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Sound, tools, technique.

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

IK Multimedia TOTAL VI MAX 2 - 94% Off at Plugin Boutique

IK Multimedia TOTAL VI MAX 2 is $79.99 from $1,499.92 at Plugin Boutique, 94% off the complete virtual instrument collection through September 30, 2026.

94% off · View deals ↗

Fresh from the desk.

KeySolutions Traveler cinematic hybrid synthesizer interface with three oscillators and motion effects

Software

KeySolutions Traveler: A Cinematic Hybrid With Motion FX

KeySolutions Traveler is a cinematic hybrid synth with three oscillators, dual filters, and launch FX. Intro $99 through 30 September 2026 versus $149 list.

Priya RamanSep 3, 202610 min read

Lewitt Space Replicator Free plugin simulating a studio control room on headphones

Mixing & Mastering

Lewitt Space Replicator Free: A Studio in Your Headphones

Lewitt's free Space Replicator lets you mix on headphones as if you were in a real studio room, with 800+ headphone profiles. Full features, limits, specs and comparisons.

Priya RamanSep 3, 20267 min read

Quantastical CORRIDOR network reverb plugin with coupled rooms and live signal-flow display

Software

Quantastical CORRIDOR Builds Reverb From Coupled Rooms

Quantastical CORRIDOR is a network reverb of coupled rooms with freeze, inverse freeze, and a live flow display. Intro $49 until 14 September 2026, then $69.

Elena MarshSep 3, 202610 min read

Reason Free rack plugin showing Europa, Kong and Scream 4 devices loaded in a DAW

Software

Reason Free Puts 15 Legendary Rack Devices in Any DAW

Reason Free gives away 15 classic Reason Rack devices as a VST3, AU and AAX plugin, plus a 16-track free DAW. Full device list, specs, limits and how it compares.

Marcus FeldSep 3, 20268 min read

TONE3000 free NAM plugin interface showing amp captures loaded in a signal chain

Software

TONE3000's Free Plugin Opens 700,000 Amp Captures

TONE3000 launched a free, open-source Neural Amp Modeler plugin and standalone app with 700,000+ amp and pedal captures. Formats, features, specs and how it compares.

Marcus FeldSep 3, 20267 min read

Vienna Essential Orchestra by Vienna Symphonic Library, Synchron and Studio orchestras in Synchron Player

Software

Vienna Essential Orchestra: Two VSL Rooms, One Sub

Vienna Essential Orchestra puts Synchron and Studio libraries on one €9.99/month subscription, with 115,025 samples, 24.8 GB, Synchron Player and Flow View.

Theo NakamuraSep 3, 202610 min read

DAWJunkie VinylSynth plugin interface with vinyl sample layers, crackle, filter, and effects

Software

DAWJunkie VinylSynth: Keys and Pads From Real Vinyl

DAWJunkie VinylSynth builds its sound engine from real vinyl samples, with a crackle layer, filter, EQ and five effects. Intro $14.95, regular price $49.

Theo NakamuraSep 2, 20269 min read

Force56 Rhyzor16 drum plugin interface with HR-16 and HR-16B pads and per-pad tuning

Software

Force56 Rhyzor16: Both Alesis HR-16 ROMs in One VST

Force56 Rhyzor16 puts all 96 Alesis HR-16 and HR-16B sounds into one $39 drum plugin with 32-step per-pad tuning. Full specs, pricing and who it suits.

Elena MarshSep 2, 202611 min read

Sample Logic Animation Station Pro plugin interface hosting instruments and FX animation engines

Software

Sample Logic Animation Station Pro: Host Any Plugin

Sample Logic Animation Station Pro hosts VST3 and AU instruments and effects, then animates MIDI and FX. Specs, $89 intro versus $119 list, and who should buy.

Theo NakamuraSep 2, 202612 min read

Softube Reference 1998 Equalizer passive tube EQ plugin interface

Mixing & Mastering

Softube Reference 1998 & 1956: Passive EQs Reviewed

Softube's Reference 1998 and 1956 Equalizers model classic passive tube EQs with parallel bands and tube saturation. Specs, pricing and how they compare.

Marcus FeldSep 2, 20268 min read

Sonible smart:chain intelligent channel strip plugin interface

Mixing & Mastering

Sonible smart:chain Review: AI Mixing Across Your Session

Sonible smart:chain is an AI channel strip that shares one analysis across EQ, compression and leveling, and connects every track in your mix. Full review.

Priya RamanSep 2, 20268 min read

Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2 MIDI controller and sequencer on a studio desk

Hardware

Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2 Review: Sequencer Grows Up

The Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2 adds an OLED screen, four encoders, LED key guides, and generative tools. Full specs, how it compares to the mk1, and price.

Marcus FeldSep 1, 20269 min read