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

Black Box Analog Design HG-2
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:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

PSP Audioware Nexcellence
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

Roli Lightpad Block M
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

Universal Audio Korg SDD-3000 Digital Delay
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

iZotope Ozone 8 Advanced
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

Vox Continental 61
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

Rob Papen RP-Verb 2
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

Korg Grandstage 88
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

Akai MPC X
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

Analogue Solutions Mr Hyde
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

Sontronics Solo
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

Slate Digital FG-Stress
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)

Applied Acoustics Systems Objeq Delay
MusicRadar's verdict:
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
“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)