VST/AU plug-in instrument/effect round-up: Week 21

Three new tools
Plug-in developers seem to have been easing back on the new releases during this late summer period, but the advantage for those who have put out wares is that it gives them all the more room to shine. Read on for a triple hit of synth, metering and effect goodness.
Also make sure you 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: Dimitry Sches Diversion

Dimitry Sches Diversion
Diversion almost seems too inconsequential a name for what looks like a pretty serious synth. It’s got four oscillators, two bus processors (each of which offers a multimode filter), effects, modulation options and an arpeggiator/trance gate. It’s designed for use in ‘any genre’ of electronic music.

Brainworx bx_meter
If you want to get a better idea of what’s going on with the levels in your mixes, this metering plug-in might help. It displays both peak and RMS levels, and also the relationship between the two of them with the centred dynamic LEDs. There’s also a Mid/Side mode to go with the standard L/R one.

Kuassa Kratos Maximizer
This is billed as a transparent, mastering-grade look-ahead brickwall limiter and loudness maximizer that can be strapped across your master channel. At its heart is a single Maximize knob, though Texture, Release, Knee and Ceiling parameters can also be tweaked.
Buy or download demo of Kuassa Kratos Maximizer
Liked this? Now read: Free music software: the best audio app and plug-in downloads on the net
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.

Serum 2 just dropped: one of the greatest soft synths of all time gets a massive update - and it's completely free for existing users

"90% of what I do is done on one software synth": Hans Zimmer on the synth plugin that he's been working with "for years" - and still hasn't run out of ideas

Serum 2 just dropped: one of the greatest soft synths of all time gets a massive update - and it's completely free for existing users

"90% of what I do is done on one software synth": Hans Zimmer on the synth plugin that he's been working with "for years" - and still hasn't run out of ideas