Alesis GT Electronics

AM-series Microphones

With so many good capacitor microphones already on the market, can Alesis offer anything new? Paul White puts their new large-diaphragm FET and valve mics to the test.

ASC Studio Traps

Portable Room Acoustic Baffles

Studio Traps allow you to alter the acoustics of any room in minutes so you can quickly deal with troublesome rooms or acoustically separate live mics from one another. Martin Walker sets the traps....

Cakewalk Metro 4

MIDI + Audio Sequencer

For years Metro was a fully-featured Mac MIDI-only sequencer without a permanent home, available from various manufacturers. Now, the package has been adopted by PC sequencer company Cakewalk to help them attract Mac-based custom — and they have added various new features including audio support. Mike Collins goes underground...

Cyberwave EMS Waveplant Synthesizer

Sample Library

* Score = 3

Digitech Studio Quad 4

Multi-effects Unit

Digitech's Quad 4, like its predecessor, can treat up to four signals independently, parcelling out its processing power according to your requirements. Could this be the only multi-effects unit you need? Hugh Robjohns finds out...

Discovery Keyboards

Sample Library

* Score = 3

Distorted Reality 2

Sample Library

* Score = 5

Doepfer Regelwerk

MIDI Fader Box & Step Sequencer

Fancy having 24 assignable faders and 72 buttons to control your MIDI gear? How about an eight-track MIDI step sequencer with CV and gate outputs too? Paul Nagle explores a product that gives you both.

Event Layla

Audio Recording System

With an excellent audio specification and lots of inputs and outputs, Event's Layla looks an ideal candidate for many small computer-based recording studios. Martin Walker gets plugged in.

Glyph Technologies SCSI

CD-ROM & AV Hard Drives

Musicians can have a tricky time choosing suitable hard drives for audio recording, but Glyph claim their range is ready-optimised for music applications. Martin Walker puts their assertion to the test...

Kurzweil K250

Workstation Keyboard (Retro)

Philip Meehan fondly remembers his first love Ñ a keyboard with the voice of an angel, the mind of a genius and the body of a heavyweight boxer in a big black coat.

Line 6 Pod

Physical Modelling Guitar Preamp

Can this intriguing little box really emulate the recorded sound of many of the world's greatest guitar amplifiers? Paul White puts it to the test.

MOTU 2408

24-channel Digital Recording System

Interested in combining hard disk recording with other analogue and digital recording formats? Paul White connects with a versatile recording interface that offers a host of interconnection options and also claims one of the lowest latency figures in the business.

Ramsa WR-DA7

Digital Mixer

Hugh Robjohns has a close encounter with Panasonic's newly launched budget digital console, and finds it is up there with the best of them.

Roland EG101

Groove Keyboard

With the advent of 'groove'-based instruments like Yamaha's DJX, the humble home keyboard is acquiring a new hipness. Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser explore Roland's attempt to make the cutting edge user-friendly.

Synton Fenix

Patchable Analogue Synthesizer

Two Dutch designers who were influential in the design of the cult '80s Synton Syrinx synth have recently returned to the field, coming up with the exclusive and highly idiosyncratic Fenix synthesizer. Gordon Reid sees history repeating.

Tascam DA45HR

24-bit DAT Recorder

A 24-bit, high-resolution version of the DAT format allows users of 24-bit workstations to transfer their mixes using readily available, cheap media. Hugh Robjohns tries out Tascam's new machine.

TC Electronic Finalizer Express

Mastering Processor

Taking the essence of the highly regarded Finalizer Plus, TC Electronic have repackaged their multi-band compressor in a new easy-to-use format. Hugh Robjohns puts it through its paces.

X-files Of Hip-hop

Sample Library

* Score = 4

Yamaha MSP5

Powered Monitors

Paul White tests Yamaha's latest super-compact powered monitor.

Yamaha MU128

Sound Module

Yamaha's latest XG MIDI module achieves more onboard sounds and greater polyphony and multitimbrality than previous tone generators Ñ and allows users to install additional synthesizer and effects boards. Simon Trask explores the power of MU...

Yamaha RM1X

Sequence Remixer

Yamaha have taken their time in entering the market for all-in-one dance workstation sequencers, but their new RM1x looks set to be a heavyweight contender. Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser tweak their sequences.

BILL NELSON: BeBop Deluxe & Being 50

Interview | Artist

Paul Tingen catches up with the musical innovator and legendary force behind BeBop Deluxe at his minimalist home studio, and finds him producing more music than ever before.

How The Music Biz Really Works...

Exploration

After years of crafting your music to the peak of perfection, do you think you've now got what it takes to make it big? Big George Webley looks at some of the harsh commercial realities of today's record business, and explains why the path to fame and fortune doesn't end at getting a record deal.

KLAUS SCHULZE: Electronical Meditation

Interview | Composer

Electronic music pioneer Klaus Schulze talks to Paul White about the way he'd like to see synthesizer design developing over the next few years.

NICHOLAS ROWLAND: What Can We Learn From The Beatles?

Sounding Off

Nicholas Rowland argues that there's still something we can learn from the Beatles apart from the fact that drummers shouldn't have solo careers.

Recording Cher's 'Believe'

Exploration

It was the best-selling single of last year, and signalled a radical change of musical direction for Cher — complete with bizarre vocal processing. Yet, surprisingly, it was produced in a small studio in West London. Sue Sillitoe relates the astonishing tale of 'Believe' and demystifies the vocal trick. Extra material by Matt Bell.

Backing Up Digital Audio Files

Tips & Tricks

No-one enjoys making backups, but they are a necessary part of digital audio recording. Martin Walker explores the options, and explains their strengths and weaknesses.

Musicians DIY On The Internet

Net Notes

This month, Simon Trask looks at the current state of online music delivery. Can musicians really bypass the record companies and go DIY on the Internet?

Playback

Readers' Music Reviewed

Trash * Karda Estra * Craig Alexander * John James * John Dark * Spear * Wolfgang Dienst * Brian Parker * Starbass * Roy Rajan * D-Bug * Silvertime * SHT * Tim Rafferty * Glow

Print2Pict; Wacom Pen Partner

Apple Notes

Martin Russ finds that pitfalls await innocent readers wanting to print out their scores, and also extols the virtues of an alternative to the ubiquitous mouse.

User Groups; Wessex Atari Group; Key Change Music Services

Atari Notes

Derek Johnson laments the imminent demise of a major Atari software resource, but sees new products on the way from other quarters.

Using Multiple Soundcards For PC Music

Tips & Tricks

Running two or three soundcards simultaneously can greatly increase the power and flexibility of your PC but it can also lead to serious conflicts. Martin Walker leads you through the pitfalls.

Using Sample Loops With Logic Audio

Tips & Techniques

Paul White and Paul Joyner explain how to import samples directly to your Mac from an audio CD with Logic Audio — a technique which can be adapted for use with most popular MIDI + Audio sequencers.

20 Tips On Home Mastering

Tips & Tricks

Now that so many musicians are completing the entire album-making process in their own studios, mastering is becoming an increasingly important skill. Paul White offers a few pointers to becoming a Master of mastering.