The work from home edition
2020 has not been the year any of us were expecting it to be. Tours and festivals have been cancelled, clubs have closed and musicians the world over have found their plans upended. While the music making world has felt the shockwaves as global culture ground to a halt, one glimmer of positivity has remained – despite the cancellation of trade shows and temporary closure of a lot of shops, it’s actually been something of a vintage year for electronic music gear. From boundary-pushing synths, to revived classics, cutting-edge production tools to instruments that put a new spin on retro designs, 2020 has seen the launch of some of the most exciting hardware, software and studio gear we’ve tried in years.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a new instrument to explore, taking some time out to re-kit your studio, or dreaming of your next gear purchase once things get back to normal, this year’s Gear Of The Year rundown has you covered.
SYNTHESISERS OVER £1000 WINNER
Sequential
Pro 3
Our favourite synths of 2020 – from Sequential and Korg – are all instruments that build on the success of a classic design but in a modern and forward-thinking format. In the case of the Pro 3, that involves taking the sought-after analogue sound of Dave Smith’s classic ’80s Pro 1 monosynth and bringing it into the 21st century with the inclusion of digital effects and a flexible wavetable oscillator. There’s more to the Pro 3 than a balance of analogue and digital, however – its trio of filter designs combine to create a unique sonic character and range that instantly sets it apart from many other similar monosynths, and the inclusion of a CV-equipped 16-track sequencer is somewhat inspired, making the Pro 3 a killer hub you’ll want to pair with whatever gear you have at your disposal.
BEST FOR… ADVENTUROUS SEQUENCING
Despite being monophonic, the Pro 3 packs a 16-track sequencer, allowing it to not only sequence note data,
