Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Three pairs of in-ear monitors and their cases lying on top of a bundle of instrument cables
Studio Monitors Best in-ear monitors 2026: IEMs for stage and studio
Lag HyVibe HV10ACE
Acoustic Guitars “Powerful, extremely versatile and creatively refreshing, it offers a ton of inspiration if you click with it”: LAG HyVibe 10 HV10ACE review
Cherry Audio SH-MAX
Soft Synths “Offers power, warmth, charm and usability, in a highly convincing virtual analogue reproduction, with real heart and soul”: Cherry Audio SH-MAX review
Universal Audio Volt 876
Audio Interfaces Best audio interface 2026: For home recording, podcasting, and streaming - tested by experts
Man wearing black hat playing the Roland TD716 electronic drum set
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum sets in 2026: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
Nord Piano 6
Keyboards & Pianos Best stage pianos 2026: Our pick of the finest keyboards for live performance
An Asus ProArt P16 laptop on a desk with music production gear
Computers Best laptop for music production 2026: For home studios and mobile music-making - tested by experts
Arturia KeyStep mk2
Midi Controllers Best MIDI keyboards 2026: Find the perfect match for your studio workflow
An UDO Super Gemini synthesizer on a white table
Synths Best synthesizers 2026: Top analogue, digital, mono and polysynths
A boy with brown hair playing the keyboard
Keyboards & Pianos Best keyboards for beginners: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
A selection of PA systems in out testing studio
Speakers Best portable PA systems 2026: Lightweight and mobile PA solutions for musicians and events
A pair of Audio-Technica in-ear monitors on top of a carry case
Studio Monitors Best budget in-ear monitors 2026: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
NAMM 2026
Tech NAMM 2026: rolling news from the world's biggest music-making gear show
An SSL BiG SiX mixer in a studio
Recording Best home studio mixers 2026: analogue and digital mixing desks for all budgets
Best audio interfaces: Audient iD4 MkII
Audio Interfaces Best budget audio interfaces 2026: Cheap USB interfaces for home recording, streaming, podcasting, and more
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tech
  2. Gear & Gadgets

New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (December 2017)

News
By MusicRadar published 8 December 2017

The finest tech gear!

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Audio Damage Phosphor 2 

Audio Damage Phosphor 2 

Out music tech reviews team has had the usual mix of software and hardware to look at recently, with a fine assortment of new releases landing on their test bench.

Here, we take a digested look at all of the tech gear that we reviewed on the site during the month of November. We start with Phosphor 2 from Audio Damage.

MusicRadar's verdict:

“More than the sum of its parts, Phosphor 2 provides old-school tones, textures and FX with a keenly modern edge.”

FULL REVIEW: Audio Damage Phosphor 2 

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Serato Sample

Serato Sample

MusicRadar's verdict:

“There’s a lot missing from Sample, but its basic flow is so enjoyable and productive that you can’t help but fall for it.”

FULL REVIEW: Serato Sample

4 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Softube Tape

Softube Tape

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Concise and intuitive, Tape sounds absolutely superb and is surprisingly broad in its sonic scope.”

FULL REVIEW: Softube Tape

5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Audio Damage QuatroMod

Audio Damage QuatroMod

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Four lively, versatile and sonically superlative modulation effects in one affordable plugin - what’s not to love?”

FULL REVIEW: Audio Damage QuatroMod

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Koma Elektronik Field Kit

Koma Elektronik Field Kit

MusicRadar's verdict:

“At its core, the Field Kit is fantastic for experimentation and fun, and adding a few simple components turns it into a great tool for creating unusual sounds and textures from the world around you.”

FULL REVIEW: Koma Elektronik Field Kit

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Roland Boutique SE-02

Roland Boutique SE-02

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A great-sounding, portable and versatile monosynth for the studio and stage. It may be small but it packs a huge punch for a modest outlay.”

FULL REVIEW: Roland Boutique SE-02

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
MusicRadar
MusicRadar
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the number one website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers...

  • GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.
  • TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.
  • STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the craft of music-making that no other music website can.
Read more
Music technology gear of the year 2025
Music technology gear of the year 2025: Our favourite new synths, drum machines, plugins and more
 
 
Hottest music tech gear of NAMM
The best music tech gear of NAMM 2026: Epic polys, acoustic synths, budget samplers, a Behringer Juno and more
 
 
NAMM 2026
NAMM 2026: rolling news from the world's biggest music-making gear show
 
 
An UDO Super Gemini synthesizer on a white table
Best synthesizers 2026: Top analogue, digital, mono and polysynths
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score big savings on music gear ahead of Christmas from the likes of UAD, Casio, Waves, PRS and more
 
 
All the best guitar gear from this year's NAMM Show
The best new guitar gear of NAMM 2026: More effects, more amps, more guitars and more tech than ever
 
 
Latest in Gear & Gadgets
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
A whopping $900 discount on a stunning Gibson Les Paul is the headline act of Guitar Center's early Presidents' Day sale, plus a generous up to 30% off a range of music-making gear
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Save a colossal $500 off one of my favourite Sterling by Music Man guitars, grab $200 off a super cool D'Angelico, plus all the week's biggest sales on music gear
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score $600 off one of our favourite Casio pianos, $200 off top-tier Sennheiser studio headphones, and so much more
 
 
Piano under a Christmas tree with gifts
5 reasons a gift card is the most stress-free present you can get a musician this Christmas
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score big savings on music gear ahead of Christmas from the likes of UAD, Casio, Waves, PRS and more
 
 
Cyber Monday deals badge over a neon EQ
These 58 Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for musicians are still live - but they'll be gone soon
 
 
Latest in News
vape synth
Hack your disposable vape into a mini wind synth with this DIY guide
 
 
Clyde Lawrence and Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes schools Clyde Lawrence on how to play the piano part in Toto’s Rosanna correctly
 
 
ring stinger
Behringer clones the Lovetone Ring Stinger, a cult classic ring mod/fuzz pedal heard on Radiohead's Kid A
 
 
Concert crowd arms raised in mosh pit
“What kind of ecosystem do we want for live music in Europe?”: New research shows the grip four companies have on live music
 
 
Gibson Custom Shop Aged Greenybucker Set: with the nickel housings given the Murphy Lab treatment, these are exacting replicas of the pickups found in the Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul, complete with the out-of-phase middle position sound.
Gibson unveils the $449 Murphy Lab aged humbucker set that will make your Les Paul sound like ‘Greeny’
 
 
Guitarist Greg Brown is shown performing on stage during a live concert appearance with Cake on November 12, 1996
His creative contributions were immense”: Greg Brown, co-founder of 90s band Cake has died
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...