Gear Of The Year: Best innovation of 2020
From hardware to mobile apps, we narrow down the most innovative product and technology of the year.
WINNER: Ashun Sound Machines Hydrasynth
Price Desktop: £800 Keyboard: £1,300
Contact Ashun Sound Machines
We saw all manner of forward-thinking products in 2020 but few proved as rewarding as the Hydrasynth, whose marriage of soft-synth design and quality hardware makes it a modern classic. Available in keyboard and desktop formats, it sports three oscillators, two filters, and DSP and CV gate input and output. This digital wave-morphing synth isn’t cheap but you’re looking at nearly limitless sonic potential here. It’s a stunning piece of music technology in more ways than one.
Highly commended: Endlesss
Price Free £4.49 p/m for Endlesss Infinite
Contact Endlesss
We miss the life-affirming joys of live music and collaboration. But the restrictions of 2020 have focused our attention on products that allow for long-range collaboration and connectivity. Courtesy of industry guru Tim Exile, the Endlesss app lets users create fluid online jams with others around the world. It’s slick and fun to use, so download the free version and try it out with some friends.
Also nominated:
- iZotope RX 8
- Aston Microphones Element
- VirtualDJ 2021
- Audio Design Desk
- Celemony Melodyne 5
- UDO Super 6
- Roland Zenology
- Audio Test Kitchen
To check out other GOTY categories, click here.
