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

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

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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