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
  • "She knew what she'd created": Back to Black
  • Trower's '80s supergroup
  • Music theory tricks
  • Stage Tour game
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

What So Not's favourite music software

News
By Computer Music
Published 5 November 2018

Aussie producer and DJ Chris Emerson unveils his favourite tools for adding a little chaos in the studio

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

Ableton Live 10

Ableton Live 10

“I actually started out as a DJ and moved into ‘making songs’ via mash-ups, bootlegs and remixes. Ableton provided the perfect platform for that and I’ve been with it ever since

“It isn’t perfect, but what Live does offer is an insane amount of audio manipulation. It lets you do to things that make no sense, but it’s those crazy ideas that make songs stand out.”

Read Ableton Live 10 review

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Sonic Charge Synplant

Sonic Charge Synplant

“A tool that offers you the chance to experiment. All you need to do is grab a chord progression, set up an arpeggiator on Synplant and get tweaking.

“Start with the basic stuff, but then you can go right into the DNA of the sound; all sorts of random stuff. Pitch it up, down, flip it all around… even the humble mod wheel seems to add a hint of chaos!”

Read Sonic Charge Synplant review

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Lennardigital Sylenth1

Lennardigital Sylenth1

“Although I mess around with a lot of different synths, I only really use two main ones in the studio: Synplant and Sylenth1.

“If Synplant is the peculiar one, Sylenth1 is the easy-to-handle all-rounder. When struggling for a sound, I always go to Sylenth1.”

Read Lennardigital Sylenth1 review

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Cycling ’74 Max For Live

Cycling ’74 Max For Live

“I’ve only really scratched the surface of Max For Live, but what I’ve found - especially the LFO tools - sounds very cool and interesting.

“There’s so much possibility with Max, but I don’t want to spend all my time with sound design, not making any music. I’ve met people who are brilliant technicians, but when it comes to putting down a bassline, they can’t make a decision.”

Read more about Cycling ’74 Max For Live

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Soundtoys EchoBoy

Soundtoys EchoBoy

“Yeah, it’s a delay, but so much more. It’s that whole thing of modulating sound over time.

“You’ve got your basic chord progression, but you can send it into EchoBoy and that chord progression becomes ear candy. It’s constantly growing and shifting, and it keeps people interested in your song.”

Read Soundtoys Soundtoys 5 review

What So Not’s latest album, Not All The Beautiful Things, is out now.

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
tom vr
Artists Tom VR on "game-changing" Ableton Live tips and the hardware synth he can't stop talking about
 
 
chris lake
Artists Chris Lake on why getting hold of high-end gear shouldn’t be a barrier
 
 
Will Yip
Artists Will Yip explains to us how he built his dream studio from the ground up, with some influence from Rick Rubin
 
 
DJ Shadow
Artists DJ Shadow on his original mission statement and why he no longer puts the MPC on a pedestal
 
 
Ital Tek in the studio making Mind Abandon
Artists "I collect instruments I can't play": Ital Tek on creating ‘sonic worlds’ and new album Mind Abandon
 
 
Yung Singh
Artists "I avoid Splice as that's what everyone else uses": Yung Singh on the Punjabi sounds behind debut EP Bloom
 
 
Latest in Software & Apps
Tone3000 plugin offers NAM A2 support on your desktop and can be used as a standalone app or in your DAW.
Guitars Tone3000 launches a free open-source plugin for accessing its mammoth library of NAM A2 captures
 
 
audacity
Tech Audacity enters a “new era” with the biggest update in the free and open-source audio editor’s 26-year history
 
 
Reason Free
Plugins Reason Free puts 15 classic Reason devices in one free plugin that you can use in your existing DAW
 
 
Dreamtonics
Software & Apps Dreamtonics’ Instrument X provides a range of classical instruments - and expressive control over them - with a tiny footprint
 
 
bitwig
Tech Bitwig Studio 6.1 launches with “radically updated” Sampler device
 
 
lucid
Tech Minimal Audio's Lucid is a granular powerhouse with scale locking, deep modulation and much more
 
 
Latest in News
Ibanez Axe Design Lab Iceman ICMS721
Guitars Ibanez just weaponised the Iceman for metal and refreshed a bunch of its flagship signature models
 
 
Alex Van Halen attends the MOCA Gala 2017
Drummers Alex Van Halen knighted in the Netherlands for his part in “remarkable chapter in rock music.”
 
 
Drummer Neil Peart from Canadian band Rush performs live on stage at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois during their All The World's a Stage tour on 20th May 1977
Drummers “He was a stone cold assassin!” The Neil Peart documentary trailer in up now on Youtube
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 01:  Olivia Rodrigo performs on stage during Olivia Rodrigo exhibit and program at Grammy Museum on September 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alison Buck/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Artists Olivia Rodrigo reveals the trick that producer Dan Nigro uses to get a better vocal take from her
 
 
Guitar Center Labor Day sale
Recording Guitar Center's Labor Day sale offers rare savings on exclusive gear with up to 30% off studio monitors, digital pianos, electronic drum kits, guitars, and more
 
 
Tone3000 plugin offers NAM A2 support on your desktop and can be used as a standalone app or in your DAW.
Guitars Tone3000 launches a free open-source plugin for accessing its mammoth library of NAM A2 captures
 
 

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...