Wayne Hussey divulges all about the gear behind the Gothic grind

The man behind Elton’s new mix

It's down the shop/in the paper/round your mate's, but what should you look for, and how d'you know if it's a good 'un?

An intriguing insight into just what is required of the home recordist when setting out to cut your first disc.

What makes one of rock music's most eccentric and unpredictable characters lock his guitar in a cupboard and take to composing on a Synclavier instead? Rick Davies provides the answers in an exclusive interview.

is there a future in teaching music

The original Mr. Electrify in a very, er, um.. frank interview about Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' roll — the first time round, Iain Blair spares no blushes

The line between man and machine is blurred; today there exists an entity whose purpose is to make music. Simon Trask discovers that its sights are locked on the dance charts and it absolutely will not stop.

Beyer DT159 & DT329

Headset mics

Any band that call their album 'Steve McQueen' deserve to be interviewed by Chris Maillard

One Two listens to Stratists Jeff Beck, Adrian Belew and Richard Thompson. Plus a Hendrix compilation.

Studiomaster powered mixer

Just add speakers and go

The Syn-D-Kit

Do you turn pale at the thought of forking out for a Simmons SDS9? Do you go green with envy when friends show off brand-new Ultimate Percussion kits? Paul White's design for a build-your-unswer electronic drum hit could bring a bit of colour to your cheeks.

We examine Roland's MPU 401 Intelligent Interface that took over two years to develop, to discover whether this disc-based sequencing system was worth waiting for.

With their second album just released, Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe take a rest to talk here about the trials of their rise to fame, and their musical and equipment plans for the future. Dan Goldstein (a trifle agog) listens in...

All that was new and all that was interesting at the this year's sojourn into Germany.

Ben Duncan explains this most useful gadget.

Sneak Preview

Next year's new gear - Mag gives sneak preview

If you saw an awkward figure stumbling between the stacks, that was Jim Betteridge

How to maintain your kit