System Exclusive messages promised to make MIDI a flexible and powerful communications standard; instead it seems to have caused MIDI havoc. Vic Lennard takes an Exclusive look.

The Clavinet revisited

Akai S1000KB Sampler with DAC R4000 Syquest Drive

The S1000 has been with us for almost two years now, and the removable Syquest drive has become the most popular way of accessing a large library for it. But suppose you put them both in the same box with a weighted keyboard? Paul Wiffen discovers to his joy that someone has!

swiss rock 'n' roll - or pop with a precision movement

New products — New people

Our unique buyers' guide lists dedicated sequencers, software packages and computer music systems. Nothing else comes close.

Dan Goldstein and Simon Trask take a break from reading their own work and examine a selection of new books aimed at helping you get more out of music technology.

New products from the States

If you're already running a MIDI studio on a budget and want to add a handful of tape tracks, the Vestax MR200 could be the answer. Nigel Lord checks out a cassette multitracker that won't cost you much more than £300.

A look at a selection of the new and innovative equipment on show at Europe's premier trade fair.

Later with Jools Holland

Behind the scenes at TV’s premier music show

The cassette 4-track is still the focal point of the home studio, and Marantz have produced a serious challenger to the familiar Portastudio. How does it measure up? How will musicians’ take to it? How does Nicholas Rowland do it?

An American synthesist and composer with a soft spot for aborigines and analogue sounds, talks to Bob O'Donnell about programming synths and sequencers old and new.

Sound Designer Software

The Emulator II finds a new friend in the Apple Macintosh, courtesy of a little American ingenuity. Together, the two make sweet sound-editing music, as Paul Wiffen reports.

The urbane Mr Palmer talks to Hank Bordowitz about crossing over from cult status to general acceptance.

From Schoolhouse To Multitrack

The turn of sequencers, software packages and computer music systems to receive attention from E&MM’s unique price guide.

Want to get on in the music biz? Then you'll have to get on TV. Mike Hrano shows you how

Real Time Performance System

Paul Wiffen heads off into dreamland to sample the delights of New England Digital's latest improvement package for what's arguably the world's most prestigious computer music system. Not surprisingly, he gives it the thumbs up.

Guitarcheck

French, Japanese, Dave B takes them all on

Your Razor Blade

Steve Howell covers the basics of good splicing practice in preparation for next month's article on creative remixing.

The recession hits America but the show goes on - hot news of the latest hi-tech music and recording developments. Vic Lennard is the MMAN from NAMM.

By a happy accident, Amstrad's first-ever home computer could become the MIDI micro of the future. David Ellis tells us why.