Akai S3000XL

Sampler

Long-time Akai sampler user Paul Ward tries to stop his credit card from leaping out of his pocket as he gets to grips with the tempting additions to Akai's mid-range sampler.

ART MDM8L

8-Channel Compressor/ Limiter

Paul White tries out ART's new 'digital safety net', and discovers it has a great deal of creative potential.

Audio Technica AT873R

Back-electret Vocal Microphone

Paul White tests Audio Technica's latest low-cost back-electret mic and discovers thats its performance is out of all proportion to its size.

B&W CDM1

Hi-fi Speakers

B&W's new hi-fi speakers turn in an impressive performance as small studio monitors as Paul White discovers. But can they compete with the dedicated monitors already on the market...?

BBE 362 NR

Sonic Maximizer

BBE's new Sonic Maximizer combines enhancement with single-ended noise reduction. Paul White finds out whether the marriage of the two systems is a happy one.

Beyerdynamic DT250

Headphones

Enclosed headphones that are sensibly priced, comfortable, and sound as accurate as a pair of good monitors — is it possible? Paul White finds out.

Digidesign Session 2.0

Multitrack Software

With hardware almost becoming a 'taboo' word these days, David Mellor investigates what Digidesign's hardware-free recording software can offer the budget-conscious musician.

Emu Systems Sound Engine

GM Sound Module

Emu's Sound Engine is the first dedicated General MIDI module from the USA. Derek Johnson explores GM the American way.

Ensoniq DP/2

Parallel Effects Processor

Derek Johnson opens up the latest effects box from Ensoniq and finds that they do sometimes do things by halves!

Fostex DMT8

Digital Multitracker

Paul White visits the future of home recording, where tape heads never need cleaning, cassettes never jam and mistakes can be undone at the touch of a button.

Iomega Zip 100

Zip Drive

Anyone into sampling or hard disk recording appreciates the need for a low-cost, high-capacity, archivable storage medium — and that's exactly what Iomega's Zip 100 drive delivers. Paul White gives it a spin...

Jungle Warfare

Sample Library

5*

Korg Trinity series

Music Workstation

Korg shook the hi-tech recording world in 1988 with the introduction of the M1 workstation. With their new Trinity range, Korg are attempting to update the workstation concept for the 1990s. In the first instalment of this two-part review, Gordon Reid assesses how they have fared.

MIDI + Audio: Top 4 Mac Programs Compared

Software

The latest big thing in computer-based sequencing is the integration of real-world audio and MIDI data within the same program. Mike Collins puts the four leading Macintosh contenders head to head to see how they compare across a range of facilities.

MOTU Unisyn

Universal Editor/Librarian

Windows users looking for comprehensive and professional editor/librarian support for their MIDI instruments may not need to look any further. Paul Nagle perks up his patches with Unisyn.

Presence Audio ZYP A2S

Miniature Nearfield Monitors

Paul White checks out what must be one of the smallest serious monitors ever.

Tech 21 Sansamp XXL

Hi-tech Overdrive Unit

Paul White tries out a new overdrive pedal that was clearly named after a very large T-shirt.

Technics SX-WSA1

Acoustic Modelling Synthesizer

Technics' first foray into the pro synth market, the WSA1, catapults them to the front of the pack. Martin Russ discovers whether acoustic modelling synthesis really can create gold sounds from base metal.

Techno Toolbox

Sample Library

* Score = 4

Turtle Beach Sample Vision

Sample Editing Software

Panicos georghiades and Gabriel Jacobs checks out the long-awaited upgrade of this popular and professional PC sampler editor.

World Colours

Sample Library

* Score = 5

A Journey Through Synthesizer History

Exploration

Sound On Sound's first decade has been graced by synths that were revolutionary, synths that were fascinating, synths that were seminal, and synths that were simply loved. Julian Colbeck takes a personal look at 10 of the best from synthesizer history.

Aquabats: Chaotic Recording

Interview | Band

Aquabats are an unconventional trio dedicated to the creation and recording of unconventional improvised music — using unconventional and often improvised instruments — which they call Earth Music. Tim Turan tells the story.

Changing Face Of Technology: The Last 10 Years

Exploration

Martin Russ takes a look at the changing face of technology during the first decade of SOS.

Ed Buller & Gary Stout: Node

Interview | Band

Not many bands would set up banks of modular and analogue synths in Paddington station and play free for the delight of the weary commuters. node did — but then that's the kind of guys they are. Nigel Humberstone talks to half of the band about free-form composition, inspired mistakes, and the lack of sex appeal in electronic music.

Martin Russ: Software Updates

Sounding Off

Regular SOS contributor Martin Russ returns to the back page with some rabid thoughts on software updates.

The PC In Music

Exploration

Brian Heywood traces the development of the most popular computer platform in the world, and examines its application in music.

The Story Of The Beatles' Anthology Project

Exploration

After years of rumours and myth, the fruits of the Beatles' reunion for small screen and recording projects can now be experienced by mere mortals. For the past 18 months, Mark Cunningham has been keeping his ear to the ground, and can now reveal the fascinating details surrounding the Fab Four's Second Coming'...

All About The Boundary Effect

Exploration

Accurate monitoring is a must in the recording studio, but the perceived level of bass depends on where you are standing and where the speakers are positioned. Paul White explains why in audio, a boundary literally means a six.

Buyer's Guide To Synths, Workstations & Modules

Tips & Techniques

What you should look for when making a purchase decision for your studio.

Introduction To Cubase, Part 4: Configuring Cubase; MIDI Processing & Filtering

Exploration

Approaching re-entry into the atmosphere, Simon Millward concludes his tour of the Cubase universe with a look at some of the flagship sequencing package's lesser-known functions.
• Read Part 1
• Read Part 2
• Read Part 3

Kooky Ballerina

Demo Doctor

* Top Tape * The James Twins * The Essence * Spaceman * Force Of Habit * * Poptastic * The Bushmen * Lenny McCartney * Jon Turner * Traxler Mindshaft * Soundstation * Rule 13

Making The Most Of An 8-track

Tips & Techniques

In these days of practically unlimited MIDI sequencer tracks, just eight tape tracks can seem frustratingly few. David Mellor passes on a few tricks to help 8-track users expand their recording horizons — including how to get 20 tracks from 8...

MIDI Basics, Part 5: Multi-port Interfaces

Exploration

Paul White looks at the benefits of using a multi-port MIDI interface.
• Read Part 1
• Read Part 2
• Read Part 3
• Read Part 4

OctaMED Technique & ARexx

Amiga Notes

Paul Overaa gives you the latest on the Amiga scene... OctaMED technique & ARexx.

Soundpool

Atari Notes

The Atari range has undeniably been somewhat neglected in the race to produce the hardware and software necessary for integrated hard disk recording on today's computers. Ofir Gal takes a look at a German company who are determined to keep the Atari flag flying.

Using MIDI With Modern Dance

Apple Notes

Martin Russ follows up last month's article by Nick Rothwell on using MIDI with modern dance by asking: how exactly does he do that?

Vintage FX: Faking Tape Loop Echo

Tips & Techniques

With so much interest in vintage synths, it's easy to overlook the fact that many classic sounds owed just as much to the tape delays being used at the time as to the instruments themselves. Paul White shows you how to fake the effect.

Yamaha CD-ROM Writer

PC Notes

Brian Heywood browses the World Wide Web, and takes a look at the latest CD-ROM writer from Yamaha.