National Sound Archive

Where can you go to listen to your selection of over one million records and tapes, old and new? Read David Etheridge's revealing article on the NSA to find out...

Living Dangerously with 'Doors'

A look behind closed Doors.

its rhythm and reason. Ben Mandelson of Orchestra Jazira looks at the history of African guitar playing and players, and their tricks

Getting twisted with Twisted Sister

An Audience With Aziz

Leading session guitarist Aziz talks to John Harris about playing, recording, and hi-tech guitar processors.

More Scots before the eyes

Is heavy metal really all mouth and trousers, or is there music in there too? Gary Moore's keyboardsman discusses technology and the changing face of rock with Tim Goodyer - quietly.

When you come across a hi-tech band who won't even use commercial synths for fear of being imitated, they must have something special to protect. Simon Trask pays a visit to Leeds to check out the mysterious Nightmares on Wax.

The Rhythm Section

Landscape's bassist and drummer recount their reasons for choosing to form their own label to Ralph Denyer.

There can be few musicians who've amassed such a huge collection of synthesisers as the ex-Buggles keyboardist. Paul Wiffen talks to him about his machines, and finds he still finds a use for most of them.

Digital Audio Processor

Sony's budget digital sound processor lets you record high quality sound on a domestic video recorder.

Todd AO Studios

Simon Braund visits New York's busiest movie post-production facility

You can't discuss the Manchester dance movement without A Guy Called Gerald. Simon Trask talks success and setbacks to one of Britain's most influential young artists.

They say everyone's got one good song in them, it's writing a second that determines whether the first was luck or not... But just how good a guide to the quality of music is the ability to repeat it?

The new range of condenser mics from this respected German firm utilise frequency modulation techniques to achieve a wide, flat response. Gareth Stuart checks them out.

Human Rhythm Composer

And the beat goes on - not least with Roland's latest drum machine, the R70. Simon Trask checks the pulse of the company that gave us the TR808, and are now giving it to us again.

Question: What do Phil Collins, Howard Jones, Chaka Khan and David Bowie have in common? Answer: They have all recorded with Arif Mardin, one of the world's top record producers. Robin Tolleson chats to the man himself...

Better Recording

An A-Z of stuff that'll help you to get better sounds

Fred Dellar presents a potted history of the people who bring you the 'product' - the record companies.

One day you're a keyboard player writing songs with an unknown Bradford singer. The next - one of those songs goes to Number One. Phil Ward goes on the road with John Beck, for whom exactly that happened with Tasmin Archer, and experiences the fulfilment of some great expectations.

Cult masters of industrial funk talk hi-tech sounds, performance CDs and popular commerciality to Nicholas Rowland; the code of the '80s.

Four Track Cassettes

A survey of all the popular machines including TEAC, Fostex, RSD, Clarion, Yamaha and Cutec

A Man With A Gift

In between tours with Ultravox and appearances on Live Aid, Midge Ure somehow found the time to discuss the writing and recording of his first ever solo LP 'The Gift' and his No1 single with Ian Gilby.