It has been predicted that by the year 2020, the world will be entirely covered by a ten metre deep layer of home recording equipment. David Mellor begins a new series that offers advice on how to set up your home studio.

A complete guide to all the hardware interfaces for home micros available so far, plus the software that goes with them.

Everything you ever wanted to know about samplers... 48 models compared! Paul Gilby surveys the current sampler market, exposes the 'spec wars', dispels the 16-bit myth and explains in simple terms how sampling really works, before telling you what to look out for when buying secondhand.

The first of a regular column where the expert teaching staff of the Gateway School Of Recording & Music Technology answer readers' problems.

The Ghost of Japan?

The members of Japan have come together once more, as Rain Tree Crow, after a 9-year hiatus. Nigel Humberstone talks to David Sylvian, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri about the biggest reunification since Germany.

A Tour With Jethro Tull

Not another tedious account of a top band on tour, but a carefully worded roadie's-eye view of what really goes on behind the scenes. Antony Freeman gives an account of the happenings as Jethro Tull hit Germany.

An enlightening discourse with this new wave San Franciscan band

Ken Scott muses on his journey from Bowie to Kajagoogoo. Chas de Whalley listens attentively

Goes Chrimbo Crazy

A special seasonal waft of your favourite news and gossip column, this time drifting through the whole magazine and including mini-interviews with the likes of China Crisis and jokes from the likes of us. The fun starts here.

One of the most successful, certainly the most consistent, of Britain's electronic musicians, Gary Numan has succeeded in taking his eclectic and compelling music into the mass market. Gary talks of his songwriting and recording techniques, his past career, and what he plans for the future

Who's using what

A breakdown of the gear that will be on stage at the Jazz and Blues festival at Reading this year.

Tubular Bells, Bayou Moon and other stories

Apart from his claim to fame as the co-producer of Mike Oldfield's hugely successful 'Tubular Bells' album, engineer/producer Tom Newman has most recently been making his mark in the New Age music field with two beautifully recorded albums. Mark Prendergast reports.

Tracing past to future ventures with one of the world's keyboard greats, including: The first publication of his title music for ‘Inferno’, video and LP reviews and keyboard music to play

Best known as a top Flamenco guitarist, Juan Martin has recently released a sensitive album that combines classical guitar with the ethereal textures of Mark Isham's synthesizers. Robin Lumley questions him about this unlikely collaboration and discovers the best ways of miking up classical guitars into the bargain.

Howard Jones was the first keyboard player to successfully exploit the new technology to the full by regularly performing solo concerts with nothing but MIDI instruments as his backing band. In this rare interview, Brian Jacobs talks to Howard about his music, recording, his decision to produce most of his new album himself, and his growing admiration for an instrument he once said he would never use.

All the musical ideas, playing prowess and flash hardware in the world won't make your band sound good - unless you get the most out of rehearsals. Trevor Gilchrist offers some clues.

Floyd, Eno, Gabriel... Grid?

New Grid on the block

What made Milwaukee nauseous

Studio Ergonomics

Part three deals with Studio Ergonomics; namely, where best to position equipment in your studio.

Korg DSM1 & E-mu SP1200

Are the latest samplers from Korg and E-mu Systems really new instruments, or are they simply updates on old machines? Lorenz Rychner counts the bits and checks the clocks.

The synthesist who knows no parameters discusses his works. Interview by Tony Mills

Category crossing contemporary composer cornered

composing with technology

Chas De Whalley quizzes Fall guy John Leckie. Totally weird