Reviews

Review | Mar 09, 2015 by The Sound Tutor

Live electronica duo Skinnerbox's collection of Max for Live devices encourage experimentation with drum sound-design and pattern creation. The Sound Tutor gets his groove on to explore it in depth.

Review | Mar 07, 2015 by G.W. Childs IV

In no particular order, here are seven "workhorse" (also known as 'essential') virtual synths every self-respecting producer and musician should have, or consider having in the opinion of GW Childs.

Review | Mar 05, 2015 by Hollin Jones

There's monitors and there's monitors. Hollin Jones checks out the MunroSonic Egg 150 Monitors and discovers they have egg-cellent clarity, sonic depth and range for those serious about mixing.

Review | Mar 03, 2015 by Noah Pred

Premium sound library creators, Spitfire Audio, have brought the best of David Fanshawe's world field recordings from the '60s onwards into an incredible Kontakt library for all of us to enjoy.

Review | Mar 02, 2015 by Joe Albano

Looking for a tight, fast, VCA compressor, with a vintage character, a proven track record, and a punch sound? Joe Albano finds out if Waves dbx 160 hits the heights of its hardware counterpart.

Review | Feb 28, 2015 by Sara Simms

If you want to take your DJing laptop in a safe and sturdy bag or want to protect your Maschine, Mixtrack Pro II, APC40, Pioneer DJ-S8 or other DJ hardware on your next flight, UDG have you covered.

Review | Feb 27, 2015 by Lynda Arnold

Ever wanted to try different syncopated rhythms but didn't know where or how to start? PolyRhythm app for iPhone and iPad to the rescue! Lynda Arnold tests it for composition and as a learning tool.

Review | Feb 25, 2015 by Jay Asher

There's lots of string libraries to choose from but not many include muted samples. Numerical Sounds Universal Sordino provides IRs for convolution reverbs to simulate the muted sound you're after.

Review | Feb 24, 2015 by Hollin Jones

UVI's BeatHawk iPad music production studio app has great bundled sounds, sample recording & editing, audio stretching, song sequencing tools and excellent connectivity options. Read the full review.

Review | Feb 23, 2015 by G.W. Childs IV

There's lots of online stores where musicians can sell their music. But, most of these, iTunes included, don't convey the personality of the artist. G. W. Childs discovers if Patreon breaks the mould.

Review | Feb 20, 2015 by Sara Simms

We caught up with Sara Simms playing Casio's Trackformer XW-PD1 Groove Center at NAMM 2015 (see video) and she'd been in a privileged position to test it out fully and give it an in-depth review.

Review | Feb 19, 2015 by G.W. Childs IV

Casey Edwards, the creator of Oracle, is best known for composing music for games like Killer Instinct 1 and Killer Instinct 2. Now you can get hold of his epic sounds in Oracle.

Review | Feb 17, 2015 by G.W. Childs IV

The new Alesis VI49 looks lovely, of that there is no doubt. But, how does it perform, both as a keyboard and a controller? G. W. Childs gets hands on in our review.

Review | Feb 16, 2015 by Noah Pred

Plogue tasked themselves with bringing back to life the classic machine speech synths from many a popular electronic toy from childhoods now past. Noah Pred discovers a unique and playable instrument.

Review | Feb 14, 2015 by Matt Vanacoro

The original Xkey made a splash in the portable controller market as a sleek, snug and elegant all-in-one MIDI keyboard. Matt Vanacoro puts its new 37-key big brother to the test.