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New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (August 2013)

By The MusicRadar team
published 2 August 2013

Plugin, app, DAW, controller and interface reviews

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Plug & Mix VIP Bundle
40-strong plugin FX bundle

Plug & Mix VIP Bundle

MusicRadar's sister mags - Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm and Future Music - print the best independent reviews of music-making gear on a monthly basis.

Here we've brought together any music-making hardware, app, DAW, DJ gear, plug-in, synth and other related gear reviews posted on the site during July 2013.

All the gear on display here was reviewed in Computer Music issue 193/194 and Future Music issue 267/268, or by MusicRadar's own reviews team.

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A keenly priced collection of 40 mixing and creative plugins that covers a broad range of bases concisely and effectively."

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Plug & Mix VIP Bundle review

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 193)

Page 1 of 16
Page 1 of 16
Reveal Sound Spire
Powerful debut synth plugin

Reveal Sound Spire

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"With terrific waveshaping and a monster mod matrix, this hybrid subtractive synth is an impressive debut for Reveal Sound."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Reveal Sound Spire review

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 193)

Page 2 of 16
Page 2 of 16
Sinevibes Shift
Frequency-friendly audio unit shifter

Sinevibes Shift

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A uniquely creative rhythmic frequency shifter that, at this price, deserves to be part of everyone's plugin arsenal."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sinevibes Shift review

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 193)

Page 3 of 16
Page 3 of 16
Sugar Bytes Turnado
Full desktop port for iPad!

Sugar Bytes Turnado

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A few tiny control niggles aside, Turnado on iPad is every bit as good as its €119 plugin counterpart. Impressive."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sugar Bytes Turnado review

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 193)

BUY: Sugar Bytes Turnado currently available from:
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 4 of 16
Page 4 of 16
Moog Sub Phatty
Affordable analogue synths return, in style

Moog Sub Phatty

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A truly stimulating instrument that punches above its weight to live up to the Moog legacy."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Moog Sub Phatty review

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 268)

BUY: Moog Sub Phatty currently available from:
UK: Andertons | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 5 of 16
Page 5 of 16
UVI Digital Synsations
Classic digital synth selection

UVI Digital Synsations

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Digital Synsations hangs together wonderfully as a collection of well-chosen presets representing the coming of age of digital synthesis."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: UVI Digital Synsations review

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 193)

BUY: UVI Digital Synsations currently available from:
UK: DV247

Page 6 of 16
Page 6 of 16
M-Audio Axiom Air 61 Keyboard
Complex MIDI controller becomes controllable

M-Audio Axiom Air 61 Keyboard

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The Axiom range comes of age. Check out all the options to find the model that suits you."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: M-Audio Axiom Air 61 Keyboard review

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 268)

BUY: M-Audio Axiom Air 61 Keyboard currently available from:
UK: Andertons | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 7 of 16
Page 7 of 16
Kevin Kripper Ultimate Mixer
Ableton Live floating mixer patch

Kevin Kripper Ultimate Mixer

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Worth the cash if you want to put your Live Mixer on a second monitor. But that's all it does."

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Kevin Kripper Ultimate Mixer review

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 193)

Page 8 of 16
Page 8 of 16
Selig Audio Selig Leveler
Reason Rack dynamics processor

Selig Audio Selig Leveler

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Sophisticated, powerful and highly recommended. We'd love to see a VST plugin version!"

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Selig Audio Selig Leveler review

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 193)

Page 9 of 16
Page 9 of 16
UAD-2 Ocean Way Studios
Canned room sound from the studio

UAD-2 Ocean Way Studios

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Book unlimited studio time in California without leaving home. Remarkable."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: UAD-2 Ocean Way Studiosreview

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 268)

Page 10 of 16
Page 10 of 16
Apple Logic Pro X
The classic DAW gets overhauled

Apple Logic Pro X

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"X marks the sweet spot for Logic Pro, being accessible enough not to offend GarageBand graduates while pulling enough new tricks to keep the faithful satisfied without compromising its heritage in the process."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Apple Logic Pro X review

Page 11 of 16
Page 11 of 16
SPL Masterbay S Model 1150
Problem-solving processor hub

SPL Masterbay S Model 1150

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"An excellent and very well executed solution to the problems of chaining hardware processors."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: SPL Masterbay S Model 1150 review

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 268)

Page 12 of 16
Page 12 of 16
Audeze LCD3 headphones
Bank-breaking studio cans

Audeze LCD3 headphones

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A gloriously luxurious pair of headphones that ooze quality and refinement."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Audeze LCD3 headphones review

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 268)

Page 13 of 16
Page 13 of 16
Ultimate Support HyperPad
5-in-1 support stand for iPad

Ultimate Support HyperPad

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"iPad music-makers need look no further for their stand solution."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Ultimate Support HyperPad review

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 268)

BUY: Ultimate Support HyperPad currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

Page 14 of 16
Page 14 of 16
Aves Mercury Bluetooth Music Receiver
Budget bluetooth streaming

Aves Mercury Bluetooth Music Receiver

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"At this price, it makes getting a Sonos system look increasingly crazy."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Aves Mercury Bluetooth Music Receiver review

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 268)

Page 15 of 16
Page 15 of 16
Scosche RH656md

Scosche RH656md

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The RH656mds don't sound terrible, but add up the cons and the pros can't keep up."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Scosche RH656md review

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 268)

Page 16 of 16
Page 16 of 16
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The MusicRadar team
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