Concise guide

Patch Librarian

Tired of swapping Atari disks to edit parameters on different synths - or of paying for a variety of editors? Send for a universal synth editor. Ian "Mr Universe" Waugh flexes Chameleon's muscles.

Software for the Atari ST

Son of TDM's Virtuoso ST sequencing software, the budget Prodigy retains many of its parent's best features. Ian Waugh checks out the fastest little sequencer in the west.

IBM PC Software

This combined sequencer and tone editor for the IBM PC will work happily with Roland's MT32 and LAPC1. Ian Waugh looks into a serious PC music system.

Software For the Atari ST

High scoring on the ST

From the American Dr Ts comes an Atari ST program capable of additive, FM, AM and multiwaveform synthesis as well as sample editing. Chris Meyer asks if facilities are everything.

Human Rhythm Composer

Nigel Lord ruminates over the future of the drum machine as he checks out the budget version of Roland's flagship R8 Human Rhythm Composer. To be human or not to be human, that is the question.

UMI-2B

Sequencing interface for the BBC

Software for the IBM PC

Turning his back on the Atari ST, Ian Waugh boots up a comprehensive sequencing package for the IBM PC (and compatibles). If you thought the Atari ST and Macintosh had it all their own way, read again.

Direct-to-disk recording system

PC-based direct-to-disk recording is getting better... and cheaper. Ian Waugh looks at one of the latest systems to emerge.

Software for the Atari ST

The first of a series of scoring programs for the Atari ST. Aaron Hollas checks out its extensive editing facilities and its compatibility with the company's sequencing programs.

Phil Brammer strums his way through this educational guitar program

With the novelty wearing off dedicated software synth editors, the race is on to come up with the definitive generic editor. Ian Waugh test-drives Dr T's entry.

Apple Mac/IBM PC/Atari ST Software

As technology tears down barriers, people rebuild them. Ian Waugh investigates a composition program that delivers all the traditional elements of music at the touch of a button.

Software for the Atari ST

Music by design?

Yamaha VL1m

Virtual synthesis in a box

Software for the Atari ST

The elite of ST scorewriting software is C-Lab's Notator and Steinberg's Cubase; their prices reflect this status. Ian Waugh makes the French connection and finds a cost-effective alternative.

The Texas TMS 5220 Speech Chip comes under scrutiny.

As a founding member of Germany’s pioneering electronic group, Can, and a former Stockhausen pupil, Holger Czukay has long been associated with the avant-garde electronic music scene in Europe. His past work includes collaborations with Brian Eno, the Eurythmics and David Sylvian, with whom he has recently completed a new album. Mark Prendergast reports.

Atari ST Software

Recently we looked at the theoretic applications of fractal maths in music. This month Ian Waugh composes a complex number with this ST software...

Baz Watts looks into the Armadillo sampler for the Arc

Still suffering from a dearth of software, the powerful Acorn Archimedes computer has yet to gain acceptance in music circles - will this sequencer help it on its way? Ian Waugh checks it out.

CD ROM Player

Expensive it maybe, but CD ROM storage is one way of making a sampler a much more powerful instrument. And if you're using a Roland S550, it may not be as expensive as you think, as Simon Trask discovers.