Pick a number, any number... With modern equipment sounding more and more like car number plates and less and less like instruments, it could be time to return to naming gear rather than numbering it.

Hot news of new Yamaha gear and Ensoniq's long-awaited keyboards accompanies more general news in the world of hi-tech music.

This month old equipment and new music are uppermost in readers' thoughts - so they've aired them in MT's open forum.

If a problem has a solution MT's experts can call on the best in the business to track it down - occasionally even the humble reader gets a look-in.

Another MIDI expander with divided loyalties; John Renwick investigates the in-lounge and on-stage applications of Orla's answer to Roland's successful MT32.

With both hands fully occupied on stage it seems a shame to use your feet for nothing but standing on; Rick Davies tries using his for controlling MIDI equipment.

An American cost-effective alternative to SMPTE synchronisation; Rick Davies clocks an innocent-looking box designed with the budget studio in mind.

More sounds from creative readers; this month LA meets FM as the Roland D50 and Yamaha CX5 are the favoured instruments.

American trumpeter extraordinaire talks to John Diliberto about horns, electronics and Indian ragas; '60s experimentation meets '80s chic.

Pitch-to-MIDI conversion without the complication of a free-standing conversion unit; Simon Trask finds new freedom in Casio's guitar controller.

America's premier recording exhibition provides Bob O'Donnell with food for thought; the password is "digital", just like the gear.

Another member of Yamaha's world-beating FM family; Howard Massey finds this powerful rack-mount right up his digital street.

The second part of our investigation of Japan concentrates on the Roland organisation; Tim Goodyer meets mystery, "Mr Roland" and Sally.

An English playwrite talks to Nicholas Rowland about the lure of electronic sampling techniques; the sounds of the theatre come of age.

Contrary to popular belief, glitching isn't a social embarrassment it's simply the sign of a bad loop; Chris Meyer and Bill Aspromonte suggest ways of improving your sampling techniques.

Cult masters of industrial funk talk hi-tech sounds, performance CDs and popular commerciality to Nicholas Rowland; the code of the '80s.

The competition for an industry-standard sequencing program to accompany the industry-standard computer hots up, as Simon Trask finds out when he picks up the mouse on C-Lab's contender.

As wind synthesis gains momentum we sent Nick Armington and Lars Lofas out to track down and talk to the men responsible for the design of the Yamaha WX1 and Akai EWI.

After an apprenticeship under the wing of the Frankies' Trevor Horn, Simon Darlow spreads his own; he talks to Paul Tingen about the hazards of writing, playing and producing your own album.

Part five of our series on basic MIDI applications turns its attention to MIDI-controlled effects; Bob O'Donnell patches in the 19" rack-mounts with maximum delay.

Pick up sticks; the latest electronic kit from Roland doesn't come with its own voices but Nicholas Rowland discovers its MIDI converter may have other uses in the studio.