Create Better Music, One Plugin at a Time
SSL Native X-ValveComp Review: Is This SSL Compressor Worth It? Compression is one of the most important tools in mixing, but sometimes controlling dynamics isn’t enough. You may also want a compressor that can add weight, warmth, harmonic character, and attitude to the sound. That’s where SSL Native X-ValveComp gets interesting. Developed by Solid State … Read more
Long before producers had thousands of virtual instruments sitting inside their laptops, hardware rack modules were one of the easiest ways to expand a studio’s sound library. And few rack modules became as iconic as the Roland JV-1080. Originally released in 1994, the JV-1080 became a fixture in professional studios throughout the ’90s. Its massive … Read more
Pro Tools Artist Perpetual License Review: Is It Worth It? Pro Tools has been one of the biggest names in professional audio production for decades. Walk into a commercial recording studio, mixing facility, or post-production house and there’s a good chance you’ll find Pro Tools somewhere in the workflow. But you no longer need the … Read more
Modern music production gives us incredibly clean instruments, samples, and recordings. However, that digital perfection can sometimes leave a beat sounding sterile, flat, or disconnected from the vintage records that inspired it. XLN Audio’s RC-20 Retro Color was designed to solve that problem. RC-20 combines noise, pitch instability, saturation, bit reduction, reverb, and volume fluctuations … Read more
Bloom KSHMR Review: Is This Excite Audio Instrument Worth It? Finding sounds that immediately make a beat feel different can be surprisingly difficult. Most producers already have access to hundreds of synths, drum kits, sample packs, and virtual instruments. The problem isn’t necessarily having enough sounds — it’s finding sounds that inspire you to create … Read more
Minimal Audio Current 2.0 Review: Is This Modern Synth Worth It? Modern producers have no shortage of powerful software synthesizers. Serum, Pigments, Phase Plant, Vital, and other heavyweight instruments can handle everything from simple presets to incredibly complex sound design. So where does Minimal Audio Current 2.0 fit into the picture? Current 2.0 takes a … Read more
There is no shortage of plugins promising producers instant vintage character. But getting a convincing lo-fi sound usually involves more than simply adding vinyl crackle to a clean piano. The best lo-fi sounds have movement, imperfections, warmth, texture, and a sense that the instrument has already passed through some kind of aging process. LANDR Retro … Read more
Electric piano sounds have been a cornerstone of R&B, Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Funk, and Pop for decades. From warm Rhodes-inspired chords to gritty reed-style keys, there’s something about an electric piano that can instantly make a production feel more soulful. That’s exactly the territory Applied Acoustics Systems Lounge Lizard EP-5 is designed to cover. Instead … Read more
Universal Audio EMT 250 Review: Is This Classic Reverb Worth It? Some reverbs are designed to disappear into a mix. Others become part of the sound. The Universal Audio EMT 250 Classic Electronic Reverb falls firmly into the second category. Based on the legendary EMT 250 hardware introduced in 1976, Universal Audio’s plugin brings one … Read more
Bitwig Studio has always been one of the more interesting alternatives to traditional DAWs. Instead of simply giving producers another timeline, mixer, and collection of virtual instruments, Bitwig has built its reputation around creative workflow, modulation, sound design, and experimentation. With Bitwig Studio 6, that philosophy continues. The latest version introduces workflow improvements designed to … Read more