AmpliTube 4
Price: €100 (£89) +VAT
IK Multimedia's flagship guitar software now has a Live Mode to work with the iRig Stomp I/O floor box. The screen controls now show what the pedal has activated. Ideal for creating amazing guitar sounds in practice rooms.
AudioKit Synth One
Price: FREE
A completely open-source synth for iPad. Developed over two years by 100 volunteers including some big-name sound designers. This app is a fully equipped synthesiser with a 16-step sequencer and effects included. Because it's open source it is totally free to everyone and can be adapted to suit any number of needs.
Panorama T series
Price: 49-key: £280, 61-key: £350 (retail)
Nektar has launched a new range of MIDI controllers with excellent integration for DAWs and plugins. The keyboards automatically map controls from the software to the relevant hardware on the keyboard. Available in 49- and 61-key versions – could be great for school computer suites.
Avantone CLA-10
Price: £660 (retail)
One of the most famous passive monitor speakers of all time is the Yamaha NS10 – and they have been out of production since 2001. Avantone have gone to painstaking lengths to recreate the sound and design of the speakers and have now launched the CLA-10. If you need new monitors, these are worth checking out.
Tonara
Price: FREE with in-app purchases
A new series of apps designed to aid students and teachers in managing their practice routine. Teachers assign tasks to individual pupils and can track progress throughout the week. The app contains a large repertoire of music that listens to the student practise and follows along with them to ensure they know where they are. Once ready, students can play along with an accompaniment. As teachers can send messages to pupils this would probably need to be on a parent or guardian's device to avoid safeguarding issues. As an engagement tool for encouraging students to practise it appears to have a lot of potential, but needs a few bugs working out to avoid frequent crashing.
Bass Master
Price: £69.95 (retail)
After years developing an incredible array of loops and sample libraries, Loopmasters has launched its first software instrument, Bass Master. It features 217 oscillator waveforms and 350 presets. Aimed squarely at EDM, but a potentially great bass synth for a range of music.
