A CD standard 16-bit drum machine? Things have progressed a little from those 8-bit Linn Drum days, passing through 12-bit standards on the way, and now reaching the ultimate level in consumer digital fidelity. Whether excellence or overkill, Alesis have gone the whole way with the HR-16. David Mellor gives it the long-awaited ear test.

Ingenious harmony processor

One of pop's pretty faces forsakes teen screams in search of artistic credibility - but has he got what he came for? Tim Goodyer finds out about computer love, classical arrangements and self-production.

Florida's finest remembers accents and accidents with Steve Rosen Stateside

the school of self-education

Charlie Tumahai & Simon Fox

Be Bop Deluxe's drummer and bassist under the magnifying glass.

A plethora of new hi-tech products to whet your appetite.

All the fit that's print to news (re-arrange this well known phrase)

The shape of things to come

Tony Reed goes back to the future for the Frankfurt forecast

...Beating Like This

...Beating Like This forever, and so Matt Isaacson's examination of "drum bugs" (and other nasties) and their applications for triggering electronic drum brains brings this series to a close.

Sounds, samples, & software upgrades for the modern studio

New software, systems, sounds, updates

Paul Williams adds yet another module to the modular effects rack.

Guitar-to-MIDI Converter

Paul White, who's owned almost every Roland guitar synth built, puts the new GK1 synth driver and GM70 "brain" under test. Is this the first pitch-to-MIDI system that really works?

Tacky facts on schlock rock shock

In the concluding part of our in-depth interview with this French-Canadian engineer/producer, Mark Prendergast discovers how Lanois recorded the 'So' album with Peter Gabriel and more about his co-production with Brian Eno of U2's 'The Joshua Tree' and 'Unforgettable Fire' LPs.

A six tap, stereo analogue delay constitutes this month's self-construct module for our 19" rack-mounting effects system.

At home with the semi-detached Georgians

Hendrix rises again - thanks to two musicians, a helpful bureaucrat, and a rack-full of Akais

Jim Betteridge lets his hair down, and gets down with the Deaf-Defying ones.

Sessionmen Special

Studio time with bassist Mo Foster, drummer Tom Nichol and keyboardist Danny Shogger.

Sequential's One Man Band

Paul Wiffen first encountered the Studio 440 sampling drum machine several months ago when he was called in to help Stevie Wonder suss out his! It has since become the mainstay of his own programming armoury. Here he tells why...

Making their presence felt in the singles charts once again, New Order are celebrating eight years together with a new album and forthcoming tour. David Bradwell and Chris Williams investigate the Order of things.

Steve Waye

Chris Maillard and Steve Waye look at the problems faced by solo artist