Sample editing was never so simple thanks to this Mac package

Back with another fascinating instalment of hints and tips, Tony Hastings offers further guidance to those Ensoniq Mirage owners wishing to develop their sampling skills.

Sampling keyboards and modules are the subject of this month's Checklist| Don't spend a dime until you've cast an eye over this definitive buyer's guide.

Casio's first foray into the digital drum machine market, the RZ-1, offers all the usual rhythm features plus one extra - the facility to sample four of your own sounds. Mark Jenkins finds out if it matches his expectations.

Hard Disc Sampler

standing for Hard Disc, as in rack mounted sampler. This device has so much memory, even Lemmy could remember what band he played for. Alastair Gavin indulges.

Once More for the Viewers at Home

The Rebis RA226 Sampler gets the H&SR treatment.

Rhythmcheck

An invention to make Bob Henrit's digital 'jogging' watch obsolete

In the third part of this series on the growing uses of multiple MIDI channelisation, Paul Wiffen looks at the advantage of using separate audio outputs on the Akai S900.

Akai the new...

Akai's new 3000 Series sampler range - the MT guide

The brand new heavies previewed

Matthew Vosburgh reports on this unassuming little program that turns any Macintosh computer into a powerful sound sampler.

The imitation of acoustic instruments has become an increasingly important role for synths and samplers, but are sounds as important as the way they're played? Tim Goodyer questions the progress of synth design.

Sound engineer David Mellor checks out the most boring Compact Disc in the world: Korg's first digital collection of sound samples!

Concluding our sideways look at the art and soul of sampling, Dom Foulsham covers N to Z in his alphabet of tips

Studiotest

Akai's foothold on the musical gear market grows with a MIDI sampler package leading the new assault. Curtis Schwartz samples their sampler

Sampling Classic Electro Sounds

Nothing seems to be more demanding of a sampler than the sound of the bass drum on a TR808 drum machine. Why should a piece of primitive retro-tech pose problems for so many respectable and apparently ultimate quality machines? Wilf Smarties explains.

Rather than keep the module-addicts happy with a rack version of their EPS sampler, Ensoniq have incorporated some attractive improvements into their EPS-M - like quadrupling its memory. David Bradwell liked it so much he bought it...

Samplitude

Budget direct-to-disk recording for PC

Volume 1 - Drums

If you're bored with your sampler's factory disks or simply can't find a decent snare drum to sample, then Syndromic Music's 'Star Samples' may well prove the ideal solution. Mark Jenkins assesses their range of sampled sound cassettes.

Rhythmcheck

A neat effects pedal housing the sound of your choice

If the sound of your kid sister hitting a biscuit-tin lid is your idea of what a snare drum should sound like, Simmons' new EPROM blower should make your sampling dreams come true. Paul White reports.