FX tutorial

More top effects tips from Mr D

Chris Thomas & Glyn Johns

producers Chris Thomas and Glyn Johns

Universal Patch Librarian

Tired of rummaging through RAM cards and boxes of floppy disks in search of a particular synth patch? Greg Truckell checks out a far more convenient way to store and recall patches.

Music composition for films and Helden

Remember, you'll read it here first!

They were once a six-piece band playing "systems jazz". Now they are seven, and the music has become even more difficult to classify. Tim Goodyer tries to solve the puzzle.

Focusrite Red 2

Thoroughbred EQ

Rhodes Model 760

A keyboard for the gigging pianist? David Mellor tinkles an ivory or two.

iPD Synth Expander

The VZ8M is the latest application of the synthesis system behind Casio's popular VZ synths. Simon Trask evaluates iPD synthesis in this age of digital development and analogue reincarnation.

"...comes back from Hammersmith."

What we saw at the big fair, including famous gear and famous people.

The cheap alternative?

George Martin 5th Beatle/2nd Part

The man responsible for the UK's first genuine acid house single discusses basslines, bitonality and the grin factor. Baby talk: David Bradwell.

A new Super-synth, Samples, and more

By combining plenty of different sounds with the built-in percussion voices and digital reverb, Roland's MT32 multitimbral expander makes the ideal add-on for any sequencer. But it really takes a software editing program to get the very best out of it. Brian Howarth shows you how.

preset poly

a house music producer who hates sampling and big drum sounds? some mistake, surely?

British Music Fair Show Report

This year's British Music Fair attracted hordes of equipment-hungry punters eager to see what the future of music might hold. Simon Trask was there asking the same question.

New products from the States

A User Report on the Yamaha DX9

Almost entirely overshadowed by its immensely popular elder brother, the DX9 deserves a better deal. Or at least that's what Steve Howell claims in this special user report.

Wilf Smarties gives a new batch of CDs a spin.

The Mellotron

Once considered an instrument no keyboard player should be without, more recently regarded as a mechanical monstrosity, the Mellotron was definitely an early sampler, but was it the first? Dave "Crumbly" Crombie reminisces.

ITs Guide To The British Music Fair

Tangerine Dream have been at the forefront of electronic music long enough to be regarded as an institution. Mark J. Prendergast talks to Paul Haslinger about the TD experience.