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
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Bridge Over Troubled Water
  • World in Motion
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • The genius of Clive Davis
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

Oliver Nelson's favourite music software

News
By Computer Music
Published 15 June 2016

The Swedish house and nu-disco maestro likes his plugins to sound like real instruments

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

Ableton Live

Ableton Live

“My first DAW was Reason; I think it’s a great program to learn how to make electronic music. In the early days, it did have its limitations, which is maybe why I switched over to Ableton. Like Reason, it’s so easy to understand – you look at the screen and it all makes sense. Nothing is hidden away in a dark corner. That means you’re spending less time trying to find out how your DAW works and more time making music.”

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
AAS Chromaphone 2

AAS Chromaphone 2

“It’s a VST… a synthesizer… but it’s used for making organic sounds - things like marimbas and xylophones. But then you can take those realistic sounds and turn them inside out, back to front, and add them together in crazy ways.

"When I first heard it, it completely blew my mind. It’s the perfect blend of human and machine.”

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Arturia Minimoog V

Arturia Minimoog V

“I’ve maybe been a little dishonest including the Minimoog - I always use the Moog for basslines, but it’s usually a combination of VST layers and my hardware Sub 37.

"There are so many basses out there, but for me, you can’t beat that signature Moog sound.”

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
FabFilter Pro-Q 2

FabFilter Pro-Q 2

“Ableton is a great program; things like the Drum Rack have become part of my everyday life. But when it comes to EQ, I think you have to let your ears take control.

"I can’t sit here and say that the reason I use Pro-Q 2 is because it’s better than anything on Ableton, but my ears just seem to be more accustomed to the sound. It talks to my ears!”

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Cakewalk CA-2A

Cakewalk CA-2A

“I believe this is an emulation of the great LA-2A, and it gets used on everything. If you look at my mixes, you’ll see one of these on almost every track.

"Some people say ‘How can one compressor suit every sound?’ but that’s how I’ve worked from the beginning and it’s what I’m comfortable with. Why go searching for an answer to a problem if there isn’t actually a problem?!”

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Computer Music
Computer Music
Social Links Navigation

Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

Read more
jasper tygner
Artists "There's something about it that you just don't get with soft synths": Jasper Tygner on why he loves his Moog Grandmother
 
 
olof dreijer
Artists Olof Dreijer on mixing vintage synths and modular gear and why Ableton Live is essential to his workflow
 
 
GForce Software Oddity3
Synths How to master virtually any software synth
 
 
Plugins
Plugins How to get recognisable pop sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
 
 
A MacBook Pro running Ableton Live DAW
Digital Audio Workstation Best DAWs 2026: The best digital audio workstations for PC and Mac
 
 
Oeksound Soothe
Plugins I’ve been a professional producer for decades, and these are the plugins I always call-up when working on a project
 
 
Latest in Software & Apps
logic pro
Tech Logic Pro 12.3 is here – and my favourite stock plugin just got even better
 
 
ujam
Tech UJAM's Retrocraft is an all-in-one multi-effects plugin for lo-fi vintage vibes
 
 
Arturia Rev Ocean
Tech Arturia’s new Ocean-inspired reverb will turn your sounds “into a living sonic current”
 
 
Fred Again
Artists Unlocking the production tricks that Fred Again swears by
 
 
soothe3
Tech How Oeksound's Soothe became one of modern production's most ubiquitous plugins
 
 
Oeksound Soothe
Plugins I’ve been a professional producer for decades, and these are the plugins I always call-up when working on a project
 
 
Latest in News
james blake
Artists Did James Blake really sample the Titanic's SOS signal on Death of Love?
 
 
George Harrison of The Beatles pop group pictured at the Apple Headquarters in London, 2nd January 1969
Guitarists Did George Harrison contribute to more Beatles songs than he is given credit for?
 
 
Dave Grohl recording in Hilversum Studios, posed at drums
Artists How Dave Grohl delivered his Smells Like Teen Spirit drum track
 
 
reloop
Tech DAWs for DJs, rotary mixers and the world's first standalone motorized controller: 5 of the coolest pieces of gear we saw at Thomann's DJ Days
 
 
Kirk Hammett plays his Mummy ESP signature guitar [left]; Neal Schon plays a Les Paul on a stage lit up in purple.
Artists Kirk Hammett felt so guilty after buying Neal Schon's Les Paul on the cheap he offered to return it
 
 
AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X
Dj Gear AlphaTheta’s CDJ-1500X is a WiFi equipped DJ player that lets your audience vote on track requests
 
 

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 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...