PS200, PS300, PS400

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.

Programmable Percussion Machine

The Latin percussion variant of Korg's new budget drum machine duo comes under the scrutiny of Trish McGrath. Is its beauty more than skin deep?

PCM Digital Keyboard

Innovations abound on Panasonic's first entry into the pro keyboard stakes. Trish McGrath finds out if it really is four pianos in one.

Software Surplus

Personal Keyboard

The words Siel and MIDI have gone hand in hand throughout 1984. Trish McGrath looks at what happens when the former puts the latter on a budget personal keyboard.

In which five of E&MM's writers pick their fave things of the year. If your personal preferences aren't there, don't take it out on us.

MIDI Synchroniser

And on a less spectacular scale, Korg introduce a synchroniser that won't break the bank, though it'll still crack a lot of problems, as Trish McGrath finds out.

MIDI Digital Keyboard Recorder

There are still more computer-shy musicians around than many would have you believe, so for them, this dedicated MIDI sequencer could be just the ticket. Trish McGrath investigates.

MIDI Connection Matrix

There are now more peripheral MIDI devices than there are MIDI-equipped musical instruments. Trish McGrath treads through the debris to report on an ingenious connection matrix from London's Syco Systems.

Dynamic Bitimbric Polysynth

It boasts a list of features as long as your arm and a price tag that makes it one of the most accessible MIDI polysynths, but does the musical reality fulfil the paper promises? Trish McGrath reports.

As Yamaha's 'X' range of hi-tech hardware continues to grow, Dan Goldstein and Trish McGrath present an exclusive appraisal of two of the range's most affordable additions, the TX7 FM Expander and QX7 MIDI Keyboard Recorder.

There's no point having a mass of electronic keyboards if you've got nothing to mount them on, but how many keyboard stands are available, and what do they offer? Trish McGrath stands up to the lot of them in an extensive survey.

Two manufacturers follow their already established polysynths with keyboardless voice expanders. Trish McGrath puts the Chase Bit 01 and Siel Expander 80 through their paces.

It's now some 18 months since the company first produced MIDI software for home micros, and now SIEL have come up with two of their most attractive packages yet. Trish McGrath has the details.

Syntron Software

Trish McGrath investigates a software package for the Commodore 64 dedicated to the delicate art of rhythm programming. It sounds better than you'd think.

An eight-track program capable of holding up to 16 sequences, and offering comprehensive editing facilities. Trish McGrath waits impatiently for its arrival in the UK.

Yamaha CX5M Software

Three packages for the CX5M — eight-track real-time sequencer, DX21 voice editor and RX editor — are put through their paces by E&MM’s review team.

Casio plug a gap in their range by introducing a CZS000 without the sequencer. Trish McGrath uses her fingers to see how it sounds.

Trish McGrath gets the lowdown on a whole stack of readers' own synth sounds, while Paul Wiffen gives an appraisal of a new library of samples for the Ensoniq Mirage.