AKAI XE8 DRUM BOX

Akai XE8 Drum Box

Remove the sequencing facilities from your drum machine and what do you get? A damned good idea for a new product that's what! Paul Ireson checks out Atari's 16-bit sampled drum box - the perfect companion for your sequencer.

DOCTOR JURGENBUSTER'S CASEBOOK

DOCTOR JURGENBUSTER'S CASEBOOK

Martin Russ dishes up another concoction of MIDI hints and tips.

HOLLIS RESEARCH TRACKMAN SEQUENCER

Hollis Research Trackman Sequencer

Following on from last month's preview, Paul Ireson provides a thorough rundown of this easy-to-use, 32-track, pattern-based sequencer for the Atari ST.

MUSIC PRINTING

Citizen HQP45 24-pin dot-matrix printer

Over the past year the number of computer-based music notation programs has increased dramatically, presenting the musician with yet another piece of computer hardware to come to terms with - a printer! Paul Gilby takes a brief look at printer technology with particular reference to the Citizen HQP45 24-pin dot-matrix printer.

OMK: Orla Master Keyboard DMK7 and DMK8

OMK Orla Master Keyboard DMK7 and DMK8

As musicians begin to wake up to the benefits of using a dedicated master keyboard, Paul Ireson checks out two recent examples from Orla, the DMK7 and DMK8

PERSONAL COMPOSER SYSTEM/2

Jim Miller's Personal Composer System/2

Jay Chapman sinks his teeth into one of the most complex and sophisticated scorewriting and sequencing programs on the market - Jim Miller's Personal Composer for PC compatible computers.

STEINBERG & SOUNDBITS

Steinberg & Soundbits: Kawai K1 Editors

Tony Wride investigates two of the latest Atari-based voice editing programs for Kawai's best-selling multitimbral synthesizer.

TECHNICS AX7

Technics AX7

Whilst Roland and Yamaha take LA and FM synthesis into the home, Technics make it even harder to differentiate between a home keyboard and a synthesizer with the release of the AX7. Paul Ireson checks it out.

The Alternative

Tascam MSR16

So far, affordable 16-track has been a one horse race and all the money has been on Fostex. But now the odds are getting more interesting as a lively young thoroughbred from the Tascam stable enters the starting stalls. David Mellor assesses the form.

The return of the modular synthesizer

Digidesign Turbosynth

With Turbosynth, Digidesign continue to add to their innovative range of synthesis programs which use the flexibility of computers for sound creation and the hardware of MIDI samplers to replay the sounds. Paul Wiffen finds he loves the former but hates the latter.

VOYETRA: Echo/local; PC MIDI interfaces; Backups; Xlibrarian; HOLLIS RESEARCH: Percussion mixing; Roland D50; Atari blitter chip; STEINBERG: Delay; Echo; Flanging; Phasing; C-LAB: Note-offs display; Real-time interaction; Linear recording; arrange mode; H

YAMAHA QX3

Yamaha QX3 Digital Sequence Recorder

In a world dominated by software sequencers, Rowland Jones finds he still has a soft spot for the hardware variety.

SOUNDING OFF: Use your ears! by Martin Russ

VINCE CLARKE: Waiting for the perfect song

Vince Clarke: Waiting For The Perfect Song

Since introducing the world to the delights of pure synth-pop in 1981, Vince Clarke has continued to demonstrate his mastery of the popular song form through the medium of synth technology but still claims to be waiting to write his best song. Paul Ireson investigates.

BITS & PIECES

How To Upgrade Your Akai S900

Q: What do you do when your 12-bit Akai S900 sampler starts to seem a little underspecified in comparison with the latest models? A: Don't sell it. Upgrade it with a 'bit injection' from Marion Systems. David Mellor reports.

HOW TO SET UP A HOME STUDIO: Part 1

How To Set Up A Home Studio: Part 1

It has been predicted that by the year 2020, the world will be entirely coverted by a ten meter deep layer of home recording equipment. David Mellor begins a new series that offers advice on how to set up your home studio.

RECORDING THE SOUNDTRACK FOR TV COMMERCIALS