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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, controllers, DAWs, outboard, samplers, apps, monitors and other products to have fallen under the watchful eyes of Computer Music and Future Music’s test teams. All the gear on show here was originally reviewed in Computer Music issue 169/170 and Future Music issue 244.

Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: IK Multimedia’s Black 76

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Black 76 delivers the all-buttons-in character especially well. No plug-in has totally nailed the sound of the 1176 hardware, but IK's Black 76 comes very close.”

FULL REVIEW:IK Multimedia Black 76

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 169)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Overall, despite the niggles, this is a good emulation with some useful extras.”

FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments VC 76

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 169)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“SampleWiz is a winner. If we wanted for anything, it would be multi-sampling. However, that might compromise the instrument's immediacy, and that simply wouldn't do.”

FULL REVIEW: Wizdom Music SampleWiz

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 169)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Overall, we feel that the patches could incorporate the onboard effects better, and with the exception of the drum sounds and synth patches, there's little here that's explicitly 'urban'. Even so, the underlying sample set is pretty good.”

FULL REVIEW: Big Fish Audio RiG: Urban Workstation

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 169)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“At present the omissions make DM1 more of a casual plaything than a serious proposition. We can't deny that we had fun with it, though.”

FULL REVIEW:Fingerlab DM1

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 169)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Elektron's reimagining results in a unique approach to sample-based composition and performance.”

Elektron Octatrack DPS-1 currently available from Thomann | WoodBrass

FULL REVIEW: Elektron Octatrack DPS-1

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Pretty much the ultimate mixer. Once you've mastered it you can really steal the show.”

BUY: Allen & Heath Xone:DB4 currently available from Thomann | WoodBrass

FULL REVIEW: Allen & Heath Xone:DB4

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Quality tones in software with plenty of tweakability.”

BUY: Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5017 currently available from Thomann

FULL REVIEW: Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5017

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Slimming down the feature set loses a large part of the Wavedrum's appeal.”

BUY: Korg Wavedrum Mini currently available from Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Soundslive | GG-Digital | WoodBrass

FULL REVIEW: Korg Wavedrum Mini

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“It sounds okay and the drum machine is a bonus, but it's too basic to wear the 'pro' badge.”

BUY: Alesis Performance Pad Pro currently available from Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Soundslive | GG-Digital | WoodBrass

FULL REVIEW: Alesis Performance Pad Pro

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“From subtle enhancement to ultra-wide weirdness, this plug-in caters for all stereo situations.”

FULL REVIEW: Vengeance Mastering Suite: Stereo Bundle

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A quality set of active monitors at a breakthrough price. Thoroughly recommended for the money.”

BUY: Behringer Truth B1031A currently available from Thomann | Studiospares

FULL REVIEW: Behringer Truth B1031A Active Monitors

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Reaper is a genuine alternative to more blinged-out DAWs, and it continues to improve at a scarily rapid pace.”

FULL REVIEW: Cockos Reaper 4

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 170)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Great-sounding and diverse orchestral samples at a wallet-pleasing price.”

FULL REVIEW: Spitfire Audio Albion Orchestral Library

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 244)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A good update rather than a mind-blowing one, but taken as a whole, Kontakt is still the ultimate sampler.”

FULL REVIEW: Native Instruments Kontakt 5

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 170)

Liked this? Now read: The best music tech gear of 2010: synths, DAWs, plug-ins and more

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