Best compressor plugins 2023: Our pick of the greatest in-the-box compressors for the budding producer By Daryl Robertson published 27 January 23 The software compressors you need if you want to impress
Best vocal plugins 2023: Our pick of vocal processing software to make your voice shine By Andy Jones last updated 19 October 22 If you want that Auto-Tune effect, or need to make a bad vocal great, then these vocal processing plugins will help turn bad singing into perfect vocals, whatever music you make
IK Multimedia iLoud MTM review By Ronan Macdonald last updated 23 July 21 A compact monitoring solution for when you need a forensic level of detail
Best reverb plugins 2023: Amazing space-makers for your DAW By Ronan Macdonald last updated 2 February 23 Add atmosphere and pro polish to your mixes with these powerful reverb plugins
Best EQ plugins 2023: Mix, create, repair, and master with these 13 amazing equalizers By Andy Jones last updated 27 January 23 The best EQs you can buy today, for everything from simple frequency tweaks to full-on intelligent AI processing
Best VST plugins 2023: the finest synth, drum machine, sampler and effect plugins you can buy right now By Ronan Macdonald published 19 June 20 It’s the ultimate plugin shopping list
Apple Logic Pro X 10.5 review By Ronan Macdonald published 15 May 20 £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 published 14 May 20 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
Acoustic vs electronic drum kits: which is better for beginner drummers? By Ronan Macdonald last updated 24 February 21 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 last updated 28 July 22 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 last updated 24 February 21 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
How to program the perfect drum roll: part 1 By Ronan Macdonald published 9 April 19 The tension mounts
Roland Cloud review By Ronan Macdonald published 6 June 18 £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 published 11 April 18 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 last updated 21 November 19 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 published 7 March 16 Groundbreaking new ways to sync, link, control and collaborate
NAMM2016: Rob Papen shows his true colours with Prisma rack-style host By Ronan Macdonald published 21 January 16 One plugin to house them all
NAMM 2016: Tracktion Corporation enters the audio interface market and updates its DAW By Ronan Macdonald published 21 January 16 Certainly didn't see that one coming!
NAMM 2016: Softube announces "intelligent" mastering plugin By Ronan Macdonald published 21 January 16 Drawmer S73 promises to make multiband compression idiot-proof
NAMM 2016: PreSonus reveals high-end USB 3.0 mobile audio interface By Ronan Macdonald published 21 January 16 Powerful new recording system for musicians on the move
13 music software utilities that will make your life easier By Ronan Macdonald published 14 December 15 Get a helping hand from these indispensable studio tools
9 of the best Ableton Live MIDI controllers By Ronan Macdonald published 19 November 14 Hands-on hardware and iOS/Android apps for Live mavens
First look: IK Multimedia iRig Pads By Ronan Macdonald published 25 September 14 Can this iOS-friendly pad controller find its groove?
13 of the best VST/AU plugin effects under $30 By Ronan Macdonald published 12 August 14 Amazing processors for the thrifty producer
Ample Sound hit a new low with Ample Bass P By Ronan Macdonald published 1 August 14 One of the greatest basses of all time, virtualised