Tony Banks samples the "Invisible Touch" album, keyboard by keyboard.

This month David Mellor presents a guided tour of Steinberg's ubiquitous sequencer program.

... Don't stop! The beat on the street has never been so neat. Rappers in the charts, dancing on the streets — and our man Nick Smash with the way it all began

Direct-to-disk recording for the Atari Falcon

Can this latest software package help the Falcon spread its wings?

Info and addresses for the networked musician

Still largely neglected by the software houses, the Acorn Archimedes is the host machine for the Armadillo sampler. Vic Lennard investigates a powerful sampling package for a powerful computer.

David Pallant

The Personal Studio Of The Future?

Your PC becomes your best friend in the studio with this eagerly awaited digital system.

Synth Expander

The long-awaited, rack-mounting, multitimbrol, budget analogue synth expander from Cheetah has arrived. Simon Trask turns on and trips out.

16-Bit Sampler For Atari ST Computers

A brief look at the basics of this important synchronisation system.

Magneto-optical Disk Recorder

Akai's DD1000 Magneto-optical recorder applies state-of-the-art technology to four-track dedicated digital editing. Vic Lennard sees the light at the end of the sample.

More music with mainframe computers

Part 2: The Edit

Last month we looked at how you can use a domestic format like S-VHS to shoot footage good enough for use in a video demo. But getting the right footage is only half the battle as Paul Wiffen and Darrin Williamson found out. This month we follow them through the editing stage.

Sampling Classic Electro Sounds

Nothing seems to be more demanding of a sampler than the sound of the bass drum on a TR808 drum machine. Why should a piece of primitive retro-tech pose problems for so many respectable and apparently ultimate quality machines? Wilf Smarties explains.

and MRC MIDI Remote Control

The 'Lexicon sound" for a less than Lexicon price? Matt Isaacson checks out a state-of-the-art reverb unit intended to help make Lexicon a household name.

Akai S612 MIDI Sampler

Akai's first sampler - with its own 'Quick Disk' facility.

More useful hints and tips for Dr.T's music programs, written and compiled exclusively for SOS by Dr.T themselves.

Fritz McIntyre - the key is simplicity

With SUPER MRC Software

When Roland's forward-thinking design team made the original MC500 an ‘open’ system, they did users a favour. Built-in obsolescence became less of a fear, provided Roland stuck to their promise of future updates and upgrades. The release of the Super MRC software shows they have. It's available on its own for existing MC500 owners, or packaged with expanded hardware in the guise of the MC500 MkII. Paul Ireson keeps you updated.

PART 2: Timecode - much talked about but little understood - is of increasing importance to musicians and recording engineers. Whether you are synchronising audio to video, or MIDI to multitrack, at least a working knowledge of SMPTE/EBU is required. In the second part of this series, David Mellor explains what timecode is and how it is used.

Outbreak of war, latest football results and a tap-dancing spaniel. This is the news.

Programmability has changed the way we make music; but should the music now make changes to programmability? Vic Lennard recalls happy memories.

Digital voice editing

How to swing the on-screen scalpel