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Sound, tools, technique.

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

Waves Platinum Bundle - 94% Off

Waves Platinum is $99.99 from $1,999 at Plugin Boutique, 94% off the 67-plugin mix and master collection through September 3, 2026.

94% off · View deals ↗

Fresh from the desk.

Arturia Pure SUB bass design synthesizer plugin interface

Software

Arturia Pure SUB Review: A Synth Made Only for Bass

Arturia Pure SUB is a $49 bass design synth with independent sub, harmonics, and texture layers plus a built-in processor. Full specs, sound, and pricing.

Theo NakamuraAug 30, 20269 min read

reFX Rippler physical modeling synthesizer plugin interface

Software

reFX Rippler: Modal Synthesis Without a Single Sample

reFX Rippler is a dual-layer physical modeling synth with 12 acoustic models and 441 presets. Full specs, sound, how it compares to Chromaphone 3, and price.

Elena MarshAug 30, 20268 min read

Dreamtonics Instrument X editor showing Violin I piano roll, articulations, and AI Retakes

Software

Dreamtonics Instrument X: Orchestra Without a Sample Library

Dreamtonics Instrument X models an orchestra without samples. Expansions $99, Complete Collection $649. Specs, Pick and Mix pricing, and who should buy.

Marcus FeldAug 28, 202611 min read

Hexant DSP Torsion plugin interface showing multiband pitch, frequency, and Morph controls

Software

Hexant DSP Torsion: Pitch and Hertz on One Insert

Hexant DSP Torsion is a $49.99 intro multiband pitch and frequency shifter for VST3 and AU, no iLok. Morph, Diatonic, Sub-Anchor, and who should buy it.

Priya RamanAug 28, 202610 min read

Scrap Brain Audio WHORL microslice sequencer on a laptop, official product artwork

Software

Scrap Brain WHORL Slices Any File on a 16-Step Grid

Scrap Brain Audio WHORL is a $39 intro microslice sequencer for VST3, AU, and standalone. Transient analysis, 16 steps, and a per-step FX matrix explained.

Elena MarshAug 28, 20269 min read

Reason Free running as a standalone DAW next to the Rack, with Europa, Kong and RV7000 MkII loaded

Software

Best Free DAWs for Music Production (2026): Reason Free Takes #1

The best free DAWs for music production in 2026, ranked. Reason Free puts Europa, Kong and the legendary Reason Rack in every producer's hands, free forever.

Marcus FeldAug 27, 202633 min read

Butterlamp Audio Tilichu wavetable synthesizer plugin with dual oscillators and modulation matrix

Software

Butterlamp Tilichu: Mac Wavetable With Sentence-to-Patch

Butterlamp Tilichu is a Mac-only wavetable synth with granular and spectral engines and a sentence-to-patch generator. $99 one-time, 14-day trial, 400+ presets.

Priya RamanAug 27, 202610 min read

United Plugins Continuum dual-delay plugin by JMG Sound with Tape, BBD and Digital engines

Software

Inside Continuum: Dual Delay That Cross-Feeds Into Reverb

United Plugins Continuum by JMG Sound is a dual delay with Tape, BBD and Digital engines that cross-feed into reverb. $15 at Plugin Boutique through 30 Sep.

Marcus FeldAug 27, 202611 min read

UVI Thorus XT dual-engine chorus plugin showing Analog and Digital modes with morphable voices

Software

UVI Thorus XT Adds a Morphable Analog BBD Chorus

UVI Thorus XT pairs digital chorus with an analog BBD engine on a morphable 8-voice architecture. $49 intro through 7 September. Specs and who it's for.

Elena MarshAug 27, 202610 min read

Carbonated Audio TALLBOY handheld chip resynth plugin with four-channel dot-matrix display

Software

Carbonated Audio TALLBOY Replays Your Line on a Chip

Carbonated Audio TALLBOY pitch-tracks your line and replays it on a four-channel console chip. $20, three machines, no iLok. Full specs and who it is for.

Priya RamanAug 26, 20269 min read

Cherry Audio Memorymode 2 synthesizer plugin interface with dual-layer analog controls

Software

Cherry Audio Memorymode 2 Doubles the Memorymoog Tribute

Cherry Audio Memorymode 2 rebuilds the Memorymoog tribute as dual 16-voice layers with a new analog model. $69, $39 upgrade, full specs and comparisons.

Marcus FeldAug 26, 202610 min read

Gulf Coast Synthesis Spectral additive synthesizer plugin interface showing the Spectral Canvas

Software

GCS Spectral: Draw or Resynthesize Any Sound

Gulf Coast Synthesis Spectral is an additive synth you paint by hand, resynthesize from audio, or drive from images. Full specs, price, and how it compares.

Marcus FeldAug 26, 20268 min read