SOUND ON SOUND
IK Multimedia follow up their highly acclaimed MODO Bass with a percussive counterpart.
McDSP's revolutionary APB‑16 promises to combine the sound of analogue compression with the convenience of plug-ins. Is it all too good to be true?
Telefunken's ELA M 251 is considered by many to be the Holy Grail of vocal mics — but at 10 grand a pop, owning one is a mere aspiration for most of us. Enter Warm Audio...
Hyperrealism is the order of the day with Waves' new virtual bass instrument.
Once again, Soma bring us an instrument like no other...
This ADAT-equipped preamp offers one-knob compression on every channel.
With its ability to deliver anything from super-subtle saturation to downright despicable distortion, could this be the only valve preamp you'll ever need?
Rebranded Waveform by Tracktion, is this long-established alternative ready to become a mainstream DAW option?
Spitfire Audio join forces with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the celebrated Maida Vale Studios. Is this the best of British?
Vox's hybrid approach to electronics has yielded a natural–sounding amp that won't break your back.
The Crucible is described as a ‘curved metal and cymbal synthesizer’ and although it is entirely digital, the sound may have you believing otherwise.
Emerging from the mists of time comes the rejuvenated Fantom, Roland's new flagship workstation synthesizer. Available in three models: Fantom 6 (61 keys), Fantom 7 (76 keys) and the 88-key Fantom 8.
Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. It's perhaps not surprising that electronic keyboard sounds are a big part of the underlying sound set. However, these also include synths, ambient noises, attack sounds and various drones.
NI's Massive X isn't just an update, it's a whole new synth!
Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Ostinato Woodwinds delivers a much more focused vocabulary of less than a dozen motifs, ideal for minimalist rhythmic beds and pads.
X-PAN is a voltage-controlled mixer with crossfading, monophonic inputs and a stereo output.
Rating: ***** 4/5 Stars. Nearly 10,000 samples of a modern 10-string E9 pedal steel were taken for this appealing virtual instrument...
Swiss speaker gurus PSI have never failed to impress us with their technical innovations, and their latest model is no exception!
Rating: ***** 4/5 Stars. To create Randy's Prepared Piano, various objects and materials were used to alter the sound of the source instrument before it was recorded.
Riffer is a randomising MIDI melody generator plug-in from AudioModern and is available as a VST/VST3/AU & AAX plug-in for Mac OS, Windows and as an iOS app.