New tech gear of the month: review round-up (April 2016)

It has been a jam-packed month for our tech team, with plugins galore and some sumptuous hardware coming into our office. Here, we look back on all of the reviews that appeared on the site in April. We start with a beautiful microphone from Aston.

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Delivers a natural and detailed sound across a wide variety of sources at a price that is hard to ignore.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Aston Microphones Origin review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Aston Microphones Origins currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Not a perfect hardware emulation by any means, but Disto sounds great in its own right and represents fantastic value.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: SKnote Disto review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict

“FG-Bomber is a solid alternative to regular dynamics processors.”

FULL REVIEW: Slate Digital FB-Bomber review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

BUY: Slate Digital FB-Bomber currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict

“A solid pad-based virtual drum machine let down by some frustrating omissions.”

FULL REVIEW: The Loop Loft Drum Direktor FNK-4 review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Ample Bass Acoustic II sounds jaw-droppingly realistic and offers more sound and performance shaping than most users will ever need. Beautiful.”

FULL REVIEW: Ample Sound Ample Bass Acoustic II review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Expanded algorithms, a slicker interface, and the nifty Screen Modules and Pos Mode make EAReverb 2 one of the best algorithmic 'verbs on the market.”

FULL REVIEW: eaReckon EARverb 2 review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Another quasi-magical plugin from zynaptiq, Unmix::Drums really does give you the ability to boost and attenuate drums in a mix, collectively or individually.”

FULL REVIEW: zynaptiq Unmix::Drums review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

BUY: zynaptiq Unmix::Drums currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Things have come on a lot in ten years, and v2 of Miroslav Philharmonik is a hugely powerful one-stop orchestral shop.”

FULL REVIEW: IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonic 2 review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

BUY: IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonic 2 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict

“The JX-03 is nicely tweakable (with all the PG-200's controls onboard) and it sounds great.”

FULL REVIEW: Roland Boutique JX-03 review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Roland Boutique JX-03 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict

“It's great to see this underappreciated, sonically unique, highly playable classic brought to life in software.”

FULL REVIEW: Soniccoutre Ondioline review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict

“From build quality through to its high-quality conversion and sonic capabilities, an excellent unit.”

FULL REVIEW: Audient ASP800 Multi-Channel Preamp review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Audient ASP800 Multi-Channel Preamp currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Shreddage 2 IBZ is capable of producing hard-hitting guitar riffs and lines practically indistinguishable from the real thing.”

FULL REVIEW: Impact Soundworks Shreddage 2 IBZ review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict

“There's plenty to recommend here both for those already wedded to the UAD platform and to entice the as yet uninitiated.”

FULL REVIEW: UAD Software v8.5 Plug-Ins review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict

“It could be twice the price and still be a bargain for saving us from 'cable-rage'!”

FULL REVIEW: Zivix PUC+ review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Zivix PUC+ currently available from:
UK: Thomann

MusicRadar's Verdict

“The iDS-10 could certainly serve as an effective sketchpad on the daily commute.”

FULL REVIEW: Korg iDS-10 review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict

“They may be fiddly, but the POs remain a great-value source of inspiring sounds and sonic fun.”

FULL REVIEW: Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator -20, -24 and -28 review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator -20, -24 and -28 currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict

“A powerful, innovative vocal synth that sounds awesome and isn't as hard to use as it looks, Phonem is another winner from the house of Palm.”

FULL REVIEW: Wolfgang Palm PPG Phonem review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict

“If you hanker after the character of the Jupiter-8 for a modest outlay, the JP-08 delivers the goods.”

FULL REVIEW: Roland Boutique JP-08 review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Roland Boutique JP-08 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict

“With Custom Series EQ, VMR becomes an even more flexible, interesting mix processing system.”

FULL REVIEW: Slate Digital Custom Series Bundle review

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

BUY: Slate Digital Custom Series Bundle currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict

“The key characteristics of the Juno-106 but without the reliability headaches. An essential purchase.”

FULL REVIEW: Roland Boutique JU-06 review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Roland Boutique JU-06 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict

“A cost-effective powered monitor that will give decent sound quality and not take up too much space.”

FULL REVIEW: Tascam VL-S5 Monitors review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Tascam VL-S5 Monitors currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict

“We'd say that we have just found a new favourite iOS beat-maker.”

FULL REVIEW: Arturia iSpark for iOS review

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)