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

By The MusicRadar team
published 1 February 2013

January's new products at a glance

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PSP Audioware PSP Echo
The old-school tape delay is brought up-to-date

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)

Page 1 of 24
Page 1 of 24
Native Instruments Premium Tube Series
NI and Softube's latest EQ/comp plugin bundle

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)

Page 2 of 24
Page 2 of 24
Toontrack Rock Solid EZX
A select collection of modern drum samples

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

Page 3 of 24
Page 3 of 24
Native Instruments Action Strings
Cinematic string samples take a star turn

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)

Page 4 of 24
Page 4 of 24
UVI IRCAM Prepared Piano
The ultimate avant-garde ROMpler?

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)

Page 5 of 24
Page 5 of 24
FXpansion Maul
A distortion plugin suffering an identity crisis

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

Page 6 of 24
Page 6 of 24
Eventide H3000 Factory Harmonizer Native
One of the processor greats, now in plugin form

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

Page 7 of 24
Page 7 of 24
Sony Creative Software Sound Forge Pro Mac
The PC editor gets its Mac on

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

Page 8 of 24
Page 8 of 24
Numark iDJ Pro
Numark's latest iPad DJ controller

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

Page 9 of 24
Page 9 of 24
UAD-2 Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
High-end hardware turned UAD plugin

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

Page 10 of 24
Page 10 of 24
Novation MiniNova Synthesizer
A new micro synth with superstar potential

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

Page 11 of 24
Page 11 of 24
Pioneer XDJ-AERO DJ System
WiFi streaming DJ controller/media player

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

Page 12 of 24
Page 12 of 24
Rhythmic Robot Audio Jennings
60s synth reborn as a Kontakt plugin

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)

Page 13 of 24
Page 13 of 24
DiscoDSP Corona R4.6
New FX aplenty for the powerhouse synth

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)

Page 14 of 24
Page 14 of 24
Audiofile Engineering Triumph
Wave Editor gets revamped and retitled

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)

Page 15 of 24
Page 15 of 24
zplane vielklang Instant Harmony 2
More MIDI for the harmonising plugin

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

Page 16 of 24
Page 16 of 24
Kong Audio Chinee Orchestra
Virtual instruments with authentic Eastern sounds

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)

Page 17 of 24
Page 17 of 24
iZotope Trash 2
Update time for the multiband distortion plugin

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

Page 18 of 24
Page 18 of 24
FabFilter Pro-DS
A powerful, comprehensive de-esser plugin

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

Page 19 of 24
Page 19 of 24
Blue Cat Audio Multi Pack 2
The ultimate analysis tools bundle?

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)

Page 20 of 24
Page 20 of 24
LinPlug CrX4
Version 4.0 of the Cronox sampling synth

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)

Page 21 of 24
Page 21 of 24
MeldaProduction MVocoder
A complex vocoder plugin that might short some circuits

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)

Page 22 of 24
Page 22 of 24
FXpansion DCAM EnvShaper RE
DCAM Dynamics suite plundered for digital gain

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)

Page 23 of 24
Page 23 of 24
Vir2 Studio Kit Builder
A 54-kit Kontakt drum library

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)

Page 24 of 24
Page 24 of 24
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