If a pair of trendy phono leads for your record player can cost as much as £100 or more, how much should it cost to cable up your studio? David Mellor has the answer...

Frankfurt Musik Messe 1988

It's that time of year when the music fraternity descend on a frozen Frankfurt. Tim Goodyer and Simon Trask check out new gear, new ideas and tired feet.

Nyle Steiner and Sal Gallina Interviewed

As wind synthesis gains momentum we sent Nick Armington and Lars Lofas out to track down and talk to the men responsible for the design of the Yamaha WX1 and Akai EWI.

Chris Smith continues his series on synchronisation

Richard Elen talks to Dave Tuffnell, the man behind a unique electronic music information service - ESSP.

MIDI Guitar System

Is the practical MIDI guitar finally with us? Bob O'Donnell checks out the latest, and most promising, MIDI guitar controller from Yamaha.

Have you always wanted a 24-track studio but could never afford the gear? Well now, maybe you can. David Mellor looks at a package of equipment that offers 24 tape tracks at a budget price.

Argent's Ace has a look at this year's drumming hardware.

This low-cost program for the Atari ST uses Artificial Intelligence techniques to take all the hard work out of programming FM synths and allows you to create new ‘musical’ voices quickly and easily. David Hughes enters the edit zone...

Portable DAT Recorder

Casio's DA1 and DA2 Digital Audio Tape machines have helped put DAT into many budget studios. Tim Goodyer suggests that the DA7 will see it in a few more.

Digital Stereo Sampler

Having set the music industry standard in sampling with their S1000, Akai are now taking moving pictures into their stride. Simon Trask gets frame-accurate on the S1100.

Last month we gave you advice on choosing a computer for musical applications; as a follow on, this month Mike Barnes provides a comprehensive rundown of available music software for the Atari, Macintosh, IBM PC, and Amiga computers.

A chance to check out some of the forthcoming new products that might force you to dig deeper into your pockets later this year.

PRS - The Performing Right Society

The first of an occasional series in which David Mellor takes a look at the organisations that help musicians and composers earn an honest crust in this hard world. This month: the Performing Right Society.

Programmable Automation Computer

New writer Roger Jackson reveals how this mid-priced programmable automation computer can be used to automate mixes on any manufacturer's mixing desk.

A Preview

A guide to some of the new gear to be released at this year's APRS show.

Continuing our series that looks at hi-tech companies and design personnel working in the field of music and recording technology, Paul Gilby talks to Marco Alpert, Director of Marketing & Sales for E-mu Systems of America - the company behind the Emulator and Emax samplers.

Paul Austin lends an ear to the Amiga's internal sound and looks ahead to how the chips may fall in the Autumn.

With the summer shows out of the way and the forthcoming new products all unveiled, Martin Russ looks into the crystal ball and plots out his version of where the world of synthesis might be heading...

Mac Sequencer

Sequencing software for the Macintosh has tended to be be either high-spec and highly priced, or entry-level budget ware. Have Dr. T found a happy medium with Beyond? Matthew Newman investigates.

DrumCheck

Bob Henrit takes on the World; Pearl's new mid-range five-piece acoustic kit

Etcetera

Noise Reduction Systems

An explanation of the most common noise reduction systems in audio use, including Dolby A, B, C, and dbx.

Good buys