Dieter Meier is a writer, painter, performance artist and an ex-professional gambler; he's also the face and voice in front of one of the most influential bands of the '80s. Tim Goodyer joins the Swiss race.

Steve Cogan takes time out to talk to the members of Yen

Bob Williams has one of the finest collections of analogue synthesisers in the world, and cherishes them with a care that would make the Science Museum blush. Peter Forrest crosses hill and dale to Cornwall to take a long, loving look, and uncovers a whole network of Moog and Mellotron devotees. Whatever next - 'The Antique Rhodes Show'?

The urbane Mr Palmer talks to Hank Bordowitz about crossing over from cult status to general acceptance.

With Richard Burgess And John Walters

Richard Burgess and John Walters talk about the make-up of Landscape.

Just for a change, David Mellor does the impossible and reviews a product that does not exist! Perhaps one day it might, but for now this 'ideal' MIDI sequencer program lives only in the imagination of the author.

While most of us spend our time trying to get our MIDI equipment to work together properly, Martin Russ reveals how to creatively mis-use MIDI and produce some interesting musical results.

A road report on Roland's guitar synth the GR700 by Imagination's Ashley Ingram and Mark Wood of Nucleus and Sunwind.

Music Workstation

The problem with building the most popular keyboard in years is having to follow it. Simon Trask test drives the successor to the Korg M1 and likes what he finds.

Cheap images, part two

Nominated by Steve Levine, Steve Lillywhite, Peter Collins, Hugh Padgham, Swain and Jolley

Just what have the Japanese done to the Engrish Ranguage?

An in-depth dissection of electro-pop; how to create it, how to adapt it but not how to dance to it.

writing for MIDI

How To Get The Most From Your Sampler

Our series continues with the voice, whether synthetic, sampled or the real thing.

Guitarcheck

Plug in, lean back, legs apart — and sound like an accordionist. Tony Mills taxes the axe

Accusations of replacing "real" musicians have shifted from drum machine to sampler, but there may be other changes upon us. Steve Wright investigates the significance of the sequencer.

Yamaha DX5

Merely two DX7s in a box, or a valid addition to the Yamaha range of FM digital keyboards? Simon Trask takes the mid-price algorithm through its paces, and comes to mixed conclusions.

Drum Machine

As the drum machine goes from strength to strength, Yamaha give it a new dimension by adding a synth-style "bend" wheel. Simon Trask wonders if the beatbox will ever be the same again.

Worth its weight in microphones and Gaffa tape.

Better Lyrics

Virtually every synth and keyboard made has passed through the hands of Keyboard Hire's Alexander Skeaping at some point in time, so we sent David Etheridge along to tap his thoughts on the subject of buying secondhand keyboards.

Atari ST Software

They gave us the first industry-standard sequencing software for the Atari ST in Pro24, now Steinberg are making a second bid for Atari domination with Cubase. Nigel Lord says "part two next month...