Bass playing & programming

Getting deep, deep down in Part 3 of Simon Trask's series on the bassline.

The original ambient funsters have a new studio album all but ready, a live album on the way and a major recording deal in the offing. Jonathan Miller encounters Dr Alex Paterson and Thrash on the verge of a higher plane...

Since heralding in a new musical era in 1976 with the release of his innovative synthesizer-based opus, 'Oxygene', Jean-Michel Jarre has gone on to sell almost 34 million records worldwide. Currently embarking on a new album project, as well as planning a series of concerts to welcome in the new decade, Richard Buskin visited Jarre in his home studio to talk about the technology behind his music.

Reader Peter Forrest relates his delightful tales of woe.

An ex-music critic turns prolific avant garde composer and finds himself in demand from the Time Out fraternity. Dan Goldstein talks to the man everyone calls a systems music composer—wrongly.

With their debut album just released and a single high in the charts, these are busy times for the Beatmasters. Tim Goodyer braves a tube strike to find out what technology has done for them (and what they'd like to do to technology).

a blockhead's history of reggae

U2's guitarist interrupts recording of their new album for an exclusive Making Music interview.

Away from the fickleness of the pop music world, Cabaret Voltaire have been quietly breaking the barriers of underground electronic music. Interview by Dan Goldstein.

DCC vs. MiniDisc

Is either format any good?

Part 1: The Shoot

We all know how modern cost-effective musical instruments and recording equipment allow professional standard tapes to be produced at home. But does the similar trend in video gear mean that the average musician can now shoot his own promo? Paul Wiffen and Darrin Williamson thought so. This is their story.

Guitar

Voyetra Audio View

PC sample editor

Chas de Whalley gets down with the Scottish Sultan of Soul, Steve Harvey

Recording Peter Gabriel's Us

Fostex 380S Dolby S Multitracker

Keith Barr, the driving force behind Alesis isn't renowned for his willingness to talk to the press so we are pleased to be able to bring you this exclusive interview.

DAT Recorder

Tascam's latest machine has all the features we have come to expect of a professional DAT recorder. Dave Lockwood assesses its performance.

On a Moroccan roll

Fly-on-the-wall vision of an ethnic recording expedition

Florida's finest remembers accents and accidents with Steve Rosen Stateside

Paul Young's Royal Family

Guitarist Steve Bolton and bass player Pino Palladino explain the importance of being a Swedish Chef.

Really Big Men

The band tipped to make it BIG in '88. Tim Goodyer talks to a DJ/keyboard player with a unique place in rock 'n' roll and a singer/guitarist who's going to make Madonna and Lita Ford look like Dot Cotton and Hilda Ogden.

The Freedom Factor

Opcode's ground-breaking sequencer, Studio Vision, lets you manipulate audio data as easily as MIDI events. All you need is a hard disk recording system like Digidesign's Sound Tools, a fast Macintosh computer with plenty of storage capacity, and some creative ideas. Paul D. Lehrman reports.