A special report on the proceedings at this year's UK Electronica festival. Words by Tony Mills; pictures by Alf Annison, Stuart Catterson, Tony Mills and Chris Jenkins.

FRANKFURT PREVIEW '85

A special preview of some of the new goodies that'll be on show at the Frankfurt Musik Messe - Europe's premier music fair - when it gets under way in the second week of February.

Three jam-packed pages of hot new products.

Software for Apple II and Commodore 64

Sequencing software aimed at the Apple II and CBM64. Four- and eight-track versions receive expert scrutiny from David Ellis.

A six page feature that shows you how to make music with the aid of the BBC Micro

He was once electronic drummer with jazz-rockers Landscape. Now he's a successful producer for the likes of Spandau Ballet and Colonel Abrams, but the search for new ways of using new gear goes on.

Big Noise Cadenza V2 For Windows

Software for the IBM PC

Generic sample editors have been giving Atari ST users a lead in sample editing for a while; now IBM PC users have the chance to get ahead. Dennis Miller has a vision.

Real Time Performance System

Paul Wiffen heads off into dreamland to sample the delights of New England Digital's latest improvement package for what's arguably the world's most prestigious computer music system. Not surprisingly, he gives it the thumbs up.

Eastern Intrigue

A last visit to the land of micro-chips and rice crackers. Simon Trask pays an enquiring visit to the Yamaha organisation before waving a fond farewell to the rising sun.

E-mu Emulator

These days a few hundred pounds will buy you technology that once cost thousands. Gordon Reid looks at an early sampler and discovers there's more to it and its manufacturer than you might have known.

Scaling Heights On The BBC Micro

Stability, Care and Attention 1975-1985

THE ULTIMATE SOFT MACHINE

The Fairlight (in its previous Series II guise) was/is probably the most famous computer musical instrument in the world. Everybody knows the name, but few really know what its true capabilities are. Now there is a new breed of Fairlight, far more powerful and far more sophisticated than the old one ever was - the Series III. Richard Elen takes a look at the mind-boggling potential of this Rolls-Royce of sound sampling/synthesizing machines.

Seven pages of new products revealed at this year's NAMM Expo in Chicago

Software Surplus

Following on from our look at KCS last month - Clive updates us on the new version for the Mac

Up to the minute and down to the nitty gritty

'Keep It Live' – Ed. speaks out!

Turtle Beach Multisound PC Sound Card

Dedicated PC users will welcome the introduction of this new, high-quality sound card to further enhance PC music-making possibilities. Brian Heywood investigates.

Building E&MM's MIDI interface for the Beeb? Jay Chapman's got some further information you should know.

More news of forthcoming new products to tempt you to dig deeper into your pockets.

Buzzing back again, cock