Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • EVH trance state
  • Antonoff on Please Please Please
  • “Mick looked peeved. The Beatles had upstaged him”
  • 95k+ free music samples

Recommended reading

Superbooth 2025
Synths 12 new instruments and effects you need to know about from Superbooth 2025
Plugins Future owns
Plugins Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
Memorial Day software deals
Software & Apps I wish these Memorial Day software deals had been around when I mixed my new EP - save up to 90% off Waves, Native Instruments, and Positive Grid plugins
plugins
Tech Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: The ultimate soft synth showdown
EQ
Tech Digging into the enhanced abilities of today's EQ plugins to enhance your productions
Thomann Synth Days
Synths Calling all synth heads, Thomann just dropped the sale of the year with up to 80% off models from Moog, Behringer, Arturia and more
synths
Tech 5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

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

News
By The MusicRadar Team ( Computer Music, Future Music ) published 5 June 2017

High-spec hardware and new plugins galore

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

Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII

Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII

From five-star hardware to game-changing plugins, our tech team has been deluged with superb tech gear this month.

Here, we take a digested look at all of the tech gear that was reviewed on the site in May. We start with that aforementioned high-scoring hardware - the Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII.

MusicRadar's verdict:

“With Unison preamps and full access to the UAD catalogue, the Apollo Twin MkII does more than just amazing interfacing.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
Waves Electric Grand 80

Waves Electric Grand 80

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Electric Grand faithfully recreates the sound of Yamaha’s revered piano, plays beautifully and throws in a few tasty extras to boot.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Waves Electric Grand 80

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
Acustica Audio Lime Crazy88

Acustica Audio Lime Crazy88

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Acustica’s best yet, Lime sounds so good you’ll have trouble believing it’s not a physical channel strip - except for that lag...”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Acustica Audio Lime Crazy88

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
XILS-lab PolyKB III

XILS-lab PolyKB III

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Despite some strange limitations, XILS’ one-of-a-kind synth sounds spectacular and programs surprisingly easily, given its esoteric nature.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: XILS-lab PolyKB III

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
Parawave Audiodesign Rapid

Parawave Audiodesign Rapid

MusicRadar's verdict:

“With a vast eight-layer architecture, brilliantly designed modulators and stunning library of wavetables and samples, Rapid sounds incredible and never gets overwhelming.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Parawave Audiodesign Rapid

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
Joey Sturgis Tones Toneforge Guilty Pleasure 

Joey Sturgis Tones Toneforge Guilty Pleasure 

MusicRadar's verdict:

“It might be a one-trick pony, but if you’re after classic high-gain amp tones, Guilty Pleasure comes cheap and sounds great.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Joey Sturgis Tones Toneforge Guilty Pleasure 

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Audio-Technica AE2300

Audio-Technica AE2300

MusicRadar's verdict:

"It doesn’t come cheap, but the AE2300’s attractive design, compact footprint and supreme build quality make it an incredibly desirable instrument mic for both live and studio use."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Audio-Technica AE2300

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
Waldorf kb37

Waldorf kb37

MusicRadar's verdict:

“A great idea that’s nicely thought-out and well implemented, the only thing holding the kb37 back is its high price tag.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Waldorf kb37

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Teenage Engineering PO-32 Tonic

Teenage Engineering PO-32 Tonic

MusicRadar's verdict:

“The PO-32 is a fun and inspiring noise-maker and the added MicroTonic compatibility broadens its sonic scope considerably.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Teenage Engineering PO-32 Tonic

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Roli Blocks

Roli Blocks

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Blocks is an interesting hardware concept, but it’s currently severely underserved by poor software implementation.”

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Roli Blocks

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Roland System-8

Roland System-8

MusicRadar's verdict:

“The System-8 covers a vast sonic territory with superb flexibility – from vintage Roland tones to futuristic sounds, it truly delivers.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Roland System-8

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
The MusicRadar Team
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
Superbooth 2025
12 new instruments and effects you need to know about from Superbooth 2025
Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
Memorial Day software deals
I wish these Memorial Day software deals had been around when I mixed my new EP - save up to 90% off Waves, Native Instruments, and Positive Grid plugins
plugins
Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: The ultimate soft synth showdown
EQ
Digging into the enhanced abilities of today's EQ plugins to enhance your productions
Thomann Synth Days
Calling all synth heads, Thomann just dropped the sale of the year with up to 80% off models from Moog, Behringer, Arturia and more
Latest in Software & Apps
Compressor settings
The ultimate compression cheat sheet – go-to settings to help you make better music
Apple's new Automix
Sack The DJ: Apple launches its new feature that can mix tracks using AI
tapeoplex
"A tape delay plugin that finally sounds like the real thing": Heritage Audio takes on the legendary Echoplex with its TAPEoPLEX plugin
Arturia Pigments
“Pigments is becoming so powerful it risks making the V Collection look obsolete”: Arturia Pigments review
codec
Codec, one of our favourite free lo-fi plugins, just got an update
ableton
Ableton Live 12.2 gives this "incredibly versatile" device a much-needed refresh
Latest in News
Home studio
You don't need to be a music theory expert to make electronic music, but it helps - here's our guide to the basics
Ed Sheeran, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix
How Ed Sheeran generated royalties for Bob Dylan by borrowing from Jimi Hendrix
Richie Hawtin
“All my equipment kind of glowed and then shut down”: The weather event that shaped a Richie Hawtin classic
Bono black and white in glasses
“Our band is...three musicians. And a salesman”: Bono suggests next U2 album will have a looser feel
Apple's new Automix
Sack The DJ: Apple launches its new feature that can mix tracks using AI
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: My pick of Father's Day deals for musicians include $400 off the Polyend Play+, $200 off a Martin acoustic and so much more

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...