Felton Pilate's success spans "traditional" funk to the rap revolution - just now he's writing, producing and playing keys for Hammer. Nick Batzdorf raps tech with the Hammer man.

Having fun with digital delays.

Akai S3000 and S2800 Samplers

Graham hasn't been idle since his 10CC days. Paul White talks to him about his new musical venture... Wax.

E-MU Classic Keys

Analog Keyboard expander

Drum Machine

Possibly the most requested review in recent years, Cheetah's MD16 drum machine is finally here and ready for inspection. Simon Trask gives it a good beating.

Digital Audio Board For The Mac LC

The beat doesn't come much harder than from this respected London funk outfit. In the wake of their debut LP Tim Goodyer gets the hard facts about rhythm from a box.

Use your Ears!

Regular contributor Martin Russ climbs onto the soapbox this month with a plea to use our ears!

Digital Synth & Sampling Interface

Since entering the keyboard market with the DPM3, Peavey have expanded the range and power of their gear. Simon Trask checks out Peavey's "upgradable" philosophy.

More on CEM

Sampling Drum Machine/Sequencer

After last month's In Brief preview, Paul Wiffen gets his hands on a first production model of Sequential's new all-in-one drum machine, sampler and sequencer. Is it the master of all trades?

16-Bit Stereo Sampler

Akai's S1000 is without doubt the industry standard professional sampler, so why try and improve on the best? Paul Wiffen finds that SMPTE cue listing, AES/EBU real-time output, and built-in effects are a good start (with hard disk recording to follow).

SPK began by hammering away at anything from the scrapyard but now generate their metal beat on the Fairlight. We investigate the method in the mayhem.

MIDI Utility Software

MAXplay opens a window on a world of MIDI applications, including MIDI analysers, harmonisers, editor/librarians and much, much more. Kendall Wrightson investigates.

We hold a sample

Peter Gunn

Jim Betteridge plays 'Hunt the Aled Jones sample.'

A Series By Warren Cann.

Kinkade's hot semi

Take It From The Top

Tony Mills with more up and downmarket software

A modest newcomer to the sampling arena is Boss' DSD2 pedal. Paul White finds out if it's capable of more intelligent iterations than 'hangover'.

Another winter, another spate of musical instrument shows. They mean a lot for business, but what do they mean to music as a whole?