Do you know why top recording artists like Toyah and Haircut 100 are going digital? Our article explains why.

Eight top pop players and producers discuss the necessity of notation. Richard Walmsley chairs the debate

Compress and limit the ITAM way; Mel Lambert on the ITAM Compliment.

You'll be hard pushed to find a UK studio that isn't choc-a-bloc with Japanese studio equipment, but have you ever wondered what they use? David Mellor takes a slow boat that bypasses China, and visits two Tokyo studios to find out.

Lookout... it's coming this way!

Electronic Percussion System

Marketed in the US as E-Drums, these Swedish-built percussion units combine high quality digital samples with immense constructional sturdiness. Dan Goldstein again.

Following on from last month's pictorial exclusive, this account of Europe's largest hi-tech music exhibition fills in the details. Tim Goodyer files the report.

UKMA

Now that the UK has its own MIDI association, help and information are but a phone call away. Simon Trask checks out the UKMA and its founder: Vic Lennard.

Sequential Circuits' MIDI sequencer for the Commodore 64 looks like a bargain at only £185. David Ellis checks out the reality.

Acoustic drum samples from producer Bob Clearmountain rub shoulders with Mega Beats drum machine samples, while SSU sounds for the Yamaha SY77 complete the lineup in this month's Patchwork.

Part 2. Richard Elen concludes his guide to computers and communications for musicians with details of how to join and log on to two musicians' networks: PAN and Esi Street. There's also an extensive glossary of terms to help newcomers to this exciting field understand what it is all about.

Says it all really

A look at Molinare video studios

Live Music For The Hi-Tech Musician

Exclusive news from UK Electronica, plus all the latest in the world of MIDI music

... Don't stop! The beat on the street has never been so neat. Rappers in the charts, dancing on the streets — and our man Nick Smash with the way it all began

Every news bulletin tells us more about "the recession" - but how badly is it affecting the music biz? Ian Waugh reports from the front line at the International Music Show.

Craig Anderton goes behind the scenes at Ensoniq's US headquarters to discover more about the company that made sampling technology truly affordable.

A synth called OSCAR — Dave Crombie unveil's Britain's latest challenge

interacting with the future

The automation of creation

Touch-Sensitive Polyphonic Synthesiser

The new Sequential Circuits touch sensitive programmable poly synth