Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Drums Week 25
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Guitar Amps
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Artist news
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Santana on Beck
  • Friday, I'm in Love
  • Knopfler's 4-note secret
  • 95k+ free music samples
Recommended reading
Pluginweek logo
Plugins Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
Plugins Future owns
Plugins Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
Plugins
Plugins To mark Plugin Week, here’s our pick of the most out-there sound design plugins you should grab now
Arturia V Collection 11
Soft Synths “Still the synth and keyboard collection to beat”: Arturia V Collection 11 Pro review
plugins
Tech "It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
te
Tech Teenage Engineering's TX-6, TP-7 and CM-15 are back in black
Camtronome
Gear & Gadgets Tick, tick, tick, tick, boom! Camtronome is the essential musical metronome app that you didn’t know you needed
  1. Tech
  2. Gear & Gadgets

New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (October 2015)

News
By Future Music, Computer Music ( Computer Music, Future Music ) published 8 October 2015

Software and hardware from the last month

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

Alesis Sample Rack

Alesis Sample Rack

With everything from new synths and effects to controllers and monitors to test recently, our tech team was working flat out in September.

Here, we've gathered up all of the products that went through the review process in our sister magazines Computer Music and Future Music and were featured on the site in the last month. First up, it's the Sample Rack from Alesis…

MusicRadar's verdict:

"If you already own a set of triggers, the Sample Rack is an all-round module for live and in the studio, with the added versatility of custom sample playback."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Alesis Sample Rack review

BUY: Alesis Sample Rack currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 1 of 22
Page 1 of 22
Korg iM1

Korg iM1

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Far more than just a glorified preset machine, iM1 is the dream app for iPad synth aficionados."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Korg iM1 review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 2 of 22
Page 2 of 22
Sonokinetic Tutti Vox

Sonokinetic Tutti Vox

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Another landmark release from Sonokinetic, delivering stunning, imaginative abstract choral effects and passages."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sonokinetic Tutti Vox review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 3 of 22
Page 3 of 22
Isotonik Studios eraserMice ProSession Toolkit

Isotonik Studios eraserMice ProSession Toolkit

MusicRadar's verdict:

"An essential tool for Live users looking to enhance their workflow and simplify entire sessions."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Isotonik Studios eraserMice ProSession Toolkit review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 4 of 22
Page 4 of 22
KV331 Audio SynthMaster 2.7

KV331 Audio SynthMaster 2.7

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A multifarious and fantastic-sounding synth that still lives up to its name in 2015."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: KV331 Audio SynthMaster 2.7 review

BUY: KV331 Audio SynthMaster 2.7 currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 5 of 22
Page 5 of 22
Heavyocity Gravity

Heavyocity Gravity

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Big, brash and boldly contemporary, Gravity has Heavyocity pushing the envelope of Kontakt scripting and sampling again, and is without doubt one of their best yet."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Heavyocity Gravity review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 6 of 22
Page 6 of 22
Sample Logic Cinematic Guitars Infinity

Sample Logic Cinematic Guitars Infinity

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A versatile collection of sound scoring tools that goes infinitely further than basic guitar sounds."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sample Logic Cinematic Guitars Infinity review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 7 of 22
Page 7 of 22
Wave Arts Tube Saturator 2

Wave Arts Tube Saturator 2

MusicRadar's verdict:

"The second version of Wave Arts' venerable plugin improves on the original with an expanded sonic palette, more flexible EQ and lower system overhead."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Wave Arts Tube Saturator 2 review

BUY: Wave Arts Tube Saturator 2 currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 8 of 22
Page 8 of 22
Roland System-1m Synthesizer

Roland System-1m Synthesizer

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A novel approach to analogue modelling, and great for dipping your toe into the 'cult of modular.'"

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Roland System-1m Synthesizer review

BUY: Roland System-1m Synthesizer currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 9 of 22
Page 9 of 22
Novation Launchpad Pro

Novation Launchpad Pro

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Flexible and intuitive – the Pro is one of the most creative and inspiring controllers we've tried."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Novation Launchpad Pro review

BUY: Novation Launchpad Pro currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 10 of 22
Page 10 of 22
Shure PG Alta DrumKit6 mic set

Shure PG Alta DrumKit6 mic set

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A fantastic looking and sounding set of microphones that could be a long lasting starter set for a budding studio engineer or a workhorse set for a professional performing musician."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Shure PG Alta DrumKit6 mic set review

BUY: Shure PG Alta DrumKit6 mic set currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 11 of 22
Page 11 of 22
Softube Heartbeat

Softube Heartbeat

MusicRadar's verdict:

"It may not be the most straightforward classic drum machine emulation, but Heartbeat is powerful, endlessly entertaining, and sounds truly thunderous."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Softube Heartbeat review

BUY: Softube Heartbeat currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 12 of 22
Page 12 of 22
Novation MoroderNova

Novation MoroderNova

MusicRadar's verdict:

"The MiniNova is still a powerful little synth and the 500 edition run makes it a solid investment too."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Novation MoroderNova review

BUY: Novation MoroderNova currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 13 of 22
Page 13 of 22
Acon Digital DeFilter

Acon Digital DeFilter

MusicRadar's verdict:

"Solid EQ matching, though the 'defiltering' process is better on speech than music, where it's as likely to hurt as it is to help."

3.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Acon Digital DeFilter review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 14 of 22
Page 14 of 22
Blue Cat Audio Dynamics 4

Blue Cat Audio Dynamics 4

MusicRadar's verdict:

"With its flexible, powerful approach and superb sound, Dynamics 4 could easily become your go-to dynamics plugin."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Blue Cat Audio Dynamics 4 review

BUY: Blue Cat Audio Dynamics 4 currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 15 of 22
Page 15 of 22
Renoise Redux

Renoise Redux

MusicRadar's verdict:

"In bringing the essence of Renoise to your DAW, Redux opens up a new world of audio software – its tracker workflow is something you'll either love or hate, though."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Renoise Redux review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 16 of 22
Page 16 of 22
Arturia BeatStep Pro

Arturia BeatStep Pro

MusicRadar's verdict:

"An awesome update to an innovative but so-so sequencer/controller results in one of the year's most desirable bits of kit!"

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Arturia BeatStep Pro review

BUY: Arturia BeatStep Pro currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

(Originally reviewed in ComputerMusic)

Page 17 of 22
Page 17 of 22
AudioThing Fog Convolver

AudioThing Fog Convolver

MusicRadar's verdict:

"The lack of posh reverb IRs is a weakness, but for weird sound design and experimentation, Fog Convolver is a powerful plugin."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: AudioThing Fog Convolver review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 18 of 22
Page 18 of 22
Native Instruments Symphony Series Brass Collection

Native Instruments Symphony Series Brass Collection

MusicRadar's verdict:

"These libraries represent the most sophisticated orchestral sample collection NI have released to date."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments Symphony Series Brass Collection review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 19 of 22
Page 19 of 22
M-Audio AV42 Monitors

M-Audio AV42 Monitors

MusicRadar's verdict:

"A welcome successor to the AV40, and one that performs admirably."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: M-Audio AV42 Monitors review

BUY: M-Audio AV42 Monitors currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 20 of 22
Page 20 of 22
Akai MPD232 Controller

Akai MPD232 Controller

MusicRadar's verdict:

"The MPD2s are intuitive, portable and versatile and the level of control onboard is impressive."

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Akai MPD232 Controller review

BUY: Akai MPD232 Controller currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

Page 21 of 22
Page 21 of 22
HoRNet HDD1

HoRNet HDD1

MusicRadar's verdict:

"HDD1 is kinda weird and old-school, but definitely has a sound that's worth hearing."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: HoRNet HDD1 review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 22 of 22
Page 22 of 22
Computer Music
Computer Music
Social Links Navigation

Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects… image
Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects…
…with the latest issue of Computer Music magazine
More Info
Read more
Pluginweek logo
Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
Plugins
To mark Plugin Week, here’s our pick of the most out-there sound design plugins you should grab now
plugins
"It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
Arturia V Collection 11
“Still the synth and keyboard collection to beat”: Arturia V Collection 11 Pro review
te
Teenage Engineering's TX-6, TP-7 and CM-15 are back in black
Latest in Gear & Gadgets
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more
Wunderkammer WoO.1
WoO.1 is a pocket-sized sampler designed for endless on-the-go looping
IK Multimedia
IK Multimedia launches new reverb plugin module
iZotope FXEQ
iZotopeʼs colourful new FXEQ multi-effects plugin lets you “paint” with saturation, reverb, and delay
Look Mum No Computer game
“OMG, modular synthesizers and video games? Sign. Me. Up”: Look Mum No Computer just made their own game
Ozzy and the ARP
“Why are you doing this!?”: Watch Ozzy Osbourne try to kickstart his ancient ARP 2600 vintage synth
Latest in News
Gibson Tony Iommi Humbucker: the all-new humbucker, a reissue of its first-ever signature pickup.
Gibson goes back to the beginning with reissue of its first-ever signature pickup for Black Sabbath icon Tony Iommi
Spandau Ballet in the early '80s
“It’s kind of gothic post-punk”: Spandau Ballet drop a lost early track from new box set
Photo of Mike JOYCE and SMITHS and MORRISSEY and Andy ROURKE and Johnny MARR; L-R: Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce (drums), Morrissey, Johnny Marr (playing Gibson ES-335 guitar), performing live on The Tube
“This book truly conveys what it felt like to be a member of the Smiths”: Mike Joyce’s memoir to be published in November
Jack Antonoff attends the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020
“He kind of approaches records like a plumber…”: Bartees Strange on super producer Jack Antonoff
k20
"We asked ourselves, what if we could rebuild the legendary K2000 V.A.S.T. synthesizer, but using today’s technology?": Kurzweil's K2061 and K2088 synths are now shipping
Forwards Festival Barry Can't Swim
Forwards Festival 2025 review: Orbital, Barry Can’t Swim, Olivia Dean, Jorja Smith and more

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...