The latest reports from the trade and prophet spheres

Digital Audio For The Atari ST

Kendall Wrightson examines an inexpensive Atari-based tapeless recorder offering digital audio editing, plus MIDI controlled hard disk recording with Notator/Creator, Cubase/Cubeat or Virtuoso.

Mark Fishlock expounds.

A novel 'backing band in a box' comes under Paul White's critical gaze.

MIDI-SMPTE Converter

As the price of SMPTE synchronising devices continues to fall, more and more home studios will be availed of their sophistication. Simon Trask checks out the latest breakthrough to find out it's not only cheap but British.

Fostex X18 Cassette Multitracker

Following in the footsteps of Fostex's X15, their new X18 offers the cheapest and simplest entry to 4-track recording. Dave Lockwood puts it to the test.

Continuing the tradition that began with their 144 Portastudio, Tascam have created a combined package of mixer and 8-track recorder - the 388 Studio 8 - whose compact dimensions belie its true versatility. Dave Lockwood assesses its performance.

Tascam 488 MKII

Rocking, reeling portastudio

Mark J. Prendergast explores the recording process that surrounded Peter Gabriel's new album 'Passion' and takes a peep inside Gabriel's Real World studio complex.

Chas de Whalley chews the fat with Howard Grey, the young turk behind some of UB40's and Scritti Politti's finest moments

News from the front

the news for now

PS200, PS300, PS400

The complete PS personal keyboard range put into a musician's perspective by Trish McGrath; surprisingly, the cheapest model turns out to be the best buy.

Oceanic interviewed

Merseyside's pop trio on presets, jingles, Nirvana and 2 Unlimited

Studio Test

Jim Betteridge takes on the Tascam V-700 cassette deck and comes out impressed

MIDI Digital Keyboard Recorder

There are still more computer-shy musicians around than many would have you believe, so for them, this dedicated MIDI sequencer could be just the ticket. Trish McGrath investigates.

Another digital reverb from Alesis, a waveform digitizing pad for the Roland S50 sampler, Passport's multitrack software for the Atari ST, exclusive news of the world's first ever 8-track recorder to use standard cassettes, and more...

Blackpool-based band 'The Sensible Shoes' outline their working environment and techniques.

More controversy and heated discussion on the subject of blank tape levies.

Bass Sounds

Richard Elen's fact-extraction mission with engineer Phill Brown reaches its conclusion.

Over the last few years musicians have consistently been more excited over the latest MIDI hardware developments than they have over MIDI software. Whilst other micros have come and gone, the Atari ST and Macintosh micros have quietly become the established computers for making music with MIDI. Ed Jones reveals why with a look at Steinberg's Pro-24 (V2.1) and Mark Of The Unicorn's Performer (V2.2) programs.

Tired of lurking in the shadows of the contemporary music scene, Keith Emerson, one of the synth world's most influential figures, is now on the verge of re-forming ELP, the band that earned him his reputation.

Dan Hartman takes Chas De Whalley to the US of AOR