-
1 month ago | 
musictech.com | Adam Crute
£899, solidstatelogic.comSolid State Logic has been producing affordable USB audio interfaces for the past four-or-so years, its SSL 2, 2+ and 12 bringing a slice of SSL quality and kudos to even the humblest of recording rigs.
-
1 month ago | 
musictech.com | Adam Crute
£799 / €899 / $999, audient.comRecently, we’ve seen a flurry of flagships being added to popular USB audio interface lines. These interfaces are loaded with additional monitoring and preamp functions, plus higher input/output counts required by producers who want to track a whole band simultaneously or dabble with analogue outboard gear. READ MORE: Native Instruments Traktor Z1 MK2 review: A massive upgrade – but does it go far enough? Focusrite crowned its 4th Gen Scarlett series with the 18i20.
-
1 month ago | 
musictech.com | Adam Crute
€670, beetlecrab.audioI get to see so much cool music-making and sound-wrangling gear here at MusicTech that it can feel like I’ve seen it all. Not that I’m jaded, mind you — I’m regularly impressed, often delighted, and occasionally blown away. It’s just that surprises are more rare.
-
1 month ago | 
musictech.com | Adam Crute
Hardware samplers of the mid-80s and 90s are utterly outclassed by modern software samplers, but there are still producers who use them religiously. Workflow is a factor, but this feeds into a more fundamental attraction: The sound.
-
2 months ago | 
musictech.com | Adam Crute
Essentials+: £2,750 / €3,189 / $2,899Studio+: £3,035 / €3,519 / $3,199uaudio.comUniversal Audio is a fierce champion of the analogue sound and workflows on which its history and reputation are built while also embracing modern digital systems.
-
2 months ago | 
musictech.com | Adam Crute
€199 for new licences Free update for existing usersarturia.comArturia Pigments has been my number one synth plugin since 2021. It’s my go-to instrument for serious projects or when I’m just looking for some sound-design fun, yet I still discover new sounds and techniques almost every time I fire it up. Those pleasant sonic surprises, and moments of inspiration sparked by a new sound, come thick and fast while exploring Pigments 6.
-
2 months ago | 
musictech.com | Adam Crute
Twin X DUO Essentials+ €1,319 / £1,135 / $1,199Twin X DUO Studio+ €1,649 / £1,1420 / $1,499Twin X QUAD Essentials+ €1,649 / £1,420 / $1,499Twin X QUAD Studio+ €1,979 / £1,705 / $1,799uaudio.comUniversal Audio’s Apollo series has become a benchmark in the audio interface world, thanks to a combination of top-spec audio converters, innovative modelling preamps, and flexible on-board digital signal processing (DSP), all backed by a large library of excellent plugins.
-
Jan 22, 2025 | 
musictech.com | Adam Crute
£481Upgrades from £83Crossgrade from qualifying product £298steinberg.netAll Digital Audio Workstations do essentially the same thing — let you record, create, produce and mix music. And while each has its own particular feature set, most can be categorised into one of two camps.
-
Dec 9, 2024 | 
musictech.com | Adam Crute
£629.99/$749.99, focusrite.comThe fourth generation of Focusrite’s eternally popular Scarlett audio interfaces broke cover in late 2023 with the launch of the Solo, 2i2 and 4i4. Since then, those requiring higher input/output counts have had to sit tight whilst Focusrite busied itself updating the larger Scarlett units.
-
Oct 6, 2024 | 
musictech.com | Adam Crute
SSL 2 MKII: £211 / €249 / $229SSL 2+ MKII: £278 / €329 / $299solidstatelogic.comThe 2020 release of the SSL 2 and 2+ audio interfaces marked a new chapter in the history of Solid State Logic. Unlike its previous forays towards the more affordable end of the market, the 2 and 2+ were aimed squarely at the needs and budgets of home and project recording studios. Coupled with the company’s growing presence in the plugin market, the interfaces brought a slice of SSL class within reach of the masses.
