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  1. News

VST/AU plug-in instrument/effect round-up: Week 32

By Ben Rogerson
published 7 December 2011

An effects quintet

An effects quintet

We’re very much in classic effects territory this week, as we bring you compressor, EQ, reverb, delay and channel strip plug-ins. These are more than just straight-ahead meat and potatoes devices, though, as you’re about to find out.

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: The Lower Rhythm Thresher

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The Lower Rhythm Thresher
PC/VST, $11.99

The Lower Rhythm Thresher

Billed as “the compressor your mother warned you about,” this tone-shaping tool is designed for those who want heavy or experimental sounds. It can apparently offer “obnoxious sustain extension as well as distorted crushing,” while also delivering “tube style saturation and old school filter fatness”.

Buy or download demo of The Lower Rhythm Thresher

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OverTone DSP VTE-2A Vintage EQ
PC/VST, £24.95

OverTone DSP VTE-2A Vintage EQ

Originally developed for Linux, this plug-in is modelled on a range of classic EQ devices. If you’re looking for a USP, consider OverTone’s claim that “it features innovative DSP technology which provides a de-cramped mid range filter with a more analogue characteristic than conventional digital filters without requiring CPU intensive upsampling.”

Buy or download demo of OverTone DSP VTE-2A Vintage EQ

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Molecular Bytes Atomic Reverb
PC/VST, €69

Molecular Bytes Atomic Reverb

This looks like a thoroughly modern reverb plug-in that features a combination of algorithms and lets you design your own “acoustic room patterns”. Subtle and sizeable reverbs are both on the agenda, as are particularly smooth and dense reverb tails. The price listed above applies until the end of 2011.

Buy or download demo of Molecular Bytes Atomic Reverb

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STW Audio Reflex Pro
PC/VST, $49

STW Audio Reflex Pro

A 4-channel multi-FX unit that’s also billed as an ambience FX device. It’s capable of doing straight, generic delays, but spacey, droning and even heavily distorted sounds are possible, too. 150 presets are supplied.

Buy or download demo of STW Audio Reflex Pro

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HoRNet Channel Strip MK2
PC, Mac/VST, AU, $79

HoRNet Channel Strip MK2

Slap this on a channel and you’ve equipped it with an EQ and two dynamics processors, each of which comes with four different compression models (VCA, FET, OPTO and Expander). You can arrange these modules in any way you like, and each one has its own meters.

Buy or download demo of HoRNet Channel Strip MK2

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

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Ben Rogerson
Ben Rogerson
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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. 

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