E&MM changes its name - shock, horror - as from November. The Editor adds his twopennyworth.

News from the front, where the Personal Computer World show steals most of the thunder, with new - and musical - releases from Amstrad, Atari and Apple.

Readers' writes get their regular airing on E&MM's letters page.

The solution to your problems may be only a page or two away in the hands of E&MM's consultation team.

Following in the footsteps of their successful budget CZ models, Casio add touch-sensitivity for the professional user. Simon Trask evaluates the results.

Digital recording direct to hard disk, from the company that built its reputation with the Wave synthesisers. Paul Wiffen examines the new direction.

Put six PCM drum sounds in a small black box, add a velocity-sensitive pad and a sprinkling of controls, and you have some pretty neat add-on percussion modules. Dan Goldstein hits and listens.

Fancy putting that percussion sound you sampled with your keyboard into your digital drum machine? Rick Davies discovers that all things are possible in California.

...Is one of Britain's most inventive jazz keyboard players, with a myriad of different strings to his performing bow, and an unusually open-minded approach to new technology. Simon Trask listens to what he has to say.

The Q-chip that was the heart of the Mirage and ESQ1 keyboards proves itself to be yet more versatile in the latest in electronic pianos. David Ellis dons concert pianist's tails and tinkles the ivories.

In the third part of this series on the growing uses of multiple MIDI channelisation, Paul Wiffen looks at the advantage of using separate audio outputs on the Akai S900.

Breaking a prolonged silence, one of the eighties' most successful solo pop songwriters talks to Tim Goodyer about his new home, his new album, and an ever-expanding collection of synthesisers.

A full run-down on what's happening to E&MM next month, how it'll look, and why we're doing it.

Leaving the comforts of the studio behind, the Art of Noise step out into the real world of live music, taking their MIDI technology with them. Chris Meyer lends an ear to see how they fare.

A synth that samples, or a sampler with a built-in synthesiser? Either way, the DSS1 takes music-creation a step further, with sampling, waveform synthesis and analogue processing. Paul Wiffen fiddles to his heart's content.

While many producers are content to work within one or two musical styles, Peter Collins casts a much wider net - using high technology to increase the number of possibilities open to him.

Which is better, analogue or digital? Elka back the horse both ways by providing synths of both persuasions, with modular versions of both, too. Paul Wiffen thinks they're onto a winner, whichever way you look.

Gary Numan renews his working relationship with Bill Sharpe for another single project. Dan Goldstein drops in on them, and discovers the link could soon become permanent.

The readers' synth sound page - with the Korg DW8000, Casio CZ101, Roland Jupiter 6 and Yamaha DX100 all featuring.

Ian Waugh examines a new starter sequencer package designed to lure Commodore 64 users into the MIDI software habit. Is it friendly enough?