This year’s SOS Awards once again place the emphasis on innovation and contemporary design, with the nominations being limited to products launched in the 12 months prior to the voting period. These results celebrate the ‘best in class’ products launched or reviewed in the period from September 2022 through to the end of August 2023.
You’ll see all the winners you selected here, as well as the very worthy close contenders in each category who have been awarded our Highly Commended accolade.
Winner in the category «Best Keyboard/Synth» – Arturia MiniFreak
MiniFreak is a polyphonic hybrid keyboard that combines two digital sound engines with warm analog filters, playful modulation, spontaneous sequencing, and rich stereo effects for sounds that are immediately curious, beautiful, and chaotic in equal measure.
MiniFreak’s twin digital sound engines feature over 20 modes, and can be used individually, stacked, or to process each other’s output for unique compound sonic behavior. Its digital voices then collide with analog filters, balancing digital crispness with a rich analog response, complete with 6-voice polyphony, 12-voice paraphony, monophonic, and unison configurations.
Winner in the category «Best Software Instrument» – Arturia V Collection 9
V Collection 9 is a premium suite of reference-grade software instruments for producers, music makers, and sound designers. From classic keyboard emulations to state-of-the-art synth engines, physically-modelled pianos to evocative hybrid strings, this curated 32-instrument selection delivers instant access to professional sounds and deep creative functionality alike.
Highly Commended in the "Performance Controller" nomination according to the editors of SOS – Arturia KeyLab Essential Mk3
Arturia’s new KeyLab Essential mk3 offers a new level of accessible, enjoyable, and creative music making, redefining the essence of a modern universal keyboard controller. From its refreshing new design, to its vastly upgraded creative workflow, to an expanded software package, it promises to shake up the affordable controller market by empowering modern musicians and sound explorers looking to expand their setup without breaking the bank. KeyLab Essential mk3 is the focused, accessible, and fun keyboard controller designed to make your music-making workflow more personal and enjoyable than ever before. Control your DAW or hardware with the most vital controls at your fingertips, the most expressive features at your disposal, and the most inspiring musical software - included as standard.
Winner in the category «Best Microphone» – Lewitt Pure Tube
PURE TUBE was holistically designed to allow you to deliver your best vocal performance and spark your creativity. Its gold-sputtered 1-inch true condenser capsule is powered by a revolutionary circuit to add warmth, depth, and intimacy to your voice, technically unmatched by other microphone classics. To ensure that clarity is retained, a transformer-based filter balances the proximity effect, and musically rounds out the sonic image perfectly for vocal recordings. The fully adjustable shock mount absorbs structure-borne noise efficiently, and the acoustically transparent pop shield puts an end to plosives. It magnetically attaches directly to the shock mount, so wobbly gooseneck pop filters are a thing of the past. Absolutely every design detail shows that the PURE TUBE was designed for professional vocal recording.
Highly Commended in the "Live Sound Product" nomination according to the editors of SOS – Lewitt MTP W950
With the MTP W950, vocalists like you can experience consistent premium sound wherever and however you perform. Watch the video to see the MTP W950 in full action. The 1" true condenser capsule offers beautiful, studio-like high-end beyond that of a typical stage microphone. Your audience will hear every detail of your voice, just like in a studio recording. It might get loud on stage as you deal with noise from the crowd, drums, and other instruments.
Complete list of all nominations and winners
- Best Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Audient iD44)
- Best DAW: Apple Logic Pro «Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Steinberg Cubase Pro)
- Best Effects & Processing Hardware: Eventide H90 Harmonizer («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Strymon Cloudburst)
- Best Guitar & Bass Technology: IK Multimedia Tonex Pedal («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Neural DSP Archetype: Rabea)
- Best Software Plug‑In: iZotope Ozone 11 («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Soundtoys Superplate)
- Best Music Software: Sonarworks SoundID Reference For Multichannel («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Steinberg SpectraLayers Pro 10)
- Best Performance Controller: Ableton Push 3 («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Arturia KeyLab Essential Mk3)
- Best Keyboard/Synth: Arturia MiniFreak («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Clavia Nord Stage 4)
- Best Drum Machine: Roland SPD‑SX Pro («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Korg Drumlogue)
- Best Microphone: Lewitt Pure Tube («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Neumann M49V)
- Best Mixing Controller: SSL UF‑1 («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Audient ASP4816‑HE)
- Best Studio Monitor: Genelec 8381a («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Neumann KH120 II)
- Best Hardware Audio Recorder: Tascam Portacapture X6 («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Zoom M4 MicTrak)
- Best Microphone Preamp: Rupert Neve Designs Newton Channel («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Warm Audio WA‑2MPX)
- Best Software Instrument: Arturia V Collection 9 («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Native Instruments Komplete 14)
- Best Headphones: Audio-Technica 3000 Series IEM («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Sony MDR‑MV1)
- Best Live Sound Product: Allen & Heath CQ Series («Highly Commended» according to the SOS editors: Lewitt MTP W950)
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