Welcome to FutureMusic’s Gear Of The Year 2023. Here you’ll find our choices for the best gear of 2023 in several categories. There were a lot of compelling products that debuted this past year, so congrats to the developers and manufacturers who came out on top!
GEAR OF THE YEAR 2023
BEST VALUE MONITORS
PreSonus Eris Pro 8 + Eris Pro Sub 10 System
The PreSonus powered Eris Pro 8 Studio Monitors feature 8″ woven composite LF Drivers, Coaxial 1.25″ Silk-dome HF Drivers and Acoustic Tuning Controls that punch way above their weight. The stacked tweeter/woofer arrangement creates a broad sweet spot and linear phase alignment. Add the Eris Pro Sub 10 and you have a very nice compact system, which will fit in practically any small studio for well under $2000.
BEST BUDGET AUDIO INTERFACE
Audient EVO 4
Audient recently debuted their EVO series of computer audio interfaces, EVO 4, EVO 8 and EVO 16, which are designed to be extremely simple to use, while retaining a high-standard of sound quality. We tested the $129 two-channel EVO 4 and found it provided a lot of value.
BEST PREMIUM AUDIO INTERFACE
Neumann MT 48
The Neumann MT 48 set the new high water mark for a desktop audio interface. With its dynamic range, quality converters, preamps and headphone amplifiers, not to mention the internal DSP power for monitor mixes with EQ and dynamics processing, it leaves other manufacturers in the dust. Best part? It’s super easy to use via the glamorous touchscreen.
BEST DJ GEAR
Pioneer DJM-A9
Pioneer dialed their DJM-900NXS2 to 11 with the new DJM-A9, which rethinks and enhances what made the 900 a club standard. Phenomenal execution, savvy workflow and new ways to elevate the emotion – the best just got better.
BEST GUITAR PEDAL
Meris Mercury X
We thought the Meris LVX was amazing in 2022, but Meris didn’t rest on their laurels and debuted the ultimate reverb pedal for guitarists, synthesists, sound designers and anyone else who wants their reverb effects on steroids. This is the first time a manufacturer has won two years in a row in the same category.
BEST MUSIC APP
Apple Logic Pro For iPad
It took awhile for Apple to finally debut an iOS version of Logic, but it was worth the wait.
BEST DRUM MACHINE
Elektron Syntakt
Elektron showed up some significant entries in the Drum Machine realm with their versatile Syntakt.
BEST VALUE MICROPHONE
RØDE NT1
5th-Generation Condenser Microphone
For 250 bucks, it’s absolutely mind-boggling what RØDE delivers with the NT1 5th-Generation Condenser Microphone…
BEST BUDGET MIC PRE
Black Lion Audio Auteur DT
At this price point, you’d think a few obvious corners were cut, but the Black Lion Audio Auteur DT delivers sound quality and aesthetics far beyond what other manufacturers are charging for the same money…
BEST HARDWARE SYNTH
Intellijel Cascadia
Intellijel packed the Cascadia with all their best modular goodies from East and West coast synth design philosophies to create the most fun you can have with your pants on. Wow.
BEST CONTROLLER
Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series Keyboards MK3
The third time is the charm for NI’s phenomenal new Kontrol S-Series MIDI controller keyboards, which arrive in the 49, 61 and 88 flavors. In our long-term test (full review this month), all five of our evaluators had tremendous things to say about our 49-key, semi-weighted review unit. Native fine-tuned many aspects of the Kontrol S-Series, but most of the action occurred underneath the hood, providing a seamless and creative environment for composing.
BEST MUSIC PRODUCTION IN A BOX
Polyend Tracker Mini
Polyend likes to push boundaries, but in the case of the Polyend Tracker Mini, they simply Goldilocks-ed their future-retro Tracker and it’s a ton of fun.
BEST UPGRADE
Akai MPC X SE
The MPC X Special Edition is the most powerful MPC ever. With 48GB of internal storage, 4GB of RAM for sampling capabilities and a large full-sized screen, not to mention Akai’s fully loaded MPC Plug-in Instrument Collection, plus a price that doesn’t break the bank, the MPC X proves the standalone workstation is not done yet.
BEST HARWARE INTERFACE
Freqport FT-1 Freqtube
Freqport, a partnership between two small entities in Denmark and Australia, pitches the FT-1 freqtube, their only product, as “real analog processing inside your computer.” Quite enticing. Warming up your drum machines, synths, bass lines and more is something that every musician who works “in the box” can get behind. Does it work? Oh yeah…
BEST NEWCOMER
Torso Electronics
Torso unleashed their 16 track algorithmic sequencer, the T-1, that takes a fresh approach to what a traditional hardware sequencer can achieve. It was designed from the ground up to provide mathematical experimentation and the results can be inspiring, especially for the Eurorack crown. This year they look to premier the S-1, Torso’s take on a four-track sample player. We can’t wait…
