SOUND ON SOUND
Paul White appraises the latest contender in the budget, general-purpose mixer category, and finds that its deceptively simple facade conceals several powerful and unexpected features.
Is this low-priced brother of the powerful TSR24 destined to find its way into the studio rack of the UK, or simply become part of the EC effects processor mountain? Derek Johnson finds out.
Derek Johnson investigates an affordable MIDI exapnder for the Atari ST.
Mike Barnes rounds up a new wave of software and hardware support for the Emu EIIIX, which once again makes Emu samplers a serious alternative at the higher end of the sampler marketplace.
Paul White's looking at a gadget to improve impedance mismatch.
Mark of the Unicorn's Performer has been a Mac sequencing stalwart for almost as long as the Mac platform has been used by musicians. Now faced with a growing number of competitors, it's up to version 5.0 and continues to improve in presentation and functionality, according to Mike Collins.
Behind the conventional facade of Yamaha's latest drum machine hides a section of sophisticated features — like 'human feel' groove quantisation, bass sounds and built-in digital effects. Paul Ward gets into the groove.
Paul White takes the necessary Steppes to check out this innocuous looking mic and discovers a competent all-rounder.
The MPC3000's dedicated sequencing and drum sampling control surface aims to tempt high-level musicians away from their computers with its luxurious hardware approach. David Mellor puts in a hard day's night and gives it the thumbs up.
The S760 sampler represented excellent value for money on its release back in February this year. Now it looks even more impressive, with the arrival of the OP760/1 expansion board and the v.2.12 system software. Paul Wiffen checks them out.
Dynacord products have a quiet reputation for quality amongst those in the know, but are often overlooked in a market dominated by the big guns in effects. Nick Magnus thinks the DRP5, offering high-quality reverb at an affordable price, might be about to change all that...
The X2 console forms the centrepiece of an Alesis studio that is becoming increasingly up-market and professional. Paul White checks out the new desk and finds that, despite its apparently high cost, it really does have a lot to offer to the more demanding user.
Convincingly reproducing the effects of rotating horns and speakers in software inside a 1U rackmounting box is a challenge to the designer. Bringing it in under £300 is an achievement. Gordon Reid examines the latest incarnation of a keyboard effect that's come full circle...
76-note master keyboards at under £500 are relatively thin on the ground. Derek Johnson takes a look at the Korean-made contender for your cash.
Designed according to a 'secret recipe', Behringer's new budget stereo image enhancer is set to widen everyone's recording horizons (and their stereo images). Does it deliver the goods? Paul White finds out.
The Korg PolySix gave Roland's Juno 6 (and Later the Juno 60) some stiff competition back in the early eighties, and is enjoying a revival of popularity today. Nick Magnus takes a retrospective look at this analogue favourite, and gives some advice on purchasing one today.
After last month's test-drive of Yamaha's top-of-the-range-QY300 music sequencer, Martin Russ now takes its baby sibling, the QY8, for a spin around the block.
To get the most out of your pre-MIDI synths, you need to bring them into the MIDI age. Kenton's long-awaited Pro 4 provides a host of interfacing possibilities and is capable of controlling up to an astounding 10 different devices simultaneously. Derek Johnson connects up.
Derek Johnson checks out the new flagship of the Sound Canvas range.