DEEPLY COMPRESSED

Drawmer LX20 Expander/Compressor

Drawmer noise gates and compressors have become the undisputed industry standard in the field of sound recording, and their latest unit looks set to make it a hat-trick. The dual channel LX20 offers comprehensive compression/expansion facilities at a budget price. Engineer Gareth Stuart assesses its performance.

MEL FX1001

MEL FX1001 Multi-effects Processor

Group six effects together in a 2U box, add a 3.5-inch disk drive with onboard microprocessor and what have you got? Ian Gilby describes the answer.

MOTU: Mark Of The Unicorn software

MOTU Performer & Professional Composer

Our resident Mac user Martin Russ steps his way enthusiastically through two of the best written software packages for the Apple Macintosh computer - 'Performer', a comprehensive multitrack sequencing program, and 'Professional Composer', a music transcription program.

ROLAND S10

Digital Sampling Keyboard

'Is this the one we've all been waiting for?' asks Julian Colbeck. Slotting neatly into the vacant sub-£1000 price bracket, Roland's new keyboard is a fast and easy to use sampler with plenty of attractive qualities. But how does it fare against the competition? Read on to find out...

SENNHEISER MICS MKH20 & MKH40

Sennheiser MICS MKH20 & MKH40 Condenser Mics

Engineer Gareth Stuart gives his appraisal of Sennheiser's omnidirectional MKH20 and cardioid MKH40 condenser microphones.

THE ITALIAN JOBS

Elka EK22 & EK44 Synthesizers

Italian-designed keyboards have received mixed success over the years. Elka's old Rhapsody string synth was popular instrument in the seventies but their main polysynth, the Synthex, failed to set the world alight. That may well be about to change with the release of their impressive 9-voice, multitimbral, DX7-soundalike, the EK44, and the 6-voice analogue EK22. Or is it? Mark Jenkins offers his views.

FRANKIE GOES TO LIVERPOOL: Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

The new Frankie Goes To Hollywood album, 'Liverpool', marks a more direct approach to recording for the band that emerged from the hi-tech production house of ZTT. Paul Gilby talks to their drummer, Ped (Peter Gill) and discovers there is more to Frankie than mere production technique...

JAPANESE NEW AGE MUSIC

Japanese New Age Music

Seigen Ono is one of Japan's foremost engineer/producers whose credits include work for David Sylvian, Robert Fripp, Lounge Lizards and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Mark Prendergast spoke to him regarding his highly acclaimed solo album, his work with Western musician, and his involvement in Japan's 'New Age' music scene.

PARIS MUSIC FAIR

Paris Music Fair 1986

Our roving reporter Mark Jenkins takes a look off the beaten track at some of the more interesting French equipment shown at last month's Paris Music Fair.

THE BIRMINGHAM TRIANGLE

Birmingham Triangle Studios

Within the bowels of the Triangle Media and Arts Centre, buried in the heart of Birmingham, lies a hidden room where a colony of recording engineers are reputed to live. In fact, this is more than a myth - if you dare to venture further, you will find what must be on of the largest 8-track studios in the country, with a cavernous recording space measuring 120 feet x 55 feet. Bruce Heart, the studio's 'manager', takes up the story...

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR MIRAGE

Making The Most Of Your Mirage: Part 2

Part 2: Tony Hastings offers more hints and tips designed to help owners of the popular Ensoniq Mirage expand their sampling skills.

NATURAL MUSIC

Natural Music

Is it possible to create music using only the natural sounds of the Earth? Robin Lumley says yes, having done just that for a forthcoming BBC documentary series with the aid of a Prophet 2000 sampler and some open-minded studio personnel. Read his fascinating tale.