Talking about improvisation and The Moody Blues

Having helped establish the direction of British electronic experimental music in the early-'80s and helped guide it through the dance explosion, Cabaret Voltaire have released a new album. Tim Goodyer finds out why the tracks sound strangely familiar.

An American synthesist and composer with a soft spot for aborigines and analogue sounds, talks to Bob O'Donnell about programming synths and sequencers old and new.

The successor to Akai's industry standard S900 hits the streets.

Is Skill In Music

Old tech, hi tech and silly hats. Richard Walmsley, our man in the sensible shoes, Walmsley investigates.

A simple-to-build project that lets you match the recording levels of your mixer and multitrack tape recorder.

Andy Williams? Bobby Goldsboro? Cleo Laine? Terry Hall? Toby Lyons? Adrian Deevoy?

Yamaha SPX90

With the help of new software technology, Yamaha's new multi-FX unit does the job of a half-dozen outboard machines. Paul White gives a rundown of what it can do, and how well it does it.

MIDI Software and Hardware for Commodore 64

An extensive new MIDI software package from Worcestershire could well be the answer to many a Commodore owner's dream. Simon Trask has the details.

The fabbest four since the last Fab Four talk to us about real Pop, American style

Into the future with RSS, and looking back to programming 'Say A Little Prayer', Bomb The Bass talk technical to Mike Collins.

A little-known American drummer who played on such classic recordings as 'Rappers' Delight' and 'The Message' talks to Dan Goldstein about "stretching" technology.

It's been available for well under a year, but already, Roland's latest MicroComposer is establishing itself as something of an industry standard. Steve Howell gives a comprehensive user's eye view...

Building his career on productions of Jennifer Warnes, Malcolm McLaren and the Communards, Stephen Hague has found his greatest success with The Pet Shop Boys. David Bradwell talks shop.

Alphabet Coup

the importance of being alphabetical

Digital Effects Processor

This sophisticated processor is more than just a new digital reverb.

Sold on the 3-Minute Song

Erasure's fifth album sees the duo of Vince Clarke and Andy Bell going from strength to strength, delivering electro-pop at its finest. But the doyens of synthesizer pop recorded Chorus with almost no MIDI instruments at all. Vince Clarke tells Paul Ireson how he made a hit album with 10-year old technology.

NAMM Report

American software engineer Chris Meyer submits a personal, highly subjective and utterly biased report on Chicago's summer music extravaganza. Well, he was only there for a day.

NAME: new album/new equipment/sound techniques/change of style/gig horrors... LIST

Chas De Whalley quizzes Fall guy John Leckie. Totally weird

Paul White puts five sturdy and powerful keyboard combos to the test - stand by, all at Ohm, Marshall, Carlsbro, Roland and HH.

...Is already hugely successful as an engineer, producer, musician and programmer for the likes of Grace Jones and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Paul Tingen finds fame has made him disillusioned and cynical.

Akai's latest drum machine attempts to combine the best of programmable and preset rhythm units. Simon Trask assesses this marketing strategy while listening to some dope drum sounds.

We conclude our series on synchronisation by looking at Time Code and its applications in the video and music industries. Film editor Richard Atherton is your guide.