Dieter Meier is a writer, painter, performance artist and an ex-professional gambler; he's also the face and voice in front of one of the most influential bands of the '80s. Tim Goodyer joins the Swiss race.

Steve Cogan takes time out to talk to the members of Yen

Bob Williams has one of the finest collections of analogue synthesisers in the world, and cherishes them with a care that would make the Science Museum blush. Peter Forrest crosses hill and dale to Cornwall to take a long, loving look, and uncovers a whole network of Moog and Mellotron devotees. Whatever next - 'The Antique Rhodes Show'?

The urbane Mr Palmer talks to Hank Bordowitz about crossing over from cult status to general acceptance.

With Richard Burgess And John Walters

Richard Burgess and John Walters talk about the make-up of Landscape.

Just for a change, David Mellor does the impossible and reviews a product that does not exist! Perhaps one day it might, but for now this 'ideal' MIDI sequencer program lives only in the imagination of the author.

While most of us spend our time trying to get our MIDI equipment to work together properly, Martin Russ reveals how to creatively mis-use MIDI and produce some interesting musical results.

A road report on Roland's guitar synth the GR700 by Imagination's Ashley Ingram and Mark Wood of Nucleus and Sunwind.

Just what have the Japanese done to the Engrish Ranguage?

Music Workstation

The problem with building the most popular keyboard in years is having to follow it. Simon Trask test drives the successor to the Korg M1 and likes what he finds.

Cheap images, part two

Nominated by Steve Levine, Steve Lillywhite, Peter Collins, Hugh Padgham, Swain and Jolley

Advanced Vector Synthesiser

In their days at the top, Sequential pioneered an exciting form of sound generation called Vector Synthesis. Simon Trask witnesses its revival in Korg's Wavestation.

The multitrack cassette recorder provides an excellent platform for learning the essential skills of multitrack recording. David Mellor explains how to get the best out of them.

An in-depth dissection of electro-pop; how to create it, how to adapt it but not how to dance to it.

How To Get The Most From Your Sampler

writing for MIDI

Our series continues with the voice, whether synthetic, sampled or the real thing.

Guitarcheck

Plug in, lean back, legs apart — and sound like an accordionist. Tony Mills taxes the axe

Accusations of replacing "real" musicians have shifted from drum machine to sampler, but there may be other changes upon us. Steve Wright investigates the significance of the sequencer.

Yamaha DX5

Merely two DX7s in a box, or a valid addition to the Yamaha range of FM digital keyboards? Simon Trask takes the mid-price algorithm through its paces, and comes to mixed conclusions.

Drum Machine

As the drum machine goes from strength to strength, Yamaha give it a new dimension by adding a synth-style "bend" wheel. Simon Trask wonders if the beatbox will ever be the same again.

Worth its weight in microphones and Gaffa tape.

Better Lyrics