A survey of trendsetters

Take your beat to the streets.

With on-board midi mute automation, six auxiliaries, 16 inputs and 16 monitors, Allen & Heath's new pint-sized Saber looks set to emulate the success of its larger brethren. Dave Lockwood checks it out.

True Stereo Reverb & Effects Processor

Which Gear is Right for You?

Jethro Tull's main man takes us behind the fish farmer exterior and into his home studio.

Sampled Percussion Performance Module

What is it about programmed drum parts that make them sound programmed. Paul Wiffen goes in search of the secret of realistic drumming, and finds it in the Emu Procussion.

Sounds, samples, & software upgrades for the modern studio

Sounds, samples, software

In some ways this budget-priced drum machine from Kawai is a major improvement over its big brother, the R100, not least in its use of 8-note polyphonic sounds and its built-in digital effects. Ian Gilby was more than a little impressed. Find out why...

Yet another sleek, black, 16-bit multi effects unit? Or does the new Roland RSP550 have something more to offer? Kendall Wrightson has the answer.

Korg DSM1 & E-mu SP1200

Are the latest samplers from Korg and E-mu Systems really new instruments, or are they simply updates on old machines? Lorenz Rychner counts the bits and checks the clocks.

Recording your own music is only the first step to getting it heard; to do that, you need to deal with A&R people at record companies. Paul Tingen meets them, and discovers why so few bands succeed in impressing them.

Roland SRV330 Dimensional Space Reverb

Can Roland's latest gizmo really add another dimension to your recordings?

When Norman Cook walked away from The Housemartins he walked into hi-tech record production and remixing: now he's topped the charts with Beats International. Tim Goodyer talks to a computer convert.

Rugged adventures recording Balinese music

A complete rundown of all the polysynths, voice expanders and remote keyboards currently available - plus the comments of our reviewing team on each of them.

Paul White talks to Tony Visconti about his career, his production methods and his plans for the future.

The price guide to beat all price guides continues with a rundown of available sequencers, software packages and computer music systems.

Dieter Meier is a writer, painter, performance artist and an ex-professional gambler; he's also the face and voice in front of one of the most influential bands of the '80s. Tim Goodyer joins the Swiss race.

Advanced Sampling Recorder

Bit of this, bit of that

Akai's super-sampler carries on where their S612 left off. Paul Wiffen finds its ease of use belies its sophistication.

Multiverb II Multiverb EXT

Dave Lockwood casts his eye over this brace of MIDI controllable multi-effects processors from ART.

Prince Paul

Already an established musical force from his work with Stetsasonic, Prince Paul has gone on to produce De La Soul's brilliant debut LP. Steven Daly talks technology and sampling ethics with a Prince.

Live Aid

Gig of the century, report of the millenium by Jim Betteridge

Digital Sampler

Following in the footsteps of their successful S900 sampler, Akai's new baby looks likely to set new standards in sampling hardware. Simon Trask's thrilled to bits.