User Report

Instruments & Equipment

Studio Test

Revolutionary REV-7 reviewed

8-track Recorder

The 8-track war hots up. Now Tascam have an 8-track cassette to compete with the Toa MR8T. We know that eight tracks on compact cassette are possible, but who does it better, Tascam or Toa? David Mellor decides.

Digital Multi-Effects Unit

Record label spotlight on the innovatory people who bring you Brian Eno and numerous others.

A church, a portastudio, and a blue hippopotamus? Well, what do you expect from a band called Sam-I-Am?

synthesiser

A new keyboard for those that like their synths off the rack.

Yamaha have bowed to pressure and released an easier to programme DX with an abundance of features. Tony Wride gets to grips with Yamaha’s first ever multitimbral synth with a keyboard!

Mackie 1202 Compact Mixer

Mackie Designs' 1202 mixer offers supreme flexibility, and the same standard of design and construction that distinguished the 1604. Dave Lockwood finds proof that the best things come in small packages.

Lexicon PCM70

Launched over two years ago, the PCM70 digital effects processor is still at the forefront of technology thanks to Lexicon's foresight in making it software updatable and MIDI controllable in every conceivable way. Mark Badger checks it out.

Tony Zemaitis

Apart from Patti, what have Clapton and Harrison got in common? Guitars, custom built by Tony Zemaitis.

Mark Jenkins auditions the latest 16-bit stereo digital reverb with Performance MIDI.

The basics of processors propounded by Phil 'DIYners card' Walsh

Digital Reverb

In the beginning was the Midiverb; the Midiverb begat the Midiverb II and the Midiverb II. Nigel Lord checks the latest incarnation of Alesis' standard-setting reverb.

Add a new dimension to your music with this superb multiway springline system.

AKG, Beyer, Sennheiser Back-Electret Microphones

Three top name, back-electret mics that turn in a professional performance at a semi-pro price, rounded up by Paul White.

Deep chorus sounds from a BBD

We heard this funny story on the way to the studio/ rehearsal/gig/mortuary. Here it is.

Interacting with the future

A guide to Interactivity

Why limit music to the sounds you hear or the run-of-the-mill images that litter video and concert appearances? Steve Cogan discovers that there's no reason at all - for Meat Beat Manifesto.

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.