Checking up on what's going down

Alesis MIDIfex

Hot on the heels of the remarkable MIDIverb, the MIDIfex takes reverb-derived sound treatments a step further, while retaining a low price-tag. Paul White has the details.

Tech Talk

The inventor of the curious Electric Stick recently left his native America to promote the latest MIDI-equipped version of his brainchild. Tim Goodyer caught him Stick-in-hand for a talk about his invention and his vision of its future.

The Tokyo Expo is normally a fairly low-key domestic affair, but this year several major new products were unveiled for the first time ever. Our man in Japan, Paul Wiffen, was there to report on some of the hi-tech instruments that will be vying for your money in the coming year; including Yamaha's new mega-synth, the SY77

New York was the setting for the 83rd Convention of the Audio Engineering Society, where audio manufacturers gathered to show off their new wares. Craig Anderton provides a rundown of the main highlights.

Multi-effects Processor

ART's ever-expanding range of signal processors is intended to cater for musicians of all styles and financial means. Nicholas Rowland test drives a new effects unit whose price belies its power.

Chris Meyer attempts to unravel the mysteries of MIDI's various operating modes, and dispels the myth that some recent instruments have new ones built into them.

Another way of programming.

Performance Synthesizer

Whilst their flagship JD800 synth has inevitably attracted a good deal of attention, Roland have not neglected the entry level user in their new range of products. Julian Colbeck sounds out the small but almost perfectly-formed JX1.

As October is Guitar Month we chat to Hap Kuffner, Vice-President of Steinberger Inc who proffers a few wise words about the current state of the industry

does it work?

What happened when the International MIDI Association talked software, plus more. Newscaster - David Ellis.

An electrified Peter Randall looks at the Syndrums syndrome.

Sneak Preview

Next year's new gear - Mag gives sneak preview

Sequential Circuits

Following last month's list of synthesis casualties, David Ellis delves deeper into the archives and finds yet more mysterious products of human ingenuity. Some of them are quite spectacular.

Keyboards

SI in association with Dave Crombie Productions Inc present The Moog Story, starring Robert A Moog...

The assembled masses of the IM review department wax lyrical over their selected favourites from this year's music fair.

The Minimoog in 1985

By rights, the last of the Minimoogs should have been forced into retirement long ago — yet the ancient monosynth continues to see use. Tim Goodyer, long-time Moogfan and owner, takes a retrospective look at the worlds first practical synthesiser.

New products from the States

Software for IBM PC and Atari ST

Music transcription comes to Atari ST and IBM PC computers with this new program. Chris Many finds out if it does a better job than the human hand.

for Atari ST Computer

One of America's most innovative software houses comes up with its first program for a 16-bit computer, the Atari ST. Rick Davies takes it for a spin.