OK, we're talking synthesizers now, so get your heads out of Conan the Barbarian and listen up. What we have here is a full-scale invasion of the ear-snatchers into the world of rock 'n' roll. The computers have landed, and whether we are or are not men, we must face the onslaught.

Now we all know that synthos are nuthin' new, right? But the integration of computer circuitry, specifically memory banks, is a relatively new twist in electronic keyboards. Thus the following scrutiny of Roland's new Jupiter-4 Compuphonic Synthesizer.

In an effective live performance, there is usually little, if any, "dead air". Something is always going on up there on the stage. Most of the time', it's music. But often times certain changes in instruments are required before the band can render the next number. This is especially true of synthesizer/keybqard players, who often have to move from one instrument to another, or stop and spend precious time re-programming their instruments for the appropriate sounds. That is not any easy thing to do in a few short seconds.