Moroder production job? After talking to the band, Tim Goodyer thinks there is.

When Norman Cook walked away from The Housemartins he walked into hi-tech record production and remixing: now he's topped the charts with Beats International. Tim Goodyer talks to a computer convert.