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
  • 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
  • "She knew what she'd created": Back to Black
  • Trower's '80s supergroup
  • Music theory tricks
  • Stage Tour game
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tech
  2. Gear & Gadgets

New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (December 2011)

News
By Ben Rogerson
Published 6 December 2011

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

DigiTech iPB-10 (£499)

DigiTech iPB-10 (£499)

Every month, MusicRadar’s industry-leading sister magazines - Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm and Future Music - publish the best independent and in-depth music-making gear reviews.

We’ve collated the latest plug-ins, controllers, DJ gear, outboard, synths, effects, interfaces and other products to have fallen under the watchful eyes of Computer Music, Future Music and Guitarist’s test teams. All the gear on show here was originally reviewed in Computer Music issue 172, Future Music issues 246/247 and Guitarist issue 348.

Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: DigiTech’s iPB-10

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A state-of-the-art multi-FX floorpedal with the easiest editing ever, but you'll be needing an iPad. Then again, this might just give you the excuse you need to buy one…”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: DigiTech iPB-10

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 348)

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Native Instruments Maschine Mikro (£299)

Native Instruments Maschine Mikro (£299)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“This shrunken Maschine is everything you'd expect it to be, and crucially, it retains the fun factor of the big 'un.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments Maschine Mikro

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 172)

BUY: Native Instruments Maschine Mikro currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
hamburg-audio Nuklear (€169)

hamburg-audio Nuklear (€169)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Nuklear is imperfect, but within its self-defined remit, it can produce some fantastic, ear-catching sounds.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: hamburg-audio Nuklear

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 172)

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Waldorf Lector (€169)

Waldorf Lector (€169)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Rich vocoding, instant-harmonising and true sci-fi mayhem all await your command.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Waldorf Lector

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 246)

BUY: Waldorf Lector currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Steinberg RND Portico Bundle (£672)

Steinberg RND Portico Bundle (£672)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Undoubtedly among the finest analogue emulations that money can buy, though for the price, you'd expect nothing less.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Steinberg RND Portico Bundle

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 172)

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Reloop Digital Jockey III Master Edition (£599)

Reloop Digital Jockey III Master Edition (£599)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“There's plenty to love, but depending on your DJ style, there may be a few important oversights.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Reloop Digital Jockey III Master Edition

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 246)

BUY: Reloop Digital Jockey III Master Edition currently available from:
UK: DV247

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Steinberg UR28M (£380)

Steinberg UR28M (£380)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A versatile interface that, alongside the enclosed software, makes for a great DAW system.

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Steinberg UR28M

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 247)

BUY: Steinberg UR28M currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 (£499)

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 (£499)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Stripped-back but much more immediate - not as flexible as the S4, but there's still a lot to love.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: NI Traktor Kontrol S2

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 247)

BUY: NI Traktor Kontrol S2 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Steinberg Sequel 3 (£67)

Steinberg Sequel 3 (£67)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Version 3 makes Sequel an even better deal, with a simple workflow and plenty of great features.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Steinberg Sequel 3

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 247)

BUY: Steinberg Sequel 3 currently available from:
UK: DV247

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
TC Helicon VoiceLive Touch (£415)

TC Helicon VoiceLive Touch (£415)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Many of the VoiceLive 2's capabilities come to a smaller, cheaper device.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: TC-Helicon VoiceLive Touch

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 247)

BUY: TC-Helicon VoiceLive Touch currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Liked this? Now read: The best music tech gear of 2010: synths, DAWs, plug-ins and more

Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Connect with Rhythm: via Twitter and Facebook

Get MusicRadar straight to your inbox: Sign up for the free weekly newsletter

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Ben Rogerson
Ben Rogerson
Social Links Navigation
Deputy Editor

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it. 

Read more
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
MusicRadar monthly guitar gear roundup, ft. Lzzy Hale's signature Epiphone Explorer Custom, plus new gear from Hotone, Gibson, JHS Pedals, Death By Audio and more
Guitars “His effects are bonkers in the best way possible”: The MusicRadar guitar gear roundup Aug 2026 edit
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up July 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s July 2026 guitar gear roundup: featuring Orange Amps, Harley Benton, Epiphone and more
 
 
studio and man
Tech “Analogue is better than digital, Behringer gear is garbage and your cheap-ass monitors are ruining your mixes”: 10 of the most enduring music tech myths busted
 
 
Best audio interfaces: IK Multimedia AXE IO
Audio Interfaces Best guitar audio interfaces 2026: Get studio-quality tones at home
 
 
Native Instruments Komplete 26
Soft Synths “We know you want it, but do you really (really) need it?”: Native Instruments Komplete 26 review
 
 
Latest in Gear & Gadgets
A Suzuki Omnichord on a green background
Gear & Gadgets Sweetwater just launched its massive Labor Day sale early
 
 
Pink Floyd DSOTM tape
Gear & Gadgets Pink Floyd’s legendary Dark Side of the Moon officially returns to the cassette format
 
 
Donner DBM-100 metronome review
Gear & Gadgets “It's extremely easy to use, but only once you’ve got to grips with what is quite an esoteric control interface”: Donner DBM-100 metronome review
 
 
Image of a recording studio with wood panels in the backround
Gear & Gadgets Amazon Prime Day has over 100 sound treatment deals. I run my own studio – these are the only 5 products that will actually work in your space
 
 
3 fans on a patterned blue background
Gear & Gadgets 4 Prime Day fan deals to keep your home studio cool and your creativity flowing during the UK heatwave – plus, 3 practical reasons it's a wise investment for any musician
 
 
Kawai ES-120B in our testing studio
Gear & Gadgets Thomann has taken the fight to Amazon with its Prime Day-beating Music Days sale – save up to 60% on big gear brands including Kawai, D'Angelico, Slate Digital, and so much more
 
 
Latest in News
Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso performs onstage during the Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival at Seattle Center on August 31, 2025
Music Industry "I’d rather you didn’t listen to our music on there”: Electro pop duo Sylvan Esso say they can't afford not to be on Spotify
 
 
zplane
Tech Zplane's Timbre is a formant-shifting plugin with a few tricks up its sleeve
 
 
William Shatner with a guitar
Gigs & Festivals “I have explored space. Now… I explore distortion”: William Shatner covers Ace Of Spade at his metal band’s live debut
 
 
Chris Martin busking
Artists A London busker just sang a duet with Coldplay's Chris Martin without realising who he was
 
 
Ed Sheeran performs onstage during iHeartRadio z100's Jingle Ball 2025
Gigs & Festivals “I am deeply worried that venues should pre-approve content of performers”: Ed Sheeran speaks out about censorship
 
 
boss
Samples Are you bored of the TR-808? Explore this treasure trove of free obscure drum machine samples
 
 

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...