Technology is a recurring theme in the sound business; hardly surprising. Many of the new developments in our field are the direct result of technology and last year saw more such appearances than most. One of the most significant introductions has been in the field of digital techniques: digital systems are now around to facilitate not only the control of things like tape transports without the use of relays, and with no worries about snarling up the tape through inadvertent pressing of the wrong button; but also the recording of audio signal themselves. Then there is also the vast influence that microprocessors are beginning to exert on the synthesiser industry. Digital technology now offers us oscillators that are in tune from the moment of switch-on, and micros offer the possibility of setting up virtually unlimited polyphonic sounds at the touch of an on-stage button.

But where does it all lead? Hopefully this rapid development will lead directly to concrete developments for us, the users. Just as mass-production of integrated circuits has made a roomful of 60s computer into a typewriter-sized machine costing little more than a colour TV, so the application of the same technology can offer us more for our money, as well as undreamt-of sounds and flexibility. If, that is — and it's a big if — manufacturers concentrate on designing things that are actually useful. Such concentration is the result of good communication and is one of the reasons we're here, and it's a thought worth taking along to the first trade fair of '79: are you being offered what you want? If not, then a lot of people have been wasting time and money — ultimately yours. So be ready to ask questions... and shape next year's developments.