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
  • Black Friday
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Kids hands on a beginner keyboard
Keyboards & Pianos Best keyboards for beginners 2025: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
Man playing Roland TD716 electronic drum set in a studio
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum sets 2025: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
A Boss RC-10R looper pedal on a wooden floor
Guitar Pedals Best looper pedals 2025: My favourite loop stations for every budget
Apple iMac M4
Computers Best PCs for music production 2025: Apple Macs and Windows machines for your home studio
Sennheiser in ear monitors on a lit up dj controller
Studio Monitors Best budget in-ear monitors 2025: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
An Apple MacBook Air M4 on a desk with audio interface, headphones, and MIDI controller
Computers Best laptop for music production 2025: For home studios and mobile music-making - tested by experts
A pair of Sennheiser HD 490 Pro studio headphones on a mixing desk
Headphones Best studio headphones 2025: my pick of cans for mixing, mastering, and monitoring - tested by a working musician and producer
Akai MPC Live III
Tech “A truly go-anywhere production box that’s determined to keep you away from a laptop”: Akai MPC Live III review
TC Electronic Polytune clip-on tuner on a Martin acoustic guitar headstock
Guitar Tuners Best clip-on guitar tuners 2025: Top headstock and soundhole tuners to buy right now
The t.bone RB 500 ribbon microphone in front of a guitar amp
Microphones Best cheap microphones for recording 2025: Budget microphones for the home studio
Elizabeth J. Birch
Tech How innovative minds are developing new technology to support music makers with disabilities
A home music studio with MIDI keyboard, Mac, and dual screens showing a DAW
Recording Best Christmas gifts for music producers 2025: 9 affordable ideas they'll actually use
Man in green jumper received a gift from a man in a red jumper
Guitars Best Christmas gifts for musicians 2025: 21 affordable festive present ideas for music-makers (which they'll genuinely love)
Ableton Live 12.3
Tech Ableton is playing catch-up with Live 12.3… but its best features are hidden beyond the headlines
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
More
  • Pete Townshend on smashing - and fixing - his guitars
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • AI slop hits #1
  • The pain that birthed Don't Speak
  • Europe vs AI
  1. Tech

The best music tech innovations of 2017

News
By MusicRadar published 5 December 2017

Not just new products, but new ideas

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

Music technology was born out of innovation, and software developers and hardware manufacturers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Some do this by creating products of the sort that we’ve never seen before, while others consider how we work and attempt to make our creative lives easier.

In recognition of those who’ve sought to break new ground this year, we put together a list of what we considered to be the best music tech innovations of 2017 and asked you to vote for the one that you considered to be the most game changing. Click through the gallery to discover your winner.

The MusicRadar Best in music tech awards 2017 are brought to you in association with Softube - Tools for the Audio Professional

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
nuraphone

nuraphone

They say: "We all hear differently. The nuraphone uses a self-learning engine to automatically tune to your unique hearing bringing your music into stunning focus. Discover the magic of the nuraphone."

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Sonicsmith Audio Controlled Oscillator

Sonicsmith Audio Controlled Oscillator

They say: "The ACO chip can track the fundamental frequency (aka pitch) of an incoming audio signal and play an analogue synth along with the source at extremely high and dynamic rates so latency is imperceptible. In fact, the ACO’s latency cannot be measured in milliseconds. You’ll have to steer off to single-digit microseconds to measure latency from this silicon marvel. This ACO can also harmonise from the input audio on a musical scale. The result? It’s the quickest and smoothest “pitch-tracking and harmonisation” effect you’ve ever heard. Only this is not a sound effect. It’s an actual synth."

Find out more about Sonicsmith Audio Controlled Oscillator

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Sensel Morph

Sensel Morph

We said: "Morph is a pressure-sensitive, multitouch input device. Nothing unusual about that, you might think, but the Big Idea here is that the control surface is completely customisable, so you can turn it into anything you like."

Find out more about Sensel Morph

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Accusonus Regroover Pro

Accusonus Regroover Pro

We said: "Regroover may be a little unsure of its own remit, but that just makes it intriguing and open-ended. We can see it evolving into something truly special."

Read Accusonus Regroover review

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Eventide Fission

Eventide Fission

We said: "With its innovative Structural Effects splitting algorithm and stunning signal processors, Fission is a brilliant plugin for both corrective and creative manipulation."

Read Eventide Fission review

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Loopmasters Loopcloud

Loopmasters Loopcloud

We said: "Sample maven Loopmasters is promising what it describes as an "industry first" with Loopcloud, a new platform for managing your samples, MIDI files and presets."

Find out more about Loopmasters Loopcloud

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Polyend Perc Pro

Polyend Perc Pro

We said: "Perc Pro is straightforward to set up, can handle most ‘human’ drumming tasks, and also delivers a hefty dose of creativity to your music-making life." 

Read Polyend Perc Pro review

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Winner: Teenage Engineering PO-32 Tonic

Winner: Teenage Engineering PO-32 Tonic

We said: "The PO-32 is a fun and inspiring noise-maker, and the added MicroTonic compatibility broadens its sonic scope considerably."

Read Teenage Engineering PO-32 Tonic review

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
MusicRadar
MusicRadar
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the number one 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 musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the craft of music-making that no other music website can.
Read more
Elizabeth J. Birch
How innovative minds are developing new technology to support music makers with disabilities
 
 
A home music studio with MIDI keyboard, Mac, and dual screens showing a DAW
Best Christmas gifts for music producers 2025: 9 affordable ideas they'll actually use
 
 
Man in green jumper received a gift from a man in a red jumper
Best Christmas gifts for musicians 2025: 21 affordable festive present ideas for music-makers (which they'll genuinely love)
 
 
Sennheiser in ear monitors on a lit up dj controller
Best budget in-ear monitors 2025: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
 
 
Ableton Live 12.3
Ableton is playing catch-up with Live 12.3… but its best features are hidden beyond the headlines
 
 
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Latest in Tech
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Black Friday has officially kicked off, with the likes of Sweetwater and Guitar Center dropping massive sales
 
 
Artificial intelligence music and sound concept. Represented with digital circuits and advanced algorithms in a high-tech setting, showcasing modern technological advancements and innovation
It’s now nearly impossible to detect whether a track is human or AI-made, new survey reveals
 
 
Elizabeth J. Birch
How innovative minds are developing new technology to support music makers with disabilities
 
 
Pete Townshend of The Who Performs At Acrisure Arena at Acrisure Arena on October 01, 2025 in Palm Springs, California
“There might be hits”: Why Pete Townshend is interested in using AI
 
 
Guitar Center Black Friday sale
Guitar Center just dropped its biggest sale of the year, with thousands of discounts and up to 40% off for Black Friday
 
 
Helene Fischer is amongst the artists whose copyright has been ruled infiringed
“The internet is not a self-service store”: Victory for musicians against OpenAI in German court
 
 
Latest in News
Rick Rubin and Anthony Kiedis during Lost in Translation DVD Launch Party - Inside at Koi Restaurant in Los Angeles, California, United States. ***Exclusive*** (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
"Anthony sounds old": Rick Rubin's unusual mix feedback on 2006's Stadium Arcadium
 
 
Disclosure
“One of the greatest electronic music songs of all time”: Disclosure officially release their edit of a ‘90s club classic
 
 
Joshua Olusanya during his record-breaking performance
“My legs began to shake and my fingers cramped": What it’s like to play the trumpet non-stop for 25 hours
 
 
Alex Skolnick of Testament shows off his signature ESP singlecut as he performs at Belgium's Alcatraz Festival in 2024. On the right, Kiko Loureiro and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth photographed in the corridors backstage at Wembley Arena in 2015.
Alex Skolnick on the time he was on standby for Megadeth – and what to do when you can’t match a player lick for lick
 
 
An Alesis Strata Core electronic drum set on a yellow background
I’ve seen a lot of Black Friday sales, but this one’s next level - Sweetwater just dropped thousands of discounts of up to 80% off guitars, drums, keys, and more
 
 
Pete Townshend tosses his electric guitar in mid-air as he performs onstage at Atwood Stadium on August 23, 1967 in Flint Michigan. This is the same night that Keith had his 21st (actually his 20th) birthday party and was arrested and banned for life from the Holiday Inn chain of hotels
“I was just making sure I left my mark”: Pete Townshend smashed a guitar at every show of The Who’s first US tour
 
 

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
  • 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...