David Bowie

for Casio MT200 and Sinclair Spectrum

Micro Musical's latest hardware/software package links the Casio MT200 to the Sinclair Spectrum home micro. Somehow, Paul White managed to find time to review it.

Yamaha V50 Workstation

Paul Ireson explores Yamaha's latest professional keyboard, which integrates FM synthesis, a drum machine, a powerful sequencer and a multi-effects unit into a single package. Could it be FM's finest hour?

The chiming of distant Rickenbackers, the drawl of Peter Buck, the whirr of Chris Maillard's tape recorder, and other sweet Georgia sounds

LA Synthesiser

Roland's latest keyboard combines two currently important concepts: the workstation and the company's own Linear Arithmetic synthesis. Simon Trask test drives the "multi-timbral linear synthesiser muhitrack sequencer".

The Bahamas boy talks tunes and tides with Adrian Deevoy

Peter Gabriel at Selhurst Park

A straightforward guide to producing Dance Mixes using budget equipment.

Part two considers arrangements: getting right all the instruments order in the.

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.

Bridging The Gap

Whilst Roland and Yamaha take LA and FM synthesis into the home, Technics make it even harder to differentiate between a home keyboard and a synthesizer with the release of the AX7. Paul Ireson checks it out.

SynthCheck

A Fairlight small enough to slip into your 501's? Well, nearly. Jim Betteridge warms to Casio's supercheap sampler

Smiths' producer Stephen Street lets off some steam.

The world-conquering sound of Ronnie James' band rests on its rock solid rhythm section. Tony Reed talks to the men who make the Dio metal machine move

US successes return to Blighty with the formula for Stateside MOR safely intact. Interview by Jonathan James

SY-DP50

On Technic's hybrid Preset/Programmable digital drum machine the SY-DP50.

ROLAND CM32L, CM32P, CM64 & LAPC1 Sound Modules

Roland's CM32L, CM32P, CM64 and LAPC1 modules are a selection of their more familiar expanders re-configured and re-packaged with the computer synthesist in mind. Modulating with Ian Waugh.

Steve Hackett and Paddy Kingsland set out to test the merits and demerits of the Roland GR-500 and ARP Avatar. Synthesise watches, lads.

This premier producer, conductor and arranger discusses his solo album 'The Best of the Alan Parsons Project'

return of the solo

RS-PCM Keyboards

Responding to the demand for accessible synthesisers, Roland's Rhodes division has come up with the first of a series of "playable" instruments. Simon Trask checks their performance.

In this first article of a new series, John Harris examines basic song arrangement.

Where would Madonna, Giorgio Moroder or Stock, Aitken and Waterman be without sequenced bass lines? Rudi Cazeaux provides some guidelines and practical examples to help you create better bass lines.