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
xln
Tech XLN Audio wants to put the fun back in drum processing with DB-30 Drum Butter
ds-2
Tech Cherry Audio unearths an obscure ‘70s Italian synth with DS-2
Electro-Harmonix has teamed up with MixWave to offer some of its most-famous pedals as plugins.
Guitars Electro-Harmonix launches six of its most-famous pedals as plugins
jasper tygner
Artists "There's something about it that you just don't get with soft synths": Jasper Tygner on why he loves his Moog Grandmother
timbre wolf
Tech "Boy, do people hate it": 10 of the most divisive products in music tech history, from iLok to the Akai Timbre Wolf
Source Audio Pathways is a reverb and tremolo twofer which arrives in a brown housing with a green cactus, and it offers full MIDI operation and comprehensive control over its sound.
Guitars Source Audio’s Pathways is a state-of-the-art reverb and tremolo pedal for vintage enthusiasts and modern tone-seekers alike
Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator
Drum Machines Best drum machines 2026: Top beat boxes for all budgets and skill levels
eventide
Tech Eventide’s Music Mouse turns your mouse into a MIDI controller
beautyflute
Tech This free plugin captures the shrill and squeaky sound of the most irritating musical instrument known to man
An UDO Super Gemini synthesizer on a white table
Synths Best synthesizers 2026: Top analogue, digital, mono and polysynths
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals 2026: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
A three amp setup from the Neural DSP Archetype John Mayer X guitar plugin
Guitar Plugins "I love that you don’t have to be a Mayer mega-fan to enjoy what’s on offer here": Neural DSP Archetype: John Mayer X review
suno
Tech Suno takes another step into music production with AI step sequencer MILO-1080
Music Studio
Music Production Tutorials 5 creativity-enhancing studio workflow tips
UVI
Tech A much-loved reverb plugin that we called "one of the most creative we've come across" is free for a limited time
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 40

News
By Ben Rogerson published 7 March 2012

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 briefed you on FabFilter’s Saturn and Arturia’s Spark Vintage Drum Machines, but these represent just the tip of this week’s plug-in release iceberg. Join us now as we delve below the waterline.

Also make sure you check out these regularly updated features:

The 20 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: HG Sounds Vortex VSTi

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
HG Sounds Vortex VSTi

HG Sounds Vortex VSTi

Still in beta but deemed stable enough to be usable, Vortex contains 12 sequencers and dedicated synths for each of them. It’s designed to be a performance instrument, and comes with real-time triggers that enable you to manipulate the sequencers with effects. The price listed above is an introductory one.

Buy or download demo of HG Sounds Vortex VSTi

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Mandelbrot Drummer VST Rhythm Maker

Mandelbrot Drummer VST Rhythm Maker

This MIDI sequencer plug-in is designed to make it easier to program drum patterns. It uses Mandelbrot Fractals to alter velocities rhythmically and enables you to experiment with poly-rhythms and unusual time signatures. You’ll need another drum plug-in to generate sounds, too.

Buy or download demo of Mandelbrot Drummer VST Rhythm Maker

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
discoDSP ThrillMe

discoDSP ThrillMe

discoDSP has now been in business for 10 years, but rather than throwing a party, it’s releasing this multi-effects unit to celebrate. It features a 3-band compressor, 4-band spectral enhancer and mathematical waveshaping limiter.

Buy or download demo of discoDSP ThrillMe

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
OverTone DSP PTC-2A Vintage Program EQ

OverTone DSP PTC-2A Vintage Program EQ

Yet another EQ that takes inspiration from the classic Pultec hardware designs, this one offers separate LF Boost and Attenuate controls, passive filters and a transformer-coupled gain stage that promises to add to the vintage tone. There’s a de-cramped mid-range filter, too.

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

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Sound Magic Neo MasteringQ

Sound Magic Neo MasteringQ

This mastering EQ promises to implement a “revolutionary concept” in EQ. It works, we’re told, by automatically detecting and locking in on the most audible/sensitive frequency, making the EQ process much simpler.

Buy or download demo of Sound Magic Neo MasteringQ

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
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
 
 
inear
Tech I just stumbled on a treasure trove of free glitch plugins
 
 
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
 
 
Electro-Harmonix has teamed up with MixWave to offer some of its most-famous pedals as plugins.
Guitars Electro-Harmonix launches six of its most-famous pedals as plugins
 
 
UVI
Tech A much-loved reverb plugin that we called "one of the most creative we've come across" is free for a limited time
 
 
xln
Tech XLN Audio wants to put the fun back in drum processing with DB-30 Drum Butter
 
 
Latest in Plugins
beautyflute
Tech This free plugin captures the shrill and squeaky sound of the most irritating musical instrument known to man
 
 
Electro-Harmonix has teamed up with MixWave to offer some of its most-famous pedals as plugins.
Guitars Electro-Harmonix launches six of its most-famous pedals as plugins
 
 
xln
Tech XLN Audio wants to put the fun back in drum processing with DB-30 Drum Butter
 
 
UVI
Tech A much-loved reverb plugin that we called "one of the most creative we've come across" is free for a limited time
 
 
inear
Tech I just stumbled on a treasure trove of free glitch plugins
 
 
Apple MacBook Neo
Computers The first reviews of the MacBook Neo are in, and it looks like good news for budget-conscious music producers
 
 
Latest in News
Catalinbread CB Paint
Guitars “Six room sizes, a gated reverb patch and a reverse reverb patch for your consideration”: Catalinbread launches compact reverb pedal with inspired by the Neil Young and Daft Punk-approved Alesis Microverb
 
 
Kanye West wearing sunglasses and wearing a black shirt
Artists Wireless Festival cancelled and tickets refunded after UK Government blocks Kanye West’s entry to the UK
 
 
Music Studio
Music Production Tutorials 5 creativity-enhancing studio workflow tips
 
 
Sky Ferreira holding a microphone on stage with red light on her and blue lights on the background
Artists Sky Ferreira expresses frustration on Twitter and tells a fan on X that her music was used in Wuthering Heights without credit
 
 
jimmy douglass
Producers & Engineers "This guy pops out of a trash can – it was Ginger Baker!": Jimmy Douglass on his early days working for Atlantic Records
 
 
Gary Numan in 2024 playing a live show dressed in black with red stage lights behind and holding a Les Paul guitar
Artists Gary Numan claims to be “90% deaf”
 
 

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...