A SOFT TOUCH

UMI 2B Real-time/step-time MIDI sequencer

Recognised as one of the most user-friendly systems around, this real-time/step-time MIDI sequencer runs on the BBC B micro and is gaining rapid acceptance amongst professional users for its versatility. Jay Chapman discovers why.

CASIO SZ1 SEQUENCER

Casio SZ1 Sequencer

This 4 track MIDI sequencer is a step in the right direction for Casio but have the budget restrictions limited its appeal?

HHB CLUE DATA

HHB Clue Data

Beyond the razor-blade: HHB's innovative Clue system provides an answer to the digital editing dilemma. Paul Gilby pieces together the story.

SOUNDCRAFT SERIES 200B

Soundcraft Series 200B

The Soundcraft Series 200B represents a welcome and well thought out upgrade to the original Series 200 design, with a number of useful additional features being incorporated, along with a measure of cosmetic and structural restyling.

SYNCHRONICITY

Bokse US8 Universal Synchroniser

The Bokse US8 Universal Synchroniser: Ian Gilby takes control.

YAMAHA REV7

Yamaha REV7 Digital Reverb

The term 'studio quality' often infers a studio price tag but that's certainly not the case with this affordable digital reverb from Yamaha. Record producer/musician Robin Lumley was so impressed with the host of facilities it offered that he was moved to put pen to paper...

" ...I NEARLY JOINED THE FOREIGN LEGION!"

Dave Meegan: Part 1

Dave Meegan is an unfamiliar name to most of you but was once typical of many young hopefuls desperate to find a way in to the recording industry. He is currently carving out a fine reputation for himself as a house engineer at Trevor Horn's famous Sarm West Studios in London. In the first part of our interview, conducted almost a year ago, Dave describes how his interest in his studio career began and how he managed to obtain such a coveted position with one of the world's top recording studios.

Alice In Switzerland

Mainframe: 5 Minutes... On The Making Of Their Video

Murray Munro & John Malloy

In lighter moments, Mainframe's Murray Munro and John Malloy like to refer to themselves as "a two-piece synthesizer band from Hemel Hempstead". But they have always been more than just that... From their first self-financed single release in 1983 which broke new ground through its inclusion on the B-side of a graphic display program to run a computer, to their current involvement in the development of the Greengate DS3 Sound Sampler, John and Murray have always shown a healthy regard for the do-it yourself philosophy. And very successful it has proved too in several unforeseen ways.

MIDGE URE

A Man With A Gift

In between world tours with Ultravox and appearances on Live Aid, multi-instrumentalist Midge Ure has somehow found time to write and record an excellent solo album entitled The Gift. Ian Gilby spoke to him at his Chiswick home studio where he explained how the album was put together.

MIDI, THE UNIVERSAL ANSWER?

MIDI: The Universal Answer?

Ian Gilby asks the question, is MIDI the universal answer?

THE PROGRAMMING PEOPLE

Karin Clayton

The recording industry has recently embraced a new breed - the programmer. These skilled individuals, specialised in the operation of top-flight computer musical instruments like the Fairlight and Synclavier, find themselves in great demand by studios and record producers. Recognising this need, Karin Clayton has created a specialist agency - The Programming People - which offers clients the services of various expert programmers. Paul Gilby sampled her story and discovered how it all started.

THOUGHTS OF A MARATHON SONGWRITER

Paul Bliss

With the Sophisticated instruments around today, it's so easy for the would-be songwriter to have his attention drawn away from the real reason for buying them - to make music. Song writing, as Paul McCartney will gladly tell you, can be a lucrative business and there are few finer examples than Paul Bliss of a musician who has managed to fuse together the creative power of computers, synthesizers and song-writing skill with such resounding commercial success.

SOUND ON VISION: Time For SMPTE: Part One

Time For SMPTE: Part 1

Part 1: The standardisation of timing and synchronisation data for instruments took a giant step forward with MIDI. Now it looks to be happening again with SMPTE, so we invited Kendall Wrightson to provide a series that explains what SMPTE is, why we all need it and what we can use it for.