OBERHEIM OB-8

Oberheim have their own very effective in-house interface system and there are only three of their synths that are currently fitted with MIDI as standard (since 1984), the Xpander and the Matrix being the other two. Due to a cock-up on the communications front, the OB-8 is limited to channels 1-9 in the Omni-Off mode. Still, it is a truly excellent analogue synth capable of some very rich sounds, with a high degree of control whilst maintaining reasonable operational simplicity. For the price, however, it notably lacks touch sensitivity.

OBERHEIM XPANDER/MATRIX 12

These models are quite justifiably considered the ultimate in analogue synthesis. The Xpander is a keyboardless device designed to be controlled from some kind of mother keyboard, whilst the Matrix 12 is basically two Xpanders coupled to a velocity and pressure sensitive keyboard. They offer an extraordinary degree of flexibility and control with a kind of electronic, push-button patch bay that allows almost anything to modulate or control anything else. The Omni-Off Mono MIDI capability means that you can use a sophisticated sequencer to control each of the six/twelve voices separately, with separate sounds, and there is also a very sophisticated keyboard split facility. They aren't cheap or simple to use, but they are extraordinarily powerful.

SEQUENTIAL PROPHET T8

Designed as a Super-Prophet to capture the huge market of professional players who were beginning to grow out of their Prophet 5s, the T8 has the virtue of being immediately understandable by a '5 owner. It has a beautifully weighted, independently touch sensitive wooden keyboard, a built-in sequencer and retains the basic sound quality of the basic Prophet. As with other Sequential products, the T8 can be linked with a Commodore 64 to extend the sequencer from its rather limited 670-note capacity to several thousand. It's a wonderful instrument to play, and if it had come on to the market a little earlier it would probably have been a bigger seller. As it is it's perhaps a little expensive.

YAMAHA DX-5

The DX-5 is surprisingly similar to the hugely expensive (£9,499) DX-1 in that it has the guts of two DX-7s encouched within it and a whole host of extra controls and fancy looking back-lit displays to make life generally easier. The DX-5's voices themselves are no different to those achievable from a DX-7 or a TX-7, but it is more friendly to use. The DX-1 costs over three times the price of the DX-5 and offers only a wooden weighted keyboard and individually articulated touch response for extra sovs. Such things are very nice to have, but will the bank manager agree?

OCTAVE-PLATEAU VOYETRA EIGHT

The Voyetra is presented as a separate keyboard controller and 19" rack-mounting synth. It is potentially a very powerful instrument although its substantial reliance on digital access programming makes it a little tiresome to work with. The addition of an Apple II and Commodore 64 or an IBM PC can improve things, and the company bides by a philosophy of continual software updates available on plug-in PCBs.

YAMAHA TX816/TX216

The TX816 consists of a large 19" rack mounting frame into which up to eight modules can be slotted, just as with a Rebis or Scamp modular effects system. Each of these modules basically contains the guts of a DX-7 including 32 voicing memories and 32 performance memories — but no keyboard. They can be programmed from a DX-7 or from the CX-5 computer synth and played most effectively from a mega sequencer such as Yamaha's own QX-1. Alternatively, rather than seeing each module as a separate synth, you might like to get into 'composite programming' where each module is used to synthesise a part of a sound so that when they are all added together a replication of extraordinary accuracy can be produced. For most people the TX816 is overkill, although in the hands of a good demonstrator, such as Dave Bristow, it can sound awesome. The TX216 is the same frame with only two modules in it; extra modules can then be purchased at £499 a piece. Take a look at the TX-7 in the £500 to £1500 section for a more reasonable option.