The Journal

Sound, tools, technique.

Independent reporting, field-tested reviews, and practical production knowledge for people who make music.

Sonnox Producer Power Bundle - 85% Off at Plugin Boutique

The Sonnox Producer Power Bundle, Oxford Inflator plus Oxford Limiter, is $59 from $420 at Plugin Boutique, 85% off through October 18, 2026.

85% off · View deals ↗

Fresh from the desk.

Alternative Woodwind Soloists interface showing the ensemble of alto flute, bass flute, bass clarinet, and tenor recorder

Software

Alternative Woodwind Soloists: Four Rare Orchestral Voices

Alternative Woodwind Soloists from Fracture Sounds adds alto flute, bass flute, bass clarinet, and tenor recorder. Intro is $112, from $149, in Kontakt Player.

Marcus FeldSep 30, 202610 min read

Atavism spectral pad effect from Parallel Minds, with the main knob and a dusk landscape behind the controls

Sound Design

Atavism Makes a Pad From the Track Itself

Atavism by Parallel Minds turns a track into an in-key spectral pad. Launch price is $29, then $39. VST3 and AU on Mac and Windows, about 300 ms latency.

Priya RamanSep 30, 202610 min read

Phoenix hybrid synth interface from Spitfire Audio and BT, with the spectral display and engine controls

Software

Phoenix: Six Engines Under One Cinematic Patch

Phoenix is Spitfire Audio and BT's hybrid cinematic synth: six engines, dual stereo chains, and 16-voice MPE. Intro is $239 or £199 through 25 October 2026.

Elena MarshSep 30, 202611 min read

AudioThing The Orb 2 vowel formant filter plugin interface

Software

AudioThing The Orb 2 Adds Custom Vowels and an iOS App

AudioThing The Orb 2 is a free update to the vowel formant filter, adding custom vowels, stereo controls, a new interface and a first iOS version, on sale at $19.

Priya RamanSep 29, 20268 min read

Northstar mastering console with Dual, Mid, and Side EQ banks, compressor panels, and loudness meters

Mixing & Mastering

Northstar: One Mastering Window, With Linux

Northstar is a one-window mastering console with three EQ banks, FET, VCA, and Vari-Mu, plus a true-peak limiter. Launch price is $59 through 4 October.

Elena MarshSep 29, 202613 min read

Overtonium free additive synthesizer plugin with 32 partial channel strips

Sound Design

Overtonium: A Free Additive Synth Built Like a Mixer

Overtonium is a free, open-source 32-partial additive synth laid out like a mixer, with per-harmonic control and continuous microtuning, for Mac, Windows and Linux.

Marcus FeldSep 29, 20268 min read

Plogue Chipsynth OPMZ four-operator Yamaha FM synthesizer plugin

Software

Plogue Chipsynth OPMZ: Four Yamaha FM Chips in One Synth

Plogue Chipsynth OPMZ is a multi-layer FM synth that emulates four classic Yamaha 4-operator chips from the DX100 and TX81Z, for $49.95 on Mac, Windows and Linux.

Theo NakamuraSep 29, 20268 min read

Thenatan DIAL radio plugin with the tuning dial, Warm Tube, Transistor, Shortwave, and Cheap Speaker models

Sound Design

Thenatan DIAL Puts Your Track on the Radio

Thenatan DIAL is a radio-signal plugin with seven stations, four radio models, and zero latency. The intro price is $12 until 16 October 2026, then $50.

Priya RamanSep 29, 202612 min read

Hügelton Nikolator physical modeling Tesla coil synthesizer plugin interface

Sound Design

Hügelton Nikolator Models a Tesla Coil to Make Sound

Hügelton Nikolator is a physical modeling synth that simulates a musical Tesla coil, with arc, discharge, and branching controls, for macOS and Windows from $1.

Marcus FeldSep 28, 20267 min read

mo0kid wave open-source Waldorf Wave emulation plugin interface with monochrome display

Software

mo0kid wave: An Open-Source Waldorf Wave for Your DAW

mo0kid wave is a free, open-source emulation of the 1993 Waldorf Wave that runs the original firmware, with 48 voices, for macOS. Here is how it works.

Elena MarshSep 28, 20268 min read

Tracker Pro on iPad with a multitrack pattern above its sampler controls

Software

Tracker Pro for iPad Is Now on the App Store

Tracker Pro is now on the App Store for iPad. Sequence samples and synths, slice breaks, host AUv3 instruments, arrange songs, and export your finished mix.

Theo NakamuraSep 28, 20263 min read

Tupos MPE FM synthesizer main performance page showing operator controls and modulation

Software

Inside Tupos MPE FM: Three FM Engines Built for MPE

Tupos MPE FM is a new FM synth with 2, 4, and 6-operator engines, on-knob modulation assignment, and full MPE control over pitch, pressure, and slide.

Theo NakamuraSep 28, 20269 min read