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.

Asia's illustrious keyboard player

In a rare interview, Asia's illustrious keyboard player talks synths, samplers and Mellotrons with David Etheridge.

Renowned best for his keyboard/synth excursions in the jazz-rock field, Dave and partner Barbara Gaskin achieved several chart hits with re-workings of classic pop songs like 'It's My Party' back in 1982. Together they are presently completing their first album for release on compact disc. David Etheridge took a look behind the scenes.

The Rupert Hine Approach to Record Producing

You may be surprised to learn that as a producer, Rupert Hine has some sixty-five albums credited to him, though it is only in recent times that his name has started to mean anything outside of the record business. Something that has come about largely through his successful associations with Howard Jones and Tina Turner. David Etheridge chatted to him in the studio about his career to date and his approach to record production.

Solo Sound

David Etheridge pays a visit to this expanding 8-track London facility which has carved out a successful niche for itself as a well-equipped modern day songwriter's studio.

Double Basses

Those large wooden things that are becoming surprisingly trend. How to cope.

The life story of the original sampling keyboard — the Mellotron.

(after all these beers)

just how do country persons get the twanging yee-hah screech of the pedal steel

It's down the shop/in the paper/round your mate's, but what should you look for, and how d'you know if it's a good 'un?

National Sound Archive

Where can you go to listen to your selection of over one million records and tapes, old and new? Read David Etheridge's revealing article on the NSA to find out...

Part two of our natter with a couple of blokes who fix old keyboards every day. Common problems need common solutions

Bass Pedals

Think of those things on the floor under the organ. Now chop them up a bit and separate them. We dance on the result

Recording Gear

There are bargains in the land of non-new taping equipment, specially if you like unfashionable effects

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

The Innovator Returns

Kurzweil may have invented the ROM sample player as we know it, but others seem to have reaped the benefits. Four years on from the 1000 series, the K1200 and Pro 76 keyboards, and Pro 1 module, offer improved sounds and facilities. David Etheridge dives in at the deep end.

A cosmic David Etheridge gets to the spirit of New Age music in the first instalment of a two-part series.

In part two of this short series, David Etheridge looks at the role of effects and unusual chords in New Age music.

Double-Manual Organ

The Mellotron: A Historical Perspective