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
A laptop displaying a software synthesizer
Software & Apps Black Friday plugin deals 2025: Get the best early Black Friday deals on music software
A selection of Waves plugins on a fluorescent green background
Plugins Waves just made the first move on Black Friday with 3 jaw-dropping offers - and one’s completely free
verses gt
Artists Jacques Greene and Nosaj Thing on the making of their new collaborative project, Verses GT
Silva Bumpa
Tech Breakout producer Silva Bumpa on the secret to creating sub bass and UKG rhythms
jim-e stack
Tech “You can make the best album ever with just a laptop and plugins”: Jim-E Stack reveals his production secrets
Ableton Live Tutorial
Tech 5 creative ways to use distortion in Ableton Live: From punchier drums to dub techno delays
steve hauschildt
Artists Ambient maestro Steve Hauschildt on the obscure plugins, generative tools and '00s digital synths behind Aeropsia
Semtek aka DJ Persuasion
Artists 7 great house and techno tips from Don’t Be Afraid label boss Semtek (aka DJ Persuasion)
modeselektor
Artists "The 808 is still one of the sexiest drum machines ever built": Modeselektor on classic Roland gear
decap
Artists “I'm getting on an airplane, I'm listening to a song and it has my sound in it”: How DECAP's Drums That Knock became the must-have sample pack for modern producers
MARIBOU
Artists “Each of our albums had a synth that really excited us. The first was a Prophet ‘08, the second was the MS-20, and this time the Moog Matriarch is on every track”: Maribou State on Hallucinating Love
Ableton Live 12.3
Tech Ableton is playing catch-up with Live 12.3… but its best features are hidden beyond the headlines
Ableton Live MIDI tools tutorial
Music Production Tutorials Stuck for ideas? Here's how to create fresh basslines and melodies with Ableton Live 12’s MIDI tools
Adrian Sherwood
Artists Dub pioneer Adrian Sherwood on embracing AI and playing the studio like an instrument
imad royal
Producers & Engineers “I’m a big preset guy. If a preset’s called Fat Bass, there’s a 90% chance it’s actually a fat bass”: Rico Nasty and Benson Boone producer Imad Royal on saving time and staying focused in the studio
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
  2. Software & Apps

What So Not's favourite music software

News
By Computer Music ( Computer Music ) published 5 November 2018

Aussie producer and DJ Chris Emerson unveils his favourite tools for adding a little chaos in the studio

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

Ableton Live 10

Ableton Live 10

“I actually started out as a DJ and moved into ‘making songs’ via mash-ups, bootlegs and remixes. Ableton provided the perfect platform for that and I’ve been with it ever since

“It isn’t perfect, but what Live does offer is an insane amount of audio manipulation. It lets you do to things that make no sense, but it’s those crazy ideas that make songs stand out.”

Read Ableton Live 10 review

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Sonic Charge Synplant

Sonic Charge Synplant

“A tool that offers you the chance to experiment. All you need to do is grab a chord progression, set up an arpeggiator on Synplant and get tweaking.

“Start with the basic stuff, but then you can go right into the DNA of the sound; all sorts of random stuff. Pitch it up, down, flip it all around… even the humble mod wheel seems to add a hint of chaos!”

Read Sonic Charge Synplant review

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Lennardigital Sylenth1

Lennardigital Sylenth1

“Although I mess around with a lot of different synths, I only really use two main ones in the studio: Synplant and Sylenth1.

“If Synplant is the peculiar one, Sylenth1 is the easy-to-handle all-rounder. When struggling for a sound, I always go to Sylenth1.”

Read Lennardigital Sylenth1 review

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Cycling ’74 Max For Live

Cycling ’74 Max For Live

“I’ve only really scratched the surface of Max For Live, but what I’ve found - especially the LFO tools - sounds very cool and interesting.

“There’s so much possibility with Max, but I don’t want to spend all my time with sound design, not making any music. I’ve met people who are brilliant technicians, but when it comes to putting down a bassline, they can’t make a decision.”

Read more about Cycling ’74 Max For Live

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Soundtoys EchoBoy

Soundtoys EchoBoy

“Yeah, it’s a delay, but so much more. It’s that whole thing of modulating sound over time.

“You’ve got your basic chord progression, but you can send it into EchoBoy and that chord progression becomes ear candy. It’s constantly growing and shifting, and it keeps people interested in your song.”

Read Soundtoys Soundtoys 5 review

What So Not’s latest album, Not All The Beautiful Things, is out now.

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
verses gt
Jacques Greene and Nosaj Thing on the making of their new collaborative project, Verses GT
 
 
Silva Bumpa
Breakout producer Silva Bumpa on the secret to creating sub bass and UKG rhythms
 
 
jim-e stack
“You can make the best album ever with just a laptop and plugins”: Jim-E Stack reveals his production secrets
 
 
Ableton Live Tutorial
5 creative ways to use distortion in Ableton Live: From punchier drums to dub techno delays
 
 
steve hauschildt
Ambient maestro Steve Hauschildt on the obscure plugins, generative tools and '00s digital synths behind Aeropsia
 
 
Semtek aka DJ Persuasion
7 great house and techno tips from Don’t Be Afraid label boss Semtek (aka DJ Persuasion)
 
 
Latest in Software & Apps
ValhallaDSP ValhallaFutureVerb
“As close to perfect as we have ever heard”: ValhallaDSP’s new plugin is the product of eight years R&D
 
 
Tidal Upload
Tidal’s new artist-aimed upload service is currently offering ten independent artists $100,000 for publishing directly to the platform
 
 
A selection of Waves plugins on a fluorescent green background
Waves just made the first move on Black Friday with 3 jaw-dropping offers - and one’s completely free
 
 
autotune
"Metamorph isn't about replacing the human voice – it's about expanding what's possible when human creativity meets responsible AI": Antares unveils MetaMorph voice modelling plugin
 
 
Ableton Live MIDI tools tutorial
Stuck for ideas? Here's how to create fresh basslines and melodies with Ableton Live 12’s MIDI tools
 
 
ocean way studios
“Step inside the studio that made history”: Universal Audio's new plugin puts "America's Abbey Road" in your DAW
 
 
Latest in News
Close up of a person playing guitar
With a massive 89% discount, $99 for a year's worth of Guitar Tricks online lessons is the best way to upgrade your guitar playing this Black Friday
 
 
A Squier Tele and Squier Paranormal Offset Telecaster on a yellow background
Fender just launched its Black Friday sale and I can't believe the Player II Stratocaster is this cheap - save up to 30% off a range of Squier and Fender guitars
 
 
Gary Numan
“Very worrying to see him so emotional”: Gary Numan breaks down during gig after hearing "worst news ever"
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: (L-R) Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons attend Operation Smile Los Angeles Smile Fiesta at Candela La Brea on June 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Simon/Getty Images for Operation Smile)
"Why don't we take a moment, think about him looking down on us”: Kiss pay tribute to Ace Frehley in Las Vegas
 
 
at the BBC Introcuding SXSW Music Festival Showcase as part of SXSW 2024 Conference and Festivals held at the British Music Embassy - Austin on March 14, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Diego Donamaria/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images)
“So disappointing”: BBC Introducing under fire for featuring artist that uses AI
 
 
babyface
Babyface's recording studio – home to "125 Top 10 hits and 13 Grammy wins" – goes on sale for $7 million
 
 

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...