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
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
fred again
Artists “I’ve spent so many thousands of hours wasted on plugins – it just doesn't matter”: Fred Again says all mixing plugins sound the same
Bitwig
Digital Audio Workstation Get a FREE Bitwig 6 8-Track license exclusively with MusicRadar
Baby Audio Grainferno
Tech Baby Audio's “most advanced synthesizer to date” is a granular plugin capable of creating “entirely new textures”
A pair of Boss Waza-Air guitar amp headphones
Guitar Pedals As a pro guitarist, I think Boss makes the most reliable pedals around, so with 26% off everything from the DD-8 to the Waza Metal Zone in Amazon's Spring Deal Days sale, it's time to stock up
Universal Audio Volt 876
Audio Interfaces Best audio interface 2026: For home recording, podcasting, and streaming - tested by experts
Bitwig Studio 6
Digital Audio Workstation "A massive expansion of its abilities as a modulation and automation powerhouse": Bitwig Studio 6 review review
An Asus ProArt P16 laptop on a desk with music production gear
Computers Best laptop for music production 2026: For home studios and mobile music-making - tested by experts
jasper tygner
Artists "I put it on everything": Jasper Tygner on the Soundtoys plugin behind the "filmic" sound of debut album Blue
grainferno
Tech Baby Audio's Grainferno can transform any sound in your sample library into something entirely new
stem splitter
Tech I tested 11 of the best stem separation tools – and you might already have the winner in your DAW
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
An UDO Super Gemini synthesizer on a white table
Synths Best synthesizers 2026: Top analogue, digital, mono and polysynths
A pair of Audio-Technica in-ear monitors on top of a carry case
Studio Monitors Best budget in-ear monitors 2026: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
bitwig
Tech Bitwig Studio 6 is here with improved automation, Clip Aliases and tons of workflow enhancements
Best audio interfaces: Audient iD4 MkII
Audio Interfaces Best budget audio interfaces 2026: Cheap USB interfaces for home recording, streaming, podcasting, and more
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps
  3. Plugins

VST/AU plug-in instrument/effect round-up: Week 26

News
By Ben Rogerson published 12 October 2011

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

The best of the rest

The best of the rest

We’ve already brought new news of Image-Line’s Groove Machine and Arturia’s SEM V this week, but these are just the tip of the plug-in iceberg. Click on for seven other new music making tools.

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: Mellowmuse EQ3V

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Mellowmuse EQ3V

Mellowmuse EQ3V

A 7-band vintage EQ plug-in that gives you five bands of fully parametric EQ along with variable Q high- and low-pass filters. Analogue modelled saturation is used to add harmonic colouration, and each EQ section can be bypassed should you wish.

Buy or download demo of Mellowmuse EQ3V

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Sound Magic GrandEpiano

Sound Magic GrandEpiano

Sound Magic has been releasing acoustic pianos in software for a while now, but this plug-in emulates classic electromechanical instruments such as the Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer. That said, you can also combine it with any Sound Magic acoustic piano module to produce a hybrid sound.

Buy Sound Magic GrandEpiano

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Softube Summit Audio TLA-100A

Softube Summit Audio TLA-100A

This software emulation of the famous tube levelling amplifier is a ‘set and forget’ compressor. Its program-dependent nature works with the signal to provide optimum performance, and promises to add a warm, rich sound to the likes of vocals, bass, drums and guitar.

BUY: Softube Summit Audio TLA-100A currently available from Thomann

Buy or download demo of Softube Summit Audio TLA-100A

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Tekky Synths TinyStuT

Tekky Synths TinyStuT

If you’re looking for an easy way of creating stutter FX in real-time, this could be it. It furnishes you with just Speed and Space controls, along with a reverse delay unit that sports delay time and feedback controls. Host automation is supported, too.

Buy Tekky Synths TinyStuT

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Waves Bass Rider

Waves Bass Rider

This sister product to Waves’ Vocal Rider plug-in rides bass levels in your mix automatically so that they’re kept in check throughout. It works note by note and has been optimised for the frequency range and envelope characteristics of bass instruments.

Buy or download demo of Waves Bass Rider

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Antares Auto-Tune EFX 2

Antares Auto-Tune EFX 2

This update to the entry-level version of Auto-Tune is based on the same core technology as Auto-Tune 7, the flagship version of the software. The big new feature is Auto-Motion Vocal Pattern Generation, which enables you to apply melodic patterns to your vocals from a built-in and expandable library.

Buy or download demo of Auto-Tune EFX 2

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
KV331 Audio SynthMaster 2.5

KV331 Audio SynthMaster 2.5

This update to KV331’s semi-modular synth/effects plug-in is rammed with improvements: it’s now cross-platform, there are 400 new factory presets, new filter types and much more. If you pick it up before 15 October, you’ll pay the reduced price of $99.

Buy or download demo of KV331 Audio SynthMaster 2.5

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 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
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
Music technology gear of the year 2025
Tech Music technology gear of the year 2025: Our favourite new synths, drum machines, plugins and more
 
 
Arturia's Efx Ambient from FX Collection 6, being used in a studio
Tech Arturia's FX Collection 6 adds an ambient plugin specialising in "novel, emotive textures" and a souped-up H910
 
 
amenbreak
Tech AmenBreak VST is a break-slicing, sample-mangling junglist powerhouse - and there’s a free version
 
 
UJAM
Tech “I’ll be having fun with this for a long time to come”: UJAM's Voxcraft delivers creative vocal manipulation without the menu-diving
 
 
Hottest music tech gear of NAMM
Tech The best music tech gear of NAMM 2026: Epic polys, acoustic synths, budget samplers, a Behringer Juno and more
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: Score $200 off a whacky Gibson guitar, $150 off UAD plugins, and $200 off a must-have Moog synth
 
 
Latest in Plugins
Baby Audio Grainferno
Tech Baby Audio's “most advanced synthesizer to date” is a granular plugin capable of creating “entirely new textures”
 
 
Distortion and Saturation Plugins
Music Production Tutorials The difference between distortion and saturation and how to effectively get a gnarly sound
 
 
Arturia's Efx Ambient from FX Collection 6, being used in a studio
Tech Arturia's FX Collection 6 adds an ambient plugin specialising in "novel, emotive textures" and a souped-up H910
 
 
UJAM
Tech “I’ll be having fun with this for a long time to come”: UJAM's Voxcraft delivers creative vocal manipulation without the menu-diving
 
 
filter delays
Tech Ableton Live co-creator Robert Henke updates a classic Live effect with free M4L device Filter Delays
 
 
roland
Tech Cherry Audio’s SH-MAX takes on a trio of classic Roland monosynths called upon by everyone from Kraftwerk to Tame Impala
 
 
Latest in News
(L-R) Kerry Katona, Natasha Hamilton and Liz McClarnon of English girl group Atomic Kitten, 2000. (Photo by Roberta Parkin/Redferns/Getty Images)
Artists OMD’s Andy McCluskey says it was a Kraftwerk legend who advised him to form girlband Atomic Kitten
 
 
Melissa Auf der Maur and Courtney Love in 1998
Bass Guitars “It took me one second to understand that she's a survivor”: Melissa Auf der Maur on why she’s “proud” of Courtney Love
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: Bruno Mars performs onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Artists Why Bruno Mars' new single Risk It All could have ended up sounding very different
 
 
James Blake performs during the inaugural 2024 Gazebo Festival at Waterfront Park on May 25, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Producers & Engineers "I’d say 95 percent of the work I’ve done was unpaid”: James Blake on the hit and miss nature of production work
 
 
Diane Warren and KPop Demon Hunters
Artists Songwriter Diane Warren’s Oscars losing streak goes on as KPop Demon Hunters’ Golden wins
 
 
AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 09:  Displayed in public for the first time is John Lennon's piano, used to write numerous Beatles songs and part of Indianapolis Colts CEO and Owner Jim Irsay's "Jim Irsay Collection" during a reception at the Four Seasons Hotel on December 9, 2021 in Austin, Texas.  (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
Keyboards & Pianos "Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history”: John Lennon’s Broadway piano goes for £2.5 million
 
 

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...