Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Drums Week 25
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Guitar Amps
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Artist news
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Santana on Beck
  • Friday, I'm in Love
  • Knopfler's 4-note secret
  • 95k+ free music samples
Don't miss these
Pluginweek logo
Plugins Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
Plugins Future owns
Plugins Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
rudimental
Tech "It's one of my favourite synths": Rudimental reveal their favourite plugins for drum 'n' bass production
ARMNHMR
Djs ARMNHMR on their tools of the trade
auxy
Tech Auxy launches macOS version of its mobile music-making app and teases forthcoming hardware instrument
loukeman
Artists Loukeman reveals his favourite plugins and unusual production techniques
jamie xx on stage
Artists “It’s my favourite synth ever”: Jamie xx on the ultra-rare vintage Oberheim that takes "a few days" to program
plugins
Tech "It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
API
Plugins Our pick of the very best VCA compressor software emulation plugins for any music project
Steven Wilson performs live onstage with his custom shop Fender Telecaster. The stage is illuminated in green stage lights.
Artists Steven Wilson reveals the $20 plugin he used on all the guitars on his new space rock epic
Hans Zimmer
Tech Hans Zimmer on the synth plugin that he's been working with "for years"
halogen fm
Tech GForce Software makes FM synthesis simple with Halogen FM
phone with app
Tech Vochlea wants to reinvent Voice Memos with new AI-powered app Dubnote – and it's free for the next 24 hours
Silva Bumpa
Tech Breakout producer Silva Bumpa on the secret to creating sub bass and UKG rhythms
linux
Digital Audio Workstation 14 of the best plugins and DAWs you can use on Linux
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

Benji Vaughan's favourite music software

News
By Computer Music ( 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.

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
Pluginweek logo
Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
rudimental
"It's one of my favourite synths": Rudimental reveal their favourite plugins for drum 'n' bass production
ARMNHMR
ARMNHMR on their tools of the trade
auxy
Auxy launches macOS version of its mobile music-making app and teases forthcoming hardware instrument
loukeman
Loukeman reveals his favourite plugins and unusual production techniques
Latest in Software & Apps
bitwig
Bitwig takes its flagship DAW to "another level" with Bitwig Studio 6
Spotify transitions
Spotify responds to Apple Music’s new AutoMix feature by turning your playlists into ready-made DJ sets
the crow hill
"No strings attached": The Crow Hill Company releases Lo-Fi Strings, a free tape-treated string library with a warm and nostalgic sound
soundthread
Try out this free modular sound design playground used by Aphex Twin
ablaze
"Take your pig squeals to the next level": Ablaze's Screamer is a vocal production plugin "crafted for metalheads, by metalheads"
auxy
Auxy launches macOS version of its mobile music-making app and teases forthcoming hardware instrument
Latest in News
Marek "Ashok" Šmerda wears corpsepaint that makes him look a little like Hellraiser's Pinhead as he performs live with Cradle of Filth.
Cradle of Filth guitarist Ashok fired mid-tour, days after keyboardist wife quits citing low pay and “toxic” atmosphere
Burning man in 2023
“Crazy winds” wreak havoc at Nevada’s Burning Man festival
Rick Rubin .
"He made so many of those songs better with just one little nudge”: Daron Malakian on Rick Rubin
Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye performs on stage during the 'After Hours Til Dawn Tour' at MorumBIS on September 7, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
The Weeknd is looking to raise $1 billion using his back catalogue as collateral
Third Man Hardware x Black Mountain Roto-Echo: the roller wheel equipped delay pedal is a compact and performance-friendly stompbox that's available in black or limited edition white. Jack White has used it onstage and in the studio during the sessions for No Name.
Jack White’s Third Man teams up with Black Mountain for the Roto-Echo, a delay controllable by foot
Every Breath You Take video still
Sting sued by ex-Police colleagues for a share of Every Breath You Take royalties

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...