Marlin Spiked and loads more new goodies inside

Florida's finest remembers accents and accidents with Steve Rosen Stateside

At home with the dance act

A mixer that is equally at home on the road and in the studio.

The originator of acid house claims the secrets of good music are feel and emotion rather than a Roland Bassline and an Akai sampler. Simon Trask gets in the mood.

Including a special Yamaha news update.

Tony Wride takes a stroll down nostalgia lane and discovers two companies that can turn your prized antique into a thoroughly modern MIDI instrument.

The 'Alternative' FM Expander

Ian Gilby looks around for an 'alternative' multitimbral FM expander and uncovers a wealth of features hidden inside Elka's versatile 19" rack-mounting companion to the underrated EK44 polysynth - the ER33.

PART 2: Greg Truckell winds up his two-part power user's guide to this popular LA expander with some applications techniques.

Secondhand synths

A buyers guide for the second hand market.

Controller Keyboard

As synth and sampler expanders become more popular, the demand for an affordable master keyboard increases. Simon Trask puts Cheetah's latest - and best test.

Minimalist extraordinaire

The Red Shoes Sessions

Engineer Del Palmer spills the beans on how Kate recorded her new album, 'Red Shoes'.

Kawai's latest synthesiser combines samples with sounds created using additive synthesis. Simon Trask investigates what could be a new dimension in synthesiser technology.

A convenient arrangement

His successful production of U2 has brought musical sage Brian Eno back into the public eye. John Diliberto finds out what's become of his oblique strategies and how he approaches the latest technology.

Recording system review

Toa MR-8T 8-track Cassette Recorder

If you thought eight tracks on standard cassette was an impossibility, think again. David Mellor assesses the world's first 8-track cassette recorder. Will it do to 8-track tape machines what the portastudio did to 4-tracks? Read on and find out...

Music Synthesiser

The appliance of SYience

Looking for 'new' sounds? Martin Russ explores Oberheim's new Matrix 1000 analogue synth expander and discovers that digital isn't always best.

Yamaha SY35 Dynamic Vector Synth

Yamaha's SY35 may be little more than an updated version of the SY22, but new sample ROM and a price tag of under £600 make it an ideal choice for the serious synthesist on a budget. Derek Johnson checks it out.

THE NAMM REPORT

Anaheim recently played host to 1988's Winter NAMM show. MT's American correspondents were on hand to send back news of the latest developments in hi-tech musical equipment.

Paul Ireson reports from Frankfurt on Europe's biggest music fair.