His idiosyncratic style of fretless bass playing inspired a generation, but now the ex-Japan man is playing sessions, writing his own music, and programming his own synths.

Performance Signal Processor

Now that multi-effects processors are all the rage, Korg go one better by producing a unit which allows you to add extra effects via ROM cards. Vic Lennard discovers the advantages of open-ended signal processing.

Electro-Music Engineer

The new-wave sound

...'The first genuinely NEW keyboard since the DX7' proclaims our review. Mixing four different waveforms together in a technique christened 'vector synthesis', Sequential's new baby can create some stunningly different synth sounds. Could it be what the market's looking for? Mark Jenkins reports.

Software for the Atari ST

Music by design?

Eight top pop players and producers discuss the necessity of notation. Richard Walmsley chairs the debate

Basscheck, Guitarcheck

Six-stringed and headless. Dave Burrluck goes and does it again

Korg Wavestation A/D

Korg add new samples, a vocoder and a pair of audio inputs to their highly acclaimed Advanced Vector synthesizer, and put the result in a rack. Kendall Wrightson says the Wavestation A/D is a TV/film composer's dream machine.

Total Percussion Pad

On the trail of Roland's successful Octapads comes the SPD8 - a MIDI percussion controller with a neat line in onboard sounds. Simon Trask says beat it.

Continental Touring: Pitfalls & Problems

E-mu's Proteus sample player has been one of the stars of recent trade shows, yet it's been in desperately short supply in the UK. Vic Lennard finds it's been worth the wait.

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...

Rhythm Sound Module

Fascinating rhythm

Sampling Keyboard

Simon Trask again, this time experiencing the simple delights of the budget Roland sampler. It's easy to use, but has the low cost brought too many compromises?

Drum recording guide

From miking cymbals to mixing toms - all you need to know

In a world that's constantly changing

E-mu Ultra Proteus

The pre-eminent Proteus

Leads & Wires

Find out about the rubber on the outside, the wire on the inside, the music goes round and round...

The gear piles up in your home studio, and you realise you can't manage another mix without a decent desk - but how can you afford it? Nigel "Mixmiser" Lord puts Fostex' budget desk through its paces.

Vocals

Paul White discusses how to use reverb in the context of a mix, this month focussing on lead and backing vocals.

A list of "classic" analogue synths could not be complete without Oberheim's OBXa. Peter Forrest reminisces about an instrument that won the hearts of many musicians.

As MIDI begins to make inroads into the studio, Simon Trask examines its fundamental applications.

Interconnect

Mating Microphones - ever wondered why your low impedance mic won't work well with your recorder? Then read on...