Hints, Tips & News From The World Of Music Software

More hints and tips from the software manufacturers themselves. This month: C-Lab, Steinberg, Coda, and Dr. T.

Standing at one of the most exciting crossroads in musical history we look at the pros and cons of electronic music.

midi sound module

Passports Master Tracks Pro has a longer track record than most sequencers. Mike Collins looks at the latest version for the Mac.

Phil Collins explores the Octapads.

MIDI-To-CV Convertor

Kenton Electronics are well-known for their quality internal MIDI retrofits for analogue synths. Paul Ireson gets converted to their new stand-alone MIDI-to-CV interface.

Composer Profiles

Korg Drums

Prolonging the percussive theme, a look at three very interesting products from Korg: Their value-for-money digital Super Percussion and Super Drums rhythm machines, plus the KMS-30 MIDI Synchronizer.

XRI Systems XRL8 MIDILite

Best known for their SMPTE synchronisers and MIDI patch bays, XRI Systems have entered the growing field of MIDI controlled lighting with the compact XRL8 MIDILite. Kendall Wrightson seeks illumination.

funk and hi-tech facilities

Although still very young, keyboard player Guy Fletcher has a long list of album/single credits already under his belt for such artists as Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music, Tina Turner, Mick Jagger and Dire Straits. Paul Gilby finds out how Guy landed such plum roles and learns more about the way Dire Straits make use of music technology in their recording.

Vesta DIG-420

Vesta's new sampler delay

Software for the Atari ST

A new sequencer program for the Atari ST from British company Hollis Research sets out to be powerful and friendly without breaking the bank. Ian Waugh reckons it's on the right track (man).

MIDI controller data can have many uses such as adding "feel" to music after it's been recorded into a sequencer. Vic "Megalomaniac" Lennard explores this and many other applications.

Human Rhythm Composer

Nicholas Rowland examines the successor to Roland’s classic R-8 drum machine and asks: is there life in the old beatbox yet?

digital time-conversion software for the ST

For easy-to-digest samples and delays that repeat on you at just the right moment.

Very fair question. A few of the many answers are printed in clear type on page 18. Get down.

Entry-Level Sequencing For The ST

Paul Ireson takes a look at The Final Cut, a budget sequencing program for the Atari ST that offers the beginner more than the average entry-level program.

Part 4: Martin Russ looks at how mapping can help in traversing the MIDI jungle.

Dr.T's Keyboard Controlled Sequencer - Level II V3.0 for the Amiga

One music software house that showed greater awareness and belief in the Commodore Amiga from the outset was Dr.T. David Ellis checks out version 3.0 of their top-of-the-range sequencer to see how it rates against the growing competition.

What the hell's a MIDI Performance System? David Mellor does his level best to explain.

808 State Live

The title says it all...

Sold on the 3-Minute Song

Erasure's fifth album sees the duo of Vince Clarke and Andy Bell going from strength to strength, delivering electro-pop at its finest. But the doyens of synthesizer pop recorded Chorus with almost no MIDI instruments at all. Vince Clarke tells Paul Ireson how he made a hit album with 10-year old technology.