Phil and Paul Hartnoll are Orbital, and their pioneering brand of user-friendly electronic dance music is a lot more fluid than the traffic on the motorway that prompted the name. So Phil Ward avoids the M25 and heads straight for the heart of the P&P music factory

Intrepid reporter/cameraman Ralph Denyer ventures into the wild suburban jungle of East London to capture the rarely heard thoughts of this lesser-spotted songbird and re-mix producer who has recently taken delivery of his very own Synclavier system.

An interview with Edgar Froese and Christoph Franke during their recent UK tour

An interview with Edgar Froese and Christoph Franke, concert report and music pull-out "Choronzon" from the 'Exit' LP.

After spending four years recording The Seeds of Love, Tears for Fears are back and touring the world. Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal talk tears and technology with Dan Rue and Tim Goodyer.

Never mind avoiding presets and programming your own patches... how about rebuilding the whole damn synth? Richard James - aka Polygon Window, Caustic Window, Diceman, Soit PP, Blue Calx, AFX and The Aphex Twin - isn’t happy with his hardware till he’s had the toolbox to it. Phil Ward enters the twilight zone of the lad from Cornwall who’s spearheading the ambient onslaught.

Tony Reed talks to Somerville and Coles, the Morecambe and Wise of agit-Pop

Tony Horkins lays his hands on Tom, Alanna and Joe and squeezes out the technical secrets

A monumental meeting?

Wang Chung confess

Upcoming systems music composer chats to Simon Trask about modern technology, Renaissance music and Belgian pop.

UMI-2B

Sequencing interface for the BBC

Sony TCD-D3 DAT Walkman

It is often said that the best things come in small packages — and the new Sony DAT Walkman is no exception to the rule. Simon Sanders takes a look at this miracle of micro electronics and asks, "Can anyone lend me £650?"

Spirit Absolute 2 Monitors

Budget nearfields

Casio's DA7 is one of the cheapest DAT recorders on the market, yet it is still a suitable machine for mastering. David Mellor reveals its better features and finds ways round a couple of problems.

Ben Duncan goes through one of his phases...

The Digital Master

Casio's DA1 is the smallest and cheapest Digital Audio Tape recorder on the market, and an ideal addition to any home studio. Paul Ireson swoons in its presence.

Pitch Training On The BBC Micro

A new pitch trainer for the BBC B

Abolish sibilance with this well designed, cost-effective addition to the Tanrak.

'Can you benefit from something that doesn't make a noise?' asks Paul Gilby in his in-depth review of this interesting MIDI trigger device from the pioneers of the electronic drum. It might not generate sounds of its own but this unit certainly makes possible some marvellous effects when MIDI'd up to synthesizers. Check it out.

Jaydee Hooligan 85 (with Floyd Rose Trem)

Phil Brammer converses with one of the most controversial music dealers in the country - Dave Simpson of TCA

Sony DTC55ES DAT Recorder

Sony's DTC55ES is their contribution to the first wave of domestic DAT recorders. Richard Aaron looks at what it can offer in a recording context.

From a new British company comes a new Atari ST software sequencer that looks set to rival Notator and Cubase for power and versatility. The virtuous Nigel Lord boots it up.

Hints, Tips & News From The World Of Music Software

More hints and tips and tips from the software manufacturers themselves. This month: C-Lab, Steinberg, Dr T, Opcode.