SOUND ON SOUND
Tascam's new Digital Portastudio is the most affordable 24-track workstation on the market. In our exclusive hands-on review, we find out how easy it is to use, and whether its recording quality is as impressive as its track count.
Until recently, the benefits of the high-bandwidth IEEE 1394 interface were available only to musicians on a relatively generous budget, but now M Audio are making Firewire peripherals available at new low prices to PC and Mac users.
Korg's Legacy Collection recreates some of their best-loved keyboards in software form. It wasn't finished as we went to press at the end of March, but we managed to grab this sneak preview as the final touches were being applied... (Full in-depth hands-on Review next month.)
This month: Amazing Thailand **** • LA Riot V ***** • WEP ***** • White Grand ****.
Mackie continue to expand their range of studio monitors by combining an innovative D'Appolito design with their existing passive radiator technology.
Gmedia continue their quest to render the best of the world's keyboards in software form. But will it give OSCar fans a case of the grouches?
With the move to version 4, BIAS's aptly-named Peak editing package leaves Mac OS9 behind, but offers a wealth of new features: built-in CD burning, a new user interface, Audio Units support, and processing tools including a real-time convolving reverb.
Boss\'s range of digital multitrackers is designed to allow musicians to make recordings with a minimum of technical knowledge. The BR1600 is the most sophisticated yet, providing 16-track recording along with amp modelling, vocal harmony generation, and built-in drum machine and loop sequencer.
Kurzweil's high-quality K-series workstations have always commanded a premium price tag in the UK, but it's been a while since the range's underlying technology has been updated. Is their latest offering still competitive in 2004?
Eventide's classic SP2016 reverb unit has been recreated and enhanced by the original designer. But how does the sound match up to high-spec multi-effects units of today?
This smart new unit offers EQ and compression, plus a transformer-coupled Class-A preamp and an unusual Saturation control.
This updated Line 6 unit combines improved amp modelling, compression, enhanced EQ, and a sizeable repertoire of modelled stomp-box effects.
Not only does this little preamp give pure class-leading performance, but it also offers clever dynamics processing on board and an optional built-in A-D converter.
Although Centrino laptops have advantages in terms of weight and battery life, standard Pentium 4 CPUs still offer the ultimate in performance, and Nu Systems's desktop replacement machine is a processing heavyweight.
Samson's compact 'S'-series boxes solve a variety of studio problems without getting in the way. We check them out...
Mindprint have overhauled the electronics in their popular valve recording channel, and have also added extra facilities and an optional USB recording and monitoring interface.
The Phase 88 is the successor to Terratec's popular eight-in/eight-out EWS 88MT PCI soundcard with breakout box.
Algorithms that remove artifacts such as clicks, scratches and broadband noise from digital audio require as much processing power as possible. TC's new suite of restoration tools harnesses both the host computer's CPU and the DSP of their Powercore system.
Retailing at a paltry nine GBP per Gigabyte, this huge orchestral brass library from the USA appears to offer a big-screen experience at a Blockbusters price. Is there a catch?