August 1st, 2nd & 3rd — three days that no musician can ignore! This year's British Music Fair at London's Olympia 2 promises to be the biggest and best ever. Over 100 exhibitors are gathering to show the very latest in instruments and sound equipment, all under one roof and all available for you to see and try. There'll be gigs, demonstrations, on-the-spot competitions and celebrity appearances too. Naturally, IN TUNE will be there in force, so do make a point of calling by our stand to meet the inmates. Meanwhile, to give you a taste of what's in store, here's ITs guide to the major exhibitors.

OLYMPIA 2 — TIMES & TRAVEL

The 1986 British Music Fair opens to the public 10am to 7pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and entry costs £3 for adults, £1.50 for OAPs and children. There's a special £1 reduction for members of the Musician's Union and the Incorporated Society of Musicians, too!

The Olympia 2 Exhibition Centre could hardly be easier to find. Situated just past Kensington in London's Hammersmith Rd. W14, getting there from almost anywhere in the UK is simple. If you're coming by underground you should take either the Piccadilly or District lines to the Olympia Tube Station. Buses 9, 27, 28, 33, 49, 73 & 91 run right to Olympia, and there's a reasonable amount of local parking space, in addition to two car parks at the Centre itself. For visitors from outside London, British Rail have a new Intercity service linking the northwest and southeast, with all trains stopping at the Kensington Olympia station. Trains run regularly between Manchester or Liverpool and Dover, linking Stoke, Birmingham, Coventry, Kensington Olympia, Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Newhaven, Folkestone and many other towns. You can get details of train times from any British Rail station.

WHAT'S COOKING?

There's a good chance that we'll all be cooking if the expected number of visitors to this year's British Music Fair turn up! Add to that the possibility (albeit vague!) of vintage August weather and you can see why we're predicting hot stuff in both senses of the phrase! Anyway, here's our run-down of what's going to be there for you to see and try, based on the pre-Show information we've gathered from those companies who could tell us in advance what they were planning.

GROUND FLOOR

Your first port of call when you enter Olympia could involve nothing more than a turn to the right and a few yards' walk. That's where you'll find the IT team and our keepers (specially hired for the occasion from London Zoo). We're on Stand No G-19, and don't forget — any of you who visit us wearing an IN TUNE T-shirt will receive a free IT pen. Such generosity! We'll have all manner of old rubbish on our stand (starting with the Ed. — The IT Cat) including back issues, binders, T-shirts, badges, free subscription forms, pens — even some nifty free IT Cat carrier bags for you to cart your swag home in (not to mention becoming an unpaid walking advert for your favourite mag into the bargain!).

Where next? Let's start with ROLAND (Stands G16, G14 and 2-64 on the second floor). To keep all Roland's activities together we'll cover their three stands in one section. On G-16 you'll find all the main Roland and Boss instruments. A soundproof demo room will enable visitors to try gear for themselves. Products? How about the MC500 'Micro Composer' MIDI recorder. Using 3.5" discs, it has an internal memory capacity of 25,000 notes, to which you can add around 100,000 more, stored on the disc. Claimed to be easy to use, the MC500 has its own software system, the MRC500, enabling full editing to take place in its real time recorder application. Add to the MC500 new and new-ish keyboards, including the RD1000 digital piano, Super JX synth, the S50 and S10 keyboard samplers and the previously unannounced HP2000, 3000 and 4500 pianos and you have a line-up to gladden any keyboard player's heart. Drummers won't be left out, of course, as Roland will also show their brand new DRP I/II/III Dr. Pad electronic percussion gear, which allows six types of digital sounds as either effects or instrumental sounds to be called by hitting the touch-sensitive pad. Advanced control features make these three new electronic percussion pad systems look extremely attractive.

If electronic pads don't appeal, how about the new CR1000 'Digital Drummer'? This pre-set rhythm machine offers 16 PCM digital sound sources with 24 kinds of basic rhythm patterns, plus a further 24 variations. It also features intro/fill-in and ending patterns. Finally, make a point of trying the DEP5 digital FX processor. Almost equivalent to the SRV200, yet at a lower price, the DEP-5 has 99 stored settings, controllable from footswitches or MIDI messages. A full digital chorus is a major feature of the DEP5, and it will, we understand, enable digital reverb, chorus, parametric Eq and initial delay to be used simultaneously.

Roland also plan to focus attention on their excellent Boss Micro Studio system, especially the new RPS10 Pitch Shifter which we told you about last month. Also in the Micro Studio range is the RCE10, a digital chorus ensemble. Finally from Boss, a new pedal, the CS3, a compression/sustainer. And details have just arrived telling us that Roland will also be showing a handful of absolutely new items, never previously seen or reported in the UK. These include the Super JX MKS70, a poly synth rack mountable module derived from Roland's bestselling Super JX, the DR220A Dr. Rhythm (filled with acoustic drum sounds) and the DR220E Dr. Rhythm electronic version. But the units for which we predict the greatest attention are the new Roland MIDI conversion units for guitarists. The GR-MIDI Converter/Synthesiser Driver converts Roland's G24 BUS standard signal to MIDI and allows any MIDI instrument to be controlled by any G-Series Guitar Controller. Don't happen to have a Roland guitar synth? No problem! Just add the GK1 synth driver to your instrument and you have immediate access to the G24 BUS standard! No physical alterations are needed to your guitar to fit the GK1: just fit it, connect it to the new GM70, and your guitar will be MIDI ready!

MTR (Stand G-26) are another team set to reveal a lot of new gear. Under their own 'MTR' name, among their hottest items are likely to be the Series 2 6:3:2, 12:8:2 and 12:2 mixers, plus a new 16½ version. Promised to dovetail with these will be a new range of lower-cost power amps as well as the new SLM-82, an 8 channel 19" rack-mount line level mixer aimed at users of 8-out drum machines, synth modules etc. Priced at £233, the SLM-82 looks like being another winner for MTR.

At the same time, expect to see fresh products from Vesta Fire. Among these will be the DIG-412 fully programmable DDL (offering 128 programmes plus MIDI), the SF-100 'Space Commander' digital stereo flanger/chorus/enhancer, plus Vesta's low-priced MR-1 and MR-10 4-track cassette recorders. Talking with MTR when we were gathering this news, hints were dropped that a brand new 'price-busting' multitrack recorder could also be on show.

Finally from MTR comes McGregor back-line and PA amplification, Aries pro mixers, the MadRack D7 analogue multitap, multi-FX unit, Klotz cables and Cutec's ever-expanding range, which includes their stereo and 4-track mixers, 4 track recorder, disco mixer, graphic equalisers, variable Xovers, mikes and both ROM and RAM cartridges for the DX7, not to mention a brand new stand-mountable 12U high rack which is adjustable through four positions and is thus ideal for drummers, keyboard players etc.

Staying on the ground floor, HOHNER (G-25) are planning a major guitar display. Perhaps their most major models are in the Steinberger-licensed 'Hohner Professional' series (see our enthusiastic review in Issue 9). Added to these will be a new headless fretless active bass, the B2A-FL. This model features an 'Ebonol' fingerboard and comes in black only. A new ST guitar will also be on display, with a split coil switch for the humbucking bridge pickup, black hardware, and the Hohner Super Tremolo. It's available in three colours. Finally, those looking for really low-priced guitars could do a lot worse than examine Hohner's new 'Baron', or the latest models in their popular Arbor Series, a Flying V and a Tele-style model. Finally, Hohner's MX series of metallic-finished guitars will boast improved tremolos and a choice of colour-matched or satin-finished necks.

Hohner are also making inroads into backline amplification, and will be displaying their latest bass amp, the PB250, with its matching 4x10" cab. This offers an integral flightcase and has a 5-band graphic, bass, middle and treble controls, a compressor, built-in chorus and 250 watt output.

From new guitars to new amps. LANEY (G-9) will be majoring on their brand new Linebacker amps, which we've snaffled two samples of for a review elsewhere in this issue. As we've given full details of the range there, well say no more except to insist that you also checkout their incredible AOR valve amps if you haven't yet had the chance!

On the PA front, fast-developing TOA (G-1) will be using the BMF to show their new D4 and D4-E MIDI mixer and expander units. The D4 is a 4 channel stereo mixer which can be expanded with the addition of the D4-E to become a 10 input mixer, offering five balanced XLR mike inputs (each offering phantom powering) plus 8 MIDI-through jacks and stereo or mono mixing. Another new Toa mixer will be their 8 input version, the D5.5.

Also from Toa, expect to see some new sub-woofer systems, the SEB, SDB and SLB. The SEB and SDB will handle 360 watts each, while the SLB is rated at 240 watts. Suited for drum machines, electronic kits and synths are two new 3-way systems, the 480-SE and the 380-SE which can take 360 watts 'continuous programme power' apiece. Finally, Toa will also show a fresh range of mikes including their HY1 and HY2 models which have ingenious mute buttons, enabling users to speak to other performers without their words coming over the PA.

ENSONIQ (G-22), who are now very firmly established over here, will have the superb SDP-1 sampling piano for trial plus their ESQ-1 'Digital Wave' synth and the full range of the Mirage sound library, featuring over 20 diskettes. Apparently you can now get an astonishing 600 sampled sounds for the Mirage!

ROSE-MORRIS (G-18) will have top guitarist Gordon Giltrap with them, and he'll be demoing two versions of the new Shadow MIDI guitar systems (see our review in this issue) fitted to both Ovation and Takamine guitars. Also on display will be the 1986 'Collectors Series' Ovations and new range of budget-priced solid body Applause models. Takamine will have some new stereo guitars, too. Also from R-M, Korg will finally show their DSS-1 sampling synth, which has both in-built and user-sampled sound capabilities. Look out too for a pair of Korg sampled pianos, the SG-1 and SG-2, which both use optional plug-in ROM cartridge based additional sounds. Finally, we expect Korg's DDD-1 to attract a lot of attention. It's a 'dynamic' digital drum machine with 18 built-in sounds and further ROM cards, with a sampling board allowing you to sample your own sounds. With full MIDI, an internal memory of 100 patterns, patterns and ten songs up to to 9,999 bars can be stored on tape, RAM cards or via MIDI the new DDD-1 looks like being a good proposition.

1ST FLOOR

MARSHALL (Stand 1-92) will be one of the major exhibitors on the 1st floor. We've covered the huge range of Marshall's integrated bass system before, but they'll be a major feature at the show, where they'll be seen all together for the first time in this country. New Marshall additions will include the 1555 1x15" 250 watt ported cab, the 1518 2x8" 100 watt cab and the 5518 powered 2x8" 100 watt cab — these last two making a bi-ampable stack. Also introduced will be the 3005 12 watt 'Mini Stack' (really!) and their 5205 12 watt combo with reverb.

It's hard to know where to start with AKAI (1-96), but some fascinating news seems like as good a place as any. Apparently Akai have purchased the rights to the prestigious Linn name, and henceforth Roger Linn will be working for them to develop products to appear under the 'Akai Professional by Roger Linn' tag.

In terms of products available now, let's start with the Akai MG1214 multitrack recorder, which is a development of the MG1212. What the new unit appears to offer is a general improvement in the performance levels of the MG1212 by offering a better S/N ratio, improved mike circuits and headphone monitoring performance. More important, perhaps, are improved faders and SMPTE time-code modifications, which allow for easy interfacing with SMPTE based synchronisers for simultaneous recording with other audio and video machines. If Akai's MG1214 isn't for you, how about the MG140, a 5U high, rack-mountable 14 track recorder with dbx? Used with the optional ML14 auto-locator, the MG140 combines to become a SMPTE compatible multitrack recorder offering perhaps the ultimate features for the high-tech home or small studio recordist.

Perhaps ideal to team with the MG 140 are Akai's new minimonitors, the MS200. With a 3-way 'tone character' switch, the MS200 can be used as a full range, a 2-way 'flat' type or a 2-way unit with HF boost. At 4 Ohms impedance, the new monitors will handle up to 200 watts each and are claimed to offer a frequency response of from 50Hz to 23kHz.

MIDI effectors will also be part of the Akai range. These will include the ME25S MIDI note separator and the ME30P programmable MIDI patch bay (a much hoped-for introduction). On the keyboard front, there's the newly arrived Akai AX73 key controller synth. Velocity sensitive, it's a 6 voice/VCO unit with full noise generation. With a MIDI split facility it'll respond to MIDI key velocity and has full MIDI specs. Alongside the AX73, do make a point of looking at the MX73, Akai's 73-key controller keyboard. You can also see the Akai VX90 6-voice rack mounted synth on their stand. This one's a 6 voice/VCO synth with separate noise generation.

AUDIO FACTORS (1-114), one of the largest manufacturing companies of its kind in the UK, will be showing their numerous products including Custom Sound, Fane Acoustics, Linearsound, Linear Lighting and Felstar Lighting. They'll be showing another side to their activities as well as their own products this year, however, as the BMF has been chosen as the venue to launch the imported Ross range of high-class, low-cost equipment, much of which looks very interesting.

Starting with Custom Sound, however, we reviewed their fine new 100 watt Cub twin last month, but entirely new will be the first of what looks like a growing series of high quality power amps. The rack-mountable (1U high) CS902 MOSFET Slave is a 90+90 stereo amp has a frequency response from 10Hz-100kHz with an impressive claimed THD of 0.005% from 10Hz-50kHz. Also new from Custom Sound will be their CS 452H 200w full range mini speaker enclosure, which uses four of Fane's 5" Studio 50 watt full range drivers plus two HF horns. To beef-up the bass end of your mini PA system comes the Custom Sound CS 115B 200w ported bass cab, which has a 15" heavy duty Fane bass speaker.

Apart from Audio Factors' lighting equipment and Fane's speakers, what about this new Ross gear? Ideal for guitar beginners is a dinky 10w combo with foot-controllable distortion, 3-band Eq, master volume, headphone output etc. — and it'll be coming at a price you're not going to believe! PA buyers will appreciate the new Ross powered mixers, which will offer very thorough features at price-busting RRPs. In this range come 8 and 12 channel types, both delivering 190 watts per channel, 3-band Eq per channel, built-in long spring reverbs, FX sends, trim and overload LEDs, balanced mike inputs, 60mm faders, dual 8-band graphics, 12 segment LED meters etc. etc. Ross rack effects, unpowered mixers, graphics and more are all threatened at amazing prices, so we expect great things of them.

STRINGS & THINGS (1-74) are one of the UK's biggest distributors (as you might expect!) of strings, with some 21 major brands. A unique feature on this stand will be the chance to see strings actually being made on the new Picato string making machine, newly developed for the re-launch of this leading British string line. As well as strings, S & T will feature Frontline Series II FX plus their new 8 channel stereo mixer, rack mounted systems, pedal board, coloured instrument leads and guitar stands, gig bags, accessories, mikes, drum heads, brushes, guitar straps, Jim Dunlop picks and Capos, EDC rhythm units and mixers, Fibes drum sticks, Remo heads, Paiste and Rogers cymbals, Barcus Berry transducers — gasp! — and the list goes on.

HH (1-70) will be launching two new high power PA speakers, the FR10 and the BR215. The former is a compact full-range 200 watt unit featuring two 10" speakers plus a bullet, while the BR215 uses two HH 15" bass drivers in a tuned enclosure. HH's PA expertise will be fully demonstrated by their MXA100 and MA150 mixer amps. Invader and Pro Series II PA cabs plus the Unit System ID. MOSFET power amps, HH's 100 Series backline gear and the Super 1201, 1501 and HF201 Pro high performance speakers will complete an impressive line-up.

Good news for Fender fans is that the US-built models have finally arrived, and they, plus the whole Fender and Squier ranges will be prominent on the ARBITER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS display (1-120/44). The US Fenders are all 'vintage' types and include '57 and '62 Strats, '52 Telecasters, '62 Jazz bass and '57 and '62 Precisions. Look too for the relatively recent 'limited edition' Fenders (as reviewed in last month's IT) which will include '57 and '62 Strats, '52 Tele, Rosewood body Tele, Fretless Jazz Bass, Bound Custom Esquire, '54 Esquire, Jaguar and Jazz-master, Tele thin-line and a '72 Custom Tele.

Drummers will also find something of interest on the Arbiter stand; the Remo range of kits. New for the show will be the Liberator Pro kit, featuring a 14x8" snare which comes complete with three different heads (should they have called it the 'Alien' kit?). It also has two different snares and a muffler sound control. Arbiter's Rogers cymbal range has been 'redeveloped and expanded' and now has four ranges designed to suit beginners and students, heavy Rock and more musical drummers.

If it's a new guitar or bass you're after, a visit to the JOHN HORNBY SKEWES stand (1-04) is essential. They plan to show a staggering 68 new models, from makers including Hondo, Encore, Charvel and Jackson. The Hondo most likely to blow a few bank accounts is the HDX100WH, which has a well over-the-top dragon on the front! There'll also be some equally outrageous 'flamingo pink' Hondos on display, we understand. Charvel/Jackson have been covered in this issue's review, but have a look at Encore. There'll be new models from this bargain-priced line (both solids and electro-acoustics) in the £130-£230 price bracket. New Seiko tuners and metronomes are also promised by JHS, as well as the Kahler Fulcrum tremolos, the Istanbul cymbal range (hand made in Turkey) and the introduction of a new range of keyboard and rack stands, to be called Gig.

MUSIMEX (1-06) are bound to attract a lot of attention. We've reviewed the brand new Session Rockette 20 in this issue, but both it and the rest of the Session range (including the equally new Rockette 30) will be well worth a look Equally new from the Musimex stable is the Steinberger GL-3T with its 3 single coil pickups and one humbucking twin single coil equipped GL-4T. Both have the Trans Trem system. Staying with guitars, new Mansons are threatened (including the anticipated Manson headless bass?). Denmark's unsurpassed TC effects are adding a brand new DDL this year, with the incredible performance of a full 100dB dynamic range! Incidentally, we hear that Spandau Ballet have recently copped one of TC's Spatial Expanders. If you've not previously seen this relatively recent introduction, have a go with it.

Frazer Wyatt are another of Musimex's great lines, and they'll have, among other fine powered and unpowered speaker systems, their Profil studio monitor which was launched to the studio world at the recent APRS show, where it turned many a head. Offering a 20Hz-20kHz frequency range, 90dB sensitivity, 500 watts power handling and the innovative Frazer-Wyatt 'Powerair' Acoustic System, it promises to be a definitive monitor. We'll be reviewing one soon.

Finally, Musimex will be showing their Supershield instrument leads (with ten year guarantees!). Graph Tech carbon graphite fingerboard nuts, John Pearse strings and accessories and those luxurious Reunion Blues leather instrument and gig bags. Phew!

CARLSBRO (1-38) will really let rip this year. Their all-valve 60 watt Sidewinder will receive its first UK airing, as will a pro bass range comprising three 150 watt combos with various speaker options, in addition to separate head/cab types. Lower in power but no less interesting will be Carlsbro's new Rebel 8 and 12 90 watt lead combos and a brand new Cobra bass unit (also available as either a head/cab setup or a combo). On the PA side, Carlsbro will be showing their new CP Professional MOSFET power amps, the CP250, CP600 and CP1000 types, in addition to the re-vamped Taurus Series PA enclosures and both Cobra and Marlin XLR equipped mixers.

Shure's fine miniature SM98 condenser will be shown with some interesting additions on the H.W. INTERNATIONAL stand (1-16). This mike now has a range of accessories which include a really clever pop filter with a locking system preventing people walking away with this easily pocketable lovely. Drummers will be gladdened by the launch of a rim mounting kit for this mike. Fitted with its gooseneck and 'stay put' setting system, the SM98 can now be fitted to almost any drum rim. Completing the new range will be a hanging adaptor and an 18" gooseneck.

JAMES HOW INDUSTRIES (1-94) will be showing the massive ranges of both Superwound and Rotosound strings which are now being produced in their new factory. New to the Swing Bass range are Steinberger double ball end types, plus various Low Bs for five string sets at various weights including .120, bass strings, the Mark King originated Funkmaster light top/medium bottom sets will be on show. Apparently Geddy Lee is the latest top name to move over to these superb strings. Other news from Superwound is the endorsement of the Nickel Starfire 'R.T.' (reinforced twist) types by Brian May.

SOUND TECHNOLOGY (1-62) pulled out the stops at the recent APRS show with one of the best-looking stands we've ever seen. Complete with palm trees, cutout parrots, monkeys and two amazing 'human robots' (who appeared to strike terror into the hearts of some of the more staid studio people!), they threaten more of the same at the BMF. But don't get the idea that it's all cosmetic, will you! Sound Technology took the digital FX market by the scruff of its neck earlier this year with the superb Alesis Midiverb, and look set to repeat the exercise with their followup, the Midifex. A real-time multi FX processor due to sell at just £395, the Midifex provides 63 pre-set recording sounds at the touch of a button or via MIDI control. Many of these sounds are the sort you hear used on the best produced records, but usually call for either vast expertise or multitudes of linked outboard units to obtain. This is one machine you've got to see. Ideal for the hundreds of Midiverb users who will also be bound to add the Midifex to their armoury will be a new adaptor (at only £9.95) which allows two units to be fitted together in a standard 19" rack mount.

Also fresh from Sound Technology will be another new Alesis unit, the MPX MIDI Patch Selector. At just £90, it's a hand held unit of calculator size which will interface with any MIDI device, allowing remote patch selection on any of 16 MIDI channels. Bokse have a newcomer in the SM9 SMPTE/EBU/MIDI Time Code Events Controller and MIDI humaniser, and Aphex will be on show via their Dominator. Other new Sound Technology products will include Oberheim's Matrix 6R rackmount synth and the Symetrix 544 four channel expander gate.

Another company likely to have a zany theme on their stand are our good friends ALLIGATOR (1-104). Probably one of the fastest growing UK amplification set-ups, their 200 watt electronic percussion combo is reviewed in this issue, and our Ed. is still raving about their 2x10 175 watt bass combo which he reviewed recently. Less familiar to IT readers perhaps is Alligator's 'Black Dwarf' PA range, the specs for which sound very interesting. Definitely not a stand to miss, this one!

ROSETTI (1-01/03) have a claim to every guitarist's attention on account of their UK distribution of Gibson, from whom we may be seeing some new models this year. These will be the first new Gibsons to appear since last year's takeover. No details of what Gibson are up to were available as this preview was being prepared, but well be first on the stand to find out!

Rosetti will also have their new lower-priced Vision guitars and basses on show, (you'll find a review of one of the bass models in this issue). Later we hope to be taking a look at Vision's FX pedals. Rosetti are a major force in amplification too, with their KMD range of bass and guitar combos and heads. Don't miss 'em!

RHINO (1-12) are another of those distributors whose product lines seem to be growing all the time. They've recently relaunched the highly regarded Japanese ESP guitars and will be showing these plus ESP parts. On the FX side, Dod have a new digital reverb, the 6400. Claimed to be 'the world's first digital reverb system priced under US$ 700' it features 64 preset combinations (performing 5 million calculations per second!). The 6400 is driven from EPROM technology which, we gather, could mean that the Dod may in future be upgradeable by plug-in EPROMS. With a -10dB to 14dB attenuation switch for line or instrument levels, the 6400 also has 1/4" balanced/unbalanced inputs/outputs for stereo use. Dry out and mono jacks with an onboard mixer enable the Dod to be used alone or in an FX loop.

Rhino's Dean Markley now have a complete family of amps, from the K20 practice combo through valve, transistor, and hybrid types. Pre and power amps are on the way, among them the unprecedented CD212, a 100 watt dual MOSFET and valve amp which can be switched to offer either valve or tranny overdrives! Add to these the full range of EMG pickups, Dean Markley strings, Dod pedals. Whirlwind leads. Axe straps and a stop-press launch of the Dod Midi-Master, and you have another stand deserving close attention!

THE 2ND FLOOR

YAMAHA (Stands 2-06 to 2-26) are pulling out all the stops for this year's show. Alongside the PF70 and 80 electronic pianos, a new low-cost drum kit and five new Yamaha mikes, a major feature will be concentration on the full integration possibilities of Yamaha's Personal MIDI Studio System. Essentially a complete home studio, the system uses digital FM and MIDI technology and comprises the RX21 rhythm processor, QX21 sequencer, DX100 synth, YMC10 MIDI converter, the MT1X cassette multitracker (due for review in these pages very soon) and KS10 portable speakers. The package price of £1,800 shows just how cleverly interfaceable all these products are and how effective a studio can be built from them. Yamaha's new MZ mikes comprise three models for vocals and two for instrumental uses. The MZ102BE (£99) and the MZ103BE (£115) are the top vocal models, both with beryllium diaphragms. The MZ104 (£89) is the general purpose instrument mike while the £99 MZ105BE is said to be particularly suited to drum applications.

Yamaha's Portable Keyboards division will also have a lot of gear on show, some of which may well have home studio and 'practice' uses. Big news here is that FM has now come to these mains/battery powered models, including the mini key £154.99 PSS360. This model offers 20 FM voices and 12 rhythms plus a programmable drum machine, and is one of three lower priced FM types, the top of the new range being the PSS560 which has 18 PCM keyboard percussion sounds, 21 FM voices, custom drummer, etc. Three more models are in the full-size key range, starting with the PSR11 at £249.99 (15 FM voices and 16 rhythms) and ending up with the top model, the stereo PSR31 at £399.99 with 61 keys, 18 PCM percussion sounds and 50,000 accompaniment variations.

Moving on, BARNES & MULLINS (2-44/46/50) are bound to be overrun by would be MIDI-ers due to the presence of the Shadow MIDI Guitar system (see this issue's review). But don't let the high-tech stuff take your attention away from B & M's many other products, quite a few of which are being shown for the first time. Among these, of course, Shadow transducers will prove popular, as will the amazingly priced new Shock drums, which offer a 5-drum kit with power shells for just £475. Normal size shells will get the price down to only £315 for a 5 drum set-up! Drummers should have a look at Zanki cymbals, too. Back with B&M's guitars, the prices of 'Marque' and 'Marina' ranges are set to shake a lot of people. Acoustics will start at only £58, and you can get a 12 string for just £85. Really over the top is an acoustic with a solid top, to be priced at just under £100. Sounds impossible, doesn't it? Equally new are B&M's electrics, which include various 'copies', including a 'S***t' selling at only £93. 'Familiar' basses will sell for under £110 and you'll even be able to get a model with one pickup and a trem for an astonishing £75. Taiwanese prices strikes again, we understand! New Torque acoustics amps and countless brass and woodwind products are also scheduled to appear on this enterprising company's stand.

THE OXFORD SYNTHESISER CO. (2-54) is one place that MIDI users certainly should make a beeline for. Apart from the growing family of Steinberg software, there'll be several new products on display, including a MIDI time code synchroniser at £399 and a MIDI source mixer (£299) which will actively mix two incoming MIDI signals to one output while simultaneously offering synch tape signals. Atari users will also find this stand worth visiting, as Oxford will be showing a brand new SMPTE reader/writer for the new Atari.

Well, if that lot doesn't whet your appetite there's definitely no hope for you! And don't forget, what we've detailed above is only a small selection of what'll be there for you to see and try, based on the advance information which we were able to glean several weeks before the British Music Fair opened.

See you there!