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 182, Future Music issue 257, and Guitarist issue 359.

Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: UVI Darklight IIx

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“£145 is quite a price tag for something so niche, so whether or not you should invest will depend on how relevant these extremely retro sounds are to your music.”

FULL REVIEW:UVI Darklight IIx

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

BUY UVI Darklight IIx currently available from:
USA: Sweetwater

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Polysix RE sounds just as good as its superb plug-in sibling and for Reason users looking for a classic synth to add to their arsenal it's worth every penny of its very reasonable asking price.”

FULL REVIEW: Korg Polysix Rack Extension

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Zaplin Music have created something rather special with TriqTraq. The live sequencing fundamentals are sound, and the polyrhythmic loop manipulation is awesome. Buy it!”

FULL REVIEW: Zaplin Music TriqTraq

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Another pocket-change winner from Hollow Sun.”

FULL REVIEW: Hollow Sun Advanced Noise Generator

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A useful app, and we'd strongly recommend trying it out to see how well you get on with it.”

FULL REVIEW:Jam Origin MIDI Guitar

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A modulation-crazy curveball from DMG, PitchFunk is a veritable gift for sound designers and electronic producers.”

FULL REVIEW: DMG Audio PitchFunk

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“If you can handle its workflow (and price), Revoice Pro is an incredible useful vocal doubling and manipulation tool.”

FULL REVIEW: Synchro Arts Revoice Pro

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“As a straight-up audio editor, DSP-Quattro is a bargain; its powerful instrument hosting and routing options are impressive bonuses.”

FULL REVIEW: i3 DSP-Quattro 4

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“If you want a playable Wurlitzer emulation that both looks and sounds the part, step this way.”

FULL REVIEW: Arturia Wurlitzer V

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

BUY Arturia Wurlitzer V currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music
USA: Sweetwater

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“An impressive and highly configurable three-in-one effects processor - with a hefty price tag.”

FULL REVIEW: Pioneer RMX-1000 Remix Station

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 257)

BUY Pioneer RMX-1000 Remix Station currently available from:
UK/Europe: Thomann | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Warm and rich when tracking and mastering - VTM really does deliver the sound of tape.”

FULL REVIEW: Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 257)

BUY Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines currently available from:
UK/Europe: Thomann
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The F1 opens a lot of doors for Traktor's future. Well built, well implemented and very flexible.”

FULL REVIEW: NI Traktor Kontrol F1

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 257)

BUY NI Traktor Kontrol F1 currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann| Scan Pro Audio | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A comprehensive portable I/O device for both Apple's iOS and computers - someone needed to invent this, Tascam has, and it's done a brilliant job.”

FULL REVIEW: Tascam iU2

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)

BUY Tascam iU2 currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music
USA: Full Compass | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The Xport is a great guitarist's companion to a laptop that will work for recording or practice wherever you are.”

FULL REVIEW: Peavey Xport USB Guitar Interface

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)

BUY Peavey Xport USB Guitar Interface currently available from:
UK/Europe: Gear4Music
USA: Sweetwater | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A great pair of small monitors from EVE that think they're bigger than they are.”

FULL REVIEW: EVE Audio SC204

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 257)

BUY EVE Audio SC204 currently available from:
UK/Europe:Thomann

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Big, bold and expensive, but if you want the best, look no further.”

FULL REVIEW: SPL Neos 24/2

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 257)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The DJM-850 is a top quality DJ mixer, updated with new effects and a USB sound card.”

FULL REVIEW: Pioneer DJM-850 Mixer

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 257)

BUY Pioneer DJM-850 Mixer currently available from:
UK/Europe: Thomann | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Does what it says, but is probably most useful in the DJ arena rather than as an essential studio tool.”

FULL REVIEW: Vermona Action Filter 3

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 257)

BUY Vermona Action Filter 3 currently available from:
UK/Europe: Thomann

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A self-contained 24-track recording studio that will take you from the first chord to a finished CD.”

FULL REVIEW: Tascam DP-24

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 359)

BUY Tascam DP-24 currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical

Liked this? Now read: The best music tech gear of 2011: synths, DAWs, plug-ins, keyboards, apps and more

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