Our series continues with the voice, whether synthetic, sampled or the real thing.

Keyboards

Oldies identified: Epiphone, Ibanez, Fender, Eros, Radiotone, Hofner, Rickenbacker, Excetro and Fasan.

News from America compiled by Simon Braund

The sound of an acoustic piano is perhaps the most important single timbre in pop, rock, jazz, and classical music. Julian Colbeck looks at contemporary MIDI alternatives to the real thing.

Dream Machine: ensoniq EPS/EPSm

the all-singing all-dancing all-bankrupting Ensoniq EPS

The MIDI Bank Select Message Explained

Guitar

Fiat Lux

Marvin Caesar: The Aphex Story

Fred Dellar presents a potted history of the people who bring you the 'product' - the record companies.

Looking for a new synthesizer keyboard or module? Confused? You won't be, after you've read this! Julian Colbeck presents a complete survey of all current instruments, plus a look at the past, present and future of the synth market.

Vintage technology strikes back

including The A-Z of Analogue

After releasing an album consisting entirely of human vocal samples, Claire Hamill reintroduces the synthesiser to her music. David Bradwell listens to the singer's tale.

The monthly miscellany gets stuck into the trivia

Yesteryear's Gear: Roland Juno synths

classic analogue synthesizers for today's acid sounds

In our exclusive interview, the great domed one himself waxes ambient on remixing, jazz, Sinatra, computers, the Eventide H-3000 and his own original definition of a new, environmentally sound music

RAP Software

An ingenious Spectrum/Commodore program that lets you combine whole hordes of MIDI drum machines into compatible systems. Simon Trask gives it the thumbs-up.

MultiKlone Kit

Just because an electronic drum kit is (very) cheap, doesn't mean to say it isn't worth hearing. So says Paul White, who's played with the best of them.

First the BBC, then Shakatak, now a solo album: Bill Sharpe's list of Famous People is an impressive one. Dan Goldstein makes further enquiries.

RETROSPECT: miles davis

what can a 63-year-old jazz trumpeter teach you about playing? rather a lot, actually

Fender 'Limited Edition' 57 Strat & Fretless Jazz Bass 'Special'

Martin Russ explores how the user interface influences the 'feel' of a program.