The African-American and Latino kids from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, are setting up computers and sound equipment A little rap, right? Nope, it's a demonstration they are making for doctors at a New York medical center. They're there to teach the doctors how to use the equipment these medical professionals have purchased to make their presentations. The doctors don't have a clue now to use the leading-edge technology – the kids do, thanks to Basement Recordings.

Basement Recordings is the brainchild of Trevor John, a Columbia University chemistry graduate with an electrical engineering background. Back in 1986, he and Augustin Hinkson, a former medical student, formed this unique business which brings together advanced computer and related technologies and people interested in learning about them. The fact that many of the young, old, professional and non-professional students come from inner-city businesses, colleges and homes, means that Basement Recordings impacts lives far beyond just learning about using recording equipment.

"It's a way to get kids thinking about engineering," says John, who is president of Basement Recordings. "Kids want to rap or sing, so there's an immediate interest, but quite a few have gone on to engineering." Making music might be what interests them first, but once within the equipment-packed walls of his facility, which, by the way, is in a real basement, everyone from business owners to would-be rappers get caught up in the fascination of the advanced technology being produced today.

It's not just the technical novice who benefits from Basement Recordings, either. John says many engineering students come from their college classrooms to experience real hands-on education at Basement Recordings.

"In terms of engineering, they get the theoretical background in school. We bring them the real stuff in real-life situations. Engineering students study calculus," says John, "and they know how to answer test questions, but here they have to present psycho acoustical parameters and simulate room conditions. Now they start to see the math. We're talking about, do they use 20-bit or 24-bit vs. 16-bit digital processing and how will that affect the CD quality?" The hands-on training which Basement Recordings offers "brings it all together for them," adds John.

Equipment manufacturers are just as enthusiastic. It's an effective way for companies from Adobe Systems to Yamaha to promote their current technology to potential buyers who participate in Basement Recordings' seminars, presentations and classes.

The centerpiece of these meetings is an exhibition called Rhythm, Business and Technology. More than 4,000 people browse in demonstrations set up by 40-plus participating companies and get to see the latest in everything from desktop publishing to video, graphics, electronic music and multimedia.