Continuing on from last month's review of the Roland D-50 Linear Arithmetic synthesizer, Martin Russ takes a detailed look at the technical aspects of the D-50, liberally sprinkled with excerpts from a rare interview with Mr Ikutaro Kakehashi, President of the Roland Corporation.

Is the future Linear?

Does Roland's new LA synthesizer mean the end of FM is in sight? Martin Russ falls in love with the world's first ever Linear Arithmetic synthesizer whilst trying to find out...

Rockschool's Alastair Gavin ganders at the vastly praised digital synth, and decides they're right.

Linear Arithmetic Synthesiser

Is this the synth to topple the DX7 from its throne? Will Linear/Arithmetic Synthesis become the programmer's new catchphrase? Will Simon Trask die of a broken heart? Find out in our exclusive review.

In the second and concluding part of our review, Simon Trask gives the D50's sound potential a more in-depth listening, and has a go at programming, LA-style.

More sounds from creative readers; this month LA meets FM as the Roland D50 and Yamaha CX5 are the favoured instruments.

VALHALA D50 Sound Cards

Under the spotlight in this month's Patchwork are the stablemates to the astounding Valhala M1 sound cards - those for Roland's D50. Gordon Reid asks "can they maintain the standard?".

A kit setup for the Alesis HR16 joins the more usual selection of readers DX and D50 patches in this month's Patchwork.

PA Decoder's D50 ROM cartridge joins a selection of readers' own sounds in this month's Patchwork. If you're short of a sound, or simply short of inspiration, read on.

The theme of this month's edition of Patchwork is decidedly traditional, as Casio's CZ101 joins the ubiquitous DX7 and D50 as the subjects for readers' programming dexterity.

The delicate chimes of a Korg EX800 join Roland D50 and JX3P basses in MT's regular selection of readers' own synth patches. Why not submit one of yours?

A review of ESQ1 cartridges from Executive Audio joins readers' patches for it and the Roland D50 and Yamaha TX81Z - all in this month's Patchwork.

A wide selection of sound libraries from Sound Source Unlimited, Roland and Stiletto come under the scrutiny of the Patchwork reviewers.

Short of inspiration? MT's regular selection of readers' synth patches may be just the cure for your programmers' blues.

PA DECODER D50 ROM Vol III

If you're looking to expand your sampler's vocabulary of drum sounds or your D50 library, Patchworks' Drumtrax sample tape and PA Decoder's D50 Rom Volume III should be worth checking out - start here.

If you are a devotee of Yamaha's DX27, Roland's D50 or Casio's CZ1, there are patches for your synth in this month's Patchwork pages - if another synth is your passion why not make it a feature next month?

A review of PA Decoder's D50 ROM Vol II joins patches for the Ensoniq ESQ1, Kawai K1 and Korg DW6000 in this months' selection of readers' sounds.