NOTEWORTHY UPDATES

Best of the rest…

Novcation Bass Station II 2.5

To mark 25 years since the original Bass Station hit, Novation gifted v2 users with an excellent firmware update. Top features include a paraphonic mode, allowing two notes to be played at once, plus micro tuning modes, LFO re-triggering options and ‘oscillator error’ function.

Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.5

This major update brings an intriguing new concept, adding control templates that let you use your hardware synths to manipulate the plugin in a ‘sonically satisfying’ way. It also brings new voice architecture, granular capabilities, and 1000+ new patches to the library.

Apple Logic Pro X

A good year of freebies for Logic users. Plugin-wise, we’ve the welcome return of Camel’s much-loved Camel Phat and Camel Space plugins, in the form of Phat FX and Step FX. Feature-wise, we love Smart Tempo, which helps free users from the tyranny of a click track.

Native Instruments NKS 2

Since 2014, NI have signed up most major plugin instrument developers to their open control format, giving Maschine/ Komplete Kontrol users control over some very powerful instruments. Now they’ve opened NKS up for third-party effects too. A truly rounded system.

Propellerhead Europa

Europa has been part of Reason since v10. This year, however, saw the flagship wavetable synth branch out as a VST/AU plugin. Propellerhead gave Reason 10 owners a licence for the full plugin version, so you can now use the synth with whatever software you want.