The possession and management of information plays a crucial part in our lives. Tim Goodyer raises the confusing issue of the disinformation surrounding information.

Another batch of hot news from the world of hi-tech music is yours for the reading in this month's Newsdesk. Keeping your ear to the ground couldn't be easier...

The curious saga of a couple of equipment manuals takes centre stage in MT's regular readers' writes - if you've got an opinion to air or a question to ask, this is your soapbox.

Sequencing has never been this cheap: can a dedicated sequencer that only costs 40 quid actually work? Debbie Poyser goes sequencing on a shoestring.

Music moves in mysterious ways - these LPs for example aren't vinyl or CD, they're floppies for the AMPLE music system. Ian Waugh boots up the boogie.

Jazz - the final rhythm programming frontier; but if you treat jazz as an attitude (as the jazz greats all have), jazz patterns are just a state of mind away. Nigel Lord thinks cool.

Having helped to create Britain's Northern techno scene, Unique 3 claim it doesn't actually exist. Simon Trask listens to this and other enigmas from one of the country's most creative dance outfits.

Casio's DA1 and DA2 Digital Audio Tape machines have helped put DAT into many budget studios. Tim Goodyer suggests that the DA7 will see it in a few more.

When Yamaha launched their latest flagship synth, the SY77, they knew it was only a matter of time before it received software support. Ian Waugh goes editing with Steinberg.

From Charlie Parker to writing his own software, jazz saxophonist and technophile Steve Coleman has a unique insight into music. Simon Trask tunes in.

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.

After a recent change in UK distribution, Ensoniq look set to increase their popularity with this upgraded version of their EPS sampler. Simon Trask likes what he samples.

With analogue technology enjoying a renaissance, there's a growing demand for MIDI updates to old equipment. Vic Lennard talks to Kenton Electronics about the Ins and Outs of retrofitting.

With more machines appearing every month, there's no denying that it's boom-time for the beatbox. Simon Trask rocks to the rhythm of this latest offering from Alesis.

These days a few hundred pounds will buy you technology that once cost thousands. Gordon Reid looks at an early sampler and discovers there's more to it and its manufacturer than you might have known.

In the final part of this review, Korg's new Rhythm Workstation reveals the secrets of its sequencing and fx-processing. Simon Trask looks at the future of the beatbox.