Pete Harris, engineer, producer and programmer talks to Paul White about working in the Zomba empire.

Emulator III Sampling Keyboard

If there is one company which has made its name on sampling that company is E-mu Systems. The term 'Emulator' is now synonymous with sampling and now the third instrument in this distinguished series is on the market. Paul Wiffen checks it out and finds E-mu bang up to date.

Programmable digital drum machine

Following the Drumtraks in vocation and the MAX in appearance comes TOM, Sequential’s latest. Simon Trask finds out if reverse drum samples really do have a use.

Improving your MIDI Environment

In part one of this two-part article, Martin Russ looks at how the right software can make the difference between a studio full of lonely synths, samplers and other gadgets, and a powerful integrated setup.

Abandoning guitars for samplers, Skin became Fluke and discovered new artistic freedom. Simon Trask listens to the man/machine argument from people who've learned both sides of it.

Are They A Good Mix?

mixing the pop world's most powerful cocktail: should your music have a message?

The mysteries of SysEx are revealed. Martin Russ discovers that there may be more to that disk drive in your latest acquisition than you thought...

As MIDI's failings become all too apparent to thousands of musicians, Roland take the bull by the horns and come up with four processing units to make life easier. Simon Trask gives them a trial run.

Effects

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

Sampling Drum Machine

"Affordable" sampling drum machines are few and far between. Dan Goldstein checks up on this contender for a vacant throne from the French.

8-Track Automation System

When you run out of fingers and you find yourself pushing faders up and down with your nose during a mix, then it's time to get a helping hand. Master craftsman David Mellor takes on a new apprentice, the J.L Cooper MixMate.

In an exclusive interview, this longstanding keyboard hero and Miami Vice music maestro discusses keyboard technique, and what it’s like to achieve mass recognition after years of obscurity. Annabel Scott takes note.

Their '88 acid house hits took Britain's clubland by storm, but now S' Express are taking their sampling a stage further. Tim Goodyer enjoys the trip.

The Ever-Ready Studio Complex

Ralph Denyer takes the lid off this top London studio complex to discover how it and the people that work their tick.

Optical Media Explained

For over a year now Alesis have had the 'budget' 16-bit drum machine market all to themselves, but the release of the Yamaha RX8 provides musicians with an alternative. Besides 16-bit sound quality, Yamaha's new machine boasts a broad range of 43 sounds, flexible MIDI control, RAM card storage, and more. Paul Ireson checks it out.

Another year, another host of hardware to look back on. We take you through the goodies and the baddies that came out during '84, just in case you missed any of them.

Moog Series III

Moog's musical mountain - re-appraised

IT's guide through the MIDI jungle

Ian Gilby visits The Garden Studio and learns how John Foxx composed and recorded tracks from his recently released album 'In Mysterious Ways'.

Since Yamaha popularised FM synthesis, a lot of attention has been paid to digital technology. Lorenz Rychner explains how a lot of this technology still uses analogue programming techniques.

The MT guide to CD-ROM

Entertainment format of the future, or simply a handy digital storage medium? Ian Waugh writes the (Yellow) book on CD-ROM.

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.

Alesis D4 16-Bit Stereo Drum Module

Alesis' new D4 offers 500 16-bit drum sounds, external audio triggering and extreme ease of use — what's not to like? Julian Colbeck investigates.