This year’s SOS Awards once again placed the emphasis on innovation and contemporary design, with the nominations being limited to products introduced 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 2020 through to the end of August 2021.

We thank every one of the 7,627 SOS readers who took valuable time out of their studio recording and music-making to complete the lengthy form and make their votes count. We know the manufacturers appreciate your sterling efforts and so do all of us at Sound On Sound.

Among the many nominations and brands, Arturia has found its rightful place.

Winner — Best Keyboard/Synth: Arturia PolyBrute

The 6-voice pure analog PolyBrute builds on award-winning technology and sound to deliver the polysynth you’ve been waiting for. PolyBrute has an expansive morphing architecture and a solid, expressive 61-key range that'll take your sound where no synth has gone before.

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Winner — Best Performance Controller: Arturia KeyStep 37

A controller, evolved. KeyStep 37 combines a flexible 37-note keyboard with intuitive sequencing, instant chord generation and creative real-time MIDI controls that let you discover and interact with music like never before.

Overcome creative hurdles. Smash artistic barriers. Discover new musical horizons. A powerful tool that seamlessly controls your hardware and software instruments simultaneously. An exploratory device that encourages spontaneous creativity with its musical features. Surrender to the musical journey - where will KeyStep 37 take you?

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Highly Commended — Best Software Instrument: Arturia Pigments

Pigments has evolved to be bigger, bolder, and more versatile than ever, blurring the lines between timbres and pushing sound design into vivid new territory.

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Full Winners & Highly Commended List

• Winner — Best Audio Interface: Audient iD14 MkII; Highly Commended — Universal Audio Apollo Solo
• Winner — Best DAW: Apple Logic Pro X; Highly Commended — Steinberg Cubase Pro 11
• Winner — Best Effects & Processing Hardware: Rupert Neve Designs 5254; Highly Commended — Warm Audio Bus‑Comp
• Winner — Best Plug‑In: Fabfilter Timeless 3; Highly Commended — Universal Audio API Vision Channel Strip Collection
• Winner — Best Music Software: Steinberg WaveLab Pro 11; Highly Commended — Steinberg SpectraLayers Pro 8
• Winner — Best Software Instrument: EastWest Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition; Highly Commended — Arturia Pigments 3
• Winner — Best Guitar Technology Product: Neural DSP Quad Cortex; Highly Commended — Universal Audio UAFX Pedals
• Winner — Best Keyboard/Synth: Arturia PolyBrute; Highly Commended — Sequential Prophet‑5 & 10
• Winner — Best Performance Controller : Arturia KeyStep 37; Highly Commended — Akai MPK Mini MkIII
• Winner — Best Drum Machine/Sampler/Sequencer: Native Instruments Maschine+; Highly Commended — Roland TR‑6S
• Winner — Best Microphone : Warm Audio WA‑67; Highly Commended — Shure MV7
• Winner — Best Mixer/Mixing Controller: SSL UF8; Highly Commended — Rupert Neve Designs 5057 Orbit
• Winner — Best Monitor: Kali Audio IN‑5; Highly Commended — Genelec 8361A
• Winner — Best Microphone Preamp: Rupert Neve Designs RMP‑D8; Highly Commended — RME 12Mic
• Winner — Best Hardware Recorder: Zoom F6; Highly Commended — iZotope Spire Studio 2nd Generation
• Winner — Best Headphones: Sennheiser HD 560S; Highly Commended — Focal Clear MG Professional
• Winner — Best Live Sound Product: JBL PRX One; Highly Commended — Sennheiser MD 435