Analogue tape, digital tape or hard disk? All have strengths and weaknesses, some of which are more obvious than others; this comprehensive overview unscrews the inscrutable.

SMPTE/MIDI Processor

David Mellor dabbles in a spot of SMPTE/MIDI troubleshooting with the Friend Chip SRC/AT processor.

Effects

Part 14: Effects, in the latest installment of his studio cookbook. David Mellor looks at ways to-make your recordings more tasty.

Your kindly editor investigates ways in which the newcomer to recording might spend his money effectively rather than just quickly.

Chrissie Hynde, UB40, Jim Betteridge

Dave Lockwood takes a shine to Tascam's new top-of-the-range Portastudio, the 464.

A look behind the scenes at some of MT's own out-takes: quotes from the famous, letters from the punters and photographs from the "rejected" file. So we all make mistakes...

The third instalment on Drive Unit speaker protection.

Questions & Answers

PART 8: David Mellor expands on some of the points that have arisen so far in the series and looks at some alternative patchbays from Connectronics.

David Mellor takes a day trip to the University College of North Wales in Bangor to visit the first studio in Britain to take delivery of an Akai DR1200 digital multitrack recorder.

Digital 8-Track Recorder

A potential cabaret act?

Rhythm Controller

Offering 32 inputs on mixdown, four auxiliary sends, flexible EQ and the added benefit of a MIDI-controlled muting option, Studiomaster's ProLine 16.8.16 mixer has a lot going for it. Gareth Stuart checks it out.

Chas de Whalley, Paul Stavely O'Duffy, and the Get Down Mixdown Factor.

Neville Unwin talks to Talk Talk about their approach to music.

If you rely on the electric guitar in your recording but daren't annoy the neighbours, then this is what you've been dreaming about.

Vince Clarke reveals trade secrets.

A Re-Review Of The Roland MC4 Microcomposer

...But let us not forget what went before. Steve Howell again, on the machine that introduced the world to recording music by punching in a set of numbers. It's still usable today.

The third instalment of our column devoted entirely to Steinberg software. Written and compiled exclusively for SOS by Steinberg's experts, it deals this month with MIDI clocks and how to keep time!

The concluding episode, and Paul White explains how the processing secrets already revealed can be applied to make a complete mix. No more staring at the faders in despair...

Sony TCD-D3 DAT Walkman

It is often said that the best things come in small packages — and the new Sony DAT Walkman is no exception to the rule. Simon Sanders takes a look at this miracle of micro electronics and asks, "Can anyone lend me £650?"

Bamboozled by technical specs? David Mellor explains how to 'interpret' audio equipment specifications and also gives the lowdown on that little understood concept, Barkhausen noise.

Micon Audio LMTC Synchroniser

Micon Audio's LMTC Processor Controller Synchroniser does for owners of Tascam multitracks what the MTC1 did for Fostex users: integrates multitrack recorder control into the sequencer environment. Dave Lockwood gets that syncing feeling once more.