MusicRadar

Live 8 looks set to win the software new fans.

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These days, the Winter NAMM show is as much about what's running inside computers as what's sitting on stands and hanging on walls. Yep, software is big news, and there was plenty of it at the 2009 event.

Here, then, are MusicRadar's ten application and plug-in picks.

1. Ableton Live 8
We suspected it was coming and, true to form, the updated version of Live contains plenty for Ableton fans to get their teeth into. New groove and warping engines, a looper, more effects and several workflow enhancements should keep the faithful happy, while the Live Suite bundle has been expanded to include even more content. If you don't own Live already, 2009 could be the year to try it.

2. Steinberg Cubase 5
Cubase has got its groove on for version 5, with new instruments Groove Agent One and LoopMash. Melodyne-style pitch editing and the VST Expression system are other feature highlights, as is the new Reverence convolution reverb. Computer Music blogged live from the software's launch; check out its report for further details.

3. MOTU BPM
A few cleverly-rendered pre-show images led some people to suspect that BPM was going to be a piece of hardware, but it's actually a slick-looking software groovebox. First impressions are that it's primarily designed for beats, but should also be suitable for throwing together entire tracks. It ships with a 15GB sound library, and can also host clips of your own.

4. FXpansion D-CAM: Synth Squad
We knew that FXpansion was working on something, and it transpires that 'something' was a bundle comprising three plug-in synths and a semi-modular synth layering environment that enables you to bring them all together. Expect the Synth Squad to shoot to the top of many computer musicians' 'most wanted' lists when it's released in the second quarter of 2009.

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