Reviews
BEAT BOX
Roland TR505 Rhythm Composer Roland launch their budget-priced rhythm composer, the TR505, which looks set to give Yamaha's RX21 and Korg's DDM110 a good run for their money. Ian Gilby picks up the beat.
DRAWMER MIDIMAN
Drawmer Midiman M401 MIDI Management System When a well-known and respected signal processor manufacturer like Drawmer moves beyond the realm of noise gates and compressors into MIDI control, it's yet another indication that the professional studio world is recognising the importance of MIDI in the modern recording environment. Paul Gilby dropped his copy of the Financial Times to take a closer look at the Drawmer MIDI Management System.
INCREASED PROPHETS
Sequential Prophet 2000 & 2002 In the rush to give away a Prophet 2000 Sampling Keyboard in our recent competition, it quite slipped our minds to actually review the machine. However, the release of a 19-inch rack-mounting version, the 2002, plus a whole host of updates and support options gives Paul Wiffen the perfect excuse to make up for our omission and bring you the latest on the development of the Sequential sampling system.
SLAP 'N' TICKLE
360 Systems MIDI Bass High quality sampled bass sounds that you can play from any MIDI keyboard, sequencer or drum machine are offered by this latest high-tech import. Tony Hastings assesses its performance.
TECHNICS PX1
Technics PX1 Digital Piano Rick Wakeman (yes folks, The Rick Wakeman) plays a round of golf then journeys to the centre of the earth (Slough to be precise) to check out this prestigious new MIDI keyboard from hi-fi giants, Technics. Clear the fairway please...
The Obvious Solution?
Casio CZ3000 Mark Jenkins reports on this recent addition to the popular CZ range of polysynths and suggests that the Phase Distortion synthesis it employs could well be the answer for those of you caught in the 'analogue versus digital' dilemma.
THE PROFESSIONAL'S CHOICE
Steinberg Pro 16 Sequencer Tony Hastings guides you through the operation of this comprehensive but easy to use step/real-time recording package that's quickly gaining popularity with musicians.
YAMAHA SPX90
Yamaha SPX90 If you've read the advanced spec, you might well be thinking that the SPX90 packs the same sonic power as a whole rackful of effects. Well does it? Ian Gilby took it into the studio to find out.
| People + Opinion
GEOFF DOWNES: Asia's Illustrious Keyboard Player
Geoff Downes: Asia's Illustrious Keyboard Player Mention Geoff Downes to most serious keyboard players and the reaction you are likely to get is one of respectful awe: this is the man who uses thirty (yes, 30) keyboards on stage without becoming hopelessly lost or entangled in bit of machinery and, before you ask, yes he has heard of MIDI. The flying fingers and sonic creativity of the man have always been well to the fore with his work in Asia, and his past career (alongside Trevor Horn in Buggles and Yes) has earned him accolades from fellow musicians and fans alike. Indeed, Yes bassist Chris Squire has gone on record as describing Geoff as "the best keyboard player Yes has ever had". With the excellent new Asia album 'Astra' hot off the presses, the time to talk to this most creative of keyboard-men is long overdue.
KPM - A Recorded Music Library
KPM Recorded Music Library Freelance recording engineer, producer and journalist Richard Elen has himself recorded a great deal of material for KPM Music. He is therefore in an excellent position to look inside one of the world's to recorded music libraries - KPM.
Technique
MIDI - What's Wrong With It?
MIDI - What's Wrong With It? Chris Jordan of Hybrid Technology, designer of the Music 500 Synthesizer for the BBC Micro, speculates on the future of MIDI and what it requires to satisfy the needs of more-adventurous users and the promise of more-advanced technology.
MUSIC & PICTURES
Music & Pictures: Part 5 Getting Started This month film music composer Robin Lumley discloses his own route to fame and fortune in an effort to get you started on yours...
USING TIMECODES
Using Timecodes: Part 3: Synchronising Audio To Video Tonmeister Course lecturer, Francis Rumsey, explains how timecodes are used to synchronise audio to video in Part 3 of our series.
| 
