Skip to main content
Become a MusicRadar VIP - it's free
- Join our community
SampleRadar
Access over 90,000 royalty-free samples
The MusicRadar app
Full access and custom feeds
MusicRadar Newsletters
The latest music and gear news inboxed
Earn Member Badges
Climb the MusicRadar charts
Coming soon: VIP-only Giveaways
Win pro-grade music gear and more
Join the conversation
Connect with other musicians and fans
BECOME A MUSICRADAR VIP
For the quickest way to join, enter your email below. We’ll send a confirmation email and sign you up to MusicRadar newsletters with the latest music news, gear reviews, tutorials and exclusive offers.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get VIP Access Quick

Become a MusicRadar VIP for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to Become a MusicRadar VIP !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Hot music news

Hot music news

The latest news from the hottest artists.

Explore
Make better music

Make better music

Explore tutorials, tips and guides for creating music.

Explore

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Get the latest music news, gear reviews, deals and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up here

Sign Out
MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Software & Apps
  • Controllers
  • Buying Guides
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • About us
More
  • Styles' sonic secret
  • I'm Still Standing
  • Stevie Wonder’s '70s synth guru
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps
  3. Plugins

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

News
By Ben Rogerson
Published 7 December 2011

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

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

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
The Lower Rhythm Thresher

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

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
OverTone DSP VTE-2A Vintage EQ

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

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Molecular Bytes Atomic Reverb

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

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
STW Audio Reflex Pro

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

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
HoRNet Channel Strip MK2

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

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
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
kazu
Tech “If you buy one piece of music software this month, make it this one”: 5 plugins you need to know about
 
 
Steinberg Classics Collection
Plugins Steinberg marks 30 years of VST with the Classics Collection, which includes the first VST synth
 
 
Bit Layer
Tech This free multiband bitcrusher is a surgical tool for lo-fi sound design
 
 
Reason Free
Plugins Reason Free puts 15 classic Reason devices in one free plugin that you can use in your existing DAW
 
 
A Macbook with music plugins running on it on a blue background
Software & Apps Black Friday plugin deals 2026: The early deals on plugins are already here
 
 
Outboard
Recording Why we still have a thing for hardware outboard gear
 
 
Latest in Plugins
massive xl
Tech Massive XL is here: Native Instruments supersizes its flagship soft synth with AI-powered preset generation, custom wavetables and much more
 
 
vocalign
Plugins Synchro Arts at Recording Week 2026: 5 essential vocal mixing plugins in 2026
 
 
kazu
Tech “If you buy one piece of music software this month, make it this one”: 5 plugins you need to know about
 
 
bubblegum
Tech Bubblegum is a free Melodyne-style note editor for Windows, Mac and Linux
 
 
Baby Audio HyperWarp
Plugins Baby Audio HyperWarp wants to be your new quick-fix for glitches, stutters and out-there inspiration
 
 
cherry
Plugins "It's one of the rarest synthesizers ever made": Cherry Audio brings a forgotten ‘80s synth back to life
 
 
Latest in News
Singer Stevie Nicks poses for a portrait in circa 1974.
Singles And Albums “I’m like, OK, I’m going to write a fantastic song”: Stevie Nicks talks about what inspired her to write Landslide
 
 
Casio CT-FS1
Keyboards & Pianos No practice required: This new Casiotone keyboard makes it impossible to hit a wrong note
 
 
Gary Numan
Artists Bill Nelson tells us about the struggle of making the Gary Numan album he ultimately removed his name from
 
 
American singer, songwriter, and actress, Mariah Carey, at a Chanel lunch and fashion show
Singers & Songwriters “My answer is… not yet”: Mariah Carey’s grunge album still seems no nearer to getting released
 
 
The Beatles/Mal Evans
Artists Mal Evans' lost memoir reveals the darker side of Beatlemania
 
 
Daft Punk
Artists “The tape had sat in a box for nearly 30 years”: Lost '90s Daft Punk mix unearthed by British DJ Ralph Lawson
 
 

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...