SOUND ON SOUND
Effects units continue to drop in price while offering more and more features. Digitech's new Studio Twin costs less than £250, but still offers a dual effects mode and MIDI patch control. Paul White is agog.
This sophisticated new digital editor is up against such established software as Sound Forge and Samplitude Studio. Janet Harniman-Cook assesses whether Steinberg have built on their status in the sequencer field with a successful PC wave editing program.
The ARP 2500 is so rare that most of the existing examples are in private collections. Though few of us will ever get to play with one, the story of this modular monster remains fascinating. Lucky 2500 owner Robert Alexander relates the tale...
The M2000 takes much of the technology behind its Danish manufacturer's professional flagship, the M5000, and re-packages it with less flexibility but a much lower price tag. Paul White finds out whether it's barking up the right tree.
Roland once stated that they would never bring out a follow-up to their now terminally trendy TB303 Bassline. However, the success of other manufacturers' TB clones and the inflated price of the original have made them think again. Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser are proud to present the UK's first in-depth review of the new MC303.
True, the name harks back to the CS-series synths of the '70s and '80s, but with their new CS1x, Yamaha definitely have their eyes set on the future. Critics Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser analyse Yamaha's blue period...
Tascam revolutionised home recording with their cassette-based Portastudio, but haven't yet offered a budget digital version to compete with the Fostex DMT8/D80 and Roland VS880. Now their 4-track MiniDisc-based 564 is almost ready. Paul White gets a sneak preview...
Digitech's VTP1 seeks to outpace the competition in the crowded valve mic preamp market by offering built-in 4-band EQ and a digital output. Paul White sees how it runs...
This is the smallest and least costly reverb unit Alesis have ever produced. Paul White finds out whether you can mind the quality and still feel the width!
Korg have added a vocal harmony generator to their i-series of intelligent arranger workstations, taking advantage of the same harmonising technology that's behind Digitech's market-leading Vocalist series. Gordon Reid finds out whether the new unit has anything surprising up its sleeve...
Is it a Filofax? Is it a Stylophone? No... it's Roland's answer to Yamaha's portable music Walkstation family. Faster than a speeding bullet, Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser apply their X-ray vision to the new PMA5.
Famous for their Aural Exciters, Aphex continue to diversify. Paul White takes a look at the US company's new valve-based compressor.
Can Tascam's lean, mean DA38 offer musicians more functionality than the portlier DA88 without compromising on quality — and give the Alesis ADAT XT a run for its money? Paul White investigates.
Best known in the microphone world for their high-quality dynamic mics, Electrovoice are now hoping to raise their profile as a manufacturer of capacitor models with the release of three additions to their RE range. Paul White listens in.
Mackie's enormously successful 1604 and 1202 mixers have inspired a fleet of imitations, all keen to get a slice of the action. Sound Engineer Steve Brodie checks out Peavey's take on the compact mixer concept...
Paul White casts a critical ear over TL Audio's new budget dual-channel valve equalisers to see if high quality really is possible at such a relatively low price.
If you think Korg have been neglecting their Prophecy monosynth in favour of the numerous Trinity add-ons they're producing, think again. Gordon Reid heralds the arrival of two new Prophecy patch banks.
Shure have recently updated and augmented their 7-year old Beta microphone range. Paul White assesses the newcomers alongside the rest of the range.
On its release in the late '80s, the SQ80 had to slug it out with Roland's D50 and Korg's M1, and didn't come out on top, at least as for sales were concerned. Steve Howell takes a look at an early and underrated workstation that still has a lot to offer.