£600 (almost) buys you this boxful of MIDI-controlled digital effects processors. But can they be good quality? Ian Gilby dragged himself out of the studio long enough to give us his opinions.

Danish Delights?

Nobody ever seems to think much about the art of disc-cutting: yet in reality the cutting-room is the final link in the chain that can really make or break your recording quality-wise. Ralph Denyer, therefore, takes some time out to talk to Strawberry's top cutting engineers, in an effort to demystify this vital area.

psychoacoustic equaliser

Sound enhancement at both ends of the spectrum - and something in the middle.

A plethora of new hi-tech products to whet your appetite.

MIDI Programmable Mixer

A programmable mixer that will find a good home in a home studio.

If you own several samplers or just want to transfer S900 samples into your mate’s FZ1, then this program will make life considerably easier. David Mellor creates some designer sounds with the Atari ST version of Digidesign’s universal sample editor.

In the second part of his piece on sampling the human voice, Tom McLaughlin discusses making up vocal multisamples and how to solve the problems you can expect to encounter.

From Schoolhouse To Multitrack

Never mind avoiding presets and programming your own patches... how about rebuilding the whole damn synth? Richard James - aka Polygon Window, Caustic Window, Diceman, Soit PP, Blue Calx, AFX and The Aphex Twin - isn’t happy with his hardware till he’s had the toolbox to it. Phil Ward enters the twilight zone of the lad from Cornwall who’s spearheading the ambient onslaught.

Sound sampling Dodolator and the Kaleidosound picture machine for the Apple

Effects

Part 14: Effects, in the latest installment of his studio cookbook. David Mellor looks at ways to-make your recordings more tasty.

How To Keep Noise At Bay

A Preview

A guide to some of the new gear to be released at this year's APRS show.

Equipment

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.

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

Studiomaster Star System Mixer

Is it an analogue modular synth? No! It's a mixer with a difference.

Yet another sleek, black, 16-bit multi effects unit? Or does the new Roland RSP550 have something more to offer? Kendall Wrightson has the answer.

How To Survive Live

This month, we address the practicalities of working in a less than ideal live venue.

The third instalment of our series describing the design and construction of a high quality modular effects rack system.

Dave Simpson concludes the saga of Thatched Cottage Studio and how it came about.

Mackie CR1604 Mixer

The mixer market is dominated by British manufacturers, with a range of Japanese designs also popular in MIDI setups. However, a new American compact mixer offers impeccable audio quality, and outstanding features and value that look hard to beat. Dave Lockwood welcomes the newcomer.