Crossing the Great Divide

Pro-Amp Viper 100 watt Combo: Dual-Concentric amp for Influential Circles?

MIDI/Audio Delays

MT's Charter for those suffering delays on the MIDI line.

Naked truths from a pop idol

Following last month's explanation of computer-generated waveforms and their uses, we look at strings of waveforms working together to build complex sounds. Tom McLaughlin investigates wavetables.

return of the solo

More new products from the Music Messe '83

Where would Madonna, Giorgio Moroder or Stock, Aitken and Waterman be without sequenced bass lines? Rudi Cazeaux provides some guidelines and practical examples to help you create better bass lines.

Yamaha have bowed to pressure and released an easier to programme DX with an abundance of features. Tony Wride gets to grips with Yamaha’s first ever multitimbral synth with a keyboard!

Korg Poly 800II Polysynth

Korg's popular polyphonic synthesiser gets a new coat of paint and a built-in digital delay line. Dan Goldstein finds out if it's still top of the budget synth tree.

A new personal keyboard with 'stereo symphonic' voices.

Oberheim Cyclone and Systemizer Performance Effects

Oberheim's two Performance Effects units are something of a new direction for a company associated with classic analogue synths. Paul Ireson tries them out and finds a few surprises in store - not all of them pleasant.

Wilf Smarties takes another new sample CD for a spin.

Software for the Atari ST

Tired of using pencil and paper to write out your music? Fancy a hi-tech fix for your next composition? Ian Waugh scores a line (or five) with a new graphics-based music notation package from French company SARO.

As MIDI expands its influence, guidelines for improved compatibility between instruments are emerging. Vic Lennard examines the new General MIDI spec and Roland's proprietary GSS system.

The man behind Elton’s new mix

AFM/AWM Synthesiser

On from the revolutionary DX7, on from the souped-up DX7 II, on even from the mighty SY77, comes the SY99. Simon Trask takes the new Yamaha flagship on her maiden voyage.

Of Mice And Micros

Tony Mills, micros which start with the letter 'A', and a lot of software

Our guide to Yamaha FM synthesis continues: this month, Jay Chapman looks at the delights of sub-algorithms.

A novel 'backing band in a box' comes under Paul White's critical gaze.

Part five of our series on basic MIDI applications turns its attention to MIDI-controlled effects; Bob O'Donnell patches in the 19" rack-mounts with maximum delay.

Akai S612 MIDI Sampler

A reduction in price and the introduction of their Quick Disk make Akai's S612 MIDI Sampler an even more attractive investment. Paul Gilby was suitably impressed.