...Beating Like This

If conventional drum pads sound old hat, Matt Isaacson and Chris Meyer might have a few ideas for you as they check out the alternatives in our series on creative drum programming.

...Beating like this. We start a major new series on how to make your drum machine - no matter what its spec - sound more interesting, both sonically and rhythmically. Your guides are Chris Meyer and Matt Isaacson.

Getting philosophical about the new British hip hop. Tim "homeboy" Ponting raps with Wize man DJ Jemski about sampling, sequencing and bringing the drum kit into hip hop.

Digital Rhythm Composer

What the world has been waiting for - Roland's first-ever digital drum machine. Exclusive review by Dan Goldstein.

Annabel Scott takes a look at what a reduction in price and an increase in facilities has done for the first budget sampling keyboard...

Digital Drum focus

Paul White puts five sturdy and powerful keyboard combos to the test - stand by, all at Ohm, Marshall, Carlsbro, Roland and HH.

Buying Tactics

how much for what

Matthew Vosburgh attaches tape recorder to tripod and lets New Order add their words to his pictures. He also traces the recorded history of one of Britain's most influential modem music outfits.

Casio's first foray into the digital drum machine market, the RZ-1, offers all the usual rhythm features plus one extra - the facility to sample four of your own sounds. Mark Jenkins finds out if it matches his expectations.

Up to the minute and down to the nitty gritty

Personal Keyboard

The words Siel and MIDI have gone hand in hand throughout 1984. Trish McGrath looks at what happens when the former puts the latter on a budget personal keyboard.

Single, dual or delayed beats

Nigel 'Sticks' Lord's drum programming series goes offbeat

Everything you didn't want to know and couldn't be bothered to ask

Beating Like This

...Beating Like This. In the third part in our series on creative drum programming, Chris Meyer and Matt Isaacson take a detailed look at the various trigger-to-MIDI converters now available.

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

UB40 exclusive... the drums go digital... Plus Dread at the Controls - top producer Mikey Dread dubs it up, and reveals some trade secrets...

ITs guide to the British Music Fair.

Contractual hassles have kept musician/producer Bill Nelson hopping from one record label to another since the demise of Be-Bop Deluxe, yet he has still managed to record some exemplary albums using the facility of his 16-track home studio. Ian Gilby finds out how he put his new album together.

An Avalanche of new gear will be hitting the shops soon, following the British Music Fair. MUSIC U.K. brings you a complete look at what's on the way

The Alternative MIDI Controllers Session

We explain why MIDI isn't just for keyboard players...

Fun Fair, who was there.