Toa MR-8T 8-track Cassette Recorder

If you thought eight tracks on standard cassette was an impossibility, think again. David Mellor assesses the world's first 8-track cassette recorder. Will it do to 8-track tape machines what the portastudio did to 4-tracks? Read on and find out...

How To Actually Set About It

Producer/Composer Robin Lumley details what's involved in writing and recording your first piece of music for a TV commercial.

Leading new wave synthesist Ian Boddy explains the way he uses 'track sheets' when undertaking a recording.

Fostex’s SMPTE reading/writing, MIDI syncing, auto-locating, remote transport control unit recently underwent a serious internal re-examination. Ed Jones assesses the newly implemented features and describes their practical application.

A group with a difference - four voices, an engineer and electronic processing comprise this highly original classical ensemble.

An easy-to-build project that will take the difficulty out of producing a smooth fade on your stereo mixes.

Eamonn Percival looks at string machines past and present

MIDI is regularly used to perform tasks as varied as switching notes on and off, storing patch libraries and controlling mixes, but can it control sound itself? Vic Lennard looks at the uses of MIDI noise gates.

A new column introducing musicians with their own home studios.

AES show report

The Alternative

So far, affordable 16-track has been a one horse race and all the money has been on Fostex. But now the odds are getting more interesting as a lively young thoroughbred from the Tascam stable enters the starting stalls. David Mellor assesses the form.

Readers' own synth patches for Yamaha's CS40M and DX7S make up this month's Patchwork. If you've a favourite synth, why not submit a patch of your own and make it a star in Patchwork?

taking notes

Derek Johnson finds this 24-input mic/line mixer is a useful addition to any studio setup.

Are they a viable and cheap alternative to Eqs in the studio. Curtis Schwartz takes a look at a cross section of products available

Avid Steinberg Twelve user Paul Needs tells us all about this user-friendly budget sequencer

Miking Percussion

what to put and where

A look ahead at what's new in the shops.

SMPTE Events Controller

The increasing popularity of SMPTE has meant a corresponding growth in sync units. We take a look at this one from Bokse.

A review of the Desert Island sample library for the Ensoniq EPS joins a selection of readers own patches for the Korg M1, Ensoniq SQ80 and Yamaha TX81Z in this month's Patchwork.

All the latest topical bulletins from the trade

Music composition for films and Helden

What's new in the world of the Micro Musician