expand the DK80, plus MIDI data base

Simon Trask somehow finds time to examine the most sophisticated MIDI event processor of the lot. Are its facilities usable?

Editing Packages

Tony Mills on sequencing and editing software for the C64 and Atari 520 ST micros

The third instalment of our column devoted entirely to Steinberg software, written and compiled exclusively for SOS by Steinberg's experts.

Drumcheck

In the drumbooth, no-one can hear you scream... Bob Henrit discovers Yamaha's wild-styled Electronic percussion system.

Sound Card for the PC

16-bit wavetable synthesis? 32-note polyphony? GM file support? Sounds like a job for Ian Waugh, and sounds like the product for any PC owner entering the wonderful world of digital sound.

Hints, Tips & News From The World of Music Software

More hints and tips from the software publishers themselves. This month: C-Lab; Steinberg; Opcode; Passport; Dr. T's.

Yet more of Jez comment as he gets his vocal chords round Digigram/Farfisa's latest MIDI gadget

(But Were Too Afraid To Ask!)

PART 12: Martin Russ concludes this 12-part series designed to demystify one of MIDI's most important and useful messages.

writing for MIDI

Jez Ford grabs this expander from 360 Systems by the MIDI lead and puts it to the test

Hints, Tips & News From The World Of Music Software

More hints and tips from the software manufacturers themselves. This month: C-Lab and Steinberg.

Systemcheck

Strongly recommended to DX owners. Reviewed by Curtis Schwartz

News on the forthcoming invasion of MSX home computers, the International MIDI Association, the Decillionix system and the Kurzweil digital keyboard.

Another chance to do some crystal gazing at product development in the music/recording/visual fields.

What About Owner's Manuals?

Digital recording direct to hard disk, from the company that built its reputation with the Wave synthesisers. Paul Wiffen examines the new direction.

If you're looking for inspirational rhythms but don't want to lift them from somebody else's music, you should check out Dr Beat. Ian Waugh boots up and boogies down to some MIDI Files.

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.

Brian Heywood reports on the latest PC developments.

This long-awaited successor to Roland's evergreen MSQ700 sequencer offers increased song and note capacity, 'microscopic' editing of every single MIDI command and stores both music and rhythm tracks to 3.5 inch disks. Mark Jenkins fills in the details.

From Canada comes Mandala, the first instrument capable of translating video images into MIDI data - and vice versa. Jim Burgess points some pretty pictures and assesses the implications.

Piano Module

E-mu Systems' latest expanders are dedicated to the sounds of the piano - drawing on samples from the popular Proteus, how can they fail? Simon Trask tinkles the ivories.