Kawai's latest 16-voice multitimbral keyboard is packed with features and aimed fairly and squarely at D50/ESQ territory. Its PCM sampled waveforms include drums and percussion, a host of standard and exotic instruments, as well as the best of the additive synth waveforms gleaned from the K5. It also has one ace up its sleeve - its price. Ian Gilby tells it like it is.

Recording Electric Guitar

Recording electric guitar; the theory and practice behind miking up guitar amps.

The Commodore Amiga range of computers have been conspicuous by their absence from this magazine's pages - but not any more! The Amiga has always been a great graphics machine, but it is equally talented when it comes to making music. In fact, its onboard sound chip is one of the best around. Phil South delivers a quick guide to making music on the Amiga.

Yamaha TQ5 Expander

Stylish or ugly, don't let the TQ5’s unconventional casing distract you from the fact that with its 8-track integral sequencer and digital effects, this 4-operator FM expander packs a pretty powerful punch for the money. David Hughes reports from his ring-side seat.

Computercheck

A roundup of all the available music software including Island Logic, Greengate and MusiCal.

An offbeat package for Mac owners with an artistic slant

Multi-Effects Processor

The best things come in small packages, decides Paul Ireson as he puts this budget six-effects-at-once processor through its paces.

SynthCheck

Tony Mills toys with the latest Korgi and gets enthusiastic

Martin Russ reflects on a cult phenomenon: Kawai’s K5 additive synthesizer.

Son of Leo Meets Son of Les — a further attempt to sort out the neat from the naff.

Provides Note Bender

Atari ST Software

In the second half of this definitive review. Nigel Lord looks into the editing and scorewriting facilities of Steinberg's latest sequencing software.

The LFO and its applications are this month's subjects in Steve Howell's story of sound synthesis from first principles.

AES Report

Dan Goldstein and Paul Wiffen go down and out in Beverly Hills - and drop in on America's biggest recording convention along the way. Within its walls, a quiet revolution is taking place...

Steve Howell puts sex, murder and intrigue to one side to make way for a study of modulation in its many and various forms.

When your favourite keyboard starts to look a little out of date, do you remain faithful to it or sell it? If it's a D50 you could give it multitimbrality, more waveforms and extra memories. Gordon Reid installs the MEX.

The Minimoog in 1985

By rights, the last of the Minimoogs should have been forced into retirement long ago — yet the ancient monosynth continues to see use. Tim Goodyer, long-time Moogfan and owner, takes a retrospective look at the worlds first practical synthesiser.

It should have been the prince of polysynths, but it flopped. Peter Forrest looks back at the disappointment that accompanied the Polymoog and offers the '90s perspective.

All Talk, Some Action

Problems of talking to the famous — and your chance to change the magazine.