Simmons SDS9 electronic drum kit

Simmon's new drum kit

Shure’s SM58 and SM57 microphones are recognised industry standards. Although many rival manufacturers have tried to improve on these classics, all have seemingly failed. Now Shure themselves are attempting to go one better with their recently introduced Beta models. Dave Lockwood sees how they fare in comparison.

Having helped to create Britain's Northern techno scene, Unique 3 claim it doesn't actually exist. Simon Trask listens to this and other enigmas from one of the country's most creative dance outfits.

how to liven up your music by being open to improvisation

Positive superlatives all over the place as Dave Blake's rhetoric embraces a couple of Ibanez instruments.

Golden boy of the teeny bop scene a closet guitar hero? It's true, all true. Muso musings captured for posterity by Dave Burrluck and Susan Rookledge.

Studiomaster Power House Vision 8

Powered mixer with effects

news from the front

newsworthy items for your interest

Tangerine Dream's rhythm man describes his sequencer set-up

More music with mainframe computers

Richard Mitchell explains his use of electronic music for film.

The Mix (2)

Part 16: The mix (2). David Mellor goes still further in pursuit of the elusive perfect mix.

Neatly sidestepping the monotonous beats and cliched melodies that typify too many dance acts, this Swiss-American collaboration are making refreshing music. Simon Trask and Heinrich Zwahlen share a technical obsession.

One man in search of perfection. Dave Burrluck gives his verdict on the state of the axe

Jean Michel Jarre is about to stage the world's biggest ever concert in the London Docklands. David Bradwell finds out about the technological dark age and the art of showmanship.

news from the musical front

Software for the IBM PC

Somewhere between human composers and sci-fi music systems of the future are the algorithmic composition programs of the present. One of the few such programs for the IBM PC finds favour with Ian Waugh.

Parallel Effects Processor

Just four effect

news from the front

Flattening the earth, contextualising the computer.

The second part of MT's in-depth examination of the sample CD phenomenon. Simon Harris, Norman Cook, Coldcut, Ed Stratton and Pascal Gabriel confess all to Tim Goodyer.

Is hip hop an unending stream of monotonous, empty rhythms, or the brightest star in the use of modern musical technology? Tim Goodyer cross-questions MC Tee and DJ Mantronik.

The Return of the Modular Synthesizer

Digidesign continue to add to their innovative range of synthesis programs which use the flexibility of computers for sound creation and the hardware of MIDI samplers to replay the sounds. Paul Wiffen finds he loves the former but hates the latter.

Man Jumping sticksman Simon Limbrick talks about tuned percussion, sampled percussion and technology on the stage. Nicholas Rowland tunes in to the rhythm of technology.