Dave Sinclair sorts out seven significant strikers

Everything you ever wanted to know about samplers... 48 models compared! Paul Gilby surveys the current sampler market, exposes the 'spec wars', dispels the 16-bit myth and explains in simple terms how sampling really works, before telling you what to look out for when buying secondhand.

first news from the American gear show computer mailed from Chicago

Mark Prendergast talks with trumpeter, composer, and synthesist Mark Isham about new technology, David Sylvian, Van Morrison, Windham Hill, and his solo career as one of Hollywood's more interesting film soundtrack composers.

Justifiably unwilling to be written off as just another funk act, Loose Ends talk tactics, technique and technology into Tim Goodyer's Walkman mic.

SPK began by hammering away at anything from the scrapyard but now generate their metal beat on the Fairlight. We investigate the method in the mayhem.

We meet the trio of men behind the Frank Chickens.

Dan Goldstein sifts through the stack of independent vinyl that landed in the E&MM offices following our appeal, and finds each record has a different tale to tell.

Wilf Smarties gives a new batch of CDs a spin.

Synthesiser Hardware and Software for the BBC Micro

Acorn's first venture into music synthesis boasts some good-looking synthesis hardware and a music composition language - AMPLE - that grows with the user. David Ellis has the advance details.

The Farm: taking pop to football louts or bringing hooliganism to the pop charts? Tim Goodyer gets casual with keyboardsman Ben Leach and tries to find out.

A reversion to Rock 'n' Roll, an expanded guitar collection, a strange miking technique, another production job and he still finds time to go through Be Yourself Tonight sound by sound with Tony Horkins

MIDI Interface

Famed for playing its part in the MIDI Chapman Stick, IVL's pitch-to-MIDI system is now opening the world of MIDI to the pedal steel player. Vic Lennard picks his words.

Up to the minute and down to the nitty gritty

Sound Module

Take 20 classic keyboards into the shower? Now you can just trigger and go with E-mu's Vintage Keys sound module, provider of sampled keyboard sounds from the Minimoog to the Mellotron. But who would you have in goal?, asks Peter Forrest

Technical excess brought them success in the 70s, Trevor Horn rejuvenated them in the '80s, now they're working towards the '90s. Deborah Parisi asks the Yes men if there's anything left to say after 20 years.

If no news is good news this is baaad

Show Reports

what we saw

As sound-sampling becomes accepted as a technique, what will musicians do with their machines after the novelty has worn off? Chris Meyer takes a sideways look.

An eponymous debut single took Living in a Box high in the singles charts. In a rare interview with this publicity-shy band, Tim Goodyer found technology an essential part of their success.

Life after Limahl

Annabel Scott talks to one of the synth world's younger composers about a new album of raunchier, dynamic music, the result of his first sessions in Jive Electro's equipment-laden studio, Battery.

...Beating Like This

...Beating Like This. If your drum machine is too robotic and your drum kit is too static, Matt Isaacson and Chris Meyer's tour of 'alternative' percussion controllers may be right up your street.

Once singer with The Pop Group, Mark Stewart has now joined forces with drummer Keith Leblanc and producer Adrian Sherwood under the title of The Maffia - Nicholas Rowland listens to the sounds of hell.