Contributors / Senior Reviews Editor

Marcus Feld

Marcus has been testing synths, plugins and DAWs for over fifteen years, with a stubborn weakness for modular and anything that abuses an envelope. He leads Dubspot’s reviews desk and owns the Dubspot Score methodology.

Senior Reviews Editor

PluginsSynthsDAWsReviews

Latest from Marcus

Emergence Audio Envoy analog percussion instrument for Kontakt Player, official product artwork
Software

Emergence Audio Envoy: Analog Percussion That Keeps Changing

Emergence Audio Envoy is a $149 intro Kontakt Player instrument of analog percussion that recombines as you play. Specs, Cadence Engine, and who it is for.

Marcus FeldAug 31, 202610 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
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
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
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
Audio Modeling PolySWAM key art with the PolySWAM logo over a glowing horizon
Software

Audio Modeling PolySWAM Makes SWAM Modeling Polyphonic

Audio Modeling PolySWAM brings SWAM-style physical modeling to polyphonic ensembles. Preorder $279 / €279 from $399 MSRP, desktop beta, mid-September 2026.

Marcus FeldAug 25, 202610 min read
discoDSP OPL 3.0 FM synthesizer plugin interface emulating the Yamaha OPL2 chip
Software

discoDSP OPL 3.0: The AdLib FM Chip, Reworked

discoDSP OPL 3.0 rebuilds the Yamaha OPL2/OPL3 FM chip with all eight waveforms per operator and 16x oversampling. Specs, pricing, and how it compares.

Marcus FeldAug 25, 20267 min read
Imaginando TV3 TB-303-style acid synthesizer plugin interface
Software

Imaginando TV3: Acid Basslines That Write Themselves

Imaginando TV3 is a TB-303-style acid synth with a one-click pattern generator, now with a redesigned interface. Specs, pricing, and how it compares to Acid V.

Marcus FeldAug 25, 20267 min read
nakst Altitude hybrid synthesis workstation plugin interface
Software

nakst Altitude Is Now Free: A Full Hybrid Synth

nakst Altitude, a hybrid virtual analog, sampling, and FM synth workstation, is now a free download. Full specs, engines, and how it compares to Vital and Surge XT.

Marcus FeldAug 25, 20267 min read
discoDSP Corona 7 virtual analog and wavetable synthesizer plugin interface
Software

discoDSP Corona 7 Adds MPE to Its VA-Wave Synth

discoDSP Corona 7 is a free upgrade for Corona 6 owners, adding MPE, a step sequencer, Synth1 and JP-8000 import, and Super 7+ unison. Specs, price, and verdict.

Marcus FeldAug 24, 20267 min read
UJAM Virtual Drummer NEON interface with phrase lanes, kit mixer, and Real/Glam slider
Software

Inside UJAM Virtual Drummer NEON: Nu Disco Grooves

UJAM Virtual Drummer NEON is a $49 intro nu-disco drummer with five vintage kits, 690 phrases, and a Real/Glam slider. Specs, price, and who should buy it.

Marcus FeldAug 24, 202610 min read
Arturia Pigments Play free synthesizer interface showing the simplified Play view with macro controls
Software

Arturia Pigments Play: The Free Synth With Six Engines

Arturia Pigments Play is a free synth with all six Pigments engines, 68 filters, and 100 presets. Full specs, pricing, and how it compares to Vital.

Marcus FeldAug 23, 20267 min read
Audio Damage AD-202 MicroSynthesizer plugin panel with VCO, source mixer, 24 dB ladder, and ADSR
Software

Audio Damage AD-202: A $39 One-VCO Grey-Box Synth

Audio Damage AD-202 is a $39 intro one-VCO grey-box synth with a 24 dB ladder, eight-voice poly, MPE, and no DRM. Specs, formats, and who should buy it.

Marcus FeldAug 21, 202612 min read
Pulsar Modular P252 MDN Diode germanium compressor plugin interface with Simpson VU and vintage knobs
Software

Pulsar P252 MDN Diode Models a 1968 Neve 2252

Pulsar Modular P252 MDN Diode is a $165 germanium diode-bridge compressor modeled on a 1968 Neve 2252 from Wessex Studios. Specs, controls, and who it is for.

Marcus FeldAug 20, 202610 min read
Official Universal Audio UAD EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator and EMT 250 Classic Electronic Reverb native plug-in interfaces
Software

UAD EMT 140 and 250 Go Native: Plate Reverb Without Apollo

UAD EMT 140 plate and EMT 250 electronic reverb now run native — no Apollo required. Live prices, Spark inclusion, specs, and how they compare to FutureVerb.

Marcus FeldAug 19, 202612 min read
Audio Damage Tessera sequenced resonator plugin interface showing root note, scale, motion engines and resonator controls
Software

Audio Damage Tessera: Sequenced Resonator First Look

Audio Damage Tessera turns any input into tuned chords using 12 resonator voices, 11 physical models and five motion engines. A look at the specs and price.

Marcus FeldAug 6, 20267 min read
Pulsar Modular Q Sahara input-driven compressor plugin interface in the Sand Dune theme
Software

Q Sahara for iPad: Pulsar Modular's AUv3 Compressor

Pulsar Modular's Q Sahara lands on iPad as a $19.99 AUv3 compressor with no threshold knob, adaptive timing and a sidechain filter. A first look at the port.

Marcus FeldAug 6, 20266 min read
Jamstik LOON software instrument interface showing three layers, FM synth operators and macro list
Software

Jamstik LOON Stacks Three Synth Layers for MPE Players

Jamstik LOON is a three-layer MPE software instrument with virtual analog, samples and 4-op FM. Released July 15, 2026 at $49.99 intro. Full review.

Marcus FeldJul 28, 202610 min read
Ethno World 7 Complete running in Kontakt 7, showing the Woodwind & Brass and Stringed Instruments interfaces
Software

Ethno World 7 Complete Review: One of the Best Kontakt Libraries Ever Made

Ethno World 7 Complete packs 382 world instruments and voices into 53 GB. After 25 years of development, it is one of the best Kontakt libraries ever made.

Marcus FeldJul 25, 202610 min read
Superlunar GX-8600 glitch and corrupt plugin interface
Sound Design

Superlunar GX-8600: Bend, Freeze and Corrupt Sound

Superlunar's GX-8600 is a $69 glitch and corrupt plugin with a rhythmic glitch engine, a signal-degradation engine, and four LFOs. Full specs and Effectrix 2 comparison.

Marcus FeldJul 14, 20267 min read
Chopgrid sampler plugin interface with a 16-cell grid and sound modules
Sound Design

Chopgrid Review: Sampling Built Around Chance

Chopgrid is a chance-based sampler that fills a 16-cell grid from random files, with 14 synthesis engines, a drum machine, and glitch FX. Specs and price.

Marcus FeldJul 12, 20267 min read
Ultra synthesizer plugin interface showing its UltraWave oscillator and modulation section
Software

Ultra: One Synth, Five Engines, and UltraWave

Ultra is a flagship multi-synthesis plugin built around the UltraWave engine, with five sound sources, dual filters, 32 voices, MPE, and a perpetual license.

Marcus FeldJul 10, 20268 min read
iZotope Ozone mastering suite, part of the iZotope lineup now owned by Boris FX
Mixing & Mastering

iZotope Joins Boris FX: What It Means for RX and Ozone

Boris FX acquired iZotope on July 2, 2026, moving RX, Ozone, Neutron, and Nectar to a new owner. Here's what changes for your licenses and updates.

Marcus FeldJul 7, 20267 min read