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10 instantly inspiring VST/AU plugins

News
By Computer Music ( Computer Music ) published 1 January 2016

Processors and instruments that'll provide a creative spark

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Track starting tools

Track starting tools

In an ideal world, you'd approach ever music making session with a head full of ideas and the enthusiasm to turn them into fully-formed productions.

Sadly, it doesn't always work out like that, and there are inevitably going to be times when that creative spark just won't watch fire.

On those occasions, there are various things you can try. Our list of 10 fresh ways to start a new track might be all you need to solve the problem, but if you're still struggling to get going, maybe a plugin could get things moving.

We've put together a list of 10 instantly inspiring plugins that will kickstart your creativity, complete with videos showing what each one can do. When you're feeling drained and going through the motions, maybe one of these can help.

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
1. Kirnu Cream

1. Kirnu Cream

An evolved, inspirational take on sequencing that places a wildly flexible real-time, keyboard-triggered pattern sequencer inside your DAW.

With four tracks and chord memory, it’s a thumping, pumping powerhouse.

4.5 out of 5

Read Kirnu Cream review

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
2. Michael Ourednik Argotlunar

2. Michael Ourednik Argotlunar

Granular processing lets you break down a signal into constituent “grains” that can be manipulated in a variety of ways - the results can be unpredictable, but very often exciting.

With Argotlunar, you can turn a riff into an ambient atmosphere or drums into an alien landslide.

Download Michael Ourednik Argotlunar

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
3. Audio Damage Automaton

3. Audio Damage Automaton

What happens when you turn John Conway’s Game of Life cell replication simulation into a sequencer controlling Stutter, Modulate, Replicate and Bitcrush effects? Automaton is the answer!

Results range from subtle effects like humanising and fills to wild rearrangements.

4 out of 5

Read Audio Damage Automaton review

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
4. Sonic Charge Synplant

4. Sonic Charge Synplant

Free of traditional knobs and sliders, Synplant lets you break away from standard synthesizer designs and work in a totally new way, growing new sounds organically from seeds.

Genetic algorithms are in play, but you needn’t even think about that to grow exciting new sounds.

5 out of 5

Read Sonic Charge Synplant review

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
5. Plogue chipspeech

5. Plogue chipspeech

There has never been a better way to get your Cyberman on! Simply type in the text you want chipspeech to speak/sing and play the results from your MIDI keyboard or sequencer.

Stuck for a lyric? Type in a string of gibberish, copy/paste from spam mails, etc, and see what comes out!

5 out of 5

Read Plogue chipspeech review

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
6. Sugar Bytes Turnado

6. Sugar Bytes Turnado

This multi-effects plugin houses two dozen one-knob effects ranging from the mundane (Phaser, Flanger) to the bizarre (Reactor, Spectralizer).

A supremely quick and intuitive tool for transforming your sounds creatively, this is one weird and wonderful plugin!

4.5 out of 5

Read Sugar Bytes Turnado review

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
7. Inear Display Eurydice CM

7. Inear Display Eurydice CM

You can no longer buy the full version of this monumental multi-effects machine, but the CM version has more than enough to inspire. Its Buffer, Filter, Crusher and Delay effects, four LFOs and flexible routing can launch even the most ordinary sound into unknown territory.

Find out more about Inear Display Eurydice CM

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
8. iZotope Stutter Edit

8. iZotope Stutter Edit

BT is a record-holding microediting maestro, and he teamed up with iZotope to make this remarkable processor that can be played like an instrument.

It chops, filters, gates, slices, stutters and otherwise reconfigures any incoming signal. The ideal tool for any experimental beatmaker or remixer.

4 out of 5

Read iZotope Stutter Edit review

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
9. Celemony Melodyne

9. Celemony Melodyne

Much more than just a tuning tool, especially in its Assistant and Studio incarnations, Melodyne can detect the pitch of mono and polyphonic signals and adjust them at will.

The creative possibilities are truly mind-boggling, from deconstructing tracks to rewriting vocal parts or guitar chords in a few clicks.

4.5 out of 5

Read Celemony Melodyne Plugin review

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
10. Photosounder

10. Photosounder

OK, this one isn’t a plugin, but it’s too inspiring to exclude.

Photosounder is an amazing sound design tool, allowing you to not only convert images to sound and vice versa, but also to edit and draw sound with familiar art tools.

It’s a perfect creative antidote for when you’re getting nowhere in your DAW.

Find out more about Photosounder

Get 20 track-starting ideas, 10 workflow-accelerating techniques, 10 easy music theory tips, 40+ videos, and tons more with Computer Music's Instant Inspiration issue (221, October 2015)

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Page 11 of 11
Computer Music
Computer Music
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Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects… image
Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects…
…with the latest issue of Computer Music magazine
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Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
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