Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Tiny Dancer
  • Browser DAWs
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Restring your guitar
  1. Tech
  2. Gear & Gadgets

New music tech gear of the month: review round-up (September 2012)

News
By The MusicRadar Team
Published 3 September 2012

August's new products at a glance

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

Propellerhead Reason 6.5 (£349)

Propellerhead Reason 6.5 (£349)

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, plug-ins, keyboards, and outboard gear to have fallen under the watchful eyes of Computer Music, Future Music, Rhythm Total Guitar and Guitarist’s test teams. All the gear on show here was originally reviewed in Computer Music issues 181/182, Future Music issues 256, and Guitarist issue 358.

Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: Propellerhead Software Reason 6.5

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Conceptually controversial, Reason 6.5 is nevertheless a technical masterpiece and a pivotal update.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Propellerhead Reason 6.5

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 181)

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Scuffham S-Gear ($90)

Scuffham S-Gear ($90)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“S-Gear eschews bells and whistles for a straightforward user experience and quality tonal options.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Scuffham S-Gear

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 358)

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Nord Electro 4D (£1,649)

Nord Electro 4D (£1,649)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“An evolutionary upgrade, the E4D subtly improves the E3 in all the right places.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Nord Electro 4D

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Lynx HiLo (£2,299)

Lynx HiLo (£2,299)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The HiLo offers a unique blend of features with an equally unique price/quality ratio.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Lynx HiLo

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

BUY: Lynx HiLo currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Yamaha 01V96i Digital Mixer (£1,979)

Yamaha 01V96i Digital Mixer (£1,979)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“If you like the idea of a compact-format digital desk, the 01V concept remains a winner.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Yamaha 01V96i Digital Mixer

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

BUY: Yamaha 01V96i Digital Mixer currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Eventide Blackhole ($199)

Eventide Blackhole ($199)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Sound designers and adventurous music producers will flip for Blackhole's versatile, hands-on features.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Eventide Blackhole

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

BUY: Eventide Blackhole currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Nektar Panorama P4 (£399)

Nektar Panorama P4 (£399)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A comprehensive and well- integrated controller that's ideal for power users of Reason.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Nektar Panorama P4

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

BUY: Nektar Panorama P4 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Voxengo Warmifier ($60)

Voxengo Warmifier ($60)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Want to inject digital mixes with a bit of analogue juice? Warmifier is still one of the best - and cheapest!”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Voxengo Warmifier

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Sonic Academy ANA (£50)

Sonic Academy ANA (£50)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Thanks to its PCM-based engine, ANA sounds big, bold and beautiful, while its solid feature-set seals the deal.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sonic Academy ANA

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

Liked this? Now read: The best music tech gear of 2011: synths, DAWs, plug-ins, keyboards, apps and more

Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Connect with Rhythm: via Twitter and Facebook

Get MusicRadar straight to your inbox: Sign up for the free weekly newsletter

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
The MusicRadar Team
The MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

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.

STARS: We talk to artists and musicians about their creative processes, digging deep into the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music-making that no other music website can.

Read more
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: A guide to the best music sales right now
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: A guide to the best music sales right now
 
 
A Yamaha URX44V audio interface on a worn wooden surface with a laptop and a mixing desk
Audio Interfaces Best audio interface 2026: For home recording, podcasting, and streaming - tested by experts
 
 
Superbooth 2026
Tech I went to Superbooth and these are the 10 bits of gear I wanted to take home with me
 
 
A MacBook Pro running Ableton Live DAW
Digital Audio Workstation Best DAWs 2026: The best digital audio workstations for PC and Mac
 
 
Latest in Gear & Gadgets
Pink Floyd DSOTM tape
Gear & Gadgets Pink Floyd’s legendary Dark Side of the Moon officially returns to the cassette format
 
 
Donner DBM-100 metronome review
Gear & Gadgets “It's extremely easy to use, but only once you’ve got to grips with what is quite an esoteric control interface”: Donner DBM-100 metronome review
 
 
Image of a recording studio with wood panels in the backround
Gear & Gadgets Amazon Prime Day has over 100 sound treatment deals. I run my own studio – these are the only 5 products that will actually work in your space
 
 
3 fans on a patterned blue background
Gear & Gadgets 4 Prime Day fan deals to keep your home studio cool and your creativity flowing during the UK heatwave – plus, 3 practical reasons it's a wise investment for any musician
 
 
Kawai ES-120B in our testing studio
Gear & Gadgets Thomann has taken the fight to Amazon with its Prime Day-beating Music Days sale – save up to 60% on big gear brands including Kawai, D'Angelico, Slate Digital, and so much more
 
 
Electro-Voice speaker on green and blue background
Gear & Gadgets Thomann just dropped a massive sale on gig-ready live sound gear with up to 50% off
 
 
Latest in News
Glen Hansard watches performance of Freddie Mercury impersonator Brian Keville, during the annual Christmas Eve busk in aid of the Dublin Simon Community outside the Gaiety Theater in Dublin.
Artists Bono, Bob Geldof, Bruce Springsteen, Billie Eilish and Finneas mourn Glen Hansard
 
 
Mastodon pictured after performing on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2021 [L-R]: Brent Hinds, Troy Sanders, Brann Dailor, and Bill Kelliher.
Artists Mastodon's Brann Dailor and Troy Sanders on their complicated relationship with the late Brent Hinds
 
 
refx
Tech ReFX’s Rippler promises to “emulate acoustic instruments both real and imagined” with its advanced physical modelling engine
 
 
Olivia Dean performs 'Man I Need' on stage during The BRIT Awards 2026 at Co-op Live on February 28, 2026 in Manchester, England.
Music Industry Olivia Dean, Paul McCartney and Raye score Mercury Prize 2026 'best album' nominations
 
 
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 19: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook of BTS perform during the Topps Final Halftime Show in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match
Music Industry Grammys CEO defends new 'Asian Pop' category after BTS rule themselves out
 
 
The Beatles
Singles And Albums The Beatles' Rubber Soul Special Edition contains a previously unheard John Lennon song
 
 

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

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • 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...