ANYONE fancy joining the ranks of mega-rich music superstars? Nice thought, eh? Well if you like music but can't play a note then a new release for the PlayStation could be the answer to your dreams.

Music from Codemasters isn't a game but a dance music and video creation system which provides the 'player' with all they need to put together some street-wise sounds, even if they don't know their techno from their back-beats.

Music uses the PlayStation's 24 audio capabilities by offering more than 3,000 instrument, percussion and vocal sounds and some 850 pre-set riffs so users can mix and match to create their very own dance tracks.

And by linking the PlayStation to a hi-fi users can record their work directly onto audio tape, mini disc or DAT.

At the heart of Music beats its own 16-track composition, editing and mixing screen. For the novice, tracks can be laid down by assembling 'building blocks' of pre-set four bar riffs, back beats and percussion effects from different libraries of dance music, including house, ambient and drum and bass.

But for the more ambitious, Music features a creator and editor to let them make their own four bar riffs by manipulating one of more than 3000 sounds over an eight octave scale. And the user can mould every sound to exactly what they are after. You'll be able to put together some decent sounds in just a few minutes but put in a bit more effort and who knows, you could knock out a hit!

Codemaster have teamed up with Radio One's Judge Jules to plug Music. About Music, he says: "It's the business, like having an easy to use study in your lounge. The sound you get from Music is really professional and the video creator is a real bonus. It's a must buy for any budding producer." JE

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.