The all-but-forgotten guitar synth is due to return to music shops with a vengeance this summer, in the shape of Roland's GR700/G707 system and a breathtaking new British design, the SynthAxe. Paul White puts both instruments through their paces.

Voltage Controlled Filters Part 2

The long-awaited new box from Alesis gives the user access to up to four simultaneous high quality effects.

Previous episodes of MT's definitive drum programming series have covered rhythms from around the globe. Nigel Lord takes stock and considers some patterns that belong only to the beatbox.

Digital Reverb Unit

Digital reverberation technology is recognised for making reverb units cheap, but the same technology means a little more money buys a lot more power. Vic Lennard reflects on the R880.

Opcode Vision 1.4

Yamaha DX5

Yamaha's follow-up machine to the DX7 is essentially a budget DX1, offering two '7s in one neat package. We take a look at the DX5.

Who needs SCI? Billy Cowie has come up with some simple software that enables the Model 64 Sequencer to be programmed in step-time.

Sequential's 910 expansion software and some new product from Syntauri Corporation, amongst other things.

Two New Developments From Sycologic

We take a brief look at two new bits of hardware - an analogue-to-MIDI interface and an expansion board for the DX7 - from Syco Systems' research wing, Sycologic.

Programmable Phase Distortion Polysynth with Sequencer

Continuing their fight for pro keyboard acceptance, Casio double the CZ1000's voices and throw in a multitrack sequencer for good measure. Simon Trask casts a critical eye over the results.

Portable Midi Master Keyboard

Paul Ireson gets to grips with a mini master keyboard that's just right for QY10 users.

John Renwick goes back to school with a whole range of music tutorial packages from Hybrid Arts

Digital Reverb

This long awaited product is now available and offers first class digital reverb along with a host of stereo DDL effects.

or how to keep THESE men happy and stay alive

roadie to the stars tells all

Voice Processor

More than just a vocoder, this voice processor incorporates pitch shifting and pitch-to-MIDI conversion. Bob O'Donnell listens to what it has to say for itself.

Winter NAMM 1989

Californian sunshine, sea and sand - with all this on offer, why should MT's intrepid reporters want to visit a trade show in Anaheim? Bob "El Bobo" O'Donnell, Chris "El Macho" Meyer and Dan "La" Rue have the answer.

Complete MIDI set-up for the small band.

mixed-mode CD tracklist

The words behind the sounds on this month's CD and CD-ROM

Hard Disc Sampler

standing for Hard Disc, as in rack mounted sampler. This device has so much memory, even Lemmy could remember what band he played for. Alastair Gavin indulges.

Virtually every synth and keyboard made has passed through the hands of Keyboard Hire's Alexander Skeaping at some point in time, so we sent David Etheridge along to tap his thoughts on the subject of buying secondhand keyboards.

Bananas and Softsels

Advice for those with unusual computers

An evening performance

A User Report on the Yamaha DX9

Almost entirely overshadowed by its immensely popular elder brother, the DX9 deserves a better deal. Or at least that's what Steve Howell claims in this special user report.

A Thorne in the side of Tony Mills