David Bowie

Steinberg Tango Improvisation Software

Forget mere auto-accompaniment; Steinberg's Tango is intelligent software that actually jams along with you. Derek Johnson trades licks with a software session partner.

Part two of our natter with a couple of blokes who fix old keyboards every day. Common problems need common solutions

Ramsa's Miniature Condenser Microphones

Ramsa may not be a familiar name in the pro microphone world just yet, but engineer Dave Lockwood reckons they will be judging by their latest range of miniature electrets which includes both a headset and a mic that can handle an SPL of 158dB!

Yamaha V50 Workstation

Paul Ireson explores Yamaha's latest professional keyboard, which integrates FM synthesis, a drum machine, a powerful sequencer and a multi-effects unit into a single package. Could it be FM's finest hour?

Reminiscences of the Guitar

This well respected jazz guitarist talks about the origins and technique of the guitar; plus free pull-out music: "After Hours" - one of his pieces to play

Abolish sibilance with this well designed, cost-effective addition to the Tanrak.

Power, loudness and power amplification

Sound Training

sound in enclosed spaces

Yamaha SY35 Dynamic Vector Synth

Yamaha's SY35 may be little more than an updated version of the SY22, but new sample ROM and a price tag of under £600 make it an ideal choice for the serious synthesist on a budget. Derek Johnson checks it out.

PART TWO: Basic Effects

PART 2: Carrying on from last month's explanation of the basic principles of digital signal processing, Jim Grant explains how to put these into practice and create some useful and familiar effects.

Four simultaneous effects and real-time MIDI control are features found on several recent effects processors, but the Alesis Quadraverb is the first to bring both together in a single unit. Paul Ireson lends an ear.

Sound Environment Processor

And still they come... more FX units than you can shake a MIDI lead at. Nicholas Rowland zooms in on the latest and tries to spot the difference.

Alan Townsend braves an interview

MD511 • MD512 • MD515 • MD516

Digital Effects Processor

Reverb and delay from Roland in the guise of the DEP-3, a scaled down version of the popular DEP-5.

Dave Stewart in a room of his own

Harrison mixer amp – Hit or Miss?

Revenge of the tremolo, returned to pitch.

£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.

No hype, no waffle - just tomorrow's products today

Your guide to tomorrow’s new toys