musicradar

Every month, MusicRadar's industry-leading sister magazines - Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm and Future Music - publish the best independent and in-depth music-making gear reviews.

We've collated the latest plug-ins, apps, DJ gear and other hardware to have fallen under the watchful eyes of Computer Music, Future Music, Rhythm, Total Guitar and Guitarist's test teams. All the gear on show here was originally reviewed in Computer Music issue 184, Future Music issue 259 and Guitarist issue 361.

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"It all adds up to enough editing and signal-processing power to make your FiRe exports (to SoundCloud, Dropbox, iTunes or over FTP) far more polished than before."

FULL REVIEW:Audiofile Engineering FiRe 2

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 185)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Emulation One also sounds great, although more work would be required to bed its idiosyncratic but utterly lovable tones into the modern mix - unless an overtly retro sound is your goal, in which case it becomes even more of a winner."

FULL REVIEW:UltimateSoundBank Emulation One

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 185)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A pretty playable instrument, certainly, and arguably more characterful than its Grand sibling."

FULL REVIEW:Toontrack EZkeys Upright Piano

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 185)

BUY: Toontrack EZkeys Upright Piano currently available from:
UK/Europe:Andertons Music Co. | Thomann
USA:Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Softube flex their analogue emulation muscles with this great bundle."

FULL REVIEW:Softube Summit Audio Grand Channel

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 185)

BUY: Softube Summit Audio Grand Channel currently available from:
UK/Europe:Thomann
USA:Full Compass

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"One of the best, most professional synths on iPad, Wavegenerator will knock the socks off PPG fans and newcomers alike."

FULL REVIEW:Wolfgang Palm PPG Wavegenerator

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 185)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Justifying the price tag, TAL-U-NO-LX sounds right on the money - hopefully TAL addicts won't mind paying for it!"

FULL REVIEW:Togu Audio Line TAL-U-NO-LX

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 185)

BUY: Togu Audio Line TAL-U-NO-LX currently available from:
UK/Europe:Plugin Boutique

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"It tries a little too hard at times but the XW-P1 rewards your patience with some great features."

FULL REVIEW:Casio XW-P1 Synthesizer

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 261)

BUY: Casio XW-P1 Synthesizer currently available from:
UK/Europe:Thomann | Gear4Music
USA:Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Great sound, flexibility on tap and the software/hardware relationship works well."

FULL REVIEW:MOTU Track 16 Interface

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 260)

BUY: MOTU Track 16 Interface currently available from:
UK/Europe:Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA:Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"If you're looking for 'Pad powered keys, these are our new favourites."

FULL REVIEW:IK Multimedia iRig Keys

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 260)

BUY: IK Multimedia iRig Keys currently available from:
UK/Europe:Thomann | Absolute Music
USA:Sweetwater | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Big, bold and powerful, these are truly professional monitors - in the right room they will shine."

FULL REVIEW:Unity Audio Boulders

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 260)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Looking to get the best sound from your mics and instruments? The Sonora 2 is a great place to start."

FULL REVIEW:Sontronics Sonora 2

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 260)

BUY: Sontronics Sonora 2 currently available from:
UK/Europe:Absolute Music

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"It might be small, but the big features could attract a new generation of Mackie lovers."

FULL REVIEW:Mackie DL1608 iPad Mixer

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 260)

BUY: Mackie DL1608 iPad Mixer currently available from:
UK/Europe:Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA:Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A solid workstation, with great keyboard sounds and DAW integration, at a good price."

FULL REVIEW:Audio Technica AT2020 USB

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 260)

BUY: Audio Technica AT2020 USB currently available from:
UK/Europe:Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Scan Pro Audio | Gear4Music
USA:Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Particularly useful for stereoising beats and thickening basses, bx_stereomaker is a powerful mixing tool."

FULL REVIEW:Brainworx bx_stereomaker

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 260)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"This is a very niche product for a niche crowd, but it will transform the way you view the DX7 and if you're an FM nut, it'll take your beloved synth to the next level."

FULL REVIEW:Electronic Music Works DX700

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 260)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Great sounding and well featured, the X4 is a must to check out in the sub £1,000 bracket."

FULL REVIEW:Dave Smith Instruments Mopho X4

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 260)

BUY: Dave Smith Instruments Mopho X4 currently available from:
UK/Europe:Thomann
USA:Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Forte sounds great, integrates seamlessly and, while it's not very original, looks good."

FULL REVIEW:Focusrite Forte USB Interface

(Reviewed in Future Music issue 260)

BUY: Focusrite Forte USB Interface currently available from:
UK/Europe:Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Scan Pro Audio | Gear4Music
USA:Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"An absolute classic taken to dazzling new heights, LuSH-101 proves to be well worth the wait, despite a few flaws."

FULL REVIEW:D16 Group LusH-101

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 186)

BUY: D16 Group LusH-101 currently available from:
UK/Europe:Plugin Boutique

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A superb synth with slick customisable waveforms and a brilliant cloud-based preset library."

FULL REVIEW:Cableguys Curve 2

(Reviewed in Computer Music issue 186)