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Behringer Model D
Soft Synths 10 producers share the studio gear they can’t live without
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Plugins Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
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  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

Mike Hawkins' favourite music software

News
By Computer Music ( Computer Music ) published 22 February 2016

The Danish DJ/producer behind the huge 2014 hit Soldiers couldn't live without this little lot

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XFER Records Serum

XFER Records Serum

“A lot of people are very happy with the native Logic synths, but I just find them a bit hard to work with. All of my main synths are third-party, and Serum is probably the most important at the moment. It’s like a combination of subtractive and FM synthesis, uniting the best of both worlds to create sounds that really stand out.”

Read XFER Records Serum review

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
Native Instruments Razor

Native Instruments Razor

“Razor is a strange one. Even though it’s one of my favourite synths, I don’t actually use it that often, purely because it’s kinda tricky to find what you’re after - but when you do find something, you can be sure it will be a sound that can carry the whole weight of a track. It’s one of those synths that can turn a good track into a great track.”

Read Native Instruments Razor review

Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
Waves Manny Marroquin Signature Series

Waves Manny Marroquin Signature Series

“I used to use Waves a lot, then I switched over to the FabFilter suite and now I find myself working with some of the smartly designed Waves signatures series. The Delay and the EQ are just fantastic. There are people who complain about the cost of production plugins, but compared with getting a quality hardware compressor or delay, two or three hundred euros doesn’t seem too bad!”

Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack

Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack

“A couple of years back, I discovered the FG-X Mastering Processor and that got me completely hooked on Slate Digital; the Virtual Mix Rack is now my main mastering plugin. The emulations - FETs, SSL and what have you - are incredible, but what I really love about the VMR is that it makes you use your ears and you always end up with a better mix.”

Read Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack review

Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
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
More Info
Read more
Behringer Model D
10 producers share the studio gear they can’t live without
Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
lone
Lone on how he creates his technicolour, rave-adjacent electronica
Riva Starr
“I have an original 909 – every time I use it I feel like I’m ruining it”: Riva Starr's studio essentials
eats everything in his studio
“Entrance Song is a massive 808 sub and a 909 kick. Those two shouldn’t work together - I’m not sure they were even in key”: Eats Everything on his ever-changing approach to production and DJing
Djrum
"I have a very emotional relationship with my machines”: How Djrum made one of 2025’s best electronic albums
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tapeoplex
"A tape delay plugin that finally sounds like the real thing": Heritage Audio takes on the legendary Echoplex with its TAPEoPLEX plugin
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Codec, one of our favourite free lo-fi plugins, just got an update
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Ableton Live 12.2 gives this "incredibly versatile" device a much-needed refresh
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This AI-powered plugin could be a game-changingly useful tool for drum production
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"Raw, warm, and beautifully expressive": Rhodes releases Wurli, a virtual instrument based on the Wurlitzer 200A
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Jackson X and JS Series Surfcasters: the long-awaited offset electric guitar is now being offered in white, satin black and metallic black, and and at the entry-level JS price point and the mid-priced X Series.
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Tom Petty keyboard player Benmont Tench says that being produced by Rick Rubin was like solving a puzzle

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