sampling keyboard spectacular

808 State - Absolutely Gorgeous

Secondhand Polysynth Guide

Whether you can't afford to indulge yourself in this month's Polysynth Checklist or simply prefer something that's now out of production, E&MM's guide to things secondhand could save you a lot of time and trouble.

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.

The lowdown on current polysynths, voice expanders and controller keyboards in this month's instalment of our unique buyer's guide.

Polysynths, voice expanders and remote keyboard controllers are the subject of this month's no-holds-barred price guide. Don’t buy another instrument until you've read this.

Beyond the Groove

Vintage technology strikes back

Inside the vintage vault

A complete rundown of all the polysynths, voice expanders and remote keyboards currently available - plus the comments of our reviewing team on each of them.

The buyer's guide with a difference, with listings, prices, specifications, and comments from E&MM's reviewing team. Polysynths, expanders and controlling keyboards are this month's subject.

Not only did Roland's Super Jupiter make a worthy replacement for the Jupiter 8, it is still a sought-after instrument today, as Steve Howell is happy to report.

Part 2, ARP to Buchla. Buchla? Yep, Buchla

low-priced FM, mega important

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.

Sampling Keyboard

This is it. A 16-bit sampling keyboard for the price of a 12-bit one, with digital synthesis tacked on as a bonus. Jim Burgess gives his verdict in our exclusive review.

Instrumental music doesn't sell, the UK dance scene is totally bereft of life, and dance bands never produce decent albums. Wrong, wrong, wrong — and 808 State are back with proof. Nigel Humberstone talked to Manchester's finest during the recording of Gorgeous, their third album.

The quick-reference equipment guide to end all equipment guides. In this, the Checklist's inaugural month, polysynths, expanders and controlling keyboards come under the E&MM microscope.

Touch-Sensitive Polysynth and Programmer

Criticised in the past for their poor implementation of MIDI, Roland have given their new mid-price polysynth the full works. It sounds good, too, as Paul Wiffen discovers in this exclusive review.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly at Frankfurt's Musical Fiesta

Five pages of glorious colour on the exhibition to end all exhibitions - the annual Frankfurt Musik Messe. Dan Goldstein comes hotfoot from Germany to report on the latest developments on the hi-tech music scene. And there are a lot of them.

Another year, another host of hardware to look back on. We take you through the goodies and the baddies that came out during '84, just in case you missed any of them.

Synthcheck

The very latest of the cheap but decent synths tests Tony Mills' skills