Synthesizers

With a front panel resembling a butchered Moog Source, and plug-in filters that claim to give you the sound of various vintage brands inside one instrument, the ATC1 is bound to excite interest. Paul Nagle changes his tune.

Martin Russ sidles up to an innocent-looking phone-box, receives his instructions, and sets to work decoding Yamaha's affordable new Virtual Acoustic synth. This preview will self-destruct in five seconds...

Is it a Filofax? Is it a Stylophone? No... it's Roland's answer to Yamaha's portable music Walkstation family. Faster than a speeding bullet, Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser apply their X-ray vision to the new PMA5.

British company Novation made their name with the BassStation synth, which offered dance music producers instantly tweakable, analogue-style synth sounds in a MIDI-controllable package. The new DrumStation applies the same formula to the de rigueur dance sounds of Roland TR 808 and TR809 drum machines. Paul Nagle moves from station to station...

With prices for an original Roland TB303 as high as £1000 on the open market, it is unsurprising that the last two years have seen a number of manufacturers attempting to emulate the 303 in a cheaper, MIDI'd form. Martin Russ checks out the latest pretender to the throne...

It may be Swiss, but there's nothing cheesy about the idea of a synth that lets you rekindle your rusty analogue programming skills. Paul Nagle dons his boots and goes hiking through the peaks and troughs of the ProTone's analogue waveforms...

Few people would deny that there's nothing like a real acoustic piano — but they're not always the most practical of instruments. Paul Ward looks at an electronic alternative that could be the answer.

Expandable and user-friendly, Ensoniq's new synth module favours preset sounds and effects over editing and programming options. Julian Colebeck asks how the Mr Rack stacks up.

Michael Anthony takes us back to the mid-eighties, when MIDI was in pre-school playgroup, and manufacturers built synths that couldn't decide if they were analogue, digital, or both...

A monosynth that doesn't cost monopoly money? Paul Nagle thinks Waldorf's new Pulse offers the most fun you can have with your presets off...

Paul White checks out the successor to his beloved D4 and ends up casting sidelong glances at his cheque book.

We try out Akai's first synth in absolutely ages — and discover a monster in sheep's clothing.

The Godfather of German electronic music, Klaus Schulze favoured an all-digital approach to recording the '80s. The last few years, however, have seen a radical revision of his former philosophy. Paul Tingen meets the man for whom old working habits die hard...

Drawing on their experience of home keyboard and MIDI data filer manufacture, Italian company Viscount have created the MF01, a combined data filer and GM module. Andy Davies gives it a spin...

Emu's Sound Engine is the first dedicated General MIDI module from the USA. Derek Johnson explores GM the American way.

Following on from last year's modular MSR2 synth, Marion Systems' new stand-alone Pro Synth seeks to capture the analogue sounds of yesteryear in module format, without recourse to sample-based synthesis techniques. Paul Nagle lends an ear.

Paul Farrer looks at ways of using Proteus 2 samples to create a convincing orchestral arrangement.

Paul White bolts Roland's new range of synth expander modules into his rack, seats himself in the comfy chair, then switches it on.

It's not a new synth — it's seven! Korg's amazing new Prophecy offers analogue and FM synthesis, and physical modelling, and still costs under £1000. Unsurprisingly, SOS staff have been dying to review one ever since it was unveiled at this year's Frankfurt Musik Messe. Lucky man Gordon Reid won the toss...

Offering evolution not revolution, the feature-laden K2500R packs one heck of a sonic punch. Paul Ward remains impressed...

Long-term K2000 user Paul Ward gets to grips with the latest in Kurzweil's line of groundbreaking synths for just long enough to produce this hands-on preview...