Keyboards

Once the play thing of the rich and famous, this hybrid synthesizer/sampling system introduced the world to wavetable synthesis. John Molloy reflects on Germany's finest hour.

Clavia have taken advantage of the software-based nature of their virtual analogue Nord Lead to release a comprehensive upgrade, installed as standard in new instruments and available to existing users for a small fee. Gordon Reid checks it out.

Long before the M1, Korg tried to win the hearts of synth fans with the diminutive MS20. Norman Fay steps back in time.

The Alesis QS line gets a flagship, with a weighted keyboard, controller features, and an extended sound set. Helmsman Martin Russ finds out whether she's seaworthy...

To create the MR Keyboard line, Ensoniq could simply have taken the insides out of their MR Rack module and grafted on a keyboard. Instead, they've thought long and hard about what a performing and composing musician really needs from his instrument. Julian Colbeck applauds the result.

The radical keyboard design of the prophet T8, thought by some to provide the best feel and response of any synth yet made, had a heavy cost for manufacturers Sequential, delaying the T8's launch by two years and stunting potential sales. Robert Alexander reflects on a synth which was ahead of its time.

Though Korg's new N-series keyboards aren't completely new on the inside, having much in common with the recent X-series synths, they still have plenty to offer as powerful workstations, with some neat and contemporary embellishments for '96. Gordon Reid sketches out the Korg family tree...

Does Roland's latest contender have what it takes to regain the MIDI Keyboard Controller championship? Gordon Reid is your ringside commentator...

On its release in the mid-'80s this characterful synth was overlooked by many in favour of its better-known brother, the Jupiter 8, yet it still has much to offer. Stephen Bennett does a spot of space exploration...

True, the name harks back to the CS-series synths of the '70s and '80s, but with their new CS1x, Yamaha definitely have their eyes set on the future. Critics Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser analyse Yamaha's blue period...

The ARP 2500 is so rare that most of the existing examples are in private collections. Though few of us will ever get to play with one, the story of this modular monster remains fascinating. Lucky 2500 owner Robert Alexander relates the tale...

On its release in the late '80s, the SQ80 had to slug it out with Roland's D50 and Korg's M1, and didn't come out on top, at least as for sales were concerned. Steve Howell takes a look at an early and underrated workstation that still has a lot to offer.

This Italian master keyboard may be completely dumb soundwise, but it's pretty clever in other departments. Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser just love being in control.

As a child, Norman Fay was cruelly cheated of the thing he wanted most — a Memorymoog. Never one to bear a grudge, he reviews Moog's most unruly synth with the benefit of hindsight.

With its advanced arpeggiator and innovative real-time control, the Cyber 6 is the master keyboard that reconciles computer sequencing with live extemporisation. Could it be that Quasimidi have found the keyboardist's Holy Grail? Paul Ward hangs up his air guitar...

The latest and largest addition to Roland's XP family is a strapping workstation with a monster sequencer and masses of programming muscle. Paul Nagle puts it through a complete workout...

The CBX-K1XG looks suspiciously toy-like, but conceals a versatile GM sound source and a host of MIDI controller functions behind its simple exterior. Derek Johnson nearly loses it down the back of the sofa...

The mighty ARP were in existence for little more than 10 years, but introduced a sound which is as much a part of synth history as the Minimoog. Derek Johnson rehabilitates two of the ARP clan's poor relations...

In recent years, samplers have become almost exclusively rackmount devices, widely used as production workhorses, but less so by the gigging musician. With the release of their first keyboard sampler in several years, Emu are hoping to change all that. Paul Wiffen heralds the return of the performer's sampler.

With more zones than a one-day Travelcard and an impressive array of physical real-time control options, the keyboard version of Kurzweil's K2500 represents a new frontier in digital synthesis. Paul Ward heads for the border...

Not satisfied with pitching their previous Technox synth fairly obviously at the dance music market, German manufacturers Quasimidi have now gone all out with the in-your-face Raven. But is it capable of techno-by-numbers? Paul Ward climbs aboard and flies into a rave...