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

Our tech team has powered through a stellar selection of gear this month, tackling everything from plugins galore to Neat microphones and plenty in between.

Here we take a look back at all of the hi-tech reviews that were published on the site in January, starting with the Focusrite Clarett 2Pre.

Read more: Focusrite Clarett 4Pre USB

MusicRadar's Verdict:

"Focusrite's attention to quality shines through with this relatively affordable, gorgeous-sounding, incredibly fast 10-in/4-out Thunderbolt interface.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Focusrite Clarett 2Pre

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

BUY: Focusrite Clarett 2Pre currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict:

"A great buy for chiptune fans, retro fetishists and anyone else with an interest in early console sounds.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: SampleScience SMROM

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict:

"Sample-import gripes aside, Addictive Trigger makes replacing drum elements fast and simple, if not literally addictive.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: XLN Audio Addictive Trigger

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

BUY: XLN Audio Addictive Trigger currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict:

"CinemorphX is up there with Spectrasonics Omnisphere when it comes to grand sound design, and we can't think of a bigger compliment than that.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sample Logic CinemorphX

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict:

"eMo D5 covers all dynamics bases with aplomb, from compression to de-essing, but at this price, you'd expect it to!”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: eMo D5 Dynamics

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

BUY: eMo D5 Dynamics currently available from:
US: Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict:

"Epica Bass ably fulfils its straightforward remit and sounds lovely doing it.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sam Spacey Epica Bass

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict:

"A massive improvement on Push 1, Push 2 is everything the original has always wanted to be, and more.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Ableton Push 2

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

BUY: Ableton Push 2 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”It falls short of its stated brief, and there's a whopping great filter bug, but this is still a fun and creative plugin at heart.”

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Beatskillz That Thing

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”A few niggles aside, Transify makes good on its promise of easy multiband transient shaping, and sounds great doing it.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Joey Sturgis Tones Transify

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”Much more than just a vinyl emulator, Vinyl Strip is one of the most interesting, versatile 'vintagiser' plugins we've used.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Audio Thing Vinyl Strip

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”We're not sure how Korg has pulled this off for the price but the company has nailed it. The Minilogue even gives more expensive synths a serious run for their money, and is pretty much an essential purchase.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Korg Minilogue

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Korg Minilogue currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”A lovely balance of comfort and sound quality creates headphones that can help craft great mixes.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Audio Technica ATH-R70x

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Audio Technica ATH-R70x currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”It narrows the gap between the software and hardware, bringing a more tactile/integrated experience.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Akai MPC Touch

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Akai MPC Touch currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”An impressively integrated hardware/software solution. Not cheap, but quality never is.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Waves DiGiGrid IOS

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Waves DiGiGrid IOS currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”Raises the iOS music making bar considerably. It's not perfect, but it is very impressive.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: WaveMachine Labs Auria Pro

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”The Bumblebee not only looks ultra-cool – it's an excellent plug-in-and-play recording solution.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Neat Bumblebee

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Neat Bumblebee currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”The H910 is enormously fun and the Marshall amps are capable of much more than axe-grinding.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: UAD Software v8.4 Plug-Ins

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”The 8.5 update comes highly recommended, and offers enough to warrant its price of entry.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Steinberg Cubase 8.5

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Steinberg Cubase 8.5 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”A great set of emulations. They add colour, depth and punch but retain a great deal of finesse and detail.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Plug-In Alliance Lindell Bundle

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”A top keyboard controller, and all those sounds make it one of the best synths on the market too.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Arturia KeyLab 88

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Arturia KeyLab 88 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”Quirky styling but a nice-sounding practical large diaphragm cardioid condenser suited to many tasks.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Neat King Bee

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Neat King Bee currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”DS-10 brings drum-specific transient shaping to your DAW, cleanly, simply and with excellent results.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: XLN Audio DS-10 Drum Shaper

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

BUY: XLN Audio DS-10 Drum Shaper currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”Yet another Minifooger that takes a standard effect and offers the user a whole range of new possibilities.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Moog Minifooger MF Flange

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: Moog Minifooger MF Flange currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”Capable of generating and processing a vast array of sounds, Falcon is a very big, powerful bird indeed – shame its included soundbank isn't similarly large, though.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: UVI Falcon

(Originally reviewed in Computer Music)

BUY: UVI Falcon currently available from:
US: Sweetwater

MusicRadar's Verdict:

”An enormous amount in a compact frame, with high-quality interfacing, software control and oodles of I/O.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: PreSonus Studio 192

(Originally reviewed in Future Music)

BUY: PreSonus Studio 192 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass