Sounds, samples, & software upgrades for the modern studio

New software, updates, sounds, and samples

Digital Audio For The Atari ST

Kendall Wrightson examines an inexpensive Atari-based tapeless recorder offering digital audio editing, plus MIDI controlled hard disk recording with Notator/Creator, Cubase/Cubeat or Virtuoso.

Bob Williams has one of the finest collections of analogue synthesisers in the world, and cherishes them with a care that would make the Science Museum blush. Peter Forrest crosses hill and dale to Cornwall to take a long, loving look, and uncovers a whole network of Moog and Mellotron devotees. Whatever next - 'The Antique Rhodes Show'?

Eastern Intrigue

A last visit to the land of micro-chips and rice crackers. Simon Trask pays an enquiring visit to the Yamaha organisation before waving a fond farewell to the rising sun.

Lock your sequencer to audio and video with a little help from Chris Smith's definitive guide

Wilf Smarties kicks off our regular look at new sample CD releases.

...was the title of The South Bank Show's much-criticised electronic music extravaganza of a couple of months back. Here the programme's musical consultant, composer Tim Souster, argues the case in favour of the show's content.

SynthCheck

A Fairlight small enough to slip into your 501's? Well, nearly. Jim Betteridge warms to Casio's supercheap sampler

Although Michael Nyman's name and music became known through Peter Greenaway's extraordinary films, Prospero's Books may see not just the peak but also the end of their creative partnership. But Nyman has other strings to his bow, as Mark J. Prendergast discovers.

E&MM's 200W high power loudspeakers bring down the price and cabinet size of quality sound. Suitable for home, studio or gig

Richard Buskin looks back at the illustrious past of the world's most famous studio and discovers why Abbey Road has remained a front-runner for so long.

Akai S612 MIDI Sampler

A reduction in price and the introduction of their Quick Disk make Akai's S612 MIDI Sampler an even more attractive investment. Paul Gilby was suitably impressed.

Jean-Michel Jarre In Concert

We go backstage at Jarre's recent Wembley extravaganza to see how the show sound was put together.

Rated as the world's top solo synth performer, Klaus explains how he composes on stage and in the studio

Roland S550/S330 Sampling Modules

David Mellor looks at Roland's flagship rackmount sampler, the S550, and its newly launched escort vessel, the S330. Are they squaring up to fire a broadside at the enemy's sampling fleet? Find out inside.

...while Annabel Scott listens to words of wisdom from a Transatlantic keyboardist of a very different kind - Saga's Jim Gilmour.

Music On The PC

Panicos Georghiades and Gabriel Jacobs explain how, with the aid of plug-in sound and MIDI interface cards, you can transform that most unmusical of computers, the PC.

Shop now for Christmas.

Is it possible to create music using only the natural sounds of the Earth? Robin Lumley says yes, having done just that for a forthcoming BBC documentary series with the aid of a Prophet 2000 sampler and some open-minded studio personnel. Read his fascinating tale.

Engineer, Producer and Guitarist get together to explain how their new LP 'Ring of Changes' was digitally recorded for simultaneous release on compact disc and cassette

Getting it together

PCB overlay and pricing details, plus apologies for the gremlins that crept into part one of David Ellis' description of this digital percussion sampling device.

Portable Stereo Cassette Recorder

Sounds, samples, & software upgrades for the modern studio

Software, samples and gadgets for the modern musician