Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Guitar Amps
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Lemmy vs Dylan
  • Are 'Friends' Electric?
  • Flava D - DnB is hard
  • Prince's drummers
  • 95k+ free music samples
Don't miss these
Deals of the week
Gear & Gadgets MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more
Deals of the week
Gear & Gadgets MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a mind-blowing $1,000 off the stunning D'Angelico Excel SS, $500 off the gorgeous Heritage Standard H-535, and so much more
Plugins
Plugins To mark Plugin Week, here’s our pick of the most out-there sound design plugins you should grab now
Ableton Live 12.3
Tech Ableton is playing catch-up with Live 12.3… but its best features are hidden beyond the headlines
Arturia V Collection 11
Soft Synths “Still the synth and keyboard collection to beat”: Arturia V Collection 11 Pro review
Pluginweek logo
Plugins Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
Pair of Audio-Technica in-ear monitors sat on a case
Studio Monitors Best in-ear monitors 2025: IEMs for stage and studio
the t.bone IEM D2.4
Headphones “A very capable piece of kit that will see most players a long way into their gigging career”: the t.bone IEM D2.4 review
Neural DSP Nano Cortex
Guitar Pedals "The 2.0 firmware update has expanded its multi-effects versatility significantly": Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
plugins
Tech "It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
Man plays Alesis Nitro Max drum kit with black sticks
Electronic Drums Best beginner electronic drum sets 2025: top-rated entry-level e-drums, reviewed by experts
A pair of Sennheiser in-ear monitors on a pink background
Headphones Three of our highest-rated in-ear monitors just got a massive discount in the Thomann In-Ear Days sale - IEMs starting from just £91
focusrite
Tech Scarlett 16i16 & 18i16: Powerful and portable interfaces with pro-grade sound and a bundle of creative tools
patchworld
Tech “It’s disorienting, impractical and slightly dystopian – but it's like nothing I’ve ever done before”: I tried making music in VR and I’m never going back
Man jams with a guitar player and bass player on an electronic drum kit
Drum Gear These huge drum deals at Sweetwater are about to disappear – here’s your last chance to bag up to 60% off electronic drums, cymbals, sticks and more
  1. Tech
  2. Gear & Gadgets

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

News
By Computer Music and Future Music ( Computer Music, Future Music ) published 4 April 2018

Tech treats galore

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

Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor

Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor

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 last month. Let's kick things off with something distressing...

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Like having a real Distressor inside your DAW, EL8 Distressor brings one of the greatest dynamics processors ever made to Apollo and UAD-2 in style.”

FULL REVIEW: Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor

5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 1 of 14
Page 1 of 14
Newfangled Audio Elevate Bundle

Newfangled Audio Elevate Bundle

MusicRadar's verdict:

“EQuivocate is awesome, but Elevate is the real story - it’s a dynamics sculpting beast.”

FULL REVIEW: Newfangled Audio Elevate Bundle

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 2 of 14
Page 2 of 14
IK Multimedia iRig Keys I/O 49

IK Multimedia iRig Keys I/O 49

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A solid production setup, combining MIDI control and audio interfacing with a knockout software bundle.”

FULL REVIEW: IK Multimedia iRig Keys I/O 49

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 3 of 14
Page 3 of 14
Sound Radix Powair

Sound Radix Powair

MusicRadar's verdict:

“An absolutely stunning compressor and leveller that no one should be without.”

FULL REVIEW: Sound Radix Powair

5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 4 of 14
Page 4 of 14
Unfiltered Audio SpecOps

Unfiltered Audio SpecOps

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A brilliantly conceived spectral effects plugin for sound designers and progressively-minded electronic musicians.”

FULL REVIEW: Unfiltered Audio SpecOps 

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 5 of 14
Page 5 of 14
Dmitry Sches Thorn

Dmitry Sches Thorn

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Thorn is a world-class soft synth that we confidently predict will become a dance music production staple.”

FULL REVIEW: Dmitry Sches Thorn

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 6 of 14
Page 6 of 14
Plugin Boutique Scaler

Plugin Boutique Scaler

MusicRadar's verdict:

“It falls flat at the offline export stage, but in every other regard, Scaler is a powerful aid for musicians of all ability levels.”

FULL REVIEW: Plugin Boutique Scaler 

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 7 of 14
Page 7 of 14
D16 Group Toraverb 2

D16 Group Toraverb 2

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Even at its increased price-point, Toraverb 2 is still one of the biggest bargains in music software - don’t miss it.”

FULL REVIEW: D16 Group Toraverb 2

5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 8 of 14
Page 8 of 14
Steinberg Cubase Pro 9.5

Steinberg Cubase Pro 9.5

MusicRadar's verdict:

“There are no radical changes, but most new features are well-implemented and worthwhile. Cubase remains an excellent and well-featured DAW.”

FULL REVIEW: Steinberg Cubase Pro 9.5 

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 9 of 14
Page 9 of 14
Radial Engineering Key Largo

Radial Engineering Key Largo

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Quality, durability and flexibility meet in a stompbox-format mixer that bridges analogue and digital realms both live and in the studio.”

FULL REVIEW: Radial Engineering Key Largo

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 10 of 14
Page 10 of 14
Focal Shape 65

Focal Shape 65

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Delivering delicious frequency balance, terrific transient detail and crystal-clear stereo, this is a worthy monitor upgrade for the price.”

FULL REVIEW: Focal Shape 65 

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 11 of 14
Page 11 of 14
Ableton Live 10

Ableton Live 10

MusicRadar's verdict:

“With copious workflow enhancements, a stellar synth and the amazing Echo, Live 10 is an unmissable upgrade.”

FULL REVIEW: Ableton Live 10 

4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 12 of 14
Page 12 of 14
Erica Synths Acidbox III

Erica Synths Acidbox III

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A characterful, gritty analogue effect, made all the more flexible by its stereo signal path and modulation options.”

FULL REVIEW: Erica Synths Acidbox III

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 13 of 14
Page 13 of 14
Dubreq Stylophone Gen X-1

Dubreq Stylophone Gen X-1

MusicRadar's verdict:

“The Stylophone adds a thoughtful set of synthesis basics to make a useful, creative instrument for fans of the original’s unique tone.”

FULL REVIEW: Dubreq Stylophone Gen X-1

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 14 of 14
Page 14 of 14
Computer Music and Future 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
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a mind-blowing $1,000 off the stunning D'Angelico Excel SS, $500 off the gorgeous Heritage Standard H-535, and so much more
 
 
Plugins
To mark Plugin Week, here’s our pick of the most out-there sound design plugins you should grab now
 
 
Ableton Live 12.3
Ableton is playing catch-up with Live 12.3… but its best features are hidden beyond the headlines
 
 
Arturia V Collection 11
“Still the synth and keyboard collection to beat”: Arturia V Collection 11 Pro review
 
 
Pluginweek logo
Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
 
 
Latest in Gear & Gadgets
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a mind-blowing $1,000 off the stunning D'Angelico Excel SS, $500 off the gorgeous Heritage Standard H-535, and so much more
 
 
MusicRadar logo
Never miss a MusicRadar thing: Google has made it easier to keep us in your feed
 
 
Mark Ronson
The classic synth heard on the Barbie OST was picked up on Reverb, says Mark Ronson
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more
 
 
Wunderkammer WoO.1
WoO.1 is a pocket-sized sampler designed for endless on-the-go looping
 
 
IK Multimedia
IK Multimedia launches new reverb plugin module
 
 
Latest in News
Fender Vintera II Road Worn 60s Telecaster
Fender’s Vintera II Road Worn series has Golden Era vibe, tone and feel with era-correct pickups and aged nitro finishes
 
 
Posed portrait of musician Stephen Luscombe (left) and singer Neil Arthur of English synth-pop band 'Blancmange', July 1982. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images)
“A unique, talented, and innovative musician”: Tributes paid to Blancmange's Stephen Luscombe
 
 
Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste answers the internet’s piano queries and agrees with one potentially controversial musical statement
 
 
Flava D in the studio
Flava D on why drum & bass is the toughest genre to produce
 
 
SCM All Stars logo
“I’m so grateful that our music can be a vehicle for their spirits to fly”: Students at Flea’s music school pay tribute to Chili Peppers
 
 
Musician Dave Grohl, founding member of Nirvana and The Foo Fighters
“Ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome Ilan Rubin”: Dave Grohl introduces new drummer at Foos secret gig
 
 

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

  • 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...