New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (July 2015)
The first synth from Modor
Modor NF-1
We've had a bumper crop of music tech reviews on the site throughout June, including plugins, virtual instruments, hardware synths and all manner of other products.
All of the reviews featured in this gallery were published on the site last month and originally featured in the pages of our sister magazines Computer Music and Future Music. First up, it's Modor's NF-1 synth...
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The NF-1 is well-built and hands-on and its sound engine is powerful and versatile."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Modor NF-1 review
BUY: Modor NF-1 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
USA: Sweetwater
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
Bubbling/gusting chaos-channeling plugin
Sinevibes Drift
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A fun and occasionally useful tool, Drift isn't one of Sinevibes' best, but there's certainly nothing 'wrong' with it."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Sinevibes Drift review
(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)
Full-range EQ plugin
Kush Audio Electra DSP
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Equalize takes a focussed and extremely powerful approach to EQ that, once understood, becomes second nature."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Kush Audio Electra DSP review
BUY: Kush Audio Electra DSP currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)
Latest version of BIAS amp sim app adds effects
Positive Grid Bias FX
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Quality amp and effects app for your iPad that's packed with tonal options."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Positive Grid Bias FX review
A limiter plugin that you need on your master bus
LVC-Audio Limited-MAX
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Limited-MAX is a flexible master bus limiter that delivers results on a par with the more pricey competition. Impressive!"
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: LVC-Audio Limited-MAX review
(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)
Portable pocket money synth series
Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Despite some functional annoyances, the Pocket Operators are a lot of fun."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators review
BUY: Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
Latest update provides effects aplenty for guitarists
UAD V8.0 Effect Plug-Ins
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The Distortion bundle/Friedman amps can frazzle any sound source, and Wood Works is highly effective."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: UAD V8.0 Effect Plug-Ins review
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
New MIDI controller has a few unique tricks up its sleeve
Akai Advance 49
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The Advance controllers elegantly remove the disconnect between your controller and DAW."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Akai Advance 49 review
BUY: Akai Advance 49 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
An unassuming new EQ that's a secret surgical weapon
Acon Digital Equalize
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A no-nonsense EQ plugin with an impressive level of control, Equalize will find fans amongst mix surgeons."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Acon Digital Equalize review
(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)
Redesigned interfaces
Universal Audio Apollo Thunderbolt 8
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"UA's Apollo interfaces were desirable before but they're close to irresistible now."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Universal Audio Apollo Thunderbolt 8 review
BUY: Universal Audio Apollo Thunderbolt 8 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
Rode revamps ribbon mic design
Rode NTR
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A fresh take on ribbon mic design, the Rode NTR has many practical applications."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Rode NTR review
BUY: Rode NTR currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
The affordable DAW packed with powerful features
Tracktion Software Corporation Tracktion 6
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Tracktion 6 adds more than enough new stuff to justify the upgrade price, and remains a bargain for anyone looking for a powerful, intuitive cross-platform DAW."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Tracktion Software Corporation Tracktion 6 review
(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)
Affordable mixer performs
Mackie Mix5
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The Mix 5 is pretty handy if you just need to blend a few sources, and its main advantage is simply its super compact size."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Mackie Mix5 review
BUY: Mackie Mix5 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
A new and noteworthy transient-shaping plugin
Softube Transient Shaper
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"With two bands of processing elevating it above most of the competition, Transient Shaper comes highly recommended."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Softube Transient Shaper review
BUY: Softube Transient Shaper currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater
(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)
The melody-maker returns
Midi Madness 2
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Perfect for creating experimental tracks/new ideas in existing ones. It gets better the more you tweak."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Midi Madness 2 review
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
Live mixer with a little price
Mackie Mix8
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Overall, Mackie's Mix Series mixers performs very well and at a budget price."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Mackie Mix8 review
BUY: Mackie Mix8 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
Fertile leftfield orchestral textures
Spitfire Audio Albion IV Uist
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"If this is what the future of orchestral sample libraries looks like, you'll get no complaints here."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Spitfire Audio Albion IV Uist review
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
The king of the affordable mixer unveils its big Mix
Mackie Mix12FX
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Mackie's new mixer offers simple mixing options, excellent build quality and astonishing value."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Mackie Mix12FX review
BUY: Mackie Mix12FX currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
Avalon-aping EQ plugin
Acustica AmberEQ
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"AmberEQ can have an almost magical effect on a mix - if you're able to run enough of them to make it happen."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Acustica AmberEQ review
(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)
Game-changing iOS DAW interface apps
Midimux and Audiomux
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Essential purchases for iOS-equipped producers."
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Midimux and Audiomux review
(Originally reviewed in Future Music)
iPad-based preset synth app
KV331 Audio Synthmaster Player for iPad
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Overall, SynthMaster Player is a preset-packed, fun experience."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: KV331 Audio Synthmaster Player for iPad review
BUY: KV331 Audio Synthmaster Player for iPad currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)
Musically orientated speech synthesiser
Plogue Chipspeech
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Clearly a labour of love, chipspeech is a powerful and polished product that's practically impossible to fault."
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Plogue Chipspeech review
(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)
A trio of chilled processors
AudioThing Frostbite
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Affordable, fun, and offering a distinctive and atmospheric sound, you won't regret chilling out with Frostbite."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: AudioThing Frostbite review
(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)
