New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (October 2013)
Glossy instrument/loop collection
Heavyocity Aeon Collection
Once again, MusicRadar's sister mags - Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm and Future Music - have published a month's worth of the best independent gear reviews around.
Here we've collected all the music-making hardware, app, DAW, DJ gear, plug-in and synth reviews posted throughout September.
All of the gear featured in this gallery was originally reviewed in Computer Music issue 195/196 and Future Music issue 269/270, or by MusicRadar's own reviews team.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The combination of Aeon Melodic and Rhythmic is a sample-based winner for sound designers and musicians alike."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Heavyocity Aeon Collection review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 195)
Filter and reverb module
Audio Damage Mangleverb
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Not a life-changer, but an essential (and affordable) purchase for fans of creative filtering."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Audio Damage Mangleverb review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 195)
Bargain Neve-style EQ plugins
Kuassa EVE-AT Bundle
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Classic analogue EQ emulations at a great price, the EVE-ATs aren't perfect but do a great job of capturing that Neve sound."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Kuassa EVE-AT Bundle review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 195)
An affordable Roland piano that keeps the sound and build quality high
Roland F-20
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A solid digital piano that sounds and feels great. The iOS device integration is a real bonus."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Roland F-20 review
BUY: Roland F-20 currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater
Sequencing filter that's a step ahead
Sinevibes Cluster
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Another characterful and sonically innovative offering from Sinevibes at an excellent price. Why still AU-only, though?"
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Sinevibes Cluster review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 195)
iOS version rebooted
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 3
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"One of the best-designed and easiest-to-use mobile DAWs that (quite a lot of) money can buy."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: IK Multimedia AmpliTube 3 review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 195)
BUY: IK Multimedia AmpliTube 3 currently available from:
UK: Andertons | Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Flagship digital/ analogue synth
DSI Prophet 12
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A deep-yet-intuitive synth that's killer live and in the studio. Inspiring and addictive."
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: DSI Prophet 12 review
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 270)
BUY: DSI Prophet 12 currently available from:
UK: Andertons | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
The most portable DJ set-up yet?
Native Instruments Kontrol Z1
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A well-built controller that's perfect for a compact and portable DJ set-up with Traktor DJ software."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments Kontrol Z1 review
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 270)
BUY: Native Instruments Kontrol Z1 currently available from:
UK: Andertons | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
"Songwriting assistant" software
Re-Compose Liquid Notes
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"With its musical approach and impressive results, Liquid Notes succeeds in enabling deep harmonic manipulation of MIDI arrangements."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Re-Compose Liquid Notes review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 195)
BUY: Re-Compose Liquid Notes currently available from:
UK: Thomann
Find out about the auto-levelling buzz
HoRNet AutoGain
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A bargain-priced winner - it makes you wonder why this sort of thing isn't built into DAWs as standard."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: HoRNet AutoGain review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 195)
AB referencing just got a lot easier
Sample Magic Magic AB
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"While Magic AB certainly isn't something you need, any producer would find this a very useful tool."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Sample Magic Magic AB review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 195)
Multi-track recorder/soundcard solution
Allen & Heath ICE-16
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Great analogue connectivity and great sound, plus the ICE-16 has some decent expansion options."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Allen & Heath ICE-16 review
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 270)
BUY: Allen & Heath ICE-16 currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Three EQ emulations
UAD Pultec Passive EQ Collection
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A trio of EQs which keep the sound and spirit of Pultec's designs alive and kicking."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: UAD Pultec Passive EQ Collection review
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 270)
Bi-polar parametered EQ plugin
UAD Millennia NSEQ-2 EQ
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The twin personalities of this processor are the key to its power. A powerful stereo EQ."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: UAD Millennia NSEQ-2 EQ review
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 270)
BUY: UAD Millennia NSEQ-2 EQ currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
Singing string plugin, or just strung out?
Embertone Friedlander Violin
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Another great instrument from Embertone designed with great care and attention to detail."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Embertone Friedlander Violin review
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 270)
Sampler/ workstation staple returns
Steinberg HALion 5
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A hugely powerful soft sampler/synth, now with user-friendly instruments, macros and even more synthesis options."
4 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Steinberg HALion 5 review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 196)
BUY: Steinberg HALion 5 currently available from:
UK: Andertons| Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass
Exhaustive, ambitious string library
VSL Dimension Strings
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A tour de force for string programmers, offering game-changing levels of realism."
5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: VSL Dimension Strings review
(Reviewed in Future Music issue 270)
BUY: VSL Dimension Strings currently available from:
US: Sweetwater
Video game-inspired bitcrusher plugin
Plogue chipcrusher
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"If you like the sound of vintage digital audio gear, you'll absolutely love the sound of chipcrusher. Filthy and useful!"
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Plogue chipcrusher review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 196)
Sample player designed for drums
Vengeance-Sound Phalanx
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Powerful, flexible and fun, Phalanx is Vengeance's best yet - add in a MIDI pad controller and beat-making nirvana awaits."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Vengeance-Sound Phalanx review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 196)
Super flexible MIDI controller
Livid Instruments Base
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Very powerful but demands a lot of prep on the part of the user, Base could well be the ultimate blank MIDI control canvas."
4.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Livid Instruments Base review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 196)
BUY: Livid Instruments Base currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247
Torturous tone plugin for sonic sadists
Sinevibes Malfunction
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Sinevibes' most brutal plugin yet, Malfunction brings controlled destruction to the (Mac-based) studio."
3.5 out of 5
FULL REVIEW: Sinevibes Malfunction review
(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 196)