Latest articles by Stuart Adams
14 of the best plugins and DAWs you can use on Linux
We continue our adventure into the world of Linux-based music-making with a round-up of the best Linux-friendly software tools
How to use reverb to build impressive-sounding filters, reverses, risers and pads
Create your own reverb effects with our step-by-step tutorial
5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
Unconventional and creatively inspiring, these soft synths are pushing synthesis in bold new directions
Hit Record Meter is the free plugin that can assess the commercial appeal of your track. But does it actually work?
Airwindows' creation reveals the inner workings of what makes the hits 'tick'… But is it a hit or a flop?
"It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
From full-featured behemoths and retro emulations to MPC-style beatmakers and must-have freebies, we round up 10 software samplers that make sampling fun, fast and intuitive
The ultimate soft synth showdown: Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: But which is best?
We pit five of today's most powerful, flexible and versatile synth plugins against each other to find out who comes out on top in 2025
Can AI mix better than a real mix engineer? We put iZotope's AI-powered Neutron 5 to the test to find out
We put the the recently updated Neutron 5's AI-assisted mixing up against an experienced human to find out if it could stand up to the real thing
“A combo of powerful, flexible, multi-layered spectral audio editing with cutting edge AI-based neural networks”: Steinberg SpectraLayers Pro 11 review
SpectraLayers has come a long way since Steinberg first acquired it, but in our view this may be the biggest step up yet
“A unique world of evocative and dramatic voices”: Arturia Augmented Yangtze review
We embark on a sonic journey though the world of traditional Chinese instruments – set against a modern backdrop
“All of the changes are positive and welcome, and many are an absolute dream”: Steinberg WaveLab Pro 12 review
The long-awaited update to WaveLab has finally landed, accompanied by a lot of changes of varying success. We don a white coat
iZotope RX 11 vs Steinberg SpectraLayers 11: which is the best spectral editor?
We put two of the industry's leading AI-powered spectral audio editors through their paces - but who will come out on top?
“An extremely significant and very well executed update to this remarkably powerful audio production platform”: Steinberg Nuendo 13 review
Like a fine wine, Steinberg Nuendo just keeps getting better with age – if only we all could look so good after 24 years!
How to combine reverb with other effects
Create unique sounds and textures by fusing reverb with other effects
How to simulate and warp a real room in software
Recreate room acoustics reverb with our step-by-step tutorial
14 tips to help you do more with reverb: "Applying different reverbs to different frequency bands can open up all sorts of intriguing possibilities"
Take our advice, and become a reverb master in no time
How to use reverb to create unique spatial effects
While we can manipulate those regular sounding ’verbs with ease, it’s time to explore how to make all manner of reverb-based effects…
5 techniques for creative reverb manipulation: "Use your imagination to think about new ways that a reverb could be shifted and warped, and then explore different methods for realising that effect"
Delving into the more complex attributes of deeper reverb manipulation
How does reverb actually work?: "Reverb gives us a mainline into our audience’s subconscious, allowing us to influence their aural experience at a subliminal level"
Reverb has been relied on for its evocative sonic character ever since the first homo sapien warbled expletives into a dark cave. The transformative power of space remains a vital mix ingredient...
“Its synth-style controls make arpeggio creation an intuitive, creative, hands-on process”: BLEASS Arpeggiator review
Classic synth-based arpeggiators’ up-down patterns can be tedious. Can Arpeggiator bring the variability we crave?
“A convenient, effective and affordable mastering solution that anybody can use”: Waves Online Mastering
Trained on thousands of hours of mastered music, and sporting a virtual effects rack stuffed with high-end processors, can Waves’ new AI mastering engineer give your tracks the pro-sounding finish you are looking for?
How to use vintage samplers in a modern studio: "You can pick up a classic sampler for a fraction of their original cost, and adding one to your rig opens up a whole new world of sound design possibilities"
Consider ditching the DAW and picking up a used hardware sampler as we show you how to turn the limitations of these classic machines into strengths
“The potential to create any and every conceivable character of distortion”: BLEASS Fusion review
Distortion is a very broad church, spanning a huge range of effects and sounds. BLEASS’ innovative tool lets you delve into them all
“A simple and affordable solution”: LANDR Mastering Plugin review
News of a plugin this smart may rightly shake the mastering community; but LANDR’s latest is nothing to be feared
How to use FM synthesis to design sounds you'll actually use in your music: "Shift your thinking from a subtractive mindset to an FM one and its potential for unique sound design will open up"
We demystify the process of using FM synthesis to create impactful and original sounds to use in your productions
