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
  • Black Friday
  • 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
modeselektor
Artists "The 808 is still one of the sexiest drum machines ever built": Modeselektor on classic Roland gear
verses gt
Artists Jacques Greene and Nosaj Thing on the making of their new collaborative project, Verses GT
Semtek aka DJ Persuasion
Artists 7 great house and techno tips from Don’t Be Afraid label boss Semtek (aka DJ Persuasion)
steve hauschildt
Artists Ambient maestro Steve Hauschildt on the obscure plugins, generative tools and '00s digital synths behind Aeropsia
jim-e stack
Tech “You can make the best album ever with just a laptop and plugins”: Jim-E Stack reveals his production secrets
Cherry Audio Mercury-6
Soft Synths This is the first synth I reach for when I need an arp - and right now it's 51% off!
Soundtoys SpaceBlender
Tech Soundtoys makes some of the best effects plugins we've ever tested - and they're discounted by up to 75% for Black Friday
vintage software
Tech “Some of this stuff is harder to get hold of than rare analogue synths”: Why we’re in the midst of a vintage software revival
Traktor Play
Dj Software NI launches entry-level Traktor Play DJ software and bundles it with controllers from AlphaTheta and Reloop
MPH
Artists “I got woken up at 3 AM by a fan spamming my DMs. I’m still in disbelief”: UKG phenom MPH on featuring in Thomas Bangalter’s comeback DJ set
Ableton Live 12.3
Tech Ableton is playing catch-up with Live 12.3… but its best features are hidden beyond the headlines
PreSonus Studio 24c in a home studio
Gear & Gadgets My go-to audio interface is now even better value at under £80 in Gear4Music's early Black Friday sale
decap
Artists “I'm getting on an airplane, I'm listening to a song and it has my sound in it”: How DECAP's Drums That Knock became the must-have sample pack for modern producers
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 9: Steve Porcaro performing with 'Toto' at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles, California on April 9, 1979. (Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Artists "It’s all over Rosanna, all over Africa”: Toto’s Steve Porcaro names his Top 5 synths
Dave Ball Soft Cell
Synths Classic Interview: Soft Cell’s Dave Ball – “To my mind, Kraftwerk are as influential as The Beatles”
More
  • Black Friday plugin deals - LIVE
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

Lee Curtiss's favourite music software

News
By Computer Music ( Computer Music ) published 3 January 2012

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

Ableton Live

Ableton Live

“I’ve used this program extensively on every project I’ve worked on over the last six years. It’s truly the best creation station and makes it so easy to get things moving creatively. Even if other programs are used for mixing down, Ableton is easily rewired into other DAWs, opening even more doors and options for sound design and signal processing.”

Read Ableton Live 8 review

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Arturia Jupiter-8V

Arturia Jupiter-8V

“This has been one of my go-tos for synth work since it came out. I’ve worked with real Jupiter-8s, and even though the sound from the Arturia isn’t the same, it is in its own way easier to use. Plus it gives you more creative options and ways to manipulate the sound and effects that you can’t with hardware.”

Read Arturia Jupiter-8V review

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Arturia Moog Modular V

Arturia Moog Modular V

“This is one of the biggest and greatest synths packed into the size of a computer screen. You’re still able to manipulate it in the same way you would the classic synth, but the plug-in makes it so quick and easy to call up big, classic sounds with a really nice arpeggiator. This soft synth is one of the best bass machines I’ve ever used, and it really comes through with that Moog sound.”

Find out more about Arturia Moog Modular V

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
URS plug-ins

URS plug-ins

“When I was on a tight budget, these plug-ins really helped me out. They’re really fairly priced and can add so much sonic quality to your mixes. The Fairchild compressor settings and a lot of the other presets are perfect as a starting point for processing everything - vocals, strings, drums, bass and guitars.”

Find out more about URS plug-ins

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Korg Legacy Analogue and Digital Editions

Korg Legacy Analogue and Digital Editions

“I had a real PolySix and an M1 synth at one time, and I truly prefer the software version of the M1 to the actual synth. I find the PolySix software really comparable, too. As a bundle, all of the synths and even the simple effects are amazing - they’re everyday tools in my studio. The WaveStation has beautiful natural instrument presets that you can layer to make great soundscapes and pads, and the Mono/Poly is an absolute beast.”

Read Korg Legacy Collection Analog Edition review
Read Korg Legacy Collection Digital Edition review

Lee’s latest release - fabric 61: Visionquest - is available to buy now.
www.facebook.com/leecurtissofficial

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
Deals not to miss
modeselektor
"The 808 is still one of the sexiest drum machines ever built": Modeselektor on classic Roland gear
 
 
verses gt
Jacques Greene and Nosaj Thing on the making of their new collaborative project, Verses GT
 
 
Semtek aka DJ Persuasion
7 great house and techno tips from Don’t Be Afraid label boss Semtek (aka DJ Persuasion)
 
 
steve hauschildt
Ambient maestro Steve Hauschildt on the obscure plugins, generative tools and '00s digital synths behind Aeropsia
 
 
jim-e stack
“You can make the best album ever with just a laptop and plugins”: Jim-E Stack reveals his production secrets
 
 
Cherry Audio Mercury-6
This is the first synth I reach for when I need an arp - and right now it's 51% off!
 
 
Latest in Software & Apps
Toontrack Hitmaker SDX
I've waited for Toontrack's Hitmaker SDX Expansion to be discounted ever since it was released. Now it's nearly half-price for Black Friday and I'm about to ruin Christmas by spending way too much on Superior Drummer samples in Thomann's Cyber Week Sale
 
 
Soundtoys SpaceBlender
Soundtoys makes some of the best effects plugins we've ever tested - and they're discounted by up to 75% for Black Friday
 
 
UJAM Virtual Pianist
I’d long thought virtual piano plugins were cheating but this amazingly creative instrument from UJam changed my mind. This Black Friday it’s going cheap!
 
 
A selection of free plugins on a lime green background
I've found 9 free plugin deals for Black Friday, including a killer bundle - help yourself to something for nothing before the offers disappear
 
 
ValhallaDSP Supermassive 5.0
Valhalla Supermassive 5 can do everything from clean delay to “nearly eternal space reverbs” – and it’s free!
 
 
A selection of Universal Audio Spark plugins on a multi-coloured background
With a year’s UAD Spark subscription plummeting to just $79, this plugin deal is the best way to improve your mixes over the next 12 months
 
 
Latest in News
Roland Aira TR-8S Cyber Weekend deals
In my opinion, x0x machines are the best way to make beats and Amazon has the craziest deal I’ve seen on the Roland TR-8S, and besides, I can’t afford a TR-1000
 
 
Apple gift card giveaway
If you’re planning on buying a new MacBook Air or iPad this Cyber Monday, you’ll kick yourself if you miss out on Apple’s great gift card giveaway
 
 
Roland TD716 Black Friday
Roland's TD716 electronic drum set is designed to be a VST killer. Now it's had a massive $1,800 wiped off the price at Sweetwater for Cyber Weekend – you’ll get a drum rug and throne worth nearly $500 for free, too!
 
 
Apple MacBook Air M4
If I was buying my first Apple MacBook for music-making, this is the bargain $749 Black Friday deal I’d go for
 
 
TC Electronic Plethora X1 pedal
Just £99 for 14 effects pedals in one? Surely this TC Electronic Plethora X1 compact multi-effects deal makes it the most value-packed stompbox this Black Friday
 
 
SYNTHDEALS
I've spent all day looking at Black Friday synth deals and these are the 5 I'd actually buy - grab them while you can!
 
 

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
  • 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...