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
  • 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
More
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 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. 

Latest in Gear & Gadgets
Piano under a Christmas tree with gifts
5 reasons a gift card is the most stress-free present you can get a musician this Christmas
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score big savings on music gear ahead of Christmas from the likes of UAD, Casio, Waves, PRS and more
 
 
Cyber Monday deals badge over a neon EQ
These 58 Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for musicians are still live - but they'll be gone soon
 
 
PreSonus Studio 24c in a home studio
My go-to audio interface is now even better value at under £80 in Gear4Music's early Black Friday sale
 
 
Helen Anahita Wilson makes music with plants
We speak to the artist who has just made an album with dangerous plants
 
 
Positive Grid Spark LINK XLR
Time to go wireless? Positive Grid’s Spark LINK XLR offers cable-free connections for live performance
 
 
Latest in News
Chris Rea circa 1970
Tell Me There’s A Heaven: Chris Rea has died, aged 74
 
 
Lady Gaga performs during her 'JAZZ & PIANO' residency at Park MGM on August 31, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada
“Being a human being isn’t going to go out of style anytime soon”: Why Lady Gaga is unafraid of AI
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Alanis Morrisette performs live on stage at The O2 Arena on July 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage for ABA)
Alanis Morissette reveals what she thinks is “the real irony” of the fuss caused by the lyrics in her 1996 hit
 
 
 Morrissey performs at The SSE Arena, Wembley on March 14, 2020 in London, England
Back To The Old House: Morrissey signs again to Warners subsidiary Sire
 
 
Artist Paul Simon arrives for the Polar Music Prize at Konserthuset on August 28, 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden
“One of music’s great storytellers”: Paul Simon among artists to be given Lifetime Achievement award at 2026 Grammys
 
 
The Beatles
This deep dive into a classic Beatles song reveals 4 synth parts that we’d never even noticed before
 
 

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...