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
  • Plugin Week 2026
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Bridge Over Troubled Water
  • World in Motion
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • The genius of Clive Davis
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

Benji Vaughan's favourite music software

News
By Computer Music published 28 May 2012

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

Native Instruments Maschine

Native Instruments Maschine

“I bought this a couple of weeks ago, and it’s brought such a change to the way I work - it’s the percussive hub of every track I do now. For a while I found the process of making percussion parts frustrating, but Maschine makes beat programming fun, fast and intuitive.”

Read Native Instruments Maschine 1.5 review

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Audio Damage Automaton

Audio Damage Automaton

“Automaton does great random glitch stuff. It’s baffling to use but ace! There are so many sequence-based glitch FX out there, but I particularly like the way Automaton sews the granularised samples back together - it sounds grainy and unique.

“For me, it works best on sounds with a thin, rhythmic tone, like guitar arpeggios or upper-octave pianos.”

Read Audio Damage Automaton

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Apple Logic Pro

Apple Logic Pro

“I have a love-hate relationship with Logic. It’s buggy as hell, but it’s like a girlfriend - I just can’t leave, cos I love it!

“It’s such an amazing package. The instruments and FX are pretty good, but the main thing is the sequencer and the limitless nature of the Environment - it can seem daunting, but it’s worth getting your head round.”

Read Apple Logic Pro 9 review

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Universal Audio Lexicon 224

Universal Audio Lexicon 224

“Reverb is the spice that brings sounds to life, and this is the best reverb plug-in I’ve found.

“It’s based on a classic Lexicon from the early ‘80s. The UAD version is stunning. It has that magical quality of creating a clear space around sounds without adding a mushy, muddled sheen to a mix.”

Read Universal Audio Lexicon 224 review

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Future Audio Workshop Circle

Future Audio Workshop Circle

“The genius interface makes this synth a joy to use. I find many soft synths so uncreative. Nothing kills the feeling of being creative for me more than scrolling though presets on a synth, and so many of the interfaces are too complicated.

“Circle is the opposite. It works beautifully and invites you to be creative. It tends to need a bit of processing to bring the sound to life, but it’s my go-to synth at the moment as I can think of a sound and design it in five minutes. That’s how your workflow should be, I think.”

Read Future Audio Workshop Circle review

Benji is playing at Glade festival, Norfolk, from 14-17 June

Liked this? Now read: The stars' favourite music software

Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

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.

Read more
A MacBook Pro running Ableton Live DAW
Digital Audio Workstation Best DAWs 2026: The best digital audio workstations for PC and Mac
 
 
GForce Software Oddity3
Synths How to master virtually any software synth
 
 
jasper tygner
Artists "There's something about it that you just don't get with soft synths": Jasper Tygner on why he loves his Moog Grandmother
 
 
synths
Tech 5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
 
 
Ital Tek in the studio making Mind Abandon
Artists "I collect instruments I can't play": Ital Tek on creating ‘sonic worlds’ and new album Mind Abandon
 
 
Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator
Drum Machines Best drum machines 2026: Top beat boxes for all budgets and skill levels
 
 
Latest in Software & Apps
Arturia Rev Ocean
Tech Arturia’s new Ocean-inspired reverb will turn your sounds “into a living sonic current”
 
 
Fred Again
Artists Unlocking the production tricks that Fred Again swears by
 
 
soothe3
Tech How Oeksound's Soothe became one of modern production's most ubiquitous plugins
 
 
GForce Software DMX
Drum Machines Want crispy, retro digital drum machine sounds? Here’s our top picks of the plugin options that emulate the pioneering classics
 
 
Roland 808
Drum Machines The best plugins for re-creating the grit and punch of classic analog drum machines
 
 
Sonarworks
Plugins Sonarworks at Plugin Week 2026: Clone your studio to any headphones in 10 minutes. Mix with studio accuracy – anywhere, anytime, on any over-ear headphones
 
 
Latest in News
Arturia Rev Ocean
Tech Arturia’s new Ocean-inspired reverb will turn your sounds “into a living sonic current”
 
 
Billy Corgan and Paz Lenchantin of Zwan perform onstage at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco, California, USA on 22nd April 2002
Singles And Albums “There was a lot of writing in that band”: Billy Corgan to release two albums of unheard Zwan material
 
 
finneas
Tech “Apparently that beat was originally for Kanye”: Finneas on the "weird production choices" in a TV theme that's become a modern classic
 
 
Beatles
Artists New data reveals which Beatles songs musicians want to learn the most
 
 
William Shatner with a guitar
Singles And Albums William Shatner upcoming metal album is set to become live “immersive spectacle” too
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Sienna Spiro performs during her "The Visitor" Tour at The Roundhouse on May 19, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
Artists “I have vocal nodes": Breakout star Sienna Spiro's distinctive singing voice comes at a cost
 
 

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...