Paul Ireson on this year's International Music Show.

Computer Manuals: The Incredible Sound Machine by Mark Andrews, Cool Mac Sounds by Craig O'Donnell, Ontrack Computer Systems Rocket Drive software for the PC, Paramount Rock, Rap & Roll CD-ROM

In the first instalment of a two-part article, UK synthesist Ian Boddy gives budding EM performers the confidence and advice you need to take your show on the road.

and MRC real-time recorder program

The Digital Group's MIDI interface is now available in the UK and compatible with Apple and IBM PC micros. Katie Robinson checks out the unit and its associated composing software package, MRC.

two track dubbing

Studios & Recording

Three pages of news including Bowie synthesisers and goodies from APRS.

Is the hard disk about to crash? Kendall Wrightson looks at the latest developments in mass storage technology, and discovers an optical future.

Gem S2 Music Processor

GEM's newest synth, with its polished sound and presentation, could be set to dispel the company's homely image. Martin Russ discovers the multi-faceted GEM S2.

808 Statement

Valve Keyboard Preamp

Vintage technology strikes back

...Including The A-Z of Analogue

A History Of Knobs

guitar controls: big ones, small ones, useful ones, icky-kacky ones...

More news from cyberspace

Facts on the Rak

Denyer gets the Rak job at last, figuring that Mickie Most really ought to know something about putting a studio together. Seems he does.

Winter NAMM 1987

Our spectacular show coverage starts here, with masses of information - backed up by colour photographs - on the biggest Winter NAMM show there's ever been...

World music's elder statesman puts aside his many saxophones to talk musical styles, modern technology and old-fashioned emotion. Simon Trask catches him onstage and off.

In the days before Roland established their reputation for consistently delivering the goods, they turned out some weird and wonderful synths. Peter Forrest lifts the dust cover on the old SH7 monosynth.

Public Domain Software

As some readers write in to complain about the price of commercial music software, Ian "tightwad" Waugh is busy taking advantage of the software available free in the public domain.

Software for Commodore 64

Dr.T's MIDI Sequencer software for the Commodore 64 has been much applauded in the USA for its versatile real-time and steptime operation. Now that it's available on prescription in the UK, we asked software surgeon Ian Waugh for his diagnosis...

A subjective and selective round-up of drum machines, old and new, by Mark Jenkins.

Digital Drum Machine and Keyboard Recorder

The people who introduced the world to the concept of digital drums have now applied their expertise to MIDI keyboard recording. Paul Wiffen gives his verdict.

You may remember the Minimoog and the ARP Odyssey, but when was the first time you saw an EMS VCS3? Annabel Scott travels back to the days of VCAs, VCFs and non-programmability.

BMF Report

This year's British Music Fair left the confines of Olympia in favour of a stadium atmosphere. Simon Trask goes walkabout at Wembley.