New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (August 2018)

Despite the heatwave, our tech reviews team has remained burrowed away in its bunker over the past few weeks, appraising a multitude of hardware and software releases.

We've rounded-up all the tech reviews that appeared on the site within the month of July for your viewing pleasure. We start with the Analogue Solutions Treadstone.

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Despite some functional quirks, the Treadstone may be just what you’re after to add some analogue flavour to your setup.”

FULL REVIEW: Analogue Solutions Treadstone 

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A fun and very well thought-out box that can cover a wide sonic palette; takes the pain out of FM and replaces it with joy!”

FULL REVIEW: Elektron Digitone

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“The Motas-6 is neither cheap nor immediately intuitive, but it is extremely powerful and boasts some very interesting features.”

FULL REVIEW: Motas-6 Synthesizer

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“This is a true alternative - or complement - to your current DAW, once you’re used to how it works. Everyone should try it.”

FULL REVIEW: Tracktion Waveform 9

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A slick, powerful, versatile synth with a feature set and sound that belie the price.”

FULL REVIEW: Rob Papen Go2 

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“With its flexible semi-modular architecture and stunning convolution engine, Cream is a cut above the average vintage strip.”

FULL REVIEW: Acustica Audio Cream

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Its combination of real-time and offline retuning is largely unchanged, but Auto-Tune Pro looks and flows better than ever.”

FULL REVIEW: Antares Auto-Tune Pro 

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“It’s too expensive, but Echo Farm still has plenty going for it, particularly for the less technically-minded musician.”

FULL REVIEW: Line6 Echo Farm 3.0

3.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Spiff’s unique frequency-conscious transient shaping makes it a versatile corrective and creative solution.”

FULL REVIEW: oeksound Spiff

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“An effortless, versatile synth with a rich, beefy, retro-inspired sound, TAL-Mod is well worth the crazy asking price.”

FULL REVIEW: Togu Audio Line TAL-Mod

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“An innovative, user-friendly, powerful analyser and True Peak limiter with a fairly steep price tag but a very bright future.”

FULL REVIEW: Signum Audio Bute Loudness Suite

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Not a complete all-rounder, but this a fine semi-modular synth with genuine Moog pedigree. You might just consider selling your grandmother to get one...”

FULL REVIEW: Moog Grandmother

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“The Synergy R1 takes two CPU-heavy effects, reverb and saturation, and puts them in a unique double-wide box of excellence.”

FULL REVIEW: Audified Synergy R1

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“With its huge soundbank, four oscillators, Wave Editor and MIDI Player, Ascension is a powerful dance music workstation.”

FULL REVIEW: Dance MIDI Samples Ascension

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“The Mix is useful in a lot of ways, and is fairly well priced, but it’s not the ultimate Volca accessory it could have been.”

FULL REVIEW: Korg Volca Mix 

3.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Tiptop missed doing something groundbreaking here; then again, the Z-DSP in itself is so well thought-out, it’s still a contender.”

FULL REVIEW: Tiptop Audio Z-DSP

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A couple of oversights don’t stop Plogue’s exacting tribute to the OPLL winning our hearts with its vivid FM sounds.”

FULL REVIEW: Plogue Chipsynth PortaFM

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A unique and inspiring percussion synth, and the perfect partner to the Mother-32. The lack of MIDI is disappointing though."

FULL REVIEW: Moog DFAM percussion synth

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“An interesting unit that would make an ideal addition to other Sonicsmith boxes, though a harder sell as a standalone purchase."

FULL REVIEW: Sonicsmith Modulor A1

3.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)