The world's best known engineer

Ray Dolby's name appears on almost every recording device imaginable, yet few people outside the industry know much about this most famous engineer. In a rare interview he talks to David Mellor and explains the evolution of Dolby noise reduction.

Flanging

Etcetera

Analogue tape, digital tape or hard disk? All have strengths and weaknesses, some of which are more obvious than others; this comprehensive overview unscrews the inscrutable.

Someone whose career in music began before the invention of the tape recorder will have witnessed a revolution in music technology. Peter Ridsdale shares the experiences of a man who has spent a lifetime composing for pictures.

Sgt Pepper

The Beatles' most celebrated LP is 20 years old this month: have a splendid time reading how it was made

Dream Machine: Studiomaster 848r ProLine Mixer

the spotlight falls on the Studiomaster 848R mixer

Studio Focus

Ben Duncan looks at this cassette recorder to see if it can cope with life in the studio.

From the humblest of 4-track cassette recorders to the might of 48-track digital, multitrack is the technique used for 99.9% of all commercial recordings. David Mellor looks at the background to this powerful tool and wonders how we ever managed without it.

Cassette Multitracker

If you're looking for a cost-effective way to add multitrack tape recording to your sequencing setup, it couldn't come much more cheaply than with Fostex' X18. Simon Trask goes back to basics with this new cassette multitrack.

a novice engineer's guide to what all the knobs and switches on a mixing-desk do

interface for the Macintosh

This new interface could be just the ticket for Mac users.

Equipment

Allen and Heath/Brenell release one of their beautiful Mod II mixers into the grateful clutches of Mel Lambert, who lets you know warrisallabout.

Mixing Desk

Q: Just what is a Minister Without Portfolio? A: A leading member of the Government who hasn't got Soundcraft's nifty new portable mixer, that's what. Nicholas Rowland raises questions in The House

Alesis BRC Big Remote Control for ADAT

Does the BRC make multiple ADAT working a real joy? Read our in-depth test to find out...

In these space-conscious times, Fostex have developed a diminutive new 8-track tape recorder you can store out of sight and control fully from its detachable front panel remote control/autolocator. David Mellor takes it for a spin...

Our regular readers' demo page is packed with invaluable tips on how to record the perfect demo.

10-Track Recording Package

Combine two 6-track cassette recorders, one synchroniser and a 12:6:2 mixer, and what have you got? A rather appealing multitrack demo studio from Sansui. David Lockwood reports.

Clock Recording Studios

Chris Maillard Clocks on to report on a new recordenhaus

Although the title 'maintenance engineer' does not have the glamour of 'producer', it is an essential job. Paul Ward tells us why.

8 -Track Digital Recorder

Paul White finds his Holy Grail in a 3U rackmount package — Alesis' revolutionary ADAT, the first digital multitrack tape recorder to compete in the same price bracket as affordable analogue multitracks.

Vestax MR66 6-Track Recorder and RMC88 Studio Mixer

Put these two together and you have a flexible recording and mixing system.

Micon Audio LMTC Synchroniser

Micon Audio's LMTC Processor Controller Synchroniser does for owners of Tascam multitracks what the MTC1 did for Fostex users: integrates multitrack recorder control into the sequencer environment. Dave Lockwood gets that syncing feeling once more.