MIDI Master Keyboard

With an ever-expanding range of hi-tech music equipment, Akai seem intent on carving out a sizeable market niche for themselves. Simon Trask checks out their first MIDI controller.

Patchable monophonic single oscillator synth

Synthcheck

A remote keyboard and modules with frighteningly good sounds

MIDI Keyboard Controllers

As MIDI equipment becomes more and more sophisticated, the job of a MIDI controller keyboard becomes more and more demanding. Simon Trask takes the A train with Roland's latest MIDI controllers.

If Roland samplers have previously been under-recognised by the music industry, the S770 may be about to straighten things out. Simon Trask returns to Roland's super sampler to "delve deeper".

Digital Wave Memory Synthesiser

Rick Davies gets to grips with a polyphonic synthesiser that allows users to create their own waveforms, a process made easier by Hybrid Arts' voice editing software.

The next in Liz Coley's sequence of computer features

Synth Module

Synth Revival, Sounds Realistic, er... Stop Rashes

A review of the Desert Island sample library for the Ensoniq EPS joins a selection of readers own patches for the Korg M1, Ensoniq SQ80 and Yamaha TX81Z in this month's Patchwork.

Universal Editor/Librarian Software

mother keyboard and baby modules

Trish McGrath gets the lowdown on a whole stack of readers' own synth sounds, while Paul Wiffen gives an appraisal of a new library of samples for the Ensoniq Mirage.

On the face of it, Dynacord's MCC-1 looks a worthwhile investment for those who wish to by-pass the Spaghetti Junction of MIDI cables in the studio. But it faces stiff competition from other manufacturers' products. Paul Gilby fathoms its depths and draws his conclusion.

Digitech RP1 Guitar Multi-Effects

Our man from the valleys discovers how RP1 owners do it on the floor...

Jez Ford makes waves with Kawai's value for money synth expander

Roland's U-110 is proving to be one of the most popular expanders this year. Darrin Williamson finds out why

JMS Software

JMS continue their commitment to pro software with two new packages - a Six-Trak Editor and Sequence Chain programs.

E&MM contributor of old, Vince S. Hill, on Roland's DCB-standard digital keyboard recorder.

The theme of this month's edition of Patchwork is decidedly traditional, as Casio's CZ101 joins the ubiquitous DX7 and D50 as the subjects for readers' programming dexterity.

Oberheim Matrix-12

Oberheim's powerful analogue synth

Synthcheck

An expansion on the Expander with a free (£1200) keyboard! Paul Fishman goes upmarket

Roland DJ70 Sampling Keyboard

Roland's DJ70 repackages the guts of an S750 as a DJ-oriented sampling keyboard with a glut of time-saving features. Wilf Smarties welcomes the unit that redefines user friendly sampling.

Effectscheck

A veritable jamboree bag of effects in one rackmounting unit

"Build a better mousetrap", they said, "and the world will beat a path to your door". Nobody warned Nigel Lord that writing a drum programming column for MT has the same effect.