New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (February 2013)
PSP Audioware PSP Echo
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, apps, DJ gear and other hardware to have fallen under the watchful eyes of Computer Music, Future Music, Rhythm, Total Guitar and Guitarist's test teams. All the gear on show here was originally reviewed in Computer Music issue 186/187 and Future Music issue 261.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"PSP Echo sounds great once you dial it in, with an authentically 'rough' tone."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: PSP Audioware PSP Echo review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 186)
Native Instruments Premium Tube Series
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Keenly priced, gorgeous-sounding EQ and compression, and all without the Guitar Rig wrapper."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments Premium Tube Series review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 186)
Toontrack Rock Solid EZX
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Rock Solid is not the most interesting EZX yet, but it's spot on in terms of rock credentials, sound and authenticity."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Toontrack Rock Solid EZX review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 186)
BUY: Toontrack Rock Solid EZX currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Native Instruments Action Strings
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Action Strings is a success, sounding rich, full and intense, and packed with exciting rhythms."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments Action Stringsreview
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 186)
UVI IRCAM Prepared Piano
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"It's weird, wild, splendidly high-brow and aurally dazzling – very much a top-end instrument for those of an esoteric bent."
FULL REVIEW: UVI IRCAM Prepared Pianoreview
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 186)
FXpansion Maul
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A stunning multiband distortion plugin that epitomises the concept of the creative effects plugin."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: FXpansion Maulreview
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 186)
BUY: FXpansion Maul currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
Eventide H3000 Factory Harmonizer Native
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"It's nowhere near being a full Ultra-Harmonizer, but H3000 Factory does what it sets out to do very well indeed."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Eventide H3000 Factory Harmonizer Native review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 186)
BUY: Eventide H3000 Factory Harmonizer Native currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
Sony Creative Software Sound Forge Pro Mac
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A decent start for Sony's audio editor on Mac, though PC veterans may be disappointed at the missing features."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Sony Creative Software Sound Forge Pro Macreview
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 186)
BUY: Sony Creative Software Sound Forge Pro Mac currently available from:
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Numark iDJ Pro
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A niche product, perfectly implemented. Shame about the 30-pin connector, but iPad owners should take this seriously."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Numark iDJ Pro review
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 261)
BUY: Numark iDJ Pro currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Full Compass
UAD-2 Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Another expensive, highly-coveted hardware 'legend' undergoes a successful UAD transformation."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: UAD-2 Shadow Hills Mastering Compressorreview
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 261)
BUY: UAD-2 Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
Novation MiniNova Synthesizer
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"There are a few minor downsides but the MiniNova's depth and sound are killer for the money."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Novation MiniNova Synthesizer review
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 261)
BUY: Novation MiniNova Synthesizer currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Pioneer XDJ-AERO DJ System
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A versatile, well-built and forward-thinking DJ device. Pioneer live up to their name."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Pioneer XDJ-AERO DJ System review
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 261)
BUY: Pioneer XDJ-AERO DJ System currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Rhythmic Robot Audio Jennings
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"In a market full of generic sounding soft synths, Jennings recreates a unique flavour from a bygone age."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Rhythmic Robot Audio Jenningsreview
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 261)
DiscoDSP Corona R4.6
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A considerably better synth than the one we first reviewed, yet still at the same very fair price."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: DiscoDSP Corona R4.6review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)
Audiofile Engineering Triumph
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Unarguably powerful audio editing, but the layers concept feels musically flawed and the workflow is laborious."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Audiofile Engineering Triumphreview
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)
zplane vielklang Instant Harmony 2
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Powerful auto-harmonising, but requires a moderate knowledge of music theory.
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: zplane vielklang Instant Harmony 2 review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)
BUY: zplane vielklang Instant Harmony 2 currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
Kong Audio Chinee Orchestra
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The most comprehensive and convincing sampled authentic Chinese instrument sounds in the world, in our opinion."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Kong Audio Chinee Orchestra review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)
iZotope Trash 2
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"An update of a classic, Trash 2 is one of the most versatile and sonically impressive distortion plugins around."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: iZotope Trash 2review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)
BUY: iZotope Trash 2 currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
FabFilter Pro-DS
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"If you need a de-esser, you'll sssstruggle to find better than FabFilter's utterly comprehensive solution."
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: FabFilter Pro-DS review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)
BUY: FabFilter Pro-DS currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
Blue Cat Audio Multi Pack 2
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Multi Pack 2 is about as powerful as analysis plugins get, though it might be overkill for some."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Blue Cat Audio Multi Pack 2 review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)
LinPlug CrX4
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A big step forward for LinPlug's powerful synth/sampler, which now sounds and works better than ever."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: LinPlug CrX4 review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)
MeldaProduction MVocoder
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"More suited to the diehard mod freak, MVocoder requires patience and understanding to get the most from it."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: MeldaProduction MVocoderreview
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)
FXpansion DCAM EnvShaper RE
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"EnvShaper-RE is a highly usable mix utility for producers of any level of experience. What it does is easy to understand, and it affords a much greater degree of control over a sound than many traditional dynamics processors. For €25, this is a no-brainer for Reason users looking for an easy way to get better-sounding mixes."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: FXpansion DCAM EnvShaper REreview
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)
Vir2 Studio Kit Builder
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Studio Kit Builder offers a solid 6GB of quality sample content, and while there's nothing particularly unusual on offer, the package represents decent value for those who require virtual drums."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Vir2 Studio Kit Builderreview
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 187)