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Keyboards

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    Korg Mono/poly

    Analogue Synthesizer (Retro)

    Derek Johnson collects £200 as he passes 'Go' on his tour of one of Korg's more obscure vintage boards.

    Reviews Jun 2000
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    Roland MRS2 Promars [Retrozone]

    Compuphonic Mono Synthesizer

    The Roland Promars helped to usher in a new era of microprocessor-controlled analogue synthesizer, but has subsequently been all but forgotten. Gordon Reid remembers the world's only 'Compuphonic' monosynth.

    Reviews May 2000
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    Korg MS2000

    Analogue Modelling Synthesizer

    Korg have been at the forefront of analogue modelling technology, but the new MS2000 is their first instrument to mimic the style as well as the sound of their analogue classics, right down to its incorporation of a virtual patching system. Derek Johnson powers it up.

    Reviews May 2000
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    Kurzweil K2600X header.

    Kurzweil K2600X

    Keyboard Workstation

    Kurzweil's latest workstation is very much the product of evolution, rather than revolution. Paul Ward finds out whether it's keeping pace with the rest of the synth world...

    Reviews Apr 2000
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    Kurzweil 1000/1200-series

    Workstations (Retro)

    Kurzweil have always enjoyed a reputation for manufacturing high-quality workstations — their latest, the K2600, is reviewed this month. But back in the late '80s, this reputation was founded only on their impossibly expensive K250. David Etheridge explains how the 1000-series put them on the map...

    Reviews Apr 2000
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    Waldorf Microwave XTk

    Wavetable Synthesizer

    Until now, the only implementation of Waldorf's wavetable synthesis with a built-in keyboard was their pricey Wave megasynth. Now, however, they've repackaged their more affordable Microwave XT in an attractive keyboard unit.

    Reviews Mar 2000
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    Yamaha GX1 Synthesizer: Part 2

    Retrozone

    In Part 1, author Gordon Reid told us how he found one of the world's rarest synthesizers in Australia, and of the trouble he went to to get it home. In Part 2, he explains what it is about the Yamaha GX1 that made it all worthwhile...

    Reviews Mar 2000
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    Designing 'Circuit-Bent' Instruments

    Reed Ghazala

    In these days of sampling, DSP and physical modelling, you might think that building your own electronic instruments would be a daunting prospect. According to Reed Ghazala, however, it's a piece of cake — you don't even need to know how they work. Sam Inglis finds out more.

    People Mar 2000
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    Access Virus B

    Access Virus B & KB

    Modelled Analogue Synth Module, KB Keyboard & v3.0 Software

    The Virus modelled analogue synth has received a hardware upgrade to complement its ever‑evolving software feature set, and is now available in a keyboard version.

    Reviews Feb 2000
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    Yamaha GX1 Synthesizer: Part 1

    Retrozone

    In Part 1 of a special two-part feature, Gordon Reid tells the amazing story of Yamaha's ultra-rare GX1 analogue megasynth — and how it ended up in his living room!

    Reviews Feb 2000
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    Yamaha S80

    Workstation Synthesizer

    With their latest workstation, Yamaha have clearly taken the view that the difference between a 'dance' instrument and a general-purpose one is more to do with control facilities than sounds. Nick Magnus tries out the S80.

    Reviews Feb 2000
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    Yamaha CS6X

    Control Synthesizer

    The CS6X has more features than any previous Yamaha Control Synth, with plenty of polyphony, real-time controllers, onboard effects, and basic sampling. You can even fit PLG expansion cards, giving you access not only to fresh sounds, but also other forms of synthesis.

    Reviews Jan 2000
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    Kawai MP9000

    Professional Stage Piano

    Nick Magnus gets his hands on an instrument which is claimed to provide the best reproduction yet of the feel — and sound — of an acoustic piano.

    Reviews Jan 2000
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    Waldorf Q

    Synthesizer

    Waldorf's flagship keyboard synth has been available for months — but until very recently, it was so unfinished that it was scarecely reviewable. Since April, Gordon Reid has stuck with it, painstakingly noting the improvements that have come with each system software upgrade, until finally, with the synth standing at OS version 1.13, enough features are working to justify a full SOS review.

    Reviews Dec 1999
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    Elka Synthex [Retrozone]

    8-voice Polyphonic Synthesizer

    Paul Wiffen made no secret of his fondness for the OSCar in September's issue, and now reminisces about the other great keyboard love of his life — the Elka Synthex, a synth whose reputation and influence far outweighs the number that were ever sold.

    Reviews Dec 1999
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    Jen Synthetone SX1000 [Retrozone]

    Monosynth

    Some cheap monosynths from the '70s and '80s are now highly regarded and hugely expensive second-hand buys. Not so the Jen SX1000 which, says Gordon Reid, is an unjustly neglected nugget of synth history.

    Reviews Nov 1999
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    Oberheim/Viscount MC3000 & MC2000

    Controller Keyboards

    Want to get serious about your music? A quality master controller keyboard is a good place to start. Paul Ward looks at two machines that offer a little more than most.

    Reviews Nov 1999
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    Oxford Synthesizer Company OSCar

    Synthesizer (Retro)

    Under hypnosis, Paul Wiffen regresses to an earlier life when he was involved in the development and marketing of what is now regarded as a British classic.

    Reviews Sep 1999
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    Roland XP30

    64-voice Expandable Synthesizer

    Take the sound engine of the acclaimed JV1080/2080, add the data from three expansion boards (plus space for two more), a 5-octave keyboard arpeggiator, 40 multi-effect algorithms and four real-time control sliders and what do you get? Paul Farrer turns (XP)30...

    Reviews Aug 1999
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    Korg Triton

    Music Workstation

    Korg's Trinity workstation has, like their earlier instruments, become virtually an industry standard — but far from resting on their laurels, the company have upped the ante still further with the new Triton. Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser provide an exclusive hands-on review.

    Reviews Jun 1999
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    Korg MS10 [Retrozone]

    Keyboard Synthesizer

    Even the mightiest keyboard players have to start somewhere and quite a few started with Korg's diminutive MS10 patchable monosynth.

    Reviews Jun 1999

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