Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Guitar Amps
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Radiohead theory
  • Steely Dan's drum machine
  • Deep Purple in the dungeon
  • Prince's drummers
  • 95k+ free music samples
Don't miss these
Pluginweek logo
Plugins Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
Plugins
Plugins To mark Plugin Week, here’s our pick of the most out-there sound design plugins you should grab now
Sonic Charge Synplant 2
Software & Apps "This really is the ultimate sound design tool": 6 of the most creative plugin synths for sound design
plugins
Tech "It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
Plugins Future owns
Plugins Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
plugins
Tech The ultimate soft synth showdown: Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: But which is best?
synths
Tech 5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
linux
Digital Audio Workstation 14 of the best plugins and DAWs you can use on Linux
Odin 2
Synths Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
API
Plugins Our pick of the very best VCA compressor software emulation plugins for any music project
Best VST synths
Plugins Don't know where to start with virtual instruments? We're here to help
Plugins
Plugins Our go-to plugins for adding flavour to our sounds
Plugins
Plugins How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
iZotope FXEQ
Gear & Gadgets iZotopeʼs colourful new FXEQ multi-effects plugin lets you “paint” with saturation, reverb, and delay
Arturia V Collection 11
Soft Synths “Still the synth and keyboard collection to beat”: Arturia V Collection 11 Pro review
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps
  3. Plugins

VST/AU plug-in instrument/effect round-up: Week 15

News
By Ben Rogerson published 22 June 2011

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

One synth; three effects

One synth; three effects

XILS-Lab is rapidly becoming of the premier developers of virtual analogue synths, and its latest model has just been announced. We’ve also got a colouring filter, a gate and a new tool for mash-up makers.

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: XILS-lab Synthix

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
XILS-lab Synthix

XILS-lab Synthix

This new 16-voice virtual analogue synth takes its inspiration from an ‘80s hardware synth with a similar name, but isn’t a strict emulation. Enhancements include new LFO types, a polytimbral mode and eight independent layers. If you purchase now as part of the group buy offer, you could get up to 50% off the full price.

Buy or download demo of XILS-lab Synthix

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
One Small Clue Preston Gate

One Small Clue Preston Gate

Billed as a high quality gate, expander and ducker, Preston Gate is said to be ideal for adding punch to drums, dynamics shaping and noise removal. It can be triggered by either an audio or MIDI signal and also features high and low cut filters for improved gating accuracy.

Buy or download demo of One Small Clue Preston Gate

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Sinevibes Filther

Sinevibes Filther

This ‘colouring’ eight-pole -48 db/low-pass filter is designed to add character to any sound. It also features dual-stage waveshaping distortion and in input envelope follower with adjustable sensitivity and smoothness. Its capabilities are said to range from deep low-end isolation through juicy wah-wah to growling sweeps and waveform sculpting.

Buy or download demo of Sinevibes Filther

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
QuikQuak MashTactic

QuikQuak MashTactic

Originally designed as a mash-up tool, MashTactic can split a mix into eight zones. These can then be panned, emphasised or cut out completely. The developer says that you can think of it as an eight-band filter that deals with stereo ranges as well as frequency. Here’s a demo video.

Buy or download demo of QuikQuak MashTactic

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 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
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. 

Read more
Pluginweek logo
Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
 
 
Plugins
To mark Plugin Week, here’s our pick of the most out-there sound design plugins you should grab now
 
 
Sonic Charge Synplant 2
"This really is the ultimate sound design tool": 6 of the most creative plugin synths for sound design
 
 
plugins
"It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
 
 
Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
 
 
plugins
The ultimate soft synth showdown: Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: But which is best?
 
 
Latest in Plugins
Mk.pre
Audio Hertz's Mk.pre emulates the Tascam Portastudio preamp that colours Mk.gee's sought-after guitar tone
 
 
minimal audio plugin
Minimal Audio drops Formant, a free formant-shifting plugin for creative vocal production
 
 
Baby Audio Tekno
“The hardest hitting synthesized drums ever put in a plugin”: Baby Audio Tekno isn’t pulling its punches
 
 
A selection of Waves plugins on a yellow and orange background
I've been through Waves entire Labor Day plugin sale and these 5 gems at $34.99 each are unmissable - plus get 2 free when you buy 2
 
 
the crow hill
"No strings attached": The Crow Hill Company releases Lo-Fi Strings, a free tape-treated string library with a warm and nostalgic sound
 
 
ablaze
"Take your pig squeals to the next level": Ablaze's Screamer is a vocal production plugin "crafted for metalheads, by metalheads"
 
 
Latest in News
Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste answers the internet’s piano queries and agrees with one potentially controversial musical statement
 
 
Flava D in the studio
Flava D on why drum & bass is the toughest genre to produce
 
 
SCM All Stars logo
“I’m so grateful that our music can be a vehicle for their spirits to fly”: Students at Flea’s music school pay tribute to Chili Peppers
 
 
Musician Dave Grohl, founding member of Nirvana and The Foo Fighters
“Ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome Ilan Rubin”: Dave Grohl introduces new drummer at Foos secret gig
 
 
Brian May
“I missed a couple of things": Brian May critiques his Last Night of the Proms performance
 
 
Ed Sheeran attends the European Premiere of F1 ® The Movie at Cineworld, Leicester Square on June 23, 2025
“It would be ‘Stop’ and then ‘Eject’”: Ed Sheeran reveals that plans for posthumous album are in his will
 
 

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
  • 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...