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
Prodigy
Artists How to replicate the sample-based sonics of a gnarly Prodigy classic
PinkPantheress and QWERTY keyboard
Artists “MIDI controllers can be expensive!": PinkPantheress records her songs using her MacBook’s keyboard
fred again
Artists “I’ve spent so many thousands of hours wasted on plugins – it just doesn't matter”: Fred Again says all mixing plugins sound the same
harry styles
Artists Harry Styles outed himself as an unlikely modular synth fan in his new Netflix special, but was all that knob-twiddling for real?
Arturia KeyStep mk2
Midi Controllers Best MIDI keyboards 2026: Find your perfect match for the home studio
Universal Audio Volt 876
Audio Interfaces Best audio interface 2026: For home recording, podcasting, and streaming - tested by experts
Bitwig Studio 6
Digital Audio Workstation "A massive expansion of its abilities as a modulation and automation powerhouse": Bitwig Studio 6 review review
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
grainferno
Tech Baby Audio's Grainferno can transform any sound in your sample library into something entirely new
jasper tygner
Artists "I put it on everything": Jasper Tygner on the Soundtoys plugin behind the "filmic" sound of debut album Blue
flying lotus
Artists “All I hear is ‘Auto-Tune sucks’ and 'drum machines have no soul'”: Flying Lotus on the backlash against AI music
stem splitter
Tech I tested 11 of the best stem separation tools – and you might already have the winner in your DAW
An UDO Super Gemini synthesizer on a white table
Synths Best synthesizers 2026: Top analogue, digital, mono and polysynths
Alan Braxe and Fred Falke in the studio
Tech “I didn't get it at first.”: House icons Alan Braxe and Fred Falke on embracing AI in the studio
asg
Artists “I use it on absolutely everything": Art School Girlfriend on the second-hand mic that shaped the "intimate" sound of new album Lean In
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

Purple Disco Machine's favourite music software

News
By Computer Music ( Computer Music ) published 18 February 2019

German funk pioneer Tino Piontek - aka PDM - tells of his love affair with Cubase and vinyl crackles

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

Steinberg Cubase

Steinberg Cubase

“For more than 15 years now, I’ve been working with Cubase and, for me, it’s still the best DAW that’s out there.

“When you work with one piece of software for so long, you get to know all of its little secrets and it becomes a part of who you are. I’m so much quicker on Cubase than any other platform; it’s the centre of my studio. Great bundled VSTs, too… such as the vintage compressor and HALion SE3.”

Read full Steinberg Cubase 9 review

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Arturia Oberheim SEM V

Arturia Oberheim SEM V

 “The SEM synth is brilliant at both analogue bass and lead sounds, and it gets used in most of my songs.

“The Italo bassline from Bodyfunk was made with this. It’s also the perfect plugin for arpeggios and acid lines. Easy to use, too - a nice, simple interface, with useful presets.”

Read full Arturia Oberheim SEM V review

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Native Instruments Scarbee Bass Collection

Native Instruments Scarbee Bass Collection

“Anyone who’s listened to my music will be aware that I love acoustic bass guitars. Unfortunately, I can’t play the bass very well, so I mostly end up using this plugin instead.

“This was the bass for both the Jamiroquai and Hercules and Love Affair remixes that I did. It’s definitely one of the best plugins around for slap and fingerbass; nice and warm, but also a bit rough at the same time. In less than ten minutes, you can get a killer bassline out of it!”

Read more about Native Instruments Scarbee Bass Collection

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
iZotope Nectar 2

iZotope Nectar 2

“This FX plugin is just amazing. A true handyman for vocals.

“In the past two years, I’ve done all my vocal editing with Nectar. You have presets for every genre, and the effects give the finished product real impact. It brings a vocal to life.”

Read full iZotope Nectar 3 review

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Waves Abbey Road Vinyl

Waves Abbey Road Vinyl

“This is true plugin magic! It adds instant vintage vinyl warmth to the master bus, or you can use it for basslines and drum groups in order to make them sound a bit more vintage and ‘pumpy’. And why not finish the whole thing off with some vinyl noise and crackles?”

Read more about Waves Abbey Road Vinyl

Purple Disco Machine’s Dished (Male Stripper) Edit is available now

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Computer Music
Computer Music
Social Links Navigation

Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

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
Tech Music technology gear of the year 2025: Our favourite new synths, drum machines, plugins and more
 
 
Apparat live
Artists Apparat tells us how he regained his creative demon to make his first album in seven years
 
 
asg
Artists “I have a little bit of a love-hate relationship with my Prophet ’08”: Art School Girlfriend on new project Lean In
 
 
jasper tygner
Artists "I put it on everything": Jasper Tygner on the Soundtoys plugin behind the "filmic" sound of debut album Blue
 
 
modeselektor
Artists "The answer might sound a little boring, but it's probably my iPhone": Modeselektor on their go-to instrument
 
 
fred again
Artists “I’ve spent so many thousands of hours wasted on plugins – it just doesn't matter”: Fred Again says all mixing plugins sound the same
 
 
Latest in Software & Apps
Bitwig
Digital Audio Workstation Get a FREE Bitwig 6 8-Track license exclusively with MusicRadar
 
 
bitwig
Tech Bitwig Studio 6 is here with improved automation, Clip Aliases and tons of workflow enhancements
 
 
Bitwig Studio 6
Digital Audio Workstation "A massive expansion of its abilities as a modulation and automation powerhouse": Bitwig Studio 6 review review
 
 
Baby Audio Grainferno
Tech Baby Audio's “most advanced synthesizer to date” is a granular plugin capable of creating “entirely new textures”
 
 
Distortion and Saturation Plugins
Music Production Tutorials The difference between distortion and saturation and how to effectively get a gnarly sound
 
 
Arturia's Efx Ambient from FX Collection 6, being used in a studio
Tech Arturia's FX Collection 6 adds an ambient plugin specialising in "novel, emotive textures" and a souped-up H910
 
 
Latest in News
(L-R) Kerry Katona, Natasha Hamilton and Liz McClarnon of English girl group Atomic Kitten, 2000. (Photo by Roberta Parkin/Redferns/Getty Images)
Artists OMD’s Andy McCluskey says it was a Kraftwerk legend who advised him to form girlband Atomic Kitten
 
 
Melissa Auf der Maur and Courtney Love in 1998
Bass Guitars “It took me one second to understand that she's a survivor”: Melissa Auf der Maur on why she’s “proud” of Courtney Love
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: Bruno Mars performs onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Artists Why Bruno Mars' new single Risk It All could have ended up sounding very different
 
 
James Blake performs during the inaugural 2024 Gazebo Festival at Waterfront Park on May 25, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Producers & Engineers "I’d say 95 percent of the work I’ve done was unpaid”: James Blake on the hit and miss nature of production work
 
 
Diane Warren and KPop Demon Hunters
Artists Songwriter Diane Warren’s Oscars losing streak goes on as KPop Demon Hunters’ Golden wins
 
 
AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 09:  Displayed in public for the first time is John Lennon's piano, used to write numerous Beatles songs and part of Indianapolis Colts CEO and Owner Jim Irsay's "Jim Irsay Collection" during a reception at the Four Seasons Hotel on December 9, 2021 in Austin, Texas.  (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
Keyboards & Pianos "Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history”: John Lennon’s Broadway piano goes for £2.5 million
 
 

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 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...