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

December gave our music tech reviews team more treats than a chocolate advent calendar; they spent the month looking at the finest new software and hardware.

Here, we take a whistle-stop look at everything that got the once-over last month, starting with the Black Box Analog Design HG-2.

MusicRadar's verdict:

“We simply can’t fault Brainworx’ fabulous virtualisation of BBAD’s much-loved mastering and mixing monster.”

FULL REVIEW: Black Box Analog Design HG-2

5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“If you yearn for something genuinely different in your reverb folder, Nexcellence is well worth springing for.”

FULL REVIEW:  PSP Audioware Nexcellence

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Thanks to refined hardware and vastly improved software implementation, the Lightpad is now a desirable, expressive controller.”

FULL REVIEW: Roli Lightpad Block M

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“All the magic of the real SDD-3000 plus true stereo routing and tempo sync. More versatile filters wouldn’t have broken the spell, though, would they?”

FULL REVIEW: Universal Audio Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Master Assistant might be the big story, but it’s the other enhancements that make Ozone 8 such an irresistible upgrade.”

FULL REVIEW:  iZotope Ozone 8 Advanced

5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“The Continental promises so much but can leave you with mixed feelings. it delivers great-sounds with solid build and portability, but falls short in features and affordability compared to the competition.”

FULL REVIEW:  Vox Continental 61

3.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A worthy successor to the 2009 original, RP-Verb2 is a ridiculously powerful and attractively priced reverb plugin for the adventurous producer.”

FULL REVIEW: Rob Papen RP-Verb 2 

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“The Grandstage certainly impresses from start to finish. If you’re after a superb-sounding/versatile stage piano, then the Grandstage is a class act!”

FULL REVIEW: Korg Grandstage 88

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“MPC X is hugely powerful, it works impressively standalone and as a controller, and it’s well on the way to replacing your DAW, live or in the studio.”

FULL REVIEW: Akai MPC X

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“An excellent-sounding filter box with some good modulation and useful patching possibilities, but there are other options with more features and flexibility.”

FULL REVIEW: Analogue Solutions Mr Hyde

4 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“For live vocals the Solo is a no-brainer, especially at this price, but it will easily find a home in the studio and on non-vocal sources.”

FULL REVIEW: Sontronics Solo 

4.5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“So close to the real thing that you won’t be able to tell the difference, FG-Stress is Slate’s best VMR module yet.”

FULL REVIEW: Slate Digital FG-Stress 

5 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Objeq Delay’s combination of physical modelling synthesis and echo generation adds up to more than the sum of its parts.”

FULL REVIEW: Applied Acoustics Systems Objeq Delay

4 out of 5 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)