Ronan Macdonald
A music and technology journalist of over 30 years professional experience, Ronan Macdonald began his career on UK drummer’s bible, Rhythm, before moving to the world’s leading music software magazine, Computer Music, of which he was editor for over a decade. He’s also written for many other titles, including Future Music, Guitarist, The Mix, Hip-Hop Connection and Mac Format; written and edited several books, including the first edition of Billboard’s Home Recording Handbook and Mixing For Computer Musicians; and worked as an editorial consultant and media producer for a broad range of music technology companies.
Latest articles by Ronan Macdonald

Best VST plugins: the finest synth, drum machine, sampler and effect plugins you can buy right now
By Ronan Macdonald last updated
It’s the ultimate plugin shopping list

Acoustic vs electronic drum kits: which is better for beginner drummers?
By Ronan Macdonald last updated
Is it better to learn on acoustic or electronic drums? We tackle the topics of noise, space, cost, playability and more to help you decide

Best reverb plugins 2025: Amazing space-makers for your DAW
By Ronan Macdonald last updated
Add atmosphere and pro polish to your mixes with these powerful reverb plugins

Best compressor plugins 2025: Our pick of the greatest in-the-box compressors for the budding producer
By Daryl Robertson published
The software compressors you need if you want to impress

Best EQ plugins 2025: Mix, create, repair, and master with these 13 amazing equalizers
By Andy Jones last updated
The best EQs you can buy today, for everything from simple frequency tweaks to full-on intelligent AI processing

Best vocal plugins 2025: Our pick of vocal processing software to make your voice shine
By Andy Jones last updated
If you want that Auto-Tune effect, or need to make a bad vocal great, then these vocal processing plugins will help turn bad singing into perfect vocals, whatever music you make

Alesis Nitro Mesh kit vs Yamaha DTX402K vs Roland TD-1K: which e-kit is best for beginner drummers?
By Ronan Macdonald last updated
We beat the living daylights out of three beginner electronic drum sets to reveal the one most deserving of your attention

Produce your own music for less with these budget home studio setups
By Ronan Macdonald last updated
Everything you need to start recording music with our guide to cheap home studio recording gear – from laptops and headphones, to audio interfaces and monitors

IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
By Ronan Macdonald published
A compact monitoring solution for when you need a forensic level of detail

Apple Logic Pro X 10.5
By Ronan Macdonald published
The venerable DAW takes the fight to Ableton Live, but can it compete?

iPad Pro vs MacBook Pro: which should you buy for music-making?
By Ronan Macdonald published
Looking for power or portability when it comes to your music-making machine? We take a closer look at two Apple devices to help you decide

Does Logic Pro X 10.3 make the MacBook Pro Touch Bar useful for musicians?
By Ronan Macdonald last updated
Time of the Bar?

How to program the perfect drum roll: part 1
By Ronan Macdonald published
The tension mounts

Roland Cloud
By Ronan Macdonald published
Does the ‘all you can eat’ subscription service from the Japanese giant provide enough production tools to justify a monthly fee?

10 pieces of music software that every hip-hop producer should own
By Ronan Macdonald published
We’ve brought together 10 pieces of software that we think every urban producer should have in their arsenal

NAMM 2016: Tracktion Corporation enters the audio interface market and updates its DAW
By Ronan Macdonald published
Gaining Tracktion

NAMM 2016: Softube announces "intelligent" mastering plugin
By Ronan Macdonald published
Easy life.

NAMM 2016: PreSonus reveals high-end USB 3.0 mobile audio interface
By Ronan Macdonald published
It's the little things.

MOTU unleashes three new Thunderbolt audio interfaces
By Ronan Macdonald published
MOTU have released three high-end audio interfaces - the 1248, 16A and 8M - the headline features of which are Thunderbolt connectivity (alongside USB) and AVB networking

Apple Logic Pro X
By Ronan Macdonald published
Read the verdict on Drummer, Drum Kit Designer, Flex Pitch, the new MIDI effects, Apple Remote and more

Eventide Blackhole
By Ronan Macdonald published
A reverb with infinite possibilities?

Audio Ease Altiverb 7
By Ronan Macdonald published
Has the five years since the last Altiverb update been time well spent?

First look: IK Multimedia iRig Pads
By Ronan Macdonald last updated
Can this iOS-friendly pad controller find its groove?
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