December 1994 Magazine Contents

Paul ward suits up, closes the airlock, engages warp drive and boldly goes where no SOS reviewer has gone before...

When Europe's best known sequencer 'went audio' around two years ago, the resulting program was acclaimed as " unique and well thought out" — but times change, and cubase audio's latest version is up against some stiff competition from the likes of opcode, motu and emagic. mike collins checks out its chances...

Emu's Vintage Keys module offered a tempting selection of sounds sampled from the cream of desirable analogue synths. Now the same concept has been remodelled, with a lower price tag to appeal to a larger range of musicians. Gordon Reid assesses the Classic Keys.

Derek Johnson takes a look at two 88-note master keyboards that provide piano-like feel without breaking the bank.

Paul White unpacks a crate of Lite and discovers a processor that could brighten up your rack as well as your sound.

Lexicon's PCM70 reveb has been widely acclaimed as a modern classic, a ubiquitous component of pro studios worldwide. Paul White tests out its successor, the PCM80, falls deeply in love with it, then has to give it back!

Martin Russ gets his analogue teeth into the Marion Systems MSR2 mainframe and ASM analogue synth module.

Axe heroes wanting that classic Marshall stack sound without the bulk should check out this floor-mounting DI unit. Paul White put his foot down.

Opcode's new Overture notation program has been called "dtp for music" and aims to bring the arcane art of music notation into the age of user friendliness. derek johnson finds it's worthy of note...

Paul White gets a look at a versatile modular wall box with up to 32 inputs.

Roland's latest synth module boasts an impressive spec, including a 32-bit RISC processor, 64-voice polyphony and the ability to hoast up to four expansion cards simultaneously. Could it be the only synth you'll need? Dave Crombie finds out.

Paul White checks out the new MIDI switch controller from Rolls.

Can the Texas-built Ross RCS1602 compete with the wealth of low-cost UK-built desks? Shirley Gray searches for the answer.

Armed with a bunch of Alesis technical papers, Paul White unravels the mysteries of those inscrutable error messages, the sevret button combinations and the finer points of ADAT tape care.

More tips and gossip on the current Amiga scene from Paul Overaa... Aura.

Paul White proves once again that nothing succeeds like excess. This time he patches in two compressors and a limiter to deal with a minor dynamic range problem...

Martin Russ brings you the latest Apple news, as well as a plea for forgiveness...

Brian Heywood considers some of the PC-related products you could include in your letter to Santa this year... MIDI Circuits; Controllers & Goldstar GMK49.

Synthesized music need not lack expression; with the array of MIDI controllers at your disposal, you can add a whole new dimension to your music. In this short series, Nick Magnus explains how...

George Bourne reveals a cheap and easy project for converting a drum kit to trigger sounds over MIDI.

Vic Lennard looks at a Tracker program with a difference — and gets a sneak preview of a GM sound module in a Falcon...

Paul Tingen talks to Boris Blank, one half of idiosyncratic Swiss duo Yello, about the release of their 10th album, Zebra.

Countless bands have been influenced by The Rolling Stones, which makes it all the more interesting to find out how they work and record. Richard Buskin talks to top producer/musician Don Was and engineer Don Smith about their contributions to the Stones' new album.

As Wise Buddah Music, Radio FM DJ Mark Goodier and his business partner Bill Padley are producing and editing programs for the BBC with little more than a Mac computer, a DAT machine, and some high-powered Digidesign editing software. Paul White talks to them about how they manage it.

What constitutes a classic record? Why is that one record still sounds fresh and exciting 20 years after its release, while another seems dated within six months? According to producer, songwriter and musician Pete Wingfield, the secret lies in keeping the musicianship as real as possible, and not resorting to drum machines and sequencers.

"Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to produce the music and sound effects for a major international documentary series, largely in a home midi studio." Could it be done? In part 1 of their two-part assignment, special agents Paul D. Lehrman and Steve Olenick found out.

October saw the release of a giant Tangerine Dream boxed set from Virgin Records, 'Tangents 1973-1983'. In the first of this two-part feature, Mark J. Prendergast considers Tangerine Dream's groundbreaking use of emergent synthesizer technology during their first decade.

Yamaha have taken the unusual step of launching 15 new products between major trade shows. Paul White was lured to the NEC by the promise of a free lunch and a cup of coffee.