New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (October 2011)
This limiting amplifier plug-in isn't too limited in capability
IK Multimedia Black 76 (€90)
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, controllers, DAWs, outboard, samplers, apps, monitors and other products to have fallen under the watchful eyes of Computer Music and Future Music’s test teams. All the gear on show here was originally reviewed in Computer Music issue 169/170 and Future Music issue 244.
Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: IK Multimedia’s Black 76
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Black 76 delivers the all-buttons-in character especially well. No plug-in has totally nailed the sound of the 1176 hardware, but IK's Black 76 comes very close.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: IK Multimedia Black 76
(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 169)
A UREI 1176-style compressor plug-in
Native Instruments VC 76 (€99)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Overall, despite the niggles, this is a good emulation with some useful extras.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments VC 76
(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 169)
Great versatility in an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch sampling app
Wizdom Music SampleWiz (£6.99)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“SampleWiz is a winner. If we wanted for anything, it would be multi-sampling. However, that might compromise the instrument's immediacy, and that simply wouldn't do.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Wizdom Music SampleWiz
(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 169)
Aiming to be a complete rig of urban sounds in one virtual instrument
Big Fish Audio RiG: Urban Workstation (£129)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Overall, we feel that the patches could incorporate the onboard effects better, and with the exception of the drum sounds and synth patches, there's little here that's explicitly 'urban'. Even so, the underlying sample set is pretty good.”
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Big Fish Audio RiG: Urban Workstation
(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 169)
BUY: Big Fish Audio RiG: Urban Workstation currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
Play the drums with just one little finger
Fingerlab DM1 (£3.99)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“At present the omissions make DM1 more of a casual plaything than a serious proposition. We can't deny that we had fun with it, though.”
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Fingerlab DM1
(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 169)
Is this Swedish sampler the second-coming of hardware sampling?
Elektron Octatrack DPS-1 (€1240)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Elektron's reimagining results in a unique approach to sample-based composition and performance.”
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Elektron Octatrack DPS-1
(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)
BUY: Elektron Octatrack DPS-1 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
Is this flagship DJ mixer the Rolls Royce of club mixers?
Allen & Heath Xone:DB4 (£2,042)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Pretty much the ultimate mixer. Once you've mastered it you can really steal the show.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Allen & Heath Xone:DB4
(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)
BUY: Allen & Heath Xone:DB4 currently available from:
UK: DV247
From audio engineering nobility comes recording mobility
Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5017 (£954)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Quality tones in software with plenty of tweakability.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5017
(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)
BUY: Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5017 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
A smaller, more portable follow-up to the success of last year's model
Korg Wavedrum Mini (£299)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Slimming down the feature set loses a large part of the Wavedrum's appeal.”
3 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Korg Wavedrum Mini
(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)
We give this latest percussion pad a thorough beating
Alesis Performance Pad Pro (£229)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“It sounds okay and the drum machine is a bonus, but it's too basic to wear the 'pro' badge.”
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Alesis Performance Pad Pro
(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)
BUY: Alesis Performance Pad Pro currently available from:
UK: DV247
Armed with a new bundle of stereo plugs, we get ready to feel the width
Vengeance-Sound Mastering Suite: Stereo Bundle (£85)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“From subtle enhancement to ultra-wide weirdness, this plug-in caters for all stereo situations.”
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Vengeance Mastering Suite: Stereo Bundle
(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)
The Truth range gets a familiar new sibling…
Behringer Truth B1031A (£230)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“A quality set of active monitors at a breakthrough price. Thoroughly recommended for the money.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Behringer Truth B1031A Active Monitors
(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)
BUY: Behringer Truth B1031A Active Monitors currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
This beloved bargain DAW undergoes an evolutionary update with just the right tweaks and touches
Cockos Reaper 4 ($65)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Reaper is a genuine alternative to more blinged-out DAWs, and it continues to improve at a scarily rapid pace.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Cockos Reaper 4
(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 170)
If you've looked at orchestral sample libraries but baulked at their prices, read on
Spitfire Audio Albion Orchestral Library (£349)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“Great-sounding and diverse orchestral samples at a wallet-pleasing price.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Spitfire Audio Albion Orchestral Library
(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)
As NI's Komplete 8 bundle touches down, their super-sampler reaches v5
Native Instruments Kontakt 5 (€379)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
“A good update rather than a mind-blowing one, but taken as a whole, Kontakt is still the ultimate sampler.”
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments Kontakt 5
(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 170)
Liked this? Now read: The best music tech gear of 2010: synths, DAWs, plug-ins and more
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