<![CDATA[ Latest from MusicRadar in Soft-synths ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/soft-synths Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “I’ve heard tracks where someone took a Massive preset and just added a snare and some chords and that’s all they did”: How Native Instruments’ Massive became the go-to bass synth for a generation of music-makers ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/native-instruments-massive-synth-week-repub mQv6bfViDdvhKCPC64nPd3 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ 5 amazing stock synths that come bundled with your DAW ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/5-amazing-stock-synths-that-come-bundled-with-your-daw W8dvkjPPkCy9TtBwiTNWH Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Our music was so simple: we’d all laugh when Adrian Wright moved just one finger on the synthesizer and it sounded great”: Replicate the sonic magic of the Human League’s defining synth-pop anthem ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/our-music-was-so-simple-wed-all-laugh-when-adrian-wright-moved-just-one-finger-on-the-synthesizer-and-it-sounded-great-replicate-the-sonic-magic-of-the-human-leagues-defining-synth-pop-anthem wPsJumTy5J3wFVyqW7vdYd Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:05:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ "It's possible to end up with exactly the sound you were looking for without once thinking about frequencies, filters and all the rest of it": 5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/5-innovative-synths-synth-week MxE6PDb5pWuZSARb63JnJm Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Baby Audio's “most advanced synthesizer to date” is a granular plugin with audio-rate modulation capable of creating “entirely new textures” ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/baby-audios-most-advanced-synthesizer-to-date-is-a-granular-plugin-with-audio-rate-modulation-capable-of-creating-entirely-new-textures f9YdgYcpNf73ewBEZCBjG5 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:40:44 +0000 <![CDATA[ “How did the zap migrate from its association with Klingons, to its more common description of Hi Q?”: How to conjure the spirit of early techno and trigger your own retro zaps in software ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/tutorials/music-production-tutorials/how-did-the-zap-migrate-from-its-association-with-klingons-to-its-more-common-description-of-hi-q-how-to-conjure-the-spirit-of-early-techno-and-trigger-your-own-retro-zaps-in-software gajFAGVRryNRoVrSfQRL4T Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:27:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Offers power, warmth, charm and usability, in a highly convincing virtual analogue reproduction, with real heart and soul”: Cherry Audio SH-MAX review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/cherry-audio-sh-max-review unCzkxokBzn9UDQJ4EDrsb Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:21:53 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:41 +0000 <![CDATA[ Don’t DAW us, get to the (virtual analogue) chorus: You can now buy Reason’s iconic Rack of virtual outboard as a standalone plugin ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/dont-daw-us-get-to-the-virtual-analogue-chorus-you-can-now-buy-reasons-iconic-rack-of-outboard-as-a-standalone-plugin GnKCyEBRwBRGaejKiUqnJT Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:09:45 +0000 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:09:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ “You’ll smile broadly at the ease with which you can land on astonishing results”: Native Instruments Absynth 6 review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/youll-smile-broadly-at-the-ease-with-which-you-can-land-on-astonishing-results-native-instruments-absynth-6-review GYSJzsc7yPsNCnwTXkXdrJ Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:32:20 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:38 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Built upon the strengths of the original, it takes this vintage classic to contemporary heights”: Cherry Audio Mercury-8 review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/cherry-audio-mercury-8-review Csk5oq8LKuQg5nmiXk5YMW Sat, 27 Dec 2025 09:36:14 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:37 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Quickly grasp tone, timbre and intention behind each preset”: Arturia Pigments 7’s new reactive UI offers in-app tutorials and lets you visualise every sound ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/quickly-grasp-tone-timbre-and-intention-behind-each-preset-arturia-pigments-7s-new-reactive-ui-offers-in-app-tutorials-and-lets-you-visualise-every-sound MecBcFEenr58LCozv3EqFQ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I do not think I have a talent for pop music. I’m much better if I slow it down a bit, make it a bit menacing, add a hint of mystery or oppression, I’m in my element at that point”: How to emulate the sound of Gary Numan’s synth-pop classic Cars ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-do-not-think-i-have-a-talent-for-pop-music-im-much-better-if-i-slow-it-down-a-bit-make-it-a-bit-menacing-add-a-hint-of-mystery-or-oppression-im-in-my-element-at-that-point-how-to-emulate-the-sound-of-gary-numans-synth-pop-classic-cars un7bzPzGo3TPpihKsL9mHE Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:02:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It's been a real emotional thing bringing this back”: Native Instruments Absynth returns – here’s the inside story, with developer Brian Clevinger ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/its-been-a-real-emotional-thing-bringing-this-back-native-instruments-absynth-returns-heres-the-inside-story-with-developer-brian-clevinger FVJNU4RWzChcvNpfS7z4Ke Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:05:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ 17 outstanding plugins that you can still get for under $50 this Cyber Monday - but be quick, the sales end soon! ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/19-of-the-best-plugins-under-usd50-this-cyber-monday-for-last-minute-impulse-buying nupUqy3gxt9aV5QwmVz79K Mon, 01 Dec 2025 16:57:02 +0000 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:44:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ "It's not just another recreation of the Jupiter-8": Cherry Audio goes "beyond Jupiter" with the Mercury-8 soft synth ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/its-not-just-another-recreation-of-the-jupiter-8-cherry-audio-goes-beyond-jupiter-with-the-mercury-8-soft-synth 9uCnXWbT5iWgHmpMgjXxXV Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:25:29 +0000 Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:45:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ KV331 Audio is giving away one of the best iPad synths we've ever tested for free ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/kv331-audio-is-giving-away-one-of-the-best-ipad-synths-weve-ever-tested-for-free irN3cpP4b2SzPGY8fbVtAn Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:40:08 +0000 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:44:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “One of the most unique, stylish and feature-packed workhorses available”: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 3 review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/spectrasonics-omnisphere-3-review Wu9d43KUxMscchZ4sHAP9U Mon, 27 Oct 2025 08:53:18 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The stunningly impressive sonic and visual attributes immediately inspire, at a price which is affordable to all”: Cherry Audio Crumar Spirit review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/cherry-audio-crumar-spirit-review JK9aeSWRFEF9CZGV5jFufW Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It could be easy to think that the strings and brass sections are somehow weaker than their synthesizer counterpart, but this would be an enormous mistake”: Cherry Audio Trident mkIII review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/cherry-audio-trident-mkiii-clone hAVrrpRrbkjGBe52GNm7qM Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:00:00 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:30 +0000 <![CDATA[ "It is not a polite instrument – nor is it clean, safe, or obvious": Cherry Audio revives the cult classic Crumar Spirit in its latest plugin ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/it-is-not-a-polite-instrument-nor-is-it-clean-safe-or-obvious-cherry-audio-revives-the-cult-classic-crumar-spirit-in-its-latest-plugin 6ah3mm2UY6HPU7uPiqZyr5 Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:41:37 +0000 <![CDATA[ Massive X Player is a new free synth plugin that lets users morph and modulate presets from Native Instruments’ wavetable powerhouse ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/massive-x-player-is-a-new-free-synth-plugin-that-lets-users-morph-and-modulate-presets-from-native-instruments-wavetable-powerhouse bAQ5a2ozHygYnJ4p7fpPFD Tue, 29 Jul 2025 14:36:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Still the synth and keyboard collection to beat”: Arturia V Collection 11 Pro review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/still-the-synth-and-keyboard-collection-to-beat-arturia-v-collection-11-pro-review dqCBeCCVpeN8aB9MrM8xEd Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:38:36 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “$199 for a synth that retreads the well-worn VA path is a big ask”: Universal Audio Anthem review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/universal-audio-anthem-review 6q7U3cc2w6ijoxHU5Usb3c Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:14:46 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:16 +0000 <![CDATA[ "90% of what I do is done on one software synth": Hans Zimmer on the synth plugin that he's been working with for years - and still hasn't run out of ideas ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/pluginweek-hans-plugin EYwuWbRwZuKsrRAQryFaBF Fri, 04 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Years of research, development and deep love of FM synthesis has gone into picking just the right balance of flexibility and simplicity”: Pivot is a ‘no-nonsense’ FM synth plugin from the designer behind one of our favourite hardware instruments ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/years-of-research-development-and-deep-love-of-fm-synthesis-has-gone-into-picking-just-the-right-balance-of-flexibility-and-simplicity-pivot-is-a-no-nonsense-fm-synth-plugin-from-the-designer-behind-one-of-our-favourite-hardware-instruments 4sU8B6F7JugKjvtkwKnUy9 Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:07:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2 ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/fantastic-free-plugins-and-how-to-use-them-the-wave-warden-odin-2 AkothyniJ4urUe25j7JvhK Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:58:39 +0000 <![CDATA[ Excite Audio collaborates with KSHMR to create a new Bloom instrument that brings the sound of Indian music to any DAW, and you can grab the Lite version for just $5 ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/excite-audio-collaborates-with-kshmr-to-create-a-new-bloom-instrument-that-brings-the-sound-of-indian-music-to-any-daw-and-you-can-grab-the-lite-version-for-just-usd5 H3t6jnSARixJTMgMb8Y9Jj Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:26:15 +0000 <![CDATA[ The ultimate soft synth showdown: Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: But which is best? ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/the-ultimate-soft-synth-showdown-serum-2-pigments-6-phase-plant-vital-and-massive-x-but-which-is-best TpCi725dEusyQjdgoZ2VBW Mon, 30 Jun 2025 08:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We’ll push the boat out here and say that this could be its finest synth plugin to date”: Cherry Audio ODC 2800 review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/cherry-audio-odc-2800-review fNSiLYNMaP2uLk3sZQhTyB Fri, 20 Jun 2025 17:43:29 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ “One of the most iconic synthesizers of all time, in a highly usable and great sounding piece of software”: GForce Software Oberheim TVS Pro review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/gforce-software-oberheim-tvs-pro-review 4FSkQE5nCf5QrZrngmCzcL Sun, 15 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:11 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Pigments is becoming so powerful it risks making the V Collection look obsolete”: Arturia Pigments review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/arturia-pigments-review avgsp2pcRk7CR3sZoZ9jkY Tue, 10 Jun 2025 14:26:05 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ "A copy of Serum might be the smartest investment any budding producer makes": Xfer Serum review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/plugins/a-copy-of-serum-might-be-the-smartest-investment-any-budding-producer-makes-xfer-serum-2-review qVKxXU4oBx5eYWb568RUmB Sat, 24 May 2025 09:00:10 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:11 +0000 <![CDATA[ Universal Audio is giving the $199 PolyMAX synth plugin away for free - but not for long ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/universal-audio-is-giving-the-usd199-polymax-synth-plugin-away-for-free-but-not-for-long pwDKHJ7zxtoKYUSGk9UzLF Fri, 23 May 2025 15:55:00 +0000 Fri, 23 May 2025 20:46:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It's probably my Behringer Model D monosynth. So simple and obviously cheap, but it’s just so versatile. I’ve used it on basically every track that I’ve created”: 10 producers share the tech they can’t live without ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/plug-it-in-and-it-just-sounds-bigger-than-anything-else-10-producers-tell-us-the-studio-gear-they-cant-live-without jqaUXynwGaXf9UCTp4Jrv6 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: Full Bucket FB-3300 ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/software-apps/fantastic-free-plugins-and-how-to-use-them-full-bucket-fb-3300 9GPYbD83JpLAxkAXy2Hebf Sun, 27 Apr 2025 09:04:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ What’s the buzz? Meet Yellowjacket, Cherry Audio's recreation of EDP’s trend-setting Wasp from 1978 ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/gear-gadgets/whats-the-buzz-meet-yellowjacket-cherry-audios-recreation-of-edps-trend-setting-wasp-from-1978 gLYwvtSTyPhEMzXSKmvx4D Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:02:00 +0000 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:11:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ e-instruments’ Slower is the laidback software instrument that could put your music on the fast track to success ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/e-instruments-slower-is-the-laidback-software-instrument-that-could-put-your-music-on-the-fast-track-to-success RJDN6GJZaqzDR3EvtZbifQ Wed, 09 Apr 2025 08:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Serum 2 just dropped: one of the greatest soft synths of all time gets a massive update - and it's completely free for existing users ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/serum-2-just-dropped-one-of-the-greatest-soft-synths-of-all-time-gets-a-massive-update-and-its-completely-free-for-existing-users BRqPhkyoKf77JYBkzqUTjD Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:06:47 +0000 Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:14:01 +0000 <![CDATA[ Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: Newfangled Audio Pendulate Chaotic Synth ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/fantastic-free-plugins-pendulate GPrwVpmmQZR3gqXvWZ6pwS Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:36:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ Everybody needs a 303, and Roland is giving away its software version free for ‘303 Day’ – but be quick, there are only 3,030 copies up for grabs ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/software-apps/everybody-needs-a-303-and-roland-is-giving-away-its-software-version-free-for-303-day-but-be-quick-theres-only-3-030-copies-up-for-grabs nweeyuBaLtVARGGxxZkDFT Mon, 03 Mar 2025 16:00:30 +0000 Mon, 03 Mar 2025 16:25:32 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It’s a mighty emulation of an emulation of an emulation”: GForce Novation Bass Station review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/gforce-novation-bass-station-review pkCQ3nLHsZ2mJAEuDd7wmZ Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:36:04 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:11:54 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I want to shout from a mountain top about this incredible technology”: Is Dreamtronic's Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro really the first artificial vocalist to finally nail the fake factor? ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/software-apps/dreamtonics-synthesizer-v-studio-2-pro Q3ziDfN3jZXCfrGnaS3sfi Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ "One of the most fascinating techniques in the modern synthesist's arsenal": This free synth plugin transforms physics into sound ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/one-of-the-most-fascinating-techniques-in-the-modern-synthesists-arsenal-this-free-synth-plugin-transforms-physics-into-sound oypR7yQPPDhDFjHh2EcrDb Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:49:24 +0000 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:37:47 +0000 <![CDATA[ Why did Jon Batiste have a Jupiter-8 plugin controller, a Maschine+ and an Ableton Live controller sitting on his piano when he sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl? We’re still not sure ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/why-did-jon-batiste-have-a-jupiter-8-plugin-controller-a-maschine-and-an-ableton-live-controller-sitting-on-his-piano-when-he-sang-the-national-anthem-at-the-super-bowl-were-still-not-sure PUGDm7VWPwrFbPNy3F6AM4 Mon, 10 Feb 2025 12:04:08 +0000 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:38:52 +0000 <![CDATA[ "Stop trawling the small ads and boot sales": Kays Catalogue classic the JEN SX1000 just got reborn as a plugin and iOS app ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/stop-trawling-the-small-ads-and-boot-sales-kays-catalogue-classic-the-jen-sx1000-just-got-reborn-as-a-plugin-and-ios-app zLgRAJmr5L27iQXDX8jzBT Mon, 03 Feb 2025 16:41:51 +0000 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:39:01 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We put a lot of effort into making sound design easy and visual. And year after year, we try to emphasise this even more”: The story of Arturia’s Pigments synth, from early challenges to the “huge milestone” of version 6 ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/we-put-a-lot-of-effort-into-making-sound-design-easy-and-visual-and-year-after-year-we-try-to-emphasise-this-even-more-the-story-of-arturias-pigments-synth-from-early-challenges-to-the-huge-milestone-of-version-6 R8uEuGtzkLvwcimEnPvW2A Mon, 03 Feb 2025 12:07:43 +0000 Mon, 10 Feb 2025 11:08:05 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Unprecedented sound design freedom”: Arturia launches the new feature-packed Pigments 6 ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/unprecedented-sound-design-freedom-arturia-launches-the-new-feature-packed-pigments-6 eXzXyjbU9suzFuVC8dNVkA Wed, 29 Jan 2025 10:49:53 +0000 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:38:54 +0000 <![CDATA[ NAMM 2025: Novation collaborates with GForce Software on the ultimate software version of the Bass Station ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/namm-2025-novation-collaborate-with-gforce-software-on-the-ultimate-software-version-of-the-bass-station nsx9CwDyB6kEtqVkLsZ8B3 Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:39:15 +0000 <![CDATA[ NAMM 2025: XILS-lab promises "virtual Vangelis" with its new Yamaha CS-80 emulation ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/namm-2025-xils-lab-promises-virtual-vangelis-with-its-new-yamaha-cs-80-emulation J8s3J5RxvgsQM7GhLMTJqh Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:49:35 +0000 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:39:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Atomika goes an awful lot further than the original Polivoks”: Cherry Audio Atomika review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/soft-synths/cherry-audio-atomika-review oHSHQn5KRxvX5d6itLcUkE Thu, 02 Jan 2025 15:00:00 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:11:46 +0000