Roland's D5 is the latest addition to their range of LA synthesizers. Paul Ireson takes a look at a budget keyboard with some great features.

John Renwick strums away on a unique MIDI controller which may well interest any keyboard players with guitarist tendencies

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.

Siel MK900

Does Siel's MIDI MK900 enhance the portable keyboard market?

Readers send in details of their own synth sounds and how to play them. Instruments featured this month include the Korg Polysix, Memorymoog and Yamaha CS30.

The job with rubber strings and built-in rhythm box. Jerry Uwins has his preconceptions brushed aside. But he's all right now.

Nigel Lord applies the principles of drum programming to other sounds

As more musicians finally begin to wake up to the benefits of using a dedicated master keyboard, Paul Ireson checks out two recent examples from Orla, the DMK7 and DMK8.

What the ghetto blaster is to hi-fi, the CZ230S is to synthesisers. Annabel Scott takes a spin in Casio's streetwise preset synth.

Modify your Casio keyboard

The X30's a typical example of how organ manufacturers are applying today's technology to traditional instruments - but will the new-found features make it as popular among 'serious' musicians? Paul White finds out.

In conjunction with the Personal Keyboard Special, we examine one of the most advanced, and popular, of the new breed

Electronic Keyboard

At long last, Casio have come up with a keyboard acceptable to both the pro and domestic fraternities. Paul White checks it out.

M401 MIDI MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

When a well-respected signal processor manufacturer like Drawmer moves beyond the realms of noise gates and compressors into MIDI control, it's yet another indication that the recording world is recognising the importance of MIDI. Paul Gilby dropped his copy of the Financial Times to take an exclusive look at the brand new Drawmer MIDI Management System.

Hitsound Sampling CDs

Paul Ireson checks out the first three volumes in the Hitsound Sampling CD library: Pure Gold Synth; Old Gold Synth; and Guitar.

Drumtrax 1 Sample Tape

If you're looking to expand your sampler's vocabulary of drum sounds or your D50 library, Patchworks' Drumtrax sample tape and PA Decoder's D50 Rom Volume III should be worth checking out - start here.