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
  • "She knew what she'd created": Back to Black
  • Trower's '80s supergroup
  • Music theory tricks
  • Stage Tour game
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

Oliver Nelson's favourite music software

News
By Computer Music
Published 15 June 2016

The Swedish house and nu-disco maestro likes his plugins to sound like real instruments

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

Ableton Live

Ableton Live

“My first DAW was Reason; I think it’s a great program to learn how to make electronic music. In the early days, it did have its limitations, which is maybe why I switched over to Ableton. Like Reason, it’s so easy to understand – you look at the screen and it all makes sense. Nothing is hidden away in a dark corner. That means you’re spending less time trying to find out how your DAW works and more time making music.”

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
AAS Chromaphone 2

AAS Chromaphone 2

“It’s a VST… a synthesizer… but it’s used for making organic sounds - things like marimbas and xylophones. But then you can take those realistic sounds and turn them inside out, back to front, and add them together in crazy ways.

"When I first heard it, it completely blew my mind. It’s the perfect blend of human and machine.”

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Arturia Minimoog V

Arturia Minimoog V

“I’ve maybe been a little dishonest including the Minimoog - I always use the Moog for basslines, but it’s usually a combination of VST layers and my hardware Sub 37.

"There are so many basses out there, but for me, you can’t beat that signature Moog sound.”

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
FabFilter Pro-Q 2

FabFilter Pro-Q 2

“Ableton is a great program; things like the Drum Rack have become part of my everyday life. But when it comes to EQ, I think you have to let your ears take control.

"I can’t sit here and say that the reason I use Pro-Q 2 is because it’s better than anything on Ableton, but my ears just seem to be more accustomed to the sound. It talks to my ears!”

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Cakewalk CA-2A

Cakewalk CA-2A

“I believe this is an emulation of the great LA-2A, and it gets used on everything. If you look at my mixes, you’ll see one of these on almost every track.

"Some people say ‘How can one compressor suit every sound?’ but that’s how I’ve worked from the beginning and it’s what I’m comfortable with. Why go searching for an answer to a problem if there isn’t actually a problem?!”

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
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.

Read more
tom vr
Artists Tom VR on "game-changing" Ableton Live tips and the hardware synth he can't stop talking about
 
 
John Dahlback
Artists “I’m very excited by AI if the person using it is also creative and not just lazy”: We catch up with Swedish house legend John Dahlbäck
 
 
Erol Alkan
Artists Erol Alkan on the gear that he trusts above all else
 
 
Will Yip
Artists Will Yip explains to us how he built his dream studio from the ground up, with some influence from Rick Rubin
 
 
William Orbit
Artists We look back at a classic William Orbit interview
 
 
Plugins
Plugins How to get recognisable pop sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
 
 
Latest in Software & Apps
topline
Tech Universal Audio's Topline Vocal Tune is now available for Apollo and UAD hardware
 
 
Tone3000 plugin offers NAM A2 support on your desktop and can be used as a standalone app or in your DAW.
Guitars Tone3000 launches a free open-source plugin for accessing its mammoth library of NAM A2 captures
 
 
audacity
Tech Audacity enters a “new era” with the biggest update in the free and open-source audio editor’s 26-year history
 
 
Reason Free
Plugins Reason Free puts 15 classic Reason devices in one free plugin that you can use in your existing DAW
 
 
Dreamtonics
Software & Apps Dreamtonics’ Instrument X provides a range of classical instruments - and expressive control over them - with a tiny footprint
 
 
bitwig
Tech Bitwig Studio 6.1 launches with “radically updated” Sampler device
 
 
Latest in News
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 12:  Billy Joel  attends The Music Of Billy Joel Annual Charity Concert at Carnegie Hall on March 12, 2026 in New York City.  (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage)
Artists Billy Joel confirms that he’s had surgery after being told that performing live was damaging his brain
 
 
Jill Scott, Prince, Stevie Wonder
Artists Jill Scott reveals how she had the "best night of my life" with Prince and Stevie Wonder
 
 
Lemmy in trademark mic action
Bass Guitars “Experience the gear that created their unmistakable sound”: Motorhead exhibition set to open with interactive element
 
 
Elektron Outbox 8
Audio Interfaces Outbox 8 can add multiple audio and CV outputs to your favourite Elektron groovebox – or any other class-compliant hardware
 
 
Brian Fallon and Brandon Flowers
Artists How Brian Fallon and Brandon Flowers teamed up to write a song with no chorus
 
 
A Harley Benton HSS electric guitar on a teal background
Guitars The best value guitars in the world just got even cheaper thanks to up to 60% off Harley Benton in the Thomann Guitar Days sale
 
 

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...