Neatly sidestepping the monotonous beats and cliched melodies that typify too many dance acts, this Swiss-American collaboration are making refreshing music. Simon Trask and Heinrich Zwahlen share a technical obsession.

Janet Angus reports on Dave Foister's varied activities at the Guildhall.

start of a three month OTT investigation into recording desks. This issue - eight mixers up to £600

Paul White and Geoff Twigg delve deep into the mysteries of one of the world's most expensive keyboard instruments, and uncover some fascinating developments.

AWM Expander

Every so often a product comes along which changes everyone's idea of what they can expect at a certain price. Yamaha’s new £250 box sets a new standard in price/performance for sampled piano (and other) sounds. Paul Wiffen gets excited enough to spend his own money!

Software for the IBM PC

Somewhere between human composers and sci-fi music systems of the future are the algorithmic composition programs of the present. One of the few such programs for the IBM PC finds favour with Ian Waugh.

MIDI Data Recorder

Latest in the emerging trend of MIDI data recorders is MIDItemp's MIDI Player - a composite 64-track sequencer, MIDI processor and patching matrix. Vic Lennard takes on a temp.

Star of recording studio and airshow in conversation with Tim Goodyer. Is pop about to lose a hi-tech innovator, and display flying gain a star aviator?

As the prices of 8 and 16-track tape recorders have come within the reach of more users, synchronisers are becoming familiar, even essential, to an increasing number of people. David Mellor chases Tascam's new machine and midi synchroniser.

The latest reports from the lands of Trade and Product

A CD standard 16-bit drum machine? Things have progressed a little from those 8-bit Linn Drum days, passing through 12-bit standards on the way, and now reaching the ultimate level in consumer digital fidelity. Whether excellence or overkill, Alesis have gone the whole way with the HR-16. David Mellor gives it the long-awaited ear test.

A complete psychosensory experience in the back of a Transit van? David Bradwell talks to the man behind the most sophisticated sound system on wheels.

Are They A Good Mix?

mixing the pop world's most powerful cocktail: should your music have a message?

DSP Sample Looping Tools For Macintosh

Who are the music biz' management, and do you really need them? David Bradwell talks to the people who take care of the stars and their affairs.

To Call It A Drum Machine Would Be An Insult!

The pace of change never slackens at the Nippon Gakki factory. The piano makers turned motorbike manufacturers roar in with a new digital rhythm machine, the RX5. Review by David Mellor

Digital Mixing Processor

A fully automated, digital mixer with built-in multi-effects and full MIDI control for under £3,000? Hard to believe. David Mellor visits the Yamaha research and development centre in London to try out this amazing innovation in the flesh and discovers that the DMP7 is no fantasy!

Atari ST Software

When Yamaha launched their latest flagship synth, the SY77, they knew it was only a matter of time before it received software support. Ian Waugh goes editing with Steinberg.

Combining some of the best features of Dr.T's KCS sequencer and Tiger editor, along with a handy auto-scoring utility, this 12-track 'entry level' program packs an awful lot of power for its low price. Game warden David Hughes tracks it down.

MIDI Keyboard Controllers

As MIDI equipment becomes more and more sophisticated, the job of a MIDI controller keyboard becomes more and more demanding. Simon Trask takes the A train with Roland's latest MIDI controllers.

what the record companies think they want

Readers' replies to the second half of our survey, analysed by David Ellis.

Dan Goldstein talks to chief Twin Tom Bailey about the virtues of playing pop and the dangers of relying too much on technology. But there’s more to this man than meets the eye.

Richard Elen follows on from last month's Compleat Sound Effects Recordist with a short exposition on the wonders of FX recording with the aid of a coincident pair of mics and an examination of Uher's new cassette recorder.