Synthcheck

Fingers on the joystick. Tony Mills at the controls

Speakers break sound barrier, Fender replace guitar range, Rama amps to shatter prices and more!

Rod Argent, Andrew Clark, Michael MacNeil

Marlin Spiked and loads more new goodies inside

An overview

Mark Prendergast presents a general overview of record labels, artists, and recordings that make up the exciting area of new electronic and experimental music in the late 1980s.

Vintage technology strikes back

...including The A-Z of Analogue

If you're afraid the MkII DX7s are going to turn your prized machine into an antique curiosity, the DX-MAX could put your mind at rest. Chris Many checks out a mod for old DXs that offers many of the features of Yamaha's new babies.

Vintage technology strikes back

...Including The A-Z of Analogue

The program that can turn your sampler into a synthesiser has added an FM synthesis string to its bow, yet doesn't promise to be a DX replacement. Mac addict Chris Meyer takes a look.

Winter NAMM 1987

Our spectacular show coverage starts here, with masses of information - backed up by colour photographs - on the biggest Winter NAMM show there's ever been...

The Plot Thickens

More Pics on the beat monitored by Tony Mills

A glimpse of the equipment you could well be buying in the forthcoming year

Possibly the most timely and influential synthesiser development of the 70s was the Prophet 5. Dave Crombie takes a look back at the polysynth that was modelled on the Minimoog.

Mixing with the master men

Yamaha CS80

Once infamous as a roadie's nightmare, the CS80 has settled in synth history as an instrument of almost unmatched character. Peter Forrest rediscovers the pain and the pleasure.

Keyboards

No free ads for the Superman film here (woops), but the dynamic Duo from Hohner (Pianet and Clavinet combined) finds favour with frolicking Dave Crombie.

Mark Jenkins reckons he knows his onions when it comes to hi-tech gear, so we asked him to concoct a tasty little number with this new French sampling drum machine - a cross between an RX11 and SP-12.

Keyboards

An extended feature this month to incorporate many of the new products shown at NAMM and the Frankfurt Music Fair.

In depth.

Being a new section mainly for interesting and musical people of medium height: a little short for a feature but far too sturdy for a news item. Today, Weather Report refugee Alphonso Johnson and an instrument to gawp at and the curious Gruppo Sportivo (Q: Are we not Italian? A: We are Dutch).