New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (September 2010)
This classic virtual studio has been refurbished with some killer new kit
Propellerhead Software Reason 5 (£300)
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 DAWs, synths, plug-ins and iOS apps 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 156 and Future Music issue 231 and published on MusicRadar throughout August and September.
Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: Propellerhead’s Reason 5
An update for Reason's killer little sibling
Propellerhead Software Record 1.5 (£235)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Can Hypersonic's spiritual successor make the grade?
Steinberg HALion Sonic (£210)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
We inspect the latest addition to Roland's legendary Juno line
Roland Juno-Gi (£999)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
More than just a vocoder
VirSyn iVoxel (£6.99)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Create complete tracks in iOS
Blip Interactive NanoStudio (£8.99)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
An entry-level recording solution aimed at guitarists
Cakewalk V-Studio 20 (£260)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
The 'software-gone-hard' Origin gets mounted onto a keyboard
Arturia Origin Keyboard (£2,499)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Reaktor's long-awaited makeover finally lands
Native Instruments Reaktor 5.5 (€379)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Do you like it LOUD? Then listen up...
Slate Digital FG-X (£200)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
We plug in yet another pocket-sized synth from MFB
MFB Nanozwerg (£175)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Don't already own a Pultec style EQ? Maybe it's time to jump on the tube train
Softube Tube-Tech PE 1C (£160)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
It's been six years since their last refresh, but the Electribes are back
Korg Electribe ESX-1 SD & EMX-1 SD (£516)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
This spectrally explicit plug-in gets us hot and bothered...
Expert Sleepers Spectral Conquest ($29)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
We're pumped to get our hands on this revised rhythmic multi-effect
Roger Linn AdrenaLinn Sync v2 (€99)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
The MR2 is a compact, high-fidelity portable recorder, suitable for just about anywhere
Korg MR2 High Resolution Mobile Recorder (£645)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
A controller keyboard with a built-in synth
E-MU Longboard 61 (£312)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Alesis' bargain board aims to tick the boxes for beginners
Alesis Q49 (£80)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
A modulation powered multi-effect
Artificial Audio Quartz (€99)
MusicRadar’s verdict:
Blockbusting samplist EastWest delivers a string library with big-screen flavour