If no news is good news this is baaad

Mark J. Prendergast interviews California-born musician Terry Riley, the influential inventor of 'minimalist' music.

electrocution for beginners

The cousin of Kevin tells Richard Walmsley of his life as a lone tone

Direct-to-Disk Studio System

Here's a computer-based sequencer with a difference - PROMIDI records direct-to-disk, lets you structure your music any way you please, and runs on low-cost PC compatible computers. Ian Gilby investigates...

Acoustics

The function of 'sound absorbers' and how to build a sound absorbent wall box.

Atari ST Software

The latest sequencer from the Dr T's stable takes interactive composition by the horns. Ian Waugh examines the software and the merits of mathematical music making.

Studiomaster IDP1 Dynamics Processor

What is an 'Intelligent Dynamics Processor' and why have it MIDI controllable? David Mellor answers these and other probing questions as he explores the IDP1 from mixer manufacturer, Studiomaster.

PART 2: Microphones. David Mellor cuts through the mythology of microphone techniques with some practical advice.

For a company that is usually in the forefront of musical technology development to be so late in introducing their SMPTE/MIDI processor is quite remarkable. Is the Yamaha MSS1 worth the wait, or is it just a case of 'me too' marketing techniques? David Mellor champs at the timecode bit.

The how of the Banshees, transcribed by Richard Walmsley

Where do you go to learn more about the subjects covered in this magazine? The answer is the Gateway School of Recording & Music Technology. Ralph Denyer investigates.

Dave Lockwood reviews this aptly named add-on audio triggering unit for C-Lab's highly popular Creator/Notator sequencing system.

When your favourite keyboard starts to look a little out of date, do you remain faithful to it or sell it? If it's a D50 you could give it multitimbrality, more waveforms and extra memories. Gordon Reid installs the MEX.

Tone Generator

It's not simply an SY77 in a rack, more an alternative application of Yamaha's latest synthesiser technology - Ian Waugh gives the TG55 a full workout.

And A Happy Birthday To Us

Come to our party, have some jelly, read some of our best bits, and wish us a happy first birthday, hip hip...

Roland JV880 Synth Module

Dbx 'X' Processors

Apart from noise reduction systems, dbx make a studio quality range of 'budget' signal processors. Engineer Gareth Stuart put three of them - the 163X compressor/limiter, 263X de-esser, and 463X noise gate/expander - through their paces.

For Recording Engineering

Educated sound engineer David Mellor assesses the value of training for a career in recording.

Wavetable Synthesis

Many of today's popular digital synthesisers use variations on "wavetable synthesis". Chris Meyer explains what this mystical but powerful method is all about.

Super LA Synthesizer

The D50 was never going to be an easy act to follow, but a successor to the title of Roland's flagship has now arrived. Richard Lamont puts it to the test.