Digital Drums

Ian Waugh hits on an interesting idea from Yamaha: a sub-£100 set of drum-pads-in-a-box which can be used to play any MIDI instrument.

Production Tips & Techniques

drum pattern editor

Yet more useful kit for PC musicians. Honestly, we're spoiling you...

The Music 500 receives an AMPLE voicing and sequencing program to tempt junior programmers into getting their feet wet.

Deep Underground

Part 8: Deep underground, this month Dave Stewart tells how you can work within the pop medium yet still manage to create interesting music!

A look at this successful equipment dealer.

Simon Croft gets into tape loops and comes up with some interesting conclusions.

Korg's latest instruments and more.

A review of the Desert Island sample collection for the Mirage joins readers' own patches for the Roland D110, Ensoniq ESQ1 and Casio CZ5000 in this month's action-packed edition of Patchwork.

Studio Series Roland D110 Voice Cards

Super sleuth Simon Sanders finds himself hot on the trail of cool sounds for the Roland D110. Prime suspect: Valhala.

Yet another Fender copier through the wringer

mixed-mode CD tracklist

The words behind the sounds on this month's CD and CD-ROM

SynthCheck

'Jack of all trades, master of none'? Tony Mills explains himself

Following the success of the Octapad and Octapad II, Roland have come down-budget with a MIDI percussion controller to suit all pockets. Simon Trask scores a hit.

Yamaha RY20

Beatbox rejuvenated

Key Ingredients For A Happening Dance Track

An insight into the sounds and structures that make up a successful dance record, by Edgar G. Roover.

The fourth part of our dance music series, with more drum patterns and basslines for you to programme yourself.

Mixing

Simon Croft takes up from Steve Howell and gives his views on creative remixing.

What is it with audiences these days?

As PWL's in-house mixer, Pete Hammond can claim to have had a hand in even more chart singles than Stock, Aitken & Waterman. David Bradwell finds out what makes a hit record.

Akai's latest drum machine attempts to combine the best of programmable and preset rhythm units. Simon Trask assesses this marketing strategy while listening to some dope drum sounds.

Personal Keyboard

The words Siel and MIDI have gone hand in hand throughout 1984. Trish McGrath looks at what happens when the former puts the latter on a budget personal keyboard.