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New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (May 2012)

Toontrack EZkeys Grand Piano (£115) — Toontrack has decided to apply its EZ concept to the world of keyboards. How hard can it be?

Toontrack EZkeys Grand Piano (£115)

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, hardware, iOS apps and other products to have fallen under the watchful eyes of the Computer Music and Future Music test teams. All the gear on show here was originally reviewed in Computer Music issues 177/178 and Future Music issue 252.

Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: Toontrack’s EZkeys Grand Piano

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“If you're a songwriter who can't play the piano, EZkeys is flexible enough to bend to your creative will.”

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Toontrack EZkeys Grand Piano

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 177)

BUY: Toontrack EZkeys Grand Piano currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

XILS-lab Le Masque: Delay (€59) — The French soft synth master makes the move into effects with a novel delay plug-in designed for studio and live use

XILS-lab Le Masque: Delay (€59)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“From funky percussion treatments to trippy guitar and synth motionscapes, LeMasque: Delay is a delay like no other.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: XILS-Lab Le Masque: Delay

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 177)

Garritan Instant Orchestra ($150) — Garritan offers a straightforward route into its orchestral world

Garritan Instant Orchestra ($150)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A must for orchestral ignoramuses everywhere.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Garritan Instant Orchestra

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 177)

BUY: Garritan Instant Orchestra currently available from:
UK: DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Best Service Galaxy X (£219) — A mind-bogglingly vast convolution synthesizer…

Best Service Galaxy X (£219)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A massive realm of sound that throws up all manner of fabulous surprises.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Best Service Galaxy X

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 177)

BUY: Best Service Galaxy X currently available from:
UK: DV247

ART XConnect USB microphone cable (£30) — This effort from ART makes hooking a microphone up to a computer about as simple as it gets

ART XConnect USB microphone cable (£30)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A great input solution for mobile recordists, laptop DJs and anyone looking to connect a dynamic mic without the 'hassle' of a separate audio interface.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: ART XConnect USB microphone cable

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 177)

BUY: ART XConnect USB microphone cable currently available from:
UK: DV247
US: Sweetwater

Prodipe Studio 22 Pro (£150) — Time for more class-compliant USB japes with Prodipe's 2-in/2-out audio interface

Prodipe Studio 22 Pro (£150)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“With Cubase 5 LE and a bizarre GM soft synth (PC-only) also in the box, this is a decent package at a fair price.”

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Prodipe Studio 22 Pro

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 177)

Straightarrow Quiver 1.1 ($69) — A brand-new development house lets fly its first volley into the modular melee - but does this minimalist-looking synth hit the target?

Straightarrow Quiver 1.1 ($69)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Behind that unassuming façade lies a modular synth of extraordinary power.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Straightarrow Quiver 1.1

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 177)

ValhallaDSP UberMod ($50) — From the creators of ValhallaRoom comes a plug-in that takes the melding of chorus and delay to exciting new places

ValhallaDSP UberMod ($50)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Boundless modulation at a bargain price - don't miss this one, no matter what kind of music you make.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: ValhallaDSP ÜberMod

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 177)

Clavia Nord Drum (£369) — Marking a return to electronic percussion, Clavia's new drum synth is aimed at actual drummers as well as studio rats. We pull the trigger…

Clavia Nord Drum (£369)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A superb drum synth for drummers, percussionists and programmers alike…”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Nord Drum

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 252)

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

AudioEase Altiverb 7 (€499) — Have the five years since the last Altiverb update been time well spent?

AudioEase Altiverb 7 (€499)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Altiverb 7 looks and sounds better than ever. It's the best convolution reverb plug money can buy.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Audio Ease Altiverb 7

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 252)

BUY: Audio Ease Altiverb 7 currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

KRK Systems 12s Subwoofer (£700) — The 12s is KRK's latest subwoofer model, designed to make mixing extreme low end a doddle

KRK Systems 12s Subwoofer (£700)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A solid-sounding, high quality sub, that's a worthwhile addition to any studio's monitoring set-up.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: KRK Systems 12s Subwoofer

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 252)

BUY: KRK Systems 12s Subwoofer currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Plugin Alliance Mäag EQ4 ($199) — Plugin Alliance offers the plug-in version of the legendary tone shaping EQ with its unique 'Air' band

Plugin Alliance Mäag EQ4 ($199)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“As a way of shaping a sound the Mäag EQ4 is in a league of its own. Fabulous.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Plugin Alliance Mäag EQ4

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 252)

Waves Loudness Meter ($299) — Work in pro mastering and need to double-check your levels for broadcast? We glue our eyes to the Waves WLM…

Waves Loudness Meter ($299)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A pro-level metering plug-in that covers all output bases comprehensively.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Waves Loudness Meter

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 252)

BUY: Waves Loudness Meter currently available from:
UK: DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Propellerhead Software Figure (69p) — The power of Reason comes to iOS

Propellerhead Software Figure (69p)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Figure is a fun little loop maker with a serious engine running in the background, generating serious sounds at the right price. Go get it.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Propellerhead Figure

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 178)

Apple GarageBand For iOS 1.2 (£2.99) — If only all point releases were as generous as this one

Apple GarageBand For iOS 1.2 (£2.99)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Everyone from total noobs to pros should snap up this slick, fuss-free musical notepad.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Apple GarageBand For iOS 1.2

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 178)

Boulanger Labs csGrain (£6.99) — A Csound orchestra bundled into an iPad app

Boulanger Labs csGrain (£6.99)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“This is one of the coolest, most powerful iOS music apps we've come across in a while.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Boulanger Labs csGrain

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 178)

DDMF Metaplugin 2.2 ($29) — Join the chain gang…

DDMF Metaplugin 2.2 ($29)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A couple of little irritants don't stop us from giving Metaplugin a solid thumbs-up.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: DDMF Metaplugin 2.2

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 178)

Liked this? Now read: The best music tech gear of 2011: synths, DAWs, plug-ins, keyboards, apps and more

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I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.