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
Mooer Audio F40i / F40i Li Intelligent Amp
Guitars Mooer Audio’s flagship Intelligent Amp lets you find guitar tones using AI prompts
IK Multimedia ARC On-Ear
Headphones “From functionality through to physical design, IK Multimedia has completely nailed it”: IK Multimedia ARC On-Ear review
Polyend Mess
Guitar Pedals “A sturdy, interesting and decent-sounding effects unit with tempo syncing and sequencing capabilities”: Polyend Mess 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
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
Erica Synths x Hexinverter HexDrums
Drum Machines “An impressive percussion machine with raw analogue weight and manual control”: Erica Synths x Hexinverter Hexdrums review
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
NAMM 2026
Tech NAMM 2026: rolling news from the world's biggest music-making gear show
Apple Creator Studio Logic Pro
Digital Audio Workstation “Experienced producers might feel uneasy about the focus being put so heavily on AI and the Session Players, but it’s still an instant recommendation”: Apple Logic Pro for Mac 12 and Logic Pro for iPad 3 review
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
stem splitter
Tech I tested 11 of the best stem separation tools – and you might already have the winner in your DAW
Hottest music tech gear of NAMM
Tech The best music tech gear of NAMM 2026: Epic polys, acoustic synths, budget samplers, a Behringer Juno and more
Antelope Audio Discrete 8 Oryx Synergy Core
Audio Interfaces The Discrete 8 Oryx Synergy Core from Antelope Audio could be just the upgrade your studio setup needs
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

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

News
By Future Music Computer Music ( Computer Music, Future Music ) published 4 October 2018

Controllers, speakers, plugins and synths

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

TC Electronic TC2290-DT

TC Electronic TC2290-DT

MusicRadar's verdict:

“We love the TC2290-DT plugin, and the controller is quite cool, but the inextricable linking of the two is maddening.”

FULL REVIEW: TC Electronic TC2290-DT

3.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Native Instruments TRK-01

Native Instruments TRK-01

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A rich, flexible, keenly-priced source of hybrid kicks and synthesised basslines that sounds great and inspires creativity.”

FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments TRK-01

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Softube Tube-Tech Complete Collection Mk II

Softube Tube-Tech Complete Collection Mk II

MusicRadar's verdict:

With the nights starting to draw in, chances are you'll be spending more time in your studio over the next few months. So, why not banish your Autumnal angst by giving your setup an upgrade?

There's plenty of new software and hardware to choose from - all the stuff we reviewed on MusicRadar in September, for example...

“Existing users might feel a little short- changed, but the definitive virtual Tube- Techs look and sound better than ever.”

FULL REVIEW: Softube Tube-Tech Complete Collection Mk II 

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Adam Audio T5V Monitors

Adam Audio T5V Monitors

MusicRadar's verdict:

“The T5V delivers plenty of clarity, decent imaging and volume from a pretty compact footprint. A tidy package, at a good price.”

FULL REVIEW: Adam Audio T5V Monitors

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Arturia DrumBrute Impact

Arturia DrumBrute Impact

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Not the most versatile on the market, but it combines quality drum synth sounds with a killer sequencer, at a very tempting price.”

FULL REVIEW: Arturia DrumBrute Impact 

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Arturia Keylab Essential 49

Arturia Keylab Essential 49

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Robust build quality, fantastic Arturia Analog Lab integration and a decent software bundle make for a real winning combination.”

FULL REVIEW: Arturia Keylab Essential 49  

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Audient iD44

Audient iD44

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Four high quality analogue microphone pres, oodles of digital expansion capability, monitoring options aplenty... There’s a lot to like.”

FULL REVIEW: Audient iD44 

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
IK Multimedia UNO

IK Multimedia UNO

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Despite some manufacturing compromises, UNO is a great-sounding source of analogue basses and leads at a bargain price.”

FULL REVIEW: IK Multimedia UNO

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Nektar Pacer

Nektar Pacer

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A highly configurable control surface which leaves your hands free, for guitar-centric studio musicians and live electronics artists alike.”

FULL REVIEW: Nektar Pacer

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Sonicsmith Squaver P1+ & Convertor+

Sonicsmith Squaver P1+ & Convertor+

MusicRadar's verdict:

“These two units offer something a little different to analogue synthesis, but it’s perhaps most useful as part of a larger system.”

FULL REVIEW: Sonicsmith Squaver P1+ & Convertor+

3.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Future Music Computer Music
Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects… image
Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects…
…with the latest issue of Computer Music magazine
More Info
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
 
 
PreSonus Studio 24c in a home studio
My go-to audio interface is now even better value at under £80 in Gear4Music's early Black Friday sale
 
 
An UDO Super Gemini synthesizer on a white table
Best synthesizers 2026: Top analogue, digital, mono and polysynths
 
 
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
"Makes the case that you might never need anything else": Neural DSP Quad Cortex review
 
 
Latest in Software & Apps
lalal.ai
LALAL.AI brings its AI-powered stem separation into your DAW with its first plugin
 
 
tape fiasco
This free, super-glitchy multi-effects plugin is designed for happy accidents
 
 
Apple Creator Studio Logic Pro
“Experienced producers might feel uneasy about the focus being put so heavily on AI and the Session Players, but it’s still an instant recommendation”: Apple Logic Pro for Mac 12 and Logic Pro for iPad 3 review
 
 
Native Instruments logo
Native Instruments is in preliminary insolvency
 
 
Harry Styles Aperture
How Harry Styles brought the sounds of minimal techno to the world of pop with new single, Aperture
 
 
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
 
 
Latest in News
Nina Persson of The Cardigans performs on day 2 of Slot Festival 2024
“Ozzy said it was the creepiest thing he’d ever heard”: Nina Persson on the Cardigans’ Sabbath covers
 
 
Skid Row poster on a brick wall
"This is not a contest or a gimmick": Could YOU be the next Skid Row frontman?
 
 
Janet Jackson on a French TV broadcast in 1986 . (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)
How Janet Jackson and Jam & Lewis made Control, the classic album that's just turned 40
 
 
behringer
Behringer unleashes the BMX, its $459 clone of the Oberheim DMX
 
 
2manydjs, aka Soulwax outside the Abbey Road entrance
“We have a perverse or healthy attraction to crazy ideas”: Soulwax are throwing a rave – at Abbey Road Studios
 
 
Harry Styles performs onstage
Not The Same As It Was: Harry Styles announces special one off Manchester show with cut price £20 tickets
 
 

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...