Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Kate Bush Army Dreamers
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Theory of Feels
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps
  3. Plugins

VST/AU plug-in instrument/effect round-up: Week 1

News
By Ben Rogerson published 23 February 2011

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Let's get started

Let's get started

MusicRadar is already rounding-up the latest free music software and iOS music making apps on a weekly basis: now it’s time for us to start taking a long-overdue look at the paid-for plug-in market.

Our latest regular round-up will see us gathering together the most notable new-to-market effects and instruments for Mac and PC. To kick things off, we’ve got delays, a synth, an arpeggiator and, firstly, Waves’ Aural Exciter.

NEXT: Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter

Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter

First announced at NAMM, this emulation of Aphex’s Aural Exciter hardware from the ‘70s has now been released. It’s designed to increase and enhance presence, brightness and detail on vocal tracks and masters. Get it on its own or as part of the Waves Mercury bundle.

Buy or download demo of Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
vescoFX Cross Delay

vescoFX Cross Delay

Cross Delay promises to let you create advanced stereo delay images in your mixes all in a single plug-in (no routing between multiple plug-ins is required). You can send the echo output between channels, while the modulation section enables tweaking of the delayed sound with a dynamic combination of depth and speed (all on a single control).

Buy or download demo of vescoFX Cross Delay

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Xoxos Amboea

Xoxos Amboea

Do you make ambient music? Amboea arranges eight filtered stereo delay lines in serial or parallel with algorithmic crossfading to create a multi-delay effect that’s particularly suited to said genre. The developer claims that just one instance of the plug-in can turn any sound into a dense, continuously varying soundscape.

Buy or download demo of vescoFX Xoxos Amboea

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
CubicAudio ProTon

CubicAudio ProTon

A new subtractive/phase modulation synth that’s designed for creating electro house basslines, fidget blips and 8-bit arcade-style effects. There are four oscillators, four filter types and several effects, while those who are seeking instant gratification can just head for the 128 presets.

Buy or download demo of CubicAudio ProTon

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Wok D-Arp

Wok D-Arp

D-Arp is billed as a dual MIDI arpeggiator… which means that it contains two arpeggiators. These can be run in parallel or with the first triggering the second: use them in conjunction with your virtual instruments to create sequences that you might otherwise never have come up with.

Buy or download demo of Wok D-Arp

Liked this? Now read: Free music software: the best audio app and plug-in downloads on the net

Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Ben Rogerson
Ben Rogerson
Social Links Navigation
Deputy Editor

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it. 

Latest in Plugins
Splice/YouTube
Plugins Thinking of making your next music tech purchase on a rent-to-own plan? Read this first
 
 
Neural DSP Darklgass Ultra
Bass Guitars Neural DSP unveils the Darkglass Ultimate plugin – a fully featured digital platform for studio-quality bass tone
 
 
jimmy jam
Artists Jimmy Jam on sampling, AI and his new EastWest drum machine plugin
 
 
Man playing a moog at a desk in a field
Plugins Moog Messenger at Synth Week 26: One year with the new monosynth
 
 
synths
Tech 5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
 
 
Sequential Fourm
Plugins "It’s amazing to have a pro, vintage sound in such a small package!" All about Sequential's Fourm…
 
 
Latest in News
NEW YORK - MAY 21: Stephen Colbert and Paul McCartney on the CBS series The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)
Gigs & Festivals Paul McCartney recalls The Beatles' first US TV appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
 
 
Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb
Guitarists The story of Wichita Lineman. the song Bob Dylan called the greatest ever written
 
 
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 8: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Olivia Rodrigo performs on stage during an exclusive Billions Club Live show to celebrate the partnership between Spotify and FC Barcelona before El Clásico on May 8, 2026 in Barcelona, ​​Spain.
Artists Olivia Rodrigo gives the answer to the question that everyone’s been asking about her new single
 
 
Spotify
Tech Spotify and Universal confirm that fan-generated AI remixes and covers are coming
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Harry Styles attends The 71st Ivor Novello Awards 2026 at The JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on May 21, 2026 in London, England.
Singers & Songwriters Harry Styles pays a very personal tribute to Thom Yorke at the Ivor Novello awards
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: A guide to best Memorial Day sales
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...