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

Sony Creative Software SpectraLayers Pro

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 183, Future Music issue 258, and Guitarist issue 360.

Scroll on for this month's top picks and click through to read each product's full review. First up: Sony Creative Software SpectraLayers Pro.

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Powerful but overly fiddly, SpectraLayers can give some amazing results if you've got the patience for it."

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sony Creative Software SpectraLayers Pro

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

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

Brainworx bx_rockrack

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"In terms of raw numbers, there's less here than most competitors, but what's there sounds absolutely fantastic."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Brainworx bx_rockrack

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 183)

BUY: Brainworx bx_rockrack currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

Garritan Classic Pipe organs

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Short of actually booking yourself in for a session at your local church, this is as good as it gets."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Garritan Classic Pipe organs

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

UVI String Machines

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Fantastic classic string synth sounds that don't cost the earth."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: UVI String Machines

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

BUY: UVI String Machines currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

WaveMachine Labs Auria

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"This really is a full-on professional DAW for iPad, albeit one that currently only records, processes and mixes audio, not MIDI."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: WaveMachine Labs Auria

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

Vlek Beatsurfing

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Beatsurfing is a deceptively powerful controller - very straightforward to use, yet capable of great depth and artistic inspiration."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Vlek Beatsurfing

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

Steinberg Retrologue

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"An extremely capable analogue synth with an attainable price tag."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Steinberg Retrologue

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

u-he The Dark Zebra

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The Dark Zebra is an odd semi-upgrade, and we're not totally sure how we feel about the price, but the quality of the patches and new synth modules is unquestionable."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: u-he The Dark Zebra

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

Intermorphic Noatikl 2

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"If melodic inspiration's what you need, Noatikl's generative wizardry can help - now with added sound generation!"

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Intermorphic Noatikl 2

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

PSP Audioware BussPressor

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Affordable, quality mix bus compression from the masters of dynamics processing, with all mod cons."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: PSP Audioware BussPressor

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

IK Multimedia ARC System 2

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"For anyone who's serious about getting the best sound from their setup, we strongly recommend ARC System 2."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: IK Multimedia ARC System 2

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

BUY: IK Multimedia ARC System 2 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Nomad Factory Magma

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A flexible, easy-to-use effects suite that sacrifices a certain amount of depth in favour of breadth."

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Nomad Factory Magma

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

BUY: Nomad Factory Magma currently available from:
US: Full Compass

XILS-Lab Oxium

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Quirky, fun and sonically lush, Oxium is another forward-thinking, characterful winner from XILS-Lab."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: XILS-Lab Oxium

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 183)

BUY: XILS-Lab Oxium currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

Roland Integra-7 Sound Module

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A sonic chameleon - a cross platform DAW editor/tablet app would complete this killer package."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Roland Integra-7 Sound Module

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 258)

BUY: Roland Integra-7 Sound Module currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

UAD-2 Sonnox EQ

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"You must decide which platform best suits your needs for this great-sounding EQ."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: UAD-2 Sonnox EQ

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 258)

FXpansion DCAM Dynamics

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Four excellent and diverse compressors from one of the finest development houses."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: FXpansion DCAM Dynamics

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 258)

BUY: FXpansion DCAM Dynamics currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

Vermona Retroverb Lancet

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A great processor box that offers something original and exciting. We defy anyone not to have fun with it."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Vermona Retroverb Lancet

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 258)

BUY: Vermona Retroverb Lancet currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247

Griffin StudioConnect

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The StudioConnect really does very little to connect you to your studio so maybe a name change is in order - and halve the price while you're at it."

2.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Griffin StudioConnect

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 258)

BUY: Griffin StudioConnect currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

Reloop Terminal Mix4

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Solid design with great jogwheels, but, bafflingly, the software only supports two of the four channels."

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Reloop Terminal Mix4

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 258)

BUY: Reloop Terminal Mix4 currently available from:
US: Full Compass

Sinevibes Array

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Delivers spectacular rhythmic multiband filtering, albeit with little in the way of fine control."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sinevibes Array

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 258)

Unity Audio The Rock MK2

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"An excellent pair of monitors that tell you the truth right across the audio spectrum."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Unity Audio The Rock MK2

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 258)

Thermionic Culture Solo Vulture

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A highly desirable item for those who appreciate what valves can do in the right hands."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Thermionic Culture Solo Vulture

(Reviewed in Future Music Magazine 258)

BUY: Thermionic Culture Solo Vulture currently available from:
UK: DV247

Numark 4Trak DJ Controller

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A large and well-specified controller with great build quality and a useful standalone mixer."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Numark 4Trak DJ Controller

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 258)

BUY: Numark 4Trak DJ Controller currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Full Compass

iZotope Alloy 2

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Alloy 2's take on the channel strip concept is futuristic, brilliantly designed and sounds fantastic."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: iZotope Alloy 2

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 184)

BUY: iZotope Alloy 2 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Rob Papen Predator-RE

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The best synth in Reason. Make it yours."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Rob Papen Predator-RE

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 184)

Steinberg Padshop Pro

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Making granular synthesis easy and fun, Pro is a must-upgrade for Padshop users and a bargain for everyone else."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Steinberg Padshop Pro

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 184)

Acoustica Mixcraft Pro Studio 6

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Not as generational a leap as v5, but still a very powerful, well-equipped DAW."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Acoustica Mixcraft Pro Studio 6

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 184)

BUY: Acoustica Mixcraft Pro Studio 6 currently available from:
US: Full Compass

Yonac Magellan

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A comprehensive, tactile synth for the iPad that's capable of creating some truly excellent sounds."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Yonac Magellan

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 184)