More news of forthcoming products to make you drool and tempt you to dig even deeper into your pockets.

There can be few effects devices around as prestigious and as desirable as those made by Lexicon. Now, with the release of the LXP1 16-bit processor, the classic Lexicon sound becomes truly affordable. David Hughes tastes the quality...

Is this the ideal way to programme rhythm patterns into your drum machine? Paul Ireson gives Roland's updated drum-to-MIDI convertor a good bashing!

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.

When you run out of fingers and you find yourself pushing faders up and down with your nose during a mix, then it's time to get a helping hand. Master craftsman David Mellor takes on a new apprentice, the J.L Cooper MixMate.

If you own several samplers or just want to transfer S900 samples into your mate’s FZ1, then this program will make life considerably easier. David Mellor creates some designer sounds with the Atari ST version of Digidesign’s universal sample editor.

More useful hints and tips for Dr.T’s music programs, written and compiled exclusively for SOS by Dr.T themselves.

Don’t be fooled by its toy-town looks - Casio’s DH100 comes with six sounds and a built-in speaker, but it is a remarkably good MIDI wind controller for £99. Tony Crowle decides to take it seriously.

Every so often a product comes along which changes everyone's idea of what they can expect at a certain price. Yamaha’s new £250 box sets a new standard in price/performance for sampled piano (and other) sounds. Paul Wiffen gets excited enough to spend his own money!

When Roland's forward-thinking design team made the original MC500 an ‘open’ system, they did users a favour. Built-in obsolescence became less of a fear, provided Roland stuck to their promise of future updates and upgrades. The release of the Super MRC software shows they have. It's available on its own for existing MC500 owners, or packaged with expanded hardware in the guise of the MC500 MkII. Paul Ireson keeps you updated.

The impact of new technology has brought many changes to the recording industry. It has equally brought problems. Why, for instance, are some studios failing to attract enough business to survive, whilst others seem to be flourishing? One West London studio that has foreseen the writing on the wall and implemented changes is Berwick Street Studios. So we checked them out.

What is a Noise Gate? What on earth is a MIDI Noise Gate? David Mellor supplies the answers and explains some standard and not so standard gating techniques, with special reference to the BSS Audio DPR 502 MIDI Noise Gate.

In terms of sheer numbers, Hybrid Technology’s computer music system for the BBC micro outsells any other music software package on the market. Ian Waugh finds out why.

Yamaha’s FM-based synths have incorporated more and more ‘easy editing' features of late in an attempt to make FM synthesis accessible to a broader spectrum of potential users. Yamaha's latest synth, the YS200, takes this approach even further with the inclusion of onboard digital effects, an 8-track sequencer, and large controls! Martin Russ looks at FM in a different guise.

Another instalment of our column devoted entirely to Steinberg software, written and compiled exclusively for SOS by Steinberg's experts.

Part 6: The final episode of our series for FM synth owners, in which Martin Russ removes the mystique from FM programming. Operators at the ready!

Have you ever wished you could save your SPX90 effects programs to disk or into your MIDI sequencer for instant recall at the right point in your music? Using the power of MIDI’s System Exclusive Bulk Dump commands, Mike Collins explains how it can be done.