Throughout the hi-tech revolution, the major instrument manufacturers have made our dreams come true - or have they? Does the industry look after the musicians?

The latest news of the latest hi-tech events and developments is here in Newsdesk. Anyone want to spend a day in a name studio with a name producer?

Take a letter, Miss Goodbody: Dear Music Technology...

Korg's M1 workstation has already become an industry standard; now the same AI synthesis system is available in the cheaper M3R. Simon Trask checks out 19" of pure pleasure.

The second part in this series on drum machine programming concentrates on the use of the hi-hat. Nigel Lord looks at its role in humanising your drum patterns.

Haying abandoned the independence of Factory Records in favour of the relative safety of a major record deal, ACR are back in the limelight with a new LP. Nigel Lord asks questions of commerciality.

Never mind Starwars fx, this is the war of the star fx. Vic Lennard patches in Yamaha's latest budget multi-fx unit and likes what he hears.

In the concluding part of this investigation into computer-assisted composition, Greg Truckell cells on Dr T's KCS to compose a tune.

As synth and sampler expanders become more popular, the demand for an affordable master keyboard increases. Simon Trask puts Cheetah's latest - and best test.

From the chart success of 'Bass (How Low Can You Go)' to an album and a 24-track studio in his lounge - Simon Harris talks sounds and samples with Tim Goodyer.

Digital and analogue technology meet face to face in this editing software for the Oberheim Matrix 1000. Vic Lennard explores the possibilities.

This year's British Music Fair attracted hordes of equipment-hungry punters eager to see what the future of music might hold. Simon Trask was there asking the same question.

Dance music should be about more than 'moaning samples and ecstasy' claims producer Arthur Baker. Simon Trask talks to the man behind 'Planet Rock'.

In the second half of this definitive review. Nigel Lord looks into the editing and scorewriting facilities of Steinberg's latest sequencing software.

Readers' patches for Casio's CZ5000 and Ensoniq ESQ1, and a review of Leister Productions' Professional patches for D110 & TX81Z make up this month's Patchwork.

In a completely different vein to Cubase, MusiCal is a music learning program aimed primarily at the educational market. Ian Waugh goes back to school.