The distance between the affordable and the state-of-the-art. Is it getting narrower?

MIDI for the Juno 6 and 60, further software developments from Joreth, and a series of electronic music concerts in London are among April's hot news items.

The forum of E&MM readers' comment, opinion and debate.

A further selection of technical Questions and Answers.

Spot the names of 16 Toa endorsees in our exclusive wordsearch puzzle, and you could win a free headset mic system or a pair of monitor speakers.

Is there more to Britain's latest megastars than a barrel-load of hype, a few jars of hair gel and a clever Giorgio Moroder production job? After talking to the band, Tim Goodyer thinks there is.

The Nippon Gakki people have updated their budget QX7 MIDI Recorder by giving it a few extra facilities - and slashing its selling price in half. Simon Trask investigates.

At last, someone has come up with a sample-playing device that specialises in reproducing bass voices - from a double bass to a Moog synth. Brian Devereux reports.

Chris Jenkins gets to grips with the first multitrack MIDI recording package for Atari's hi-spec, hi-tech home computer. Does it deliver the goods?

If ever there was an interfacing unit that looked likely to solve all MIDI routing problems in one go, the M16 is it. Paul Wiffen checks it out.

Most pitch-tracking machines cost a second mortgage to get hold of, but Digisound's new offering offers CV/Gate compatibility for around £200. Paul White has the details.

Behind the classic 'Imagination' single lies a sensitive songwriter with a keen ear for melody and a fascination for modern technology. Tim Goodyer talks to Neville Keighley and his session keyboardsman, Peter Oxendale.

Korg's popular polyphonic synthesiser gets a new coat of paint and a built-in digital delay line. Dan Goldstein finds out if it's still top of the budget synth tree.

After over a decade at the forefront of instrumental music, Mike Oldfield is branching out into video and film. Annabel Scott visits the man's new audiovisual studio, and pops a few pertinent questions.

Fancy an Emulator SP12 for £350? Casio have something approaching it in the new RZ1, the world's first 'affordable' digital drum box with onboard sampling facilities. Dan Goldstein says nevermind the quality...

Simon Trask delves deeper into what could be the most sophisticated computer-based sound sampler. It's British, and it costs less than any dedicated machine.

An exclusive report on the Eastern Bloc consortium that's preparing to do battle with the best the West can offer. Last year's Anticipation Sampler was brilliant, but the 1986 machines are better still.

Our unique buyers' guide lists dedicated sequencers, software packages and computer music systems. Nothing else comes close.

Few producers begin their careers with experimental bands, become world-renowned for their work with electronic pop, and then turn their attention to traditional rock music. Paul Tingen talks to Mike Howlett, a man of many talents.

If you're a frustrated synth programmer looking for an outlet to use your talents, you could become a soundtrack writer for computer games. Matthew Vosburgh meets one of Britain's best.

Digital reverb comes of age, in the shape of a new American unit that abandons user-programmability in favour of great-sounding presets, and does it at an incredibly low price. Paul White enthuses.

The PX1 heralds a new generation of electronic pianos that aims to provide acoustic sound quality in a more versatile, up-to-date format. Julian Colbeck meets the latest Japanese Joanna.

E&MM's reviewing team gets to grips with records by Chris & Cosey, Dolby & Sakamoto and Brian Eno, demo cassettes from ambitious readers, and the first-ever UK concert by systems composer Terry Riley.

Casio CZ101, Korg Poly 800, Roland SH101 and Yamaha DX100 synths feature in this month's edition of the readers' synth sound page. Keep 'em coming...

If the major labels let you down and you're writing sophisticated electro-pop, forming your own record company is one way of getting your message across. Annabel Scott meets a remarkable brother-and-sister duo.