New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (December 2013)
Tooled-up convolution reverb
HOFA Plugins IQ-Reverb
MusicRadar's sister magazines Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm and Future Music review the best new music tech gear on a monthly basis.
In this gallery we've brought together all the music-making hardware, app, DAW, DJ gear, plug-in and synth reviews posted throughout November.
Read more: NI Komplete Audio 2
All of the gear featured in this gallery was originally reviewed in Computer Music issue 197/198 and Future Music issue 271/272, or by MusicRadar's own reviews team.
Abbey Road EQ revived as plugin
Waves RS56
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Quality, compact MIDI keys
CME Xkey
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Soft synth recalls punchy Roland tones
Togu Audio Line TAL-BassLine-101
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Filter plugin still lives up to its name
Sugar Bytes WOW2
MusicRadar’s verdict:
2.0 arrives with new hardware controller
Native Instruments Maschine Studio
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Quick 'auto-mixer' plugin
HoRNet TrackShaper
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Mix-ready" drum ROMpler
Native Instruments Drumlab
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Sample library for experimentalists
Impact Soundworks Juggernaut
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Tweaked synth returns
Nord Lead 4
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Sizeable EZdrummer expansion
Toontrack Rock! EZX
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Monstrous preamp at a scary good price
Warm Audio TB12 Tone Beast
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Two-for-one on posh amp emulations
Brainworx ENGL Amplifier Plug-Ins Bundle
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Fine Finnish monitoring at a realistic price
Genelec M Series Monitors
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Keeping drummers' laptops safe
Meinl Laptop Table
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Gig-worthy workstation keyboard
Korg Kross 61
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Unique stereo EQ filter
Elysia xfilter 500
MusicRadar’s verdict:
NI revisits its first DJ controller
Native Instruments Kontrol X1 Mk2
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Wireless radio mic set
Shure GLXD24/SM58
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Enabling cabling for Traktor DJs
NI Traktor DJ Cable
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Top of the range studio cans
AKG K712 Pro
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Feature-packed headphones
NAD Viso HP50
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Stunning delay plugin
D16 Group Sigmund
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Game-changing tape emulation plugin
u-he Satin
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Synth that dares to be different
Amaranth Audio Cycle
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Innovative mixer turned plugin host