The Journal

Sound, tools, technique.

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

Tracker Pro for iPad: $19.99 (regular $29.99)

Tracker Pro for iPad is on sale for $19.99, regular price $29.99. Tracker, vintage sampler, 24 synth engines, Beads granular devices and AUv3 hosting. One-time purchase.

33% off · View deals ↗

Fresh from the desk.

23audio TELEPRINTER instrument plugin title screen reading Type it, Play it

Sound Design

23audio TELEPRINTER: The Instrument That Plays Your Text

23audio TELEPRINTER is an instrument plugin that turns typed text into rhythm, melody, and robot voices. 161 presets, VST3/AU/AAX, intro $44.99 from 23audio.

Priya RamanOct 24, 202610 min read

Arturia MiniFreak 49 with 49 full-size keys and touch matrix shown above the original 37-key MiniFreak

Hardware

Arturia MiniFreak 49: Full-Size Keys, Touch Matrix, $849

Arturia MiniFreak 49 puts the six-voice hybrid synth on 49 semi-weighted keys with an XYZ touch matrix, Filter FM and 256 MB memory. Specs, prices and rivals.

Priya RamanOct 23, 20269 min read

Arturia V Collection 11 box art, one of the plugin bundles compared for Black Friday 2026

Software

Best Plugin Bundles to Buy on Black Friday 2026

Seven plugin bundles worth buying on Black Friday 2026: V Collection 11 Pro, Komplete 26, FabFilter, Soundtoys 5.5, MPS 9, Waves Platinum, Total Studio 5 MAX.

Elena MarshOct 23, 202611 min read

Defuse Audio DYSEKT plugin interface showing a sliced waveform with per-slice stem and effect controls

Software

DYSEKT: Per-Slice Stem Separation in a €45 Sampler

Defuse Audio DYSEKT is a 45 EUR slicer, drum sampler and multisampler with on-device stem separation and effects on every one of its 128 slices.

Theo NakamuraOct 23, 20269 min read

Karanyi Sounds Voicemax vocal tuning plugin with the lead editor piano roll and harmony notes on screen

Mixing & Mastering

Karanyi Voicemax: Real-Time Vocal Tuning With Four Harmonies

Karanyi Sounds Voicemax tunes vocals live, adds four in-key harmonies and edits every note in two piano rolls. €59 launch price, VST3/AU/AAX. Specs and rivals.

Theo NakamuraOct 23, 20268 min read

Tracker Pro 1.1 Granular FX and Ambient Reverb panels on iPad

Software

Tracker Pro for iPad 1.1: Mutable Instruments Beads, Web Sampling and More (2026)

Tracker Pro 1.1 for iPad adds Mutable Instruments Beads granular devices, web sampling with Sample Crate, multi-sample kits and 8 FX per step. On sale, $19.99.

Theo NakamuraOct 23, 20267 min read

Yamaha CK76 stage keyboard being played, with the CK88, CK76 and CK61 lineup shown

Hardware

Yamaha CK76 Adds a 76-Key Model to the CK Series

Yamaha's CK76 brings a 76-key semi-weighted model to the CK stage keyboard line, with 363 voices, built-in speakers and OS v2.0's Advanced Split Mode.

Elena MarshOct 23, 20268 min read

Arturia Pigments 7 synth plugin with two sample engines, filters and the Combinate modulation view

Software

Best Synth VST Plugins 2026: 8 Paid Synths Worth Buying

The best paid synth VST plugins of 2026: Pigments 7, Serum 2, Diva, Phase Plant, Falcon, Omnisphere 3, V Collection 11 and Spire, with prices and trade-offs.

Marcus FeldOct 22, 202610 min read

Software

GForce Gives Away Axxess and M-Tron Select 2 Free

GForce relaunched its website and is giving away two plugins free: Axxess, an ARP Axxe synth, and M-Tron Select 2, a curated Mellotron M400 instrument.

Marcus FeldOct 22, 20268 min read

HoRNet SpectraDuck spectral sidechain ducker with input, output and gain-reduction curves on screen

Mixing & Mastering

HoRNet SpectraDuck: Spectral Sidechain Ducking for €29.99

HoRNet SpectraDuck ducks only the frequencies your sidechain occupies, with no bands or crossovers. €29.99 as VST3, AU, AAX. Specs, rivals and who it suits.

Priya RamanOct 22, 20268 min read

Serato DJ 5.0 showing Lucid Beatgrids analysis on a waveform with BPM labels

DJing

Serato DJ 5.0: Lucid Beatgrids and iOS Transfer

Serato DJ 5.0 rebuilds beatgrid analysis with automatic tempo tracking, adds Open Streaming and Cue Loops, and sends your crates to the new iOS app.

Elena MarshOct 22, 20268 min read

UVI Player free plugin showing Augmented Orchestra, Ravenscroft 275 and World Suite 3 instrument screens

Software

UVI Player: Free Plugin Now Plays Every Falcon Expansion

UVI Workstation is now UVI Player, a free host that loads every Falcon Expansion without a Falcon licence. Specs, system needs, Kontakt Player comparison.

Elena MarshOct 22, 20267 min read