An interview with one of Britain's most gifted keyboard players and programmers. He takes us through the various electronic instruments he's owned, and gives some insight into how to go about programming such complex polysynths as the Yamaha CS80 and Rhodes Chroma.

A simple, twin-pad drum-synth - from the Klone Kit people - put under the E&MM microscope by Geoff Twigg.

Peter Maydew on a new budget PA system from a well-respected name.

In a special report, Ultravox drummer Warren Cann takes a look at two new electronic drum-kits from Simmons - the people who started it all. One is a straight forward 'Simmons-sound-on-a-budget' model, the other a sophisticated modular system employing both analogue and digital sound-generation, as well as versatile user-programmability.

First unveiled at the Frankfurt Musik Messe, the White Shadow range is one of the cheapest 'quality' guitar lines currently available. Tim Oakes examines the fretless bass variant.

In which the man behind the mask - Frank Tovey - explains his attitudes to playing, writing, and recording his own particular brand of idiosyncratic electronic music.

Your last chance to win Carlsbro gear - in the shape of a Cobra 90 PA system, complete with speakers.

Two versatile effects units that aim to combine the best of both worlds: the flexibility of pedals and the neatness of rack-mounting systems.

Readers send in their own favourite synth sounds and how to generate them. Plenty of monosynths this month, including the Moog Prodigy, Transcendent 2000 and Roland SH-101.

The complete PS personal keyboard range put into a musician's perspective by Trish McGrath; surprisingly, the cheapest model turns out to be the best buy.

A four-section synthesiser complete with breath control, tested by Geoff Twigg.

Solo electronic music composer Boddy gives a personal overview of Roland's mid-price polysynth.

A matching analogue/digital drum-machine and digital keyboard recorder come under the gaze of Dan Goldstein and Geoff Twigg.

Herbie Hancock, John Miles.

DX7-owner Jason Chapman and the first of a new series on how to find your way round these revolutionary Yamaha synthesisers. Part 2 next month.

New releases from Thomas Dolby, Laurie Anderson and Simple Minds, among others.

Readers' own demo recordings reviewed.

Steve Howell investigates conventional drum-kit sounds and how to synthesise them, using even the most basic of instruments.

Hot-foot from a mammoth UK tour as part of John Miles' backing-band, this well-respected keyboardist gives his own impressions of life on the road with Korg's latest MIDI-equipped polysynth.

The psychology of piano-playing.

Music Village, Chadwell Heath.

Part one of a series on designing and building a digital percussion sampling device.

A complete, step-by-step guide to constructing a pedalboard compatible with just about any 1-volt-per-octave synth.