Review of the Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack - Slated for Excellence
Written testBest Value awardThe release of a channel strip plug-in doesn’t typically generate a lot of excitement, but it sure has in the case of Slate Digital’s Virtual Mix Rack (VMR). Slate’s hardware emulations are considere…
Review of the Universal Audio Sound Machine Wood Works … - A Cure for DI Acoustic Guitar
Written testInnovation awardWhen Universal Audio announced Sound Machine Wood Works at NAMM this year, I was intrigued by what was promised: A plug-in that can change a DI recorded acoustic so that it sounds like it was miked. …
Eiosis AirEQ Premium Review - Second Wind
Written testBest Product awardEight years after the original, Eiosis presents a "Premium" edition of the AirEQ plug-in.
A review of M-Audio’s M50 studio headphones - Good Sound - Good Value
Written testEvery recording musician needs headphones, and there’s no shortage of choices. It’s not hard to find a good pair if you’re spending $200 and above, but especially in the sub-$100 range, it’s more of …
Review of the Ploytec Pi L Squared Leukos Synth - Little Bad Boy
Written testThe Ploytec Pi L Squared Leukos (PL2 Leukos) is a hardware synthesizer module that fits in the palm of your hand, and can plug into your computer and respond to your DAW. Its analog pulse wave oscill…
A review of the Alesis DM Dock drum interface - It's Sittin' On the Dock While You Play
Written testFollowing in the footsteps of its I/O Dock, which provided iPad musicians with a fully featured audio and MIDI interface with a docking slot, Alesis has released the DM Dock. Aimed at iPad drummers a…
A review of Sound Radix Drum Leveler - A New Level of Control
Written testIf you use audio drum tracks in your productions, whether loops or multitrack recordings — you’re likely to have plenty of occasions where you wish you could adjust the levels of a particular drum or…
A review of the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Big Muff Pi - Pi in Your Face
Written testFor many guitarists, the first thing that comes to mind when they hear the term “fuzz box” is the Big Muff Pi from Electro-Harmonix. With the new Deluxe Big Muff Pi, the company has added some cool a…
PreSonus Monitor Station v2 Review - Control and Routing
Written testBest Product awardThere's not much to choose from in the "advanced" desktop monitor controller world ─ meaning controllers that are more than just a volume knob ─ for about $300: Mackie and PreSonus, with their Big Kn…
Overloud REmatrix Review - REmatrix: The Chosen One?
Written testBest Product awardOverloud, author of SpringAge and BReverb 1 and 2, extends its range of reverb plug-ins with REmatrix, which includes several convolution engines and an effects chain. Does it simply increase the pos…
Guitar modeling and a new cabinet simulator highlight t… - Peavey ReValver 4 Review
Written testWhen Peavey’s ReValver software was first released, it stood out from its competitors because it allowed users to get inside the virtual circuitry and tweak the components. Several iterations later, …
Dynaudio BM Compact mkIII review - Danish Sound
Written testLack of space is a well-known issue for most people living in cities. When you live in a small apartment and you make computer music, every single inch counts. That's why one particular model caught …
Review of Eventide UltraReverb - More than Just Another Reverb
Written testEventide’s UltraReverb is an algorithmic reverb plug-in that offers impressive sound quality, sonic control and flexibility, making it a potent contender in the reverb plug-in wars. Not only does it …
Waldorf Streichfett Review - Fat Strings
Written testBest Value awardUnveiled last spring at Frankfurt, it wasn't until mid-summer that the Streichfett was to be seen in stores. As soon as it came out, we grabbed one and stripped it down!
Review of the PreSonus AudioBox iTwo - A Versatile Audio Interface for iOS and Mac/PC
Written testMore and more audio interfaces are hitting the market that are capable of connecting directly to an iOS device or a computer. PreSonus recently released two such units, the AudioBox iTwo and AudioBox…
Taylor 814ce 2014 Edition Review - My Taylor is Rich
Written testBest Product awardIt's always a pleasure to review a Taylor, an American brand that stands for high quality among musicians.
Review of the Line 6 AMPLIFi FX100 - A Multi-Effects Pedal in the Palm of your Hand
Written testFollowing in the footsteps of the AMPLIFi 150 and AMPLIFi 75 amplifiers, Line 6 has released the AMPLIFi FX100, a floor-based multi-effects pedal controlled by your iOS device. How does this concept …
A pint-sized yet powerful multi-effects unit - Review of the Tech 21 Fly Rig 5
Written testThe Tech 21 Fly Rig 5 is a multi-effects pedal small enough to fit in a backpack, or in the pocket of most guitar bags. Featuring Tech 21’s signature analog tone, it can be used either through an amp…
We test drive EHX's new "Organ Machine" - Review of the Electro-Harmonix B9
Written testElectro Harmonix calls the B9 an “Organ Machine,” and indeed it is. Plug your guitar into this pedal and out comes a variety of authentic organ sounds. Read on to find out more.
A channel strip that's ultra useful - Review of the Eventide UltraChannel
Written testUltraChannel is more than just your average channel strip. It also features Eventide's signature delay and modulation effects, and is almost like an entire effects collection in a single plug-in. Rea…
Boss reinvents the DS distortion pedal - Review of the Boss DS-1X
Written testThis year, Boss has been releasing new stompboxes at a prodigious pace: two at Winter NAMM and three at Summer NAMM. All are reinventions of older Boss pedals. The DS-1X, released along with the OD-…
Software amp-and-effects simulator for studio and stage - Review of Audiffex AmpLion Pro 1.1
Written testAmplion Pro 1.1 is the latest version of this amp-and-effects modeling software from Audiffex. Can it hold its own with stiff competition in the modeling software field?
Review of the Boss ME-80 - Versatile, powerful, and priced to sell
Written testFor years, Boss has been one of the leading manufacturers of self-contained guitar multi-effects floor units, and the ME-80 is its latest effort. Less expensive than the flagship GT-100, it's neverth…
Review of the Boss OD-1X OverDrive - An Overdrive Pedal with a New Look and Feel
Written testThe Boss OD-1X OverDrive was one of two new stompboxes the company announced at NAMM 2014 (the DS-1X Distortion was the other). It features the company’s recently developed Multi-Dimensional Processi…
Review of Mojave Audio MA-300 - It Takes Tubes to Tango
Written testMojave Audio, the company started by renowned microphone designer David Royer (also of Royer Labs), has built a reputation for making high-quality, reasonably priced mics. Here, we review the MA-300,…