Keyboardcheck

A marriage of technology and elegance. Yes, Dave Foister has written another review

MIDI and SMPTE

Two industry standards settle their timing differences and agree to work together. Chris Meyer checks it out and discusses proposals for the MSMPTE.

Digital Rhythm Composer

Sampling Synthesizer

The DSS-1 offers 12-bit sampling, high fidelity samples, integral dual digital delay and EQ, plus the most comprehensive synthesizer section of all the midrange samplers. Review by Mark Jenkins.

Alan Hoida road tests a portable video studio.

MIDI has revolutionised the way we make and record music. But it has developed at such an incredible pace that it is easy to lose sight of MIDI's many benefits. In this lengthy article, Craig Anderton provides a lucid explanation of how you can make MIDI work for you - whether you have a small home studio set-up or a full-blown professional system.

As you've probably already got your sampler playing drums, horns and strings, getting it to sing to you may sound deceptively easy. Tom McLaughlin explains there may be more to sampling the human voice than you'd heard.

In depth.

writing for MIDI

Part 2: The Edit

Last month we looked at how you can use a domestic format like S-VHS to shoot footage good enough for use in a video demo. But getting the right footage is only half the battle as Paul Wiffen and Darrin Williamson found out. This month we follow them through the editing stage.

JMS Software

JMS continue their commitment to pro software with two new packages - a Six-Trak Editor and Sequence Chain programs.

Atari ST Software

Using a Roland MT32 or any Roland CM modules and looking to get into sequencing on an Atari? Ian Waugh reckons that there's a particular piece of software you should check out.

A problem shared is a problem solved

Big Noise Cadenza V2 For Windows

Roland DJ70 Sampling Keyboard

Roland's DJ70 repackages the guts of an S750 as a DJ-oriented sampling keyboard with a glut of time-saving features. Wilf Smarties welcomes the unit that redefines user friendly sampling.

Prick Up Your Ears

Stephen Bennett offers his views on the quality of recordings, studio monitoring, and domestic hi-fi.

Computer Music System

Gerry Queen brings us an exclusive preview of what will be Britain's first custom-designed computer music system - from the people who brought you the OSCar monosynth. It's capable of combining analogue, digital and sampled sound sources, and it's cheap.

Hints, Tips & News From The World Of Music Software

This month, helpful hints for users of Steinberg and Dr. T's software.

CD ROM player

Surrounded by sample disks? Swamped by sounds? Paul Ireson takes a look at Roland's new CD5 CD ROM player, the next step up in sound library management for S550 sampler owners, and a taste of things to come for everyone else.

Peter Gunn

Jim Betteridge plays 'Hunt the Aled Jones sample.'

Direct-to-disk recording explained

MT's guide to the theory and practice of the tapeless studio

From a new British company comes a new Atari ST software sequencer that looks set to rival Notator and Cubase for power and versatility. The virtuous Nigel Lord boots it up.

synthesiser

A new keyboard for those that like their synths off the rack.