DAWs, plugins, and the software shaping modern production.
FabFilter Twin 3.10 adds MPE and Note Expression to the virtual analog synth, free for existing owners. Full specs, Serum 2 comparison, pricing and FAQ.
Full Bucket's free Matriq-Six emulates the 1985 Oberheim Matrix-6R at the CPU level. What it models, formats, its prototype status, and how it compares to Arturia.
EastWest Hollywood Scoring Tools packs 328 playable Scores, 1,312 arrangements and 160+ instruments into Opus. $299 at Plugin Boutique, $199 crossgrade, specs and rivals.
Fingerlab BloopMachine is a free acid synth-sequencer for iOS and macOS: a wavetable voice, a deep generative step sequencer, 48 patterns, Song mode and AUv3 support.
MAP Audio MFX is a modular multi-FX plugin: four routable cells, a 33-effect library, deep modulation, and an MCP bridge that lets AI agents control it. $80, browser demo.
Excite Audio Bloom Ensemble Mallets turns piano, vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel and bells into a playable, sequenced instrument with 250 presets.
DSP Bricks Optigan recreates the 1971 Mattel optical organ as a plugin, with all 40 program discs, DAW sync, chord detection and spring reverb. Specs and price.
Logic Pro's November 2026 update adds an AI assistant in beta, a redesigned Browser with on-device sound tagging, and a Stem Splitter that can now isolate individual drum parts.
Native Instruments Massive XL is the new flagship wavetable synth. It succeeds Massive X, adding a sample-based Preset Generator, Mutator and poly aftertouch.
Pittsburgh Modular's Microvolt 3901 rebuilds the 3900 semi-modular synth in software: seven oscillators, 19 effects, a full patch bay and six-voice polyphony.
Thenatan VYBZ 2 puts texture, reverb, echo, drive, era aging, width and EQ in one lofi plugin with 256 presets. $10 at Plugin Boutique to 19 Nov, from $89.
Isla Electronics ASYX is a software recreation of the Alesis Andromeda A6: dual filters, 16-part multitimbral, 1,200+ patches and SysEx import, for £99.
