Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Plugin Week 25
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Plugin Week A-Z
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
Pluginweek logo
Plugins Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
Riva Starr
Artists “I have an original 909 – every time I use it I feel like I’m ruining it”: Riva Starr's studio essentials
Plugins Future owns
Plugins Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
ARMNHMR
Djs ARMNHMR on their tools of the trade
Behringer Model D
Soft Synths 10 producers share the studio gear they can’t live without
lone
Computers Lone on how he creates his technicolour, rave-adjacent electronica
loukeman
Artists Loukeman reveals his favourite plugins and unusual production techniques
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

Steve Lawler's favourite music software

News
By Computer Music ( Computer Music ) published 4 July 2011

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

Ableton Live

Ableton Live

“I use Ableton Live as a slave in the background of Logic on most of the singles and remixes that I make. It’s a really cool program for chopping up loops and messing around with noise to create intricate sounds. I create a lot of my soundscape here - those sounds and noises that sit quietly in the background of a track to give it some depth and mood.”

Read Ableton Live 8 review

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Spectrasonics Trilian

Spectrasonics Trilian

“This is the ultimate bass module - a one-stop shop for every kind of bass sound you could ever want or need to use. Trilian also includes the classic - and now discontinued - Trilogy bass module. I like the way that I can envelope the bass to really squeeze it tight and produce a beautiful compressed warm bass. In my opinion, Trilian is a must for every studio.”

Read Spectrasonics Trilian review

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Sonic Charge MicroTonic

Sonic Charge MicroTonic

“This is a powerful little tool for coming up with techy rhythms and randomisations. If you’re playing around with it and it drops something very strange on you, you can then dissect it and take away just the small intricate sounds/parts that you want. After that, you can add onboard FX and move the sound pattern around to create some very interesting ideas. MicroTonic has a unique sound - very synthetic and futuristic. It’s a must for any techno or dubstep producer.”

Read Sonic Charge MicroTonic review

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Native Instruments Reaktor

Native Instruments Reaktor

“You still can’t beat this modular synth for out-there sounds. When you’re searching for something to make your weird and wonderful, glitched-up, futuristic leads, this is the place to go. Reaktor is a monster of a plug-in, and it contains so much to do and fuck with.”

Read Native Instruments Reaktor 5.5 review

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Native Instruments Maschine

Native Instruments Maschine

“I like using Maschine because it reminds me of the old Akai samplers. It’s a nice way to play around and create some interesting drum programming. I always appreciate having something in my studio that allows me to get hands-on with tasks like the programming of drums.”

Read Native Instruments Maschine review

Steve Lawler’s Loopmasters sample pack is out now - click here to buy.

www.djstevelawler.com

Liked this? Now read: Carl Craig's favourite music software

Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

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.

Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects… image
Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects…
…with the latest issue of Computer Music magazine
More Info
Read more
Pluginweek logo
Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
Riva Starr
“I have an original 909 – every time I use it I feel like I’m ruining it”: Riva Starr's studio essentials
Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
ARMNHMR
ARMNHMR on their tools of the trade
Behringer Model D
10 producers share the studio gear they can’t live without
lone
Lone on how he creates his technicolour, rave-adjacent electronica
Latest in Software & Apps
fl studio
FL Studio 2025 introduces AI assistant that offers music production advice and helps you use the DAW
Forever89 Visco 2
Visco 2.0 turns Forever89's boundary-pushing drum machine into a polysynth – hands-on
Waves 4th of July
Waves just made building a pro-level plugin chain a lot cheaper - grab 2 for $59.99 or 4 for $99.99
Fors Pivot
Pivot is a ‘no-nonsense’ FM synth plugin from the designer of one of our favourite hardware instruments
Atlas DSP - Your Final Steps
Atlas DSP, Your Last Steps Review
Plugins
How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
Latest in News
Exodus Gary Holt
"It might have been like 12 people there”: Exodus’ Gary Holt pulls zero punches in his new autobiography
blur and oasis
“I am happy to accept and concede defeat”: Damon Albarn just admitted that Oasis won
Jeff Lynne ELO
"Jeff is devastated": ELO's last ever mega-gig plunged into jeopardy after last-minute cancellation of last night's Manchester show
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: It's your last chance to grab a Prime Day deal on gear from Fender, Roland, Casio, Yamaha, Toontrack & more - but you'll have to be quick
Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino StingRay: the bass legend's new signature model is offered fretted or fretless, and in a deep and luxurious 79 Burst finish.
Pino Palladino teams up with EBMM for a signature StingRay inspired by the bass that started it all
Amerie
How Amerie created a ‘00s R&B/funk classic with producer Rich Harrison

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

  • 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...