Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About Us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Total Guitar
  • Bass Player
More
  • How to make an AI cover song
  • 30 beautiful acoustic guitar chords
  • 86000+ free music samples

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

  1. News

VST/AU plug-in instrument/effect round-up: Week 14

By Ben Rogerson
published 15 June 2011

Releases and retirements

Releases and retirements

It’s been quite a week for Native Instruments: it’s discontinued its Kore platform and launched a new range of effects. But other plug-in developers have been hard at work too, notably Steinberg, which has finally released the new version of its soft sampler. Read on to find out more.

Also check out these regularly updated features:

The 17 best VST plug-in synths in the world today

The 14 best VST plug-in drum machines in the world today

If you've got a new PC or Mac plug-in, make sure you let us know about it by emailing musicradar.pressreleases@futurenet.com with all the details.

NEXT: Steinberg HALion 4

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Steinberg HALion 4
PC, Mac/VST, AU, £295

Steinberg HALion 4

After approximately 12 thousand years in development, HALion 4 is finally here. This update to Steinberg’s sampler adds (among other things) an integrated analogue-style synth, a flexible interface, VST 3.5 and VST Expression 2 support, an updated library, easy sound programming via the MegaTrig feature, and the FlexPhraser arpeggiator.

Buy Steinberg HALion 4

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Lithium Sound Raider
PC/VST, $15

Lithium Sound Raider

This 2-oscillator synth takes sonic inspiration from Roland’s TB-303 and 8-bit game sounds from the ‘80s (hence its retro appearance). Pitch and filter cutoff can be modulated by two step sequencers, which are tempo-synced. 32 presets are included to get you started.

Buy Lithium Sound Raider

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
EastWest Hollywood Brass
PC, Mac/VST, AU, RTAS, $995/$595

EastWest Hollywood Brass

The follow-up to EastWest’s Hollywood Strings features 150GB of “pure Hollywood Magic”. All the instruments were recorded at five user-mixable mic positions, and there are multiple playing techniques. Diamond and Gold Editions are available, and if you pre-order now, you’ll get them at a reduced price.

Buy EastWest Hollywood Brass

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
MellowMuse CP3V/CS1V
PC, Mac/VST, AU, RTAS, $99/$59

MellowMuse CP3V/CS1V

MellowMuse’s Vintage Series has two additions: the CP3V is a vintage compressor with variable attack, release and ratio controls, while the CS1V is a saturation plug-in for adding the subtle depth and colouration that you’d get from an analogue console.

Buy or download demo of MellowMuse CP3V/CS1V

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
SKnote Necklace
PC, Mac/VST, AU, $19.99

SKnote Necklace

Another new one from SKnote - this time it’s giving us a spring reverb. It uses physical modelling technology and features six springs that can be used in various combinations. We’re told that Necklace can produce both ‘nice’ and ‘twisted’ reverb effects depending on how you set it up.

Buy SKnote Necklace

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

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. 

More about tech
Synth Medley

The classic clip of Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Howard Jones and Thomas Dolby playing the 1985 Grammy Awards is not just the most '80s thing ever, but - thanks to John Denver - a lesson in synth history

Suzuki Omnichord

The launch of Suzuki’s new Omnichord has been "postponed", but the good news is that it will be at the 2024 Winter NAMM Show

Latest
Sepultura drummer Eloy Casagrande is rumoured to be joining Slipknot

Sepultura announce split, so does this mean Eloy Casagrande is going to be the new drummer in Slipknot?

See more latest ►
Most Popular
It's game on for Roland and its all new Ice White Edition Bridge Cast

By Andy Jones8 December 2023

The story of Fairytale Of New York: “I sat down, opened the sherry, got the peanuts out and pretended it was Christmas…"

By Neil Crossley8 December 2023

Jackson expands its Japanese made MJ Series with a pair of high-end shred-ready RR24MGs in two classic pinstripe finishes

By Jonathan Horsley7 December 2023

Ableton’s Push 3 Upgrade Kit is here, and It looks like it’s incredibly easy to turn your MIDI controller version into a standalone instrument

By Ben Rogerson7 December 2023

Nevermind the other festive guitar deals, the iconic Kurt Cobain Jag-Stang has 20% off at Fender

By Daryl Robertson7 December 2023

How Meduza almost abandoned billion-streaming global hit Piece of Your Heart: “We couldn’t figure out what to do with it - we were actually close to junking it”

By Andy Price7 December 2023

Lzzy Hale and Kramer team up for one of the loudest looking electric guitars you’ll see – a Voyager finished in high-voltage Black Diamond Holographic Sparkle

By Jonathan Horsley7 December 2023

Nail David Gilmour’s Wish You Were Here tones with Crazy Tube Circuits’ Hi Power, an amp-in-a-box drive pedal based on a Hiwatt amp and Coloursound Power Boost

By Jonathan Horsley7 December 2023

"It was the machine that made electronic music accessible": The 5 vintage synths that gave us synth-pop

By Andy Jones7 December 2023

Wampler has made a new version of its wonderful Tumnus overdrive pedal – so is this Germanium version better or just different?

By Rob Laing7 December 2023

Bitwig Studio 5.1 is now available and adds "10 new characters": is this the most creative DAW ever?

By Andy Jones7 December 2023

  1. Michiru Aoyama
    1
    Japanese ambient musician Michiru Aoyama has woken at 5am to record a new album every day since 2021 – he's now earning $3,000 a month from his music on Spotify and Bandcamp
  2. 2
    “The union passed a motion to ban the use of synths, drum machines and any electronic devices”: the day the 'Loony' Musician's Union tried to kill the synthesizer (which also happened to be Bob Moog’s birthday)
  3. 3
    Has guitarist Andy Wood just made the ultimate Eddie Van Halen pedalboard?
  4. 4
    Ableton’s Push 3 Upgrade Kit is here, and It looks like it’s incredibly easy to turn your MIDI controller version into a standalone instrument
  5. 5
    The story of Fairytale Of New York: “I sat down, opened the sherry, got the peanuts out and pretended it was Christmas…"
  1. udo
    1
    7 of the best new hardware synths in 2023
  2. 2
    “I don’t want to generalise and say that he made everything sound good, but he did”: Joe Satriani reveals his strategy for replicating Eddie Van Halen’s tone on upcoming Sammy Hagar tour
  3. 3
    Japanese ambient musician Michiru Aoyama has woken at 5am to record a new album every day since 2021 – he's now earning $3,000 a month from his music on Spotify and Bandcamp
  4. 4
    Has guitarist Andy Wood just made the ultimate Eddie Van Halen pedalboard?
  5. 5
    The story of Fairytale Of New York: “I sat down, opened the sherry, got the peanuts out and pretended it was Christmas…"

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

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

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