Drum Machine

Possibly the most requested review in recent years, Cheetah's MD16 drum machine is finally here and ready for inspection. Simon Trask gives it a good beating.

Zsa Zsa

Zsa Zsa defected from Hungary to Britain with very little knowledge of English. Now she has her own home studio in London, complete with Greengate sampler.

News from the front

good news bad news

Multitrack Disk Recorder

Roland's S750 and S770 amply demonstrated their pro digital expertise; now the DM80 offers four or eight tracks of truly cost-effective hard disk recording. Wilf Smarties welcomes Roland's newest techno tool.

Your questions answered

Paul Gilby focuses his attention on a cost-effective modular effects rack system from Tantek and scrutinises one of its modules - a versatile sampler and digital delay unit.

What in the name of Prince is Reverb and how can it help your music?

and what can it do for you, your sound, and your music?

SMPTE/MIDI Processor

From soft to hard - Steinberg's latest package is a hardware combination of MIDI patchbay, merger, synchroniser and SMPTE reader rolled into one. It operates as a stand-alone unit or in conjunction with an Atari ST micro. But is it all that it's cracked up to be? Mark Badger investigates.

Hard Disk Recording System

Direct-to-disk digital recording comes of age on the Atari ST computer. Vic Lennard checks out the system which may change your life.

do you have to be a politician to have a hit

Want to get into computing and multimedia but unsure where to start? Ian Waugh guides you through the maze of computers and jargon

Paul White takes a look at what's involved when you start taking on paying customers in your studio.

A 2-page Paracetamol for your technical headaches.

Yet another show. Organised by the Audio Engineering Society, this 4-day show displayed the latest advancements in recording technology.

The monthly miscellany gets stuck into the trivia

We conclude our series on synchronisation by looking at Time Code and its applications in the video and music industries. Film editor Richard Atherton is your guide.

Part 1. Regular contributor Tony Hastings recounts a personal tale of how a lucky break resulted in his first commission in the lucrative world of advertising jingles and soundtracks.

It's the biggest! It's the best! It's the 1986 British Music Fair! Our man on the inside, Tony Mills tracks down the hottest gear of the year

Part 2 sees Roland's SBX-80 Sync Box and SRV-2000 Reverb jump into action as Paul Gilby explains the practicalities of creative mixing with MIDI controlled effects.

A super-spy comes clean, but the questions go on

XRI Systems XRL8 MIDILite

Best known for their SMPTE synchronisers and MIDI patch bays, XRI Systems have entered the growing field of MIDI controlled lighting with the compact XRL8 MIDILite. Kendall Wrightson seeks illumination.

A survey of trendsetters