Scandal, gossip, rumours! You'll find none of these in edits, just the low down on what's really happening in the hi-tech music industry.

Our regular round-up of whats new in the world of hi-tech music and recording.

Martin Russ looks at a solution to all your MIDI analysis problems - not software, but a new rack unit from Computer Music Systems.

A keyboard for the gigging pianist? David Mellor tinkles an ivory or two.

Part 7: Tuned percussion. Dave investigates the enormous creative potential of sampled sounds within music, and offers his rendition of 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'.

Kendall Wrightson looks at two new Proteus-related products — the ProtoLogic Sound Memory Expansion Unit from InVision, and Digidesign's MacProteus NuBus card for the Apple Macintosh II.

Yamaha's flagship workstation, the SY77, has now given birth to a new top-of-the-range expander, the TG77. Martin Russ conducts the examination.

To help you get into the festive mood, we asked a few artists and producers, and a handful of our regular contributors, what they'd like for christmas this year... In a hi-tech music kind of way. Paul Tingen collected the wish-lists.

Ensoniq have transformed their 13-bit EPS sampling workstation with the addition of dynamically controlled 24-bit digital multi-effects, a much improved 16-track MIDI sequencer and full 16-bit sampling. The result is the EPS16 Plus. But does it pass? Kendall Wrightson invigilates.

With its synthesizer-like voice editing functions, built-in stereo signal processing, 8-track sequencing and SMPTE sync options, can Korg's new top-of-the-line drum machine justify its title of rhythm workstation? Richard Aaron finds out.

Part 14: Effects, in the latest installment of his studio cookbook. David Mellor looks at ways to-make your recordings more tasty.

Martyn Ware has been spending a lot of time producing other people's projects since Heaven 17 faded away, but now a second BEF album is in progress. Interview by Paul Ireson.

Roland's latest 8-pad midi percussion controller adds internal sounds to a tried and tested formula. Paul Ireson checks it out.

Part 6. In this final episode Martin Russ returns to base camp, and completes his exploration of the MIDI programming jungle with a de-briefing for his fellow travellers.

More hints and tips from the world of music software.

SOS reader Colin Muir tells why he wants a new kind of synthesizer for Christmas.