Yamaha SY35 Dynamic Vector Synth

Yamaha's SY35 may be little more than an updated version of the SY22, but new sample ROM and a price tag of under £600 make it an ideal choice for the serious synthesist on a budget. Derek Johnson checks it out.

The Return Of The Single Effects Unit?

David Mellor looks at an effects processor which can't produce three dozen effects simultaneously. Is this the start of a new trend?

THE NAMM REPORT

Anaheim recently played host to 1988's Winter NAMM show. MT's American correspondents were on hand to send back news of the latest developments in hi-tech musical equipment.

The Recording of a Film Soundtrack Music

Ed Jones sits in on a major film music session in Abbey Road Studios, London, and reports on how the London Symphony Orchestra and a host of extra musicians recorded the music soundtrack to George Lucas' forthcoming prequel to 'Star Wars' - 'Willow'.

The words "Stock, Aitken & Waterman" have adorned 50 hit singles in the last two years. Tim Goodyer finds there are two secrets to their success: determination and new technology.

George Chkiantz assembles his very own Powertran PSI 4002 amp. Now it's your turn.

Bass

Kawai K11 Keyboard Synth

The ever-popular K1 has been the mainstay of many a hi-tech musician's keyboard armoury, but will this 32-note polysynth follow in its footsteps?

Feel Every Beat

Are Electronic, mutant offspring of New Order, The Smiths and the Pet Shop Boys, the first electro-supergroup? Does it matter? Mark J. Prendergast ignores the hype, sidesteps trivial speculation, and talks technical to Bernard Sumner.

Roland RD1000 Piano

How does Roland's new SAS resynthesis system go about imitating a grand piano? Dan Goldstein digs deep inside the RD1000 and its modular counterpart, the MKS20, and submits a glowing report.

Multitrack Recorder

Already established in hi-fi, Sansui have made their musical debut in the form of a number of multitrack cassette machines, among them the WSX1. Nigel Lord reckons the "studio in a box" is finally here.

Janet Angus discovers the secret of Peter's success in producing big selling dance music.

Bob Dormon finds the Royal Academy moving with the times

Mick McKenna

Engineer Mick McKenna provides an insight into recording with the Rolling Stones Mobile.

16-Bit Digital Synthesizer

Following on from the success of their extremely popular K1, Kawai have gone upmarket with the 16-bit K4. Tony Wride looks at the company's new flagship synth.

They've been a mainstay of electronic music for over 20 years, they're less expensive than ever before, and they still make sounds the digital machines can't. Analogue synthesizers have been receiving some digital assistance of late, but at heart they're still analogue synthesizers - and if you want to make them perform magic, you need to speak their language. Craig Anderton is your interpreter...

David Mellor concludes his exploration of the world's most expensive musical instrument with an interview with a musician who can actually afford one, Simon Franglen.

Marantz PMD740 Cassette 4-Track

Can this stylish-looking cassette multitracker find a niche in an already crowded market? Check out our review...

Henry Priestman: the word

From the Midlands' techno culture comes the hardcore sound of Rhythmatic. Simon Trask investigates one of the bands on the ground floor of Britain's fastest-growing musical movement.

Once leader of the seminal Weather Report, Joe Zawinul recently took his current project, The Zawinul Syndicate, on the road. Simon Trask talks with an acknowledged master of the synthesiser.

Ralph Denyer gets gizmological with Kevin 'n' L

Initially, the consequences of RD's actions could be Kevin or L — there'LL be L to K. (2 down).

Phil Brammer converses with one of the most controversial music dealers in the country - Dave Simpson of TCA

Recording your own music is only the first step to getting it heard; to do that, you need to deal with A&R people at record companies. Paul Tingen meets them, and discovers why so few bands succeed in impressing them.