If you're a computer musician you'll know that there isn't exactly a shortage of plugin synths on the market, so in March we attempted to whittle down the huge number that are available to the 39 best.
Tech fans also went mad for our reviews of Ableton Live 9 and Push, and marvelled at ROLI's new Seaboard instrument.
Elsewhere, we marked 50 years since the release of The Beatles' Please Please Me by listing 50 albums that were released in 1963 by acts other than The Fab Four, while bass titan Victor Wooten named his 10 essential four-string albums and producer Bob Rock pondered his 16 career-defining records.
On a sadder note, there were several noteworthy passings; we said goodbye to Ten Years After's Alvin Lee, Sabian Cymbals founder Robert Zildjian and former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr.
The 39 best VST plug-in synths in the world today
Updated for 2013, MusicRadar users' ultimate soft synth collection
50 albums released in 1963 (that weren't by the Beatles)
1963 had a lot more going on that Beatlemania
Victor Wooten picks 10 essential bass albums
"Hearing Willie Weeks on Donny Hathaway Live made me think about things in a new way"
Production legend Bob Rock on 16 career-defining records
"If a record can make you happy or break your heart, then you know it's good"
Billy Sheehan: my top 5 not-so-guilty pleasures of all time
"Keep your mind and your ears open, and like what you like. It'll pay off somewhere down the road."
