The Roland Sound Canvas is far more than a successor to the MT32— it's the first of a whole new generation of MIDI instruments, conforming to the General MIDI standard. Special Agent Paul D. Lehrman investigates.

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.

A look ahead at what's new in the shops.

Programmable Phase Distortion Polysynth

At last, Casio come up with the pro keyboard goods. Paul Wiffen tests the first of a whole range of synth gear from the calculator people, and concludes that it's 'probably the best Casio of all time.'

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.

The Return Of Die Krupps

Miranda Sex Garden: Sampling The Nation's PA Systems

Studio Test

The sampler you can fit in your rack sampled by Tony Reed

wanging for four strings

the bits no-one else prints

Chas De Whalley gets Eurodisco orientated with Berlin beatmeister Zeus B Held

Ampcheck

Introducing new reviewer Paul Francis, who cuts his teeth on a tasty guitar amp. The output stage needs a little more salt, he reckons

PA History

Portable DAT Recorder

Casio's DA1 and DA2 Digital Audio Tape machines have helped put DAT into many budget studios. Tim Goodyer suggests that the DA7 will see it in a few more.

Felton Pilate's success spans "traditional" funk to the rap revolution - just now he's writing, producing and playing keys for Hammer. Nick Batzdorf raps tech with the Hammer man.

Details of new MIDI software and something for all Fostex Model 80 owners are amongst the new products we have for you this month.

Almost every keyboard exhibitor at the British Music Fair was using these British-designed and built speakers to play their products through. Paul White tries to find out why.

Not quite a household name, but an American jazz fusion guitarist whose attitude to improvisation and performing with new technology is starting a quiet revolution. Dan Goldstein gets the lowdown.

Who's making the cash out of record sales - the artist, the record company, the management, the record shops? David Bradwell investigates record royalties.

Equipment news

Just a few of the new technology instruments revealed at this music industry event in August.

Three jam-packed pages of hot new products.