Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
More
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps
  3. Digital Audio Workstation

MIA Awards 2015: Computer Music Software of the Year award

News
By The MusicRadar Team ( Computer Music ) published 5 October 2015

Your shortlist of the year's best DAWs, synths and effects

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

FabFilter Pro-Q 2

FabFilter Pro-Q 2

On 12 November, members of the UK's Music Industries Association and other assorted luminaries will convene at the Hilton London Metropole hotel for the annual MIA Awards ceremony, at which the very finest new gear releases of the past year will be celebrated.

Quite rightly, music software is being recognised in its own category, which is sponsored by our sister magazine Computer Music. For the past month, we've been asking you to vote for a winner, and now, based on your votes, we can present the final shortlist.

Browse through the gallery for an alphabetically ordered rundown of the products that have made the top 10. We'll reveal the winner on Friday 13 November.

First up, an awesome EQ plugin from FabFilter...

Our verdict

“Possibly the best EQ plugin on the market. Even without Spectrum Grab, Pro-Q 2 is amazing, but with it, it's unstoppable.

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: FabFilter Pro-Q 2

(Reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Image-Line FL Studio 12

Image-Line FL Studio 12

Our verdict

“Feature-packed and gorgeous, FL Studio 12 sees a leap forward in the design and usability of this hugely popular PC DAW.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Image-Line FL Studio 12

(Reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
iZotope Ozone 6

iZotope Ozone 6

Our verdict

“Yup, Ozone's still the greatest software mastering system money can buy. The Advanced version rules, and the standard version is an absolute bargain.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: iZotope Ozone 6

(Reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Plogue Chipspeech

Plogue Chipspeech

Our verdict

“Clearly a labour of love, chipspeech is a powerful and polished product that's practically impossible to fault.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Plogue Chipspeech

(Reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
PreSonus Studio One 3

PreSonus Studio One 3

Our verdict

“V3 of this impressively mature DAW proves well worth the wait, with a raft of clever new features and plenty of usable soundware.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: PreSonus Studio One 3

(Reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Renoise Redux

Renoise Redux

Our verdict

“In bringing the essence of Renoise to your DAW, Redux opens up a new world of audio software - its tracker workflow is something you'll either love or hate, though.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Renoise Redux

(Reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack

Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack

Our verdict

“With superlative signal processing in an intuitive interface, VMR is one of the finest classic hardware emulation setups to date.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack

(Reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2

Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2

Our verdict

“Omnisphere 2 is an absolute triumph of virtual instrument design, perfect for those looking to create exciting new sounds.

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2

(Reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Steinberg Cubase Pro 8

Steinberg Cubase Pro 8

Our verdict

“Cubase Pro 8's innovative new features and smoother performance represent a further step forward for this superb DAW.”

4.5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Steinberg Cubase Pro 8

(Reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Xfer Records Serum

Xfer Records Serum

Our verdict

“Serum needs to be immediately put at the very top of any synthesist's shopping list. It's insanely powerful and sounds phenomenal.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Xfer Records Serum

(Reviewed in Computer Music)

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
The MusicRadar Team
The MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the internet's most popular website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers.

GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.

TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.

STARS: We talk to artists and musicians about their creative processes, digging deep into the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music-making that no other music website can.

Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects… image
Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects…
…with the latest issue of Computer Music magazine
More Info
Latest in Digital Audio Workstation
LANDR acquires Reason Studios
“This isn’t about changing Reason, it’s about giving it room to grow”: Reason acquired by AI specialist LANDR
 
 
Suno text prompt
Is it finally time to stand up to the tech taking the very soul out of music-making?
 
 
fl studio web
"FL Studio is coming to your browser": Image-Line announces FL Studio Web in bid to "lower the barrier to entry" for new users
 
 
Prince at a press conference where he officially changed his name from the Artist back to Prince. 5/16/00 Photo by Scott Gries/ImageDirect
Back in 1999, Prince offered his opinion on the new generation of DAW-based musicians and producers
 
 
dnksaus
Stuck for ideas in Ableton Live? This free Max for Live device could snap you out of writer's block
 
 
ableton
I switched to Ableton Live from Logic Pro, and I've never looked back. If you want to do the same, you can still score 25% off in the Sweetwater Cyber Week sale
 
 
Latest in News
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 4: American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, actor, and filmmaker Prince (1958-2016) and American guitarist, singer-songwriter and member of the Revolution Wendy Melvoin perform onstage during the 1984 Purple Rain Tour on November 4, 1984, at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino/Getty Images)
How Prince and The Revolution turned the bare bones of Purple Rain into a lighters-in-the-air epic
 
 
 Iconic female rap group Salt-N-Pepa members Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper)
"Did not establish they ever owned the copyrights to their sound recordings": Salt N Pepa lose legal battle with Universal
 
 
DAVID BYRNE AND OLIVIA RODRIGO
“I actually cried when I heard his version of this song”: Olivia Rodrigo on David Byrne's cover of Drivers License
 
 
Buddy Guy [left] smiles as he takes a solo on his Fender Stratocaster. He wears a red jacket and black hat. Billy Gibbons [right] wears shades, a wide-brimmed hat and a red blazer as he plays his custom SG-style electric with the V-style headstock.
Billy Gibbons on the tip Buddy Guy gave him after they jammed a T-Bone Walker classic
 
 
Pat Smear performs onstage during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at The Kia Forum on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California
“In the classic tradition…”: Pat Smear is out of upcoming Foo Fighters dates after “bizarre gardening accident”
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Raye performs onstage during All Points East at Victoria Park on August 23, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
Producer Mike Sabath reveals the surprisingly limited instrumentation in Raye's Where Is My Husband!
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...