Beat Making
Best New Gear: 6 Releases You Need to Know in March
Every week there are dozens of new music products announced. The gear industry is moving faster than ever and there’s always exciting new equipment on the horizon. But keeping up with it all can be exhausting, especially if you don’t check in regularly. That’s why we’re bringing you the top highlights and most notable new releases every month.
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March has been an incredible month for new music equipment. In this edition of Best New Gear you’ll find analog synths, advanced guitar VSTs, futuristic effects and more.
Let’s get started.
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Behringer Proton
Behringer has made its reputation as the home of affordable analog synths over the last few years.
One of its early hits was the semi-modular Neutron. With flexible patching, Eurorack compatibility and onboard effects, the Neutron bundled many of the most sought after synth features in an affordable package.
Proton promises to expand on all that with dual multi-mode filters configurable in series or parallel, waveform morphing, loopable ASR envelopes and a 64 point patch bay.
If you like the flexibility of modular synthesis but you’d prefer a single hardware unit to an endless array of modules, Proton could be your dream synth.
If you like the flexibility of modular synthesis but you’d prefer a single hardware unit to an endless array of modules, Proton could be your dream synth.
Neural DSP Tone King Imperial
Guitar gear modeling gets more sophisticated with every new product cycle.
Neural DSP has been on top of the guitar plugin heap with its wildly popular Archetype series that models the rigs and tones of innovative modern players.
This time they’ve turned their attention to a single boutique amp circuit with the Tone King Imperial MK II.
Tone King’s highly respected takes on vintage American amplifiers are legendary in the tone community. But like many high-end builders, their top-of-the-line models are too pricey for most developing musicians.
Neural DSP promises to change that with its incredibly detailed modeling approach. From glassy cleans to vintage grit, NeuralDSP Tone King Imperial MK II should be on your list to try.
Apple Mac Studio
Apple’s yearly product unveilings are a major draw for the tech world. But one of their latest is especially interesting to music creators—the Mac Studio.
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Harnessing the power of Apple’s system-on-a-chip M1 technology, Mac Studio promises enormous performance in a small package.
Configurable with up to 20 CPU cores and 64 GPU cores, the Mac Studio can handle the most demanding audio situations with ease.
If you’re looking to upgrade your production computer, the Mac Studio could be your answer. Just be careful, not all audio software is perfectly compatible with M1 computers just yet.
Here’s a handy guide to help you decide if the time is right to upgrade.
Softube Vocoder
Who doesn’t love a good vocoder? The familiar robotic vocal effect is always nostalgic and can sound uniquely expressive in the right hands.
But the synth and vocoder type makes a big difference on your end result. Softube Vocoder bundles a robust resynthesis engine with a perfectly suited character synth for classic and modern vocoding.
Softube Vocoder bundles a robust resynthesis engine with a perfectly suited character synth for classic and modern vocoding.
If you need a solid take on these sounds in 2022, Softube Vocoder should be on your list.
Arturia Efx Fragments
Arturia has been exploring modern sound design in recent years with its powerful Pigments wavetable synth.
This month the French developer released Efx Fragments, a new effects plugin based on granular effects. It works by breaking the sound down into microsamples or “grains” and rearranging them to create new textures.
It’s the same technique used in granular synthesis and it gives Fragments an icy and futuristic feel.
If you’re looking for fresh effects that can transport your sounds into cinematic new territory, Fragments could be the right choice.
Unlimited mastering & distribution, 1200 royalty-free samples, 30+ plugins and more! Get everything LANDR has to offer with LANDR Studio.
Yamaha Revstar 2022
The Yamaha Revstar series guitars are back in 2022 with a fresh look based on the iconic “cafe racer” motorcycles the Japanese mega-brand sold in the 1980s.
Available in a variety of configurations at three different price points, the 2022 lineup seems destined to make these instruments into cult classics.
Yamaha has been highlighting the unique tonal possibilities of the Revstar line with a who’s-who of YouTube guitar influencers, including a signature model from Welsh blues player Chris Buck.
Your new gear obsession
Every musician knows that great gear can be a source of inspiration.
Whether you’re looking to expand your toolset or level up your core sound, check back with LANDR to get the best updates on music equipment releases that matter.
Various contributors from the LANDR team of music mentors.
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