Alligator 200 watt electro-percussion combo in the studio.

Build a sync to MIDI interface

Fostex MC102 Keyboard Mixer/Cassette Recorder

What a good idea — a stereo mastering cassette machine and a mixer in a compact rack package!

Paul Gilby takes a brief look at printer technology with particular reference to the Citizen HQP45 24-pin dot-matrix printer.

(But Were Too Afraid To Ask!)

PART 3: Martin Russ continues his in-depth explanation of MIDI's most misunderstood messages.

How To Write Lyrics

Richard Walmsley takes a look at the under-estimated art of lyric writing

Touch Switch Theory

At great risk to the magazine’s circulation, we present a guide to spending your evenings playing music instead of reading about it. Your local may never be the same again.

Vocals and electronic music in unique combination

Six stars outline their home demo set-ups

sketching song ideas at home. how certain successful stars record their demos - John Entwistle, Nik Kershaw, Annabel Lamb, Adrian Belew, Blancmange

Shop now for Christmas.

Syco's Analogue to Digital Interface is less than half the price of its nearest competitor. But does it match the quality? We investigate.

MIDI Hardware and Software for RS232 Interface Standard

A MIDI utility hardware and software package for any RS232-equipped micro. Review by Simon Trask, who’s thinking of having RS232 fitted to himself.

Digital Drums

Ian Waugh hits on an interesting idea from Yamaha: a sub-£100 set of drum-pads-in-a-box which can be used to play any MIDI instrument.

Valve Surgery — Repairing Tube Instrument Amplifiers

Valve Surgery explained

MIDI Master Keyboard

Akai's new MIDI master keyboard boasts a weighted six-octave keyboard and new terminology for its features. Simon Trask decides MIDI control is more than a simple matter of feel.

ALESIS DATADISK MIDI Data Recorder

The latest MIDI data recorder to appear is the Alesis Datafiler SysEx recorder, which allows you to record system exclusive info direct to disk. Filing with Vic Lennard.

the science of synchronisation explained

Studios & Recording

Man bites guitar; parents set to choose the sax of their children; speaker found in House of Commons, etc.

In the last part of Ben Duncan's series, he examines the acoustic properties on Live End/Dead End studios.

Fostex MTC1 Sync Box

Take Fostex's R8 tape deck, Steinberg's Cubase sequencer and an MTC1, and what have you got? Total creative freedom! Richard Aaron discovers the missing link in the recording chain.

Mixing The Cure

Live Music for the Hi-Tech Musician

They've been a mainstay of electronic music for over 20 years, they're less expensive than ever before, and they still make sounds the digital machines can't. Analogue synthesizers have been receiving some digital assistance of late, but at heart they're still analogue synthesizers - and if you want to make them perform magic, you need to speak their language. Craig Anderton is your interpreter...