Judging by the flood of letters we began receiving after our May issue hit the streets, the consensus of opinion seems to be that you really enjoyed reading the interview with Brad Naples of New England Digital - the creators of the mighty Synclavier system. And your requests of "let's have more!" have been heeded, for we are already planning a couple of similar-styled features that look at the people behind today's equipment developments - the designers. Stay tuned!

On a different tack, the announcement recently that the DX Owners' Club has been incorporated within the Yamaha UK operation following the departure of enthusiastic Club organiser Tony Wride, must surely raise some doubt as to its continued validity. All credit to Yamaha, mind you, for not simply allowing the Club to fade into oblivion. But part of the reason for the original Club's runaway success (after all, 2000-plus members is pretty good going given the laissez-faire attitude of most musicians in this country) must be put down to the fact that it was an independent body. In fact, the unbiased information contained within past newsletters was sometimes openly critical of Yamaha and to good effect, for it helped stimulate action on Yamaha's part that lead them to improve their products and services. But will that state continue with Yamaha at the helm?

Our 'TX7 - To The Limit' article this month highlights one area of contention. It came about as a reaction by its author, Ray Elder, to the rather insistent statement made in the Yamaha users' manual that the TX voice programs could not be programmed by the user without using a DX7 keyboard. His article blatantly disproves that claim!

Now you don't need to be Einstein to comprehend why that statement was made - it's an obvious marketing ploy to get people to buy a DX7. And you can't blame Yamaha for trying it on, after all they are in business, but don't they lose out in the end from interested parties able to afford a TX7 but not a DX7 as well who chose a rival product instead?

It may well not have been possible to programme a TX7 without a DX at the time the TX7 manual was originally written, but that shouldn't imply that it would remain an impossible feat in the future. We don't want manufacturers creeping back to their old ways by insisting with 'blinkered vision' that we should only buy their particular range of products now do we? So let's have a more responsible attitude please in accordance with the 'spirit' of the MIDI specification. It's exactly that attitude that I'm afraid may turn the new Yamaha DX Club into nothing better than an efficient supplier of 'filtered' information on Yamaha products. And that in my book does not a Club make! Tread warily.

Finally, in response to your demands, we can now supply you with a rather elegant Sound On Sound Binder in which to keep your treasured copies of the magazine. Full details appeal in the 'Classified' pages this month.