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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 DAWs, plug-ins, keyboards, and outboard gear 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 issues 181/182, Future Music issues 256, and Guitarist issue 358.

Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: Propellerhead Software Reason 6.5

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Conceptually controversial, Reason 6.5 is nevertheless a technical masterpiece and a pivotal update.”

FULL REVIEW:Propellerhead Reason 6.5

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 181)

BUY Propellerhead Reason 6.5 currently available from:
UK/Europe: Thomann | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“S-Gear eschews bells and whistles for a straightforward user experience and quality tonal options.”

FULL REVIEW: Scuffham S-Gear

(Reviewed in Guitarist magazine issue 358)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“An evolutionary upgrade, the E4D subtly improves the E3 in all the right places.”

FULL REVIEW: Nord Electro 4D

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

BUY Nord Electro 4D currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The HiLo offers a unique blend of features with an equally unique price/quality ratio.”

FULL REVIEW: Lynx HiLo

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

BUY Lynx HiLo currently available from:
UK/Europe: Thomann | Scan Pro Audio
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“If you like the idea of a compact-format digital desk, the 01V concept remains a winner.”

FULL REVIEW:Yamaha 01V96i Digital Mixer

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

BUY Yamaha 01V96i Digital Mixer currently available from:
UK/Europe: Andertons Music Co. | Thomann | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Sound designers and adventurous music producers will flip for Blackhole's versatile, hands-on features.”

FULL REVIEW: Eventide Blackhole

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

BUY Eventide Blackhole currently available from:
USA: Sweetwater | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“A comprehensive and well- integrated controller that's ideal for power users of Reason.”

FULL REVIEW: Nektar Panorama P4

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

BUY Nektar Panorama P4 currently available from
UK/Europe: Thomann | Gear4Music | Absolute Music
USA: Sweetwater | American Musical

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Want to inject digital mixes with a bit of analogue juice? Warmifier is still one of the best - and cheapest!”

FULL REVIEW: Voxengo Warmifier

(Reviewed in Future Music magazine issue 256)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Thanks to its PCM-based engine, ANA sounds big, bold and beautiful, while its solid feature-set seals the deal.”

FULL REVIEW: Sonic Academy ANA

(Reviewed in Computer Music magazine issue 182)

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

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