FM | WELCOME Editor-In-Chief Si Truss, simon.truss@futurenet.com Reviews Editor, Music Technology Simon Arblaster, simon.arblaster@futurenet.com Features Editor, Music Technology Matt Mullen, matt.mullen@futurenet.com Managing Editor Kate Puttick, kate.puttick@futurenet.com Production Editor Stanley Bull, stanley.bull@futurenet.com Art Editor Phil Cheesbrough, philip.cheesbrough@futurenet.com CONTRIBUTORS Bruce Aisher, Phil Barker, Oli Bell, Olly Curtis, Simon Fellows, Andy Jones, Adam Lee, Leo Maymind, Jon Musgrave, Rob Redman, Roy Spencer, Robbie Stamp, Danny Turner ADVERTISING For Ad enquiries: Kyle Phillips, kyle.phillips@futurenet.com MARKETING Direct Marketing Executive: Will Hardy PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Production Controller: Fran Twentyman Production Manager: Mark Constance​ Printed in the UK by: William Gibbons & Sons Ltd on behalf of Future Distributed in the UK by:​ Marketforce (UK), 2nd Floor, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU Tel: +44 (0) 203 787 9001 CIRCULATION Head of Newstrade: Tim Mathers SUBSCRIPTIONS Order line and enquiries: +44 (0)330 333 1113 Online enquiries: www.magazinesdirect.com Email: help@magazinesdirect.com INTERNATIONAL LICENSING AND SYNDICATION Future Music is available for licensing and syndication. Contact the Licensing team. Head of Print Licensing: Rachel Shaw, licensing@futurenet.com MANAGEMENT Brand Director, Music: Stuart Williams Content Director: Scott Rowley Global Head of Design: Rodney Dive Head of Design (Music): Brad Merrett Group Art Editor: Graham Dalzell Future Music, ISSN 0967-0378, is published monthly with an extra issue in December by Future Publishing, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA, UK The US annual subscription price is $197.60. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named World Container Inc, c/o BBT, 150-15 183rd St, Jamaica, NY 11413, USA. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Brooklyn NY 11256. US POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Future Music, World Container Inc, c/o BBT, 150-15 183rd St, Jamaica, NY 11413, USA Subscription records are maintained at Future Publishing, c/o Air Business Subscriptions, Rockwood House, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3DH, UK Synth showdown Despite electronic music being ostensibly forward-thinking, we producers can be as backward-looking as any misty- eyed rock revivalist. Ask an electronic musician to name the ‘greatest synth’ and nine times out of ten they’ll reel off a list of instruments released in the ’70s and ’80s. Truth is though, thanks to advances in technology, design and manufacturing, the synth market has never been as varied, accessible and open as it is right now. This issue, we’re celebrating the best that contemporary synth design has to offer, by putting 10 flagship polys head-to-head. Our line-up covers everything from vintage analogue to boundary-pushing digital synthesis. A little something for everyone. But which machines will come out on top? Head for page 30 to find out. We hope you enjoy the issue. We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. The paper in this magazine was sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards. The manufacturing paper mill holds full FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification and accreditation All contents © 2023 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. 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