What is 1¾" high, has 31 voices, plays the piano, vibraphone and sax, and has its own library? Simon Trask checks out Roland's latest PCM sample module.

Steve Hall bandies about words like involvement, commitment and encouragement as he argues that the engineer should take a more active role in the everyday process of recording.

Mark Cunningham finds producer O'Duffy in hypnotic mood

It's two years since the former japan frontman made his solo debut, but a new double album showcases both Sylvian's unique songwriting and his interest in ambient, instrumental music. Exhaustive interview by Tim Goodyer.

from america to russia and back again, rock 'n' roll puts the cold war on ice

An interview with this innovative three-piece on the making of their new album, Points On The Curve, the result of a year's work in the studio with Fairlight, PPG et al.

MIDI Composition via Computer

The tale of two songwriters on opposite coasts of America, using different computers and musical instruments, writing and producing a single without face-to-face collaboration until the final mixdown. Al Hospers reveals what happened.

Hip-hop beats, anarchic industrial noise and the odd jazz lick are the hallmarks of The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy’s debut album Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury. Kean Wong drops in on San Francisco’s uncompromising renegades and discovers which are the sharpest tools at the cutting edge of rap

At home with the semi-detached Georgians

Visions of Arcadia

Via engineering and production work with Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson and U2, Daniel Lanois has unmistakenly imprinted his personality on the sound of the Eighties. Recently he released his own solo album, ‘Acadie’; Mark J. Prendergast runs through the tracks.

Making demos with the latest multitrack machine!

'Now the Virgin returns,' quoth Virgil, and who are we to disagree? Mel Lambert takes a colourful look at Richard Branson's new London studio: a Town House for the Lord of the Manor.

Not a household name perhaps, but this man is behind quite a lot of musical projects that you will no doubt recognise - as Janet Angus explains.

MIDI Guitar Controller

Casio's first truly professional MIDI guitar boasts an onboard synthesizer and claims to have the fastest pitch tracking of any MIDI guitar. Rowland Jones bought one to find out!

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson part two

Atari ST Software

They gave us the first industry-standard sequencing software for the Atari ST in Pro24, now Steinberg are making a second bid for Atari domination with Cubase. Nigel Lord says "part two next month...

Mr & Mrs Mark E. Smith at home

are rock competitions worth their salt? if you fancy your chances, read on...

Sounds, samples, & software upgrades for the modern studio

Sounds, samples, software

Bill Nelson talks Synths Vs Guitars with Gary Cooper

Ken Scott muses on his journey from Bowie to Kajagoogoo. Chas de Whalley listens attentively

The high priest of Pop discusses his solo album, musicianship, songwriting and The Police.

The Camden Cowboys are back with a fresh outlook and a new IP on the way. Jonathan James investigates

Band-In-A-Box Auto-Accompaniment Software

You've never had it so easy — Band-in-a-Box adds intelligence to auto-accompaniment, as Mike Simmons finds out in his look at the latest version of this popular software package.