The best VST mastering plugins 2020: get your tracks release-ready in your DAW with these high-performance processors By Ronan Macdonald If you want to try DIY mastering, these are the tools you need
The best VST reverb plugins 2020: make some space in your DAW for these amazing ambience processors By Ronan Macdonald The finest algorithmic and convolution reverb plugins you can buy
The best VST EQ plugins 2020: the finest equalisers for your DAW By Ronan Macdonald Find out what’s made the cut and give your tracks a boost
The best VST plugins 2020: the finest synth, drum machine, sampler and effect plugins you can buy right now By Ronan Macdonald It’s the ultimate plugin shopping list
The best VST compressor plugins 2020: top-quality mixing tools for your DAW By Ronan Macdonald The software you need if you want to impress when you compress
Apple Logic Pro X 10.5 review By Ronan Macdonald £200 €230 $200 The venerable DAW takes the fight to Ableton Live, but can it compete?
iPad Pro vs MacBook Pro: which should you buy for music-making? By Ronan Macdonald Looking for power or portability when it comes to your music-making machine? We take a closer look at two Apple devices to help you decide
IK Multimedia iLoud MTM review By Ronan Macdonald A compact monitoring solution for when you need a forensic level of detail
The best drum machine VST plugins 2020: beatmaking software for your DAW By Ronan Macdonald From 808 and 909 emulations to innovative drum synths
Acoustic vs electronic drum kits: which is better for beginner drummers? By Ronan Macdonald Should you learn on acoustic or electronic drums? We tackle the topics of noise, space, cost, playability and more to help you decide
Alesis Nitro Mesh kit vs Yamaha DTX402K vs Roland TD-1K: which e-kit is best for beginner drummers? By Ronan Macdonald We beat the living daylights out of three beginner electronic drum sets to reveal the one most deserving of your attention
Produce your own music for less with these budget home studio setups By Ronan Macdonald Everything you need to start recording music with our guide to cheap home studio recording gear – from laptops and headphones, to audio interfaces and monitors
Roland Cloud review By Ronan Macdonald £18.95 a month $19.95 a month Does the ‘all you can eat’ subscription service from the Japanese giant provide enough production tools to justify a monthly fee?
10 pieces of music software that every hip-hop producer should own By Ronan Macdonald Create the ultimate in-the-box toolkit
Does Logic Pro X 10.3 make the MacBook Pro Touch Bar useful for musicians? By Ronan Macdonald We find out if the latest version of Apple's DAW makes the Touch Bar make sense
10 technologies that are changing the way we make music By Ronan Macdonald Groundbreaking new ways to sync, link, control and collaborate
NAMM2016: Rob Papen shows his true colours with Prisma rack-style host By Ronan Macdonald One plugin to house them all
NAMM 2016: Tracktion Corporation enters the audio interface market and updates its DAW By Ronan Macdonald Certainly didn't see that one coming!
NAMM 2016: Softube announces "intelligent" mastering plugin By Ronan Macdonald Drawmer S73 promises to make multiband compression idiot-proof
NAMM 2016: PreSonus reveals high-end USB 3.0 mobile audio interface By Ronan Macdonald Powerful new recording system for musicians on the move
13 music software utilities that will make your life easier By Ronan Macdonald Get a helping hand from these indispensable studio tools
9 of the best Ableton Live MIDI controllers By Ronan Macdonald Hands-on hardware and iOS/Android apps for Live mavens
First look: IK Multimedia iRig Pads By Ronan Macdonald Can this iOS-friendly pad controller find its groove?
13 of the best VST/AU plugin effects under $30 By Ronan Macdonald Amazing processors for the thrifty producer
