DX Programming

Two patches, piano and acoustic guitar, for Yamaha's DX7 synth. 'The best ever', claims our modest programmer.

Starting this month, we invite you to send in some new or exciting patches for your synth.

rack guitar effects

Readers' patches galore... This month's cream of the crop includes patches for the Casio CZ101, Roland Alpha Juno 2, Korg DW8000, and Yamaha DX7.

VALHALA D50 Sound Cards

Under the spotlight in this month's Patchwork are the stablemates to the astounding Valhala M1 sound cards - those for Roland's D50. Gordon Reid asks "can they maintain the standard?".

MIDI Matrix

If ever there was an interfacing unit that looked likely to solve all MIDI routing problems in one go, the M16 is it. Paul Wiffen checks it out.

Another collection of readers' synth patches. If you've got a sound you're particularly proud of, why not begin your career as a programmer in MT? More on page 82.

From America comes a set of unique MIDI percussion controllers that work by sensing the direction you shake them in. Rick Davies previews them.

Studio Test

Curtis Schwartz expands his programming power and refines his live sound with the Roland SDE-2500 MIDI Digital Delay

Sometimes The Little Things Count

When shopping for a synthesizer, most people know to look for major features like the amount of patch storage, whether split and layered keyboard configurations are possible, and so on. But paying attention to features that make it easier to programme sounds is very important if you want to attain your maximum level of creativity. Craig Anderton offers guidance.

If you're afraid the MkII DX7s are going to turn your prized machine into an antique curiosity, the DX-MAX could put your mind at rest. Chris Many checks out a mod for old DXs that offers many of the features of Yamaha's new babies.

Patch Librarian

Tired of swapping Atari disks to edit parameters on different synths - or of paying for a variety of editors? Send for a universal synth editor. Ian "Mr Universe" Waugh flexes Chameleon's muscles.

Making the switch

Synthcheck

Mills and Boon. Tony Mills finds a love to last a lifetime

This is brilliant — a program that'll generate random patches for the DX21. Well weird!

MIDI sophistication in the humble patchbay: this modest-looking unit can store 100 routings of its 16x16 audio matrix and place the proceedings under MIDI control. Lorenz Rychner patches things up.

MIDI Pad Controller

Roland's follow-up to their successful Pad8 Octapad features expanded memory and enhanced programmability. Simon Trask hits it off with Roland's new percussion controller.

Roland JV1080

High polyphony synth module

from the food for thought dept.

We review the new Oberheim Xpander in conjunction with the Oberheim Performance System.