The first of a series of articles in which David Mellor explains the tricks and techniques of the studio trade and how they can be successfully applied by the home recordist. This month's technique allows multi-instrument recordings to be built up using minimal equipment, and is known to its practitioners as 'sound on sound'. Now where have you heard that phrase before?

Lexicon Alex Digital Effects Processor

Cutec Multirecorder

A very basic 4-track cassette multitracker for those who place sound quality above gadgets and frills.

Digital synthesis for the IBM PC, sound-sampling for the Apple II, and drum composing for the Commodore 64. David Ellis has the details.

Simon Croft puts this British built mixer through its paces.

Vesta Fire Effects

Unusual names but all used to a good effect. We report on this newest range.

Our regular column devoted to readers' hints and lips about their recording equipment, instruments, software and playing techniques.

Our regular monthly round-up of appetising new products from the field of hi-tech music and recording technology.

As your MIDI studio expands, MIDI management becomes more and more important. Vic Lennard investigates an 8x8 MIDI patchbay that could make your music more important than your MIDI leads.

The program that can turn your sampler into a synthesiser has added an FM synthesis string to its bow, yet doesn't promise to be a DX replacement. Mac addict Chris Meyer takes a look.

User Report

Detailed notes on the design and construction of a complete synthesiser voice card you can build yourself, by the team that put it all together in the first place.

For people with very narrow studios, Boss have introduced a very narrow effects rack... Martin Sheehan investigates.

Sound quality has long been a grey area in the world of sampling. Chris Meyer finds out it takes more than "bits" to make a sampler sound good.

Continuing our series for the complete newcomer to electronics in music, Steve Howell takes a look at the VCO, the synthesiser's heartbeat.

DJ Mixers

A three-way test of DJ mixers

Part three of this fascinating project from Paul Williams.

Multi-fx Processor

Possibly the most popular budget multi-fx processor currently available, the Quadraverb has just been upgraded and promoted to the rank of 'Plus'. Nigel Lord investigates.

A budget DDL of surprising quality and versatility.

Our regular monthly exploration of upcoming new products.

The Mix

The first of a 2-part series on creative mixing.