This year has given us more time than ever to spend in our studios. And, despite the challenges across the music industry, the pace of new tech releases didn’t slow, with stacks of new software, hardware and instruments now in the world.
For our Gear of the Year awards, we asked you to vote in 13 categories online, with the results solidified by an evenly split combination of reader votes and expert opinion from the MusicTech team. We will tell you today about the success of Arturia, which won 2 nominations. First of all, MusicTech's "Gear of the Year" honors the pinnacle of music technology last year.

Gear Of The Year: Лучший контроллер 2020
Getting hands-on with your DAW has never been easier thanks to the tremendous power of controllers in 2020. Here’s the controller that reigned supreme this year.

Winner: Arturia KeyStep Pro
If you prefer keys to pads, you’re in for a treat. KeyStep Pro features a great-feeling 3 octave keyboard with velocity sensitivity and aftertouch. Letting you fully articulate your musical ideas, this expressive little sequencer truly puts the power at your fingertips. KeyStep Pro works the way you want it to, and removes the barriers between you and the music you want to create.
Our sequencers can be seen all over the world, and are loved by top artists, studios, and amateur producers alike. KeyStep Pro makes gigging easy and fun, with instant and intuitive access to inspiring performance features. Multi-mode arpeggiator, randomness, easy chord mode, and real-time recording for creating on the fly. The crisp OLED displays and LED-illuminated controls will help you see it all in the dark, too!
Also nominated:
- Sensel Morph Controller
- Arturia MicroLab
- Roland A-88 MK II
- Novation Launchkey MK3
- Presonus Atom SQ
- ROLI LUMI Keys 1
- OSC/Pilot
- Akai MPK Mini MK3
Gear Of The Year: Best software synth of 2020
This year has seen a mammoth set of world-class software synths that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their hardware counterparts. Here we decide who came out on top...

Winner: Arturia Pigments 2
Pigments gives you the finest elements ever found in a software instrument, letting you create pioneering, exciting, and deeply personal sounds. Laying everything out before you, Pigments lets you fully express your creativity in a way that’s never been seen before in a software instrument.
Also nominated:
- Slate and Ash Cycles
- UVI Vintage Vault 3
- Roland Zenology
- Rob Papen Quad
- Krotos Audio Concept
- Imaginando FRMS
- Tracktion Collective
- Audio Damage Continua
- Audiaire Zenith
Write a comment