Frankfurt Musikmesse 1987

While for those with a taste for the European, we present a similarly in-depth account of the '87 Musikmesse. If it hit the headlines in Frankfurt, you'll read about it here.

Chas de Whalley chews the fat with Howard Grey, the young turk behind some of UB40's and Scritti Politti's finest moments

LA Synthesiser

Roland's latest keyboard combines two currently important concepts: the workstation and the company's own Linear Arithmetic synthesis. Simon Trask test drives the "multi-timbral linear synthesiser muhitrack sequencer".

Leading The Field?

Casio caused a furore at February's Frankfurt Music Fair when they unveiled the world's first 'affordable' 16-bit sampling keyboard with onboard graphic editing display - the FZ-1. Mark Jenkins visits the Casio factory to bring you a comprehensive preview of this remarkable instrument.

Fun and Frolics

Part three, and the introduction of a double-triggering circuit that enables more than one sample to be triggered without the user having to buy multiple EPROMs.

Fender P1, D1 & M1.

Yamaha's DX21 polysynth offers FM sound quality at a low, low price, plus a few features even the DX7 doesn't have. Simon Trask investigates.

One of the consequences of MIDI recording is the loss of musical performance. In the first of a short series, Ollie Crooke and Simon Thomas look at the performance applications of MIDI controllers.

Blackpool-based band 'The Sensible Shoes' outline their working environment and techniques.

Which nutty boy is a home recording fanatic?

Cue up to clue up

MIDI Tape Recorder Interface

If the prospect of throwing your computer into the back of a Ford Transit and hauling it on stage every night fills you with dread, the new MIDIMan from Musicsoft might well be the solution.

multimedia workstation

A 'home' keyboard with attitude, or does the WX2 have ideas above its workstation

Is what Yamaha do. Our brave and selfless editor finds out how, first hand.

Tired of lurking in the shadows of the contemporary music scene, Keith Emerson, one of the synth world's most influential figures, is now on the verge of re-forming ELP, the band that earned him his reputation.

Concluding our sideways look at the art and soul of sampling, Dom Foulsham covers N to Z in his alphabet of tips

Programmable Polysynth

Glance at the spec and you'd never know this new Italian-built and MIDI-equipped polysynth only cost £699. Paul White has the details.

synthesiser

There's a new synth in town, it's gunning for the competition and it aims to please.

Part 4: Further Hardware Details

The resumption of our series describing the design of Clef Products' new computer music system for the BBC micro, the PDSG. Designer Alan Boothman takes up the story.

Ten years ago Incognito's first LP heralded a new British jazz funk movement; today their second celebrates a world-wide dance movement. Tim Goodyer asks Bluey Maunick if the song remains the same.

Despite an outward contempt for technology, Steve Reich has exploited it to create some of the century's seminal works of modern music, and will rely on the latest in digital electronics for his current project. Mark J. Prendergast tries to make sense of it all.

The "guitar player's synthesiser" is now in full production. We analyse the mechanics of the Stepp, and let two musicians - a guitarist and a keyboard player - give their views on its playability.

Drums/Percussion: New gear survey