SOUND ON SOUND
Mike Collins investigates the versatile AardVerter — a 16-bit converter packed with features.
The Dimension Beam translates physical movement into MIDI data, offering theremin-style control over your keyboard rack. Dominic Hawken explores this new device.
When it comes to cloning people, or even sheep, there's always an outcry, but where do you stand on the issue of plug-in card that effectively turns your Lexicon PCM90 into two Lexicon PCM90s? Paul White feels that first in the queue would be the appropriate location!
With S+S instruments giving way to the new wave of physical modelling synths, does Alesis' new 'QS-in-a-box' still have what it takes to turn heads? Paul White tunes in, turns on and finds out...
PETER SIEDLACZEK'S ADVANCED ORCHESTRA
(FIVE CD‑ROM SET)
There are some sample CD releases...
Mac CD-writing has a head start over the PC, but recent arrivals like the TEAC CD-R50S come with both Mac and PC CD software as standard. Martin Walker plugs one in to see if writing your own CD is as easy as people make out.
Offering classic Hammond sounds in a rackmount format, the XM1 module, together with the optional XMc1 drawbar controller, seems the ideal space-saving solution for those unwilling to rely on sample CDs for their organ sounds. Hammond XB2 owner Nick Magnus considers the pros and cons of a transplant.
The release of this tracker is welcome news for Amiga users, but it's also a glimpse of things to come on the PC platform. Amiga expert Paul Overaa puts the package through its paces.
Yamaha have scooped the insides out of their well-specified MU80 half-rack GM/XG sound module and transplanted them into a full rack case, with a few extra features aimed at making the resulting MU90R stand out from the GM crowd. Christopher Holder is generally impressed.
Power amps certainly can't be classed as particularly exciting, but they're a necessary part of the project studio, and if you've got to have one, you might as well make sure it's powerful and quiet. Martin Walker checks out one of the strong silent types...
In recent years, Russia has become known as a source of quality inexpensive microphones. Paul White investigates the latest creme de la Kremlin.
(DOUBLE AUDIO CD) Rating: **** 4/5 Stars
New York City Percussionworks is a double audio CD...
Richard Waghorn takes ART's new electro-optical compressor into the studio and is genuinely surprised at the result.
Janet Harniman-Cook checks out the new kid on the monitoring block and discovers a history of serious loud speaker design.
Few electronic instruments are still as desirable, 16 years after their launch, as the 808, and even fewer become famous enough to have a band named after them. Chris Carter hits the perfect beat.
Despite the increasing popularity of digital recording and MIDI + Audio sequencing, the cassette multitrack is far from being dead, and many a newcomer to recording still starts his or her recording career with some form of 4-track, cassette-based studio system. Paul White and Debbie Poyser discuss the features a potential buyer should be looking for, and round up the models currently available.
The fist release in Opcode's new studio 'X' series is designed to help you sort out your MIDI studio, whether it's based around a Mac or PC. Martin Russ finds out whether it has the right connections.
Active monitoring used to be the preserve of those with quite a lot of money to spend on their studio speakers. Recently, though, it's become a lot more affordable. Hugh Robjohns powers up the 4Ps and undergoes a spiritual experience.
Quasimidi have distilled the experience gained from their successful dance-orientated keyboards into a one-box solution of concentrated rave power. Derek Johnson gets on the ravy train.