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  1. News

New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (January 2014)

By The MusicRadar team
published 3 January 2014

All of last month's plugin, controller and synth reviews

iZotope RX 3
Masterful restoration plugin reborn

iZotope RX 3

Every month, MusicRadar's sister magazines Computer Music and Future Music publish reviews of the best new music tech gear.

In this gallery we've brought together all the music-making hardware, app, DAW, DJ gear, plugin and synth reviews posted throughout December.

All of the gear featured in this gallery was originally reviewed in Computer Music issue 198/199 and Future Music issue 272/273, or by MusicRadar's own reviews team.

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Perhaps the most powerful audio manipulation/repair software we've used, RX 3 is a must-have for serious producers."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: iZotope RX 3

(Reviewed in Computer Music 198)

BUY: iZotope RX 3 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 1 of 17
Page 1 of 17
Sony SpectraLayers Pro 2
Has the groundbreaking audio editor evolved?

Sony SpectraLayers Pro 2

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Despite powerful layered spectral editing tools and better performance, version 2 doesn't move the application on that far."

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sony SpectraLayers Pro 2

(Reviewed in Computer Music 198)

BUY: Sony SpectraLayers Pro 2 currently available from:
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 2 of 17
Page 2 of 17
Virsyn Cube Synth
Serious synth heads to iPad

Virsyn Cube Synth

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A synth of serious importance - both musical and academic - this is up there with Animoog and Nave, even if it is a bit bewildering at times."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Virsyn Cube Synth

(Reviewed in Computer Music 198)

Page 3 of 17
Page 3 of 17
Native Instruments Kinetic Metal
Metal machine music Kontakt library

Native Instruments Kinetic Metal

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A fascinating, fun and incredibly addictive sonic resource that would make a great addition to any sound designer's Kontakt library."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments Kinetic Metal

(Reviewed in Computer Music 198)

Page 4 of 17
Page 4 of 17
Sugar Bytes WOW2 for iPad
Full port for the filter plugin

Sugar Bytes WOW2 for iPad

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Apart from the fact that it's not running as a plugin within a DAW, the iPad version of WOW is even better than its desktop counterpart. iPad musos, this is a must!"

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sugar Bytes WOW2 for iPad

(Reviewed in Computer Music 198)

BUY: Sugar Bytes WOW2 for iPad currently available from:
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 5 of 17
Page 5 of 17
Sample Logic Impakt
Huge, otherworldly Kontakt library

Sample Logic Impakt

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A very professional ROMpler for very professional producers at a very professional price."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sample Logic Impakt

(Reviewed in Computer Music 198)

BUY: Sample Logic Impakt currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

Page 6 of 17
Page 6 of 17
Arturia MicroBrute
Down-sized analogue synth

Arturia MicroBrute

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A fine-sounding and flexible synth in a small, but highly useable package."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Arturia MicroBrute

(Reviewed in Future Music 273)

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

Page 7 of 17
Page 7 of 17
Lindell Audio 18Xs MkII
Affordable rackmount outboard

Lindell Audio 18Xs MkII

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A simple design offering stunning quality and creativity across an huge range of applications."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Lindell Audio 18Xs MkII

(Reviewed in Future Music 273)

BUY: Lindell Audio 18Xs MkII currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 8 of 17
Page 8 of 17
Waldorf Pulse 2 Synthesizer
It's worth keeping your finger on this synth

Waldorf Pulse 2 Synthesizer

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A huge improvement on the classic original Pulse, at a great price. In a word - killer!"

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Waldorf Pulse 2 Synthesizer

(Reviewed in Future Music 273)

BUY: Waldorf Pulse 2 Synthesizer currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Page 9 of 17
Page 9 of 17
Sonic Couture Geosonics
Pro field-recording library

Sonic Couture Geosonics

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The planet's furthest flung corners are now yours to configure into sound."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sonic Couture Geosonics

(Reviewed in Future Music 273)

Page 10 of 17
Page 10 of 17
Equator D8
Studio monitors letting you find your own voice

Equator D8

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A well-balanced studio monitor with nicely focused imaging and midrange."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Equator D8

(Reviewed in Future Music 273)

BUY: Equator D8 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann

Page 11 of 17
Page 11 of 17
DPA d:vote 4099 and MMC2011 microphones
Compact mics producing expansive results

DPA d:vote 4099 and MMC2011 microphones

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"While these mics are undoubtedly small in stature, their performance is truly professional and the above average prices are more than justified by the quality of sound on offer."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: DPA d:vote 4099 and MMC2011 microphones

BUY: DPA d:vote 4099 and MMC2011 microphones currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247

Page 12 of 17
Page 12 of 17
Arturia KeyLab 49
Analog Lab's 'grown-up' controller

Arturia KeyLab 49

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A couple of hardware gripes aside, Analog Lab now has 'grown up' controllers to drive it."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Arturia KeyLab 49

(Reviewed in Future Music 273)

BUY: Arturia KeyLab 49 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 13 of 17
Page 13 of 17
Novation Launchpad Mini
iOS-compatible mini MIDI pad

Novation Launchpad Mini

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A hugely flexible device with bonus points for the quality of Novation's documentation and support."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Novation Launchpad Mini

(Reviewed in Future Music 273)

BUY: Novation Launchpad Mini currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 14 of 17
Page 14 of 17
Sonic Couture Konkrete Drums 3
Flexible percussion library

Sonic Couture Konkrete Drums 3

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Intuitive, fun, great-sounding and flexible, this library is as close as it gets to indispensable."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sonic Couture Konkrete Drums 3

(Reviewed in Future Music 273)

Page 15 of 17
Page 15 of 17
FXpansion BFD3
The original virtual drum studio just got better

FXpansion BFD3

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Setting a new standard in its field, BFD3 is the ultimate virtual acoustic drum system - we honestly couldn't be more impressed."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: FXpansion BFD3

(Reviewed in Computer Music 199)

BUY: FXpansion BFD3 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 16 of 17
Page 16 of 17
Cakewalk Sonar X3
The perennial PC DAW returns

Cakewalk Sonar X3

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"It may be largely more of the same, but Sonar X3 is the best version of Cakewalk's absurdly powerful, well-stocked DAW yet."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Cakewalk Sonar X3

(Reviewed in Computer Music 199)

BUY: Cakewalk Sonar X3 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 17 of 17
Page 17 of 17
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The MusicRadar team
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