KR-55 Pro
Price: From £259 retail
For musicians who like to play along with real drum sounds but don't have the patience or skill to spend hours programming drums, Korg has launched the KR-55. It features thousands of realistic patterns that can be looped or chained, and instant drum parts are available as an accompaniment.
Auto-Tune Pro
Price: From £280 retail
A byword for the effect and process of correcting pitch on recordings – Auto-Tune has a new version available. The latest version features automatic and graphic (manual) modes, and some user-requested features, including a ‘classic’ mode for the sound of earlier versions of the software.
Shield GN
Price: £49 retail
For those teachers and students who do a lot of vocal recording, you will know how frustrating poorly-designed pop shields can be. They droop constantly and are a fuss to get on the stand. Aston's Shield GN aims to eliminate these problems with a crocodile clip and a high-quality gooseneck.
iRig Stomp I/O
Price: £299.99 (ex. VAT)
A great device for guitarists and singers alike, the Stomp I/O allows the user to connect a guitar or mic to the interface and access the thousands of pedals, preamps and effects that IK has included. You can also slot a tablet into the unit for complete control over the settings.
AudioTexture
Price: £130 (ex. VAT)
A new plugin that creates a huge selection of textures from a single piece of audio, or by combining several pieces of audio into a sound scene. A potentially useful tool for A-level compositions – but whatever you use it for, the manufacturer says you might be surprised by the results.
