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  1. Tech

New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (October 2011)

News
By The MusicRadar Team published 3 October 2011

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

IK Multimedia Black 76 (€90)

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)

Page 1 of 15
Page 1 of 15
Native Instruments VC 76 (€99)

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)

Page 2 of 15
Page 2 of 15
Wizdom Music SampleWiz (£6.99)

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)

Page 3 of 15
Page 3 of 15
Big Fish Audio RiG: Urban Workstation (£129)

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

Page 4 of 15
Page 4 of 15
Fingerlab DM1 (£3.99)

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)

Page 5 of 15
Page 5 of 15
Elektron Octatrack DPS-1 (€1240)

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

Page 6 of 15
Page 6 of 15
Allen & Heath Xone:DB4 (£2,042)

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

Page 7 of 15
Page 7 of 15
Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5017 (£954)

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

Page 8 of 15
Page 8 of 15
Korg Wavedrum Mini (£299)

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)

Page 9 of 15
Page 9 of 15
Alesis Performance Pad Pro (£229)

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

Page 10 of 15
Page 10 of 15
Vengeance-Sound Mastering Suite: Stereo Bundle (£85)

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)

Page 11 of 15
Page 11 of 15
Behringer Truth B1031A (£230)

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

Page 12 of 15
Page 12 of 15
Cockos Reaper 4 ($65)

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)

Page 13 of 15
Page 13 of 15
Spitfire Audio Albion Orchestral Library (£349)

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)

Page 14 of 15
Page 14 of 15
Native Instruments Kontakt 5 (€379)

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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Page 15 of 15
The MusicRadar Team
The MusicRadar Team
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MusicRadar is the internet's most popular website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers.

GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.

TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.

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