Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Plugin Week 25
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Plugin Week A-Z
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
Pluginweek logo
Plugins Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
Plugins
Plugins To mark Plugin Week, here’s our pick of the most out-there sound design plugins you should grab now
plugins
Tech "It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
Sonic Charge Synplant 2
Software & Apps "This really is the ultimate sound design tool": 6 of the most creative plugin synths for sound design
Plugins Future owns
Plugins Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
plugins
Tech The ultimate soft synth showdown: Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: But which is best?
synths
Tech 5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps
  3. Plugins

VST/AU plug-in instrument/effect round-up: Week 42

News
By Ben Rogerson published 18 April 2012

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

The heat is on

The heat is on

We’ve got a warm feeling inside this week, as many of the plug-ins we’re featuring are designed to add an always desirable touch of analogue-style colouration.

It’s not all vintage-style effects, though: we also have a couple of instruments and a more forward-thinking processor for you to consider.

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: Sinevibes Reactive

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Sinevibes Reactive

Sinevibes Reactive

Sinevibes’ latest release promises to turn any audio into melodic material. It does this by detecting the input signal’s dynamic envelope and transforming it into pitch information via a note matrix with eight switchable patterns. There are three distinct synth engines, too; if you pre-order now you’ll get Reactive for the discounted price listed above.

Pre-order Sinevibes Reactive

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Tone2 Saurus

Tone2 Saurus

Announced last month as Taurus, this new synth has now arrived under the Saurus moniker. Featuring True Analog Modelling Technology, it aims to deliver great sound with low CPU usage and sports both standard and more exotic waveforms. Multiple modulation options and effects are included, too.

Buy or download demo of Tone2 Saurus

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
ToneBoosters TB ReelBus

ToneBoosters TB ReelBus

ReelBus simulates the sound of seven reel-to-reel tape recorders, including their frequency and level dependent saturation, inter-modulation effects, bias dependencies, tape hiss, asperity noise, wow and flutter and clipping of electronic circuitry. Use it on the master bus to add subtle sweetening and enhancement.

Buy or download demo of ToneBoosters TB ReelBus

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
SKnote Grasso

SKnote Grasso

A complete saturation and dynamics unit that offers tube modelling, level-independent dynamics and dynamic filtering and the cheekily named spank knob that controls post-drive dynamic response. Grasso is designed to add colour and dynamic control to both complete mixes and individual tracks.

Buy SKnote Grasso

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Waves NLS

Waves NLS

This non-linear summing plug-in is based on three classic consoles owned by producers Mark ‘Spike’ Stent, Mike Hedges and Yoad Nevo. After modelling in excess of 100 channels, Waves is confident that it’s captured the unique colour, character, and behaviour of each and every input and summing bus amp.

Buy or download demo of Waves NLS

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
WOK Mixtube

WOK Mixtube

A new one-knob plug-in that models the sound of a mixing desk with a tube input stage. Add it to individual tracks or the master output to experience “a warmer, thicker sound… with every signal fitting better in the mix”. You can achieve subtle enhancement or audible tube distortion depending on how far you push the Drive control.

Buy or download demo of WOK Mixtube

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
112dB Big Blue Compressor

112dB Big Blue Compressor

Although it’s billed as a modern compressor, Big Blue is also said to have vintage qualities. So, you can make it sound transparent or add character and warmth; and while the lookahead function is contemporary, it also offers the transient saturation that’s common to tube compressors.

Buy or download demo of 112dB Big Blue Compressor

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
DaSample QPads

DaSample QPads

Based on DaSample’s simple interface design, this new instrument is designed to produce ‘deep’ sounds that deliver atmosphere and tension. It uses Stack Module synthesis and comes with FX, automation options and FM oscillators.

Buy or download demo of DaSample QPads

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 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
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
Pluginweek logo
Plugin Week 2025: Exhibitor A-Z
Plugins
To mark Plugin Week, here’s our pick of the most out-there sound design plugins you should grab now
plugins
"It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
Sonic Charge Synplant 2
"This really is the ultimate sound design tool": 6 of the most creative plugin synths for sound design
Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
plugins
The ultimate soft synth showdown: Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: But which is best?
Latest in Plugins
Forever89 Visco 2
Visco 2.0 turns Forever89's boundary-pushing drum machine into a polysynth – hands-on
Atlas DSP - Your Final Steps
Atlas DSP, Your Last Steps Review
Plugins
How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
caelum audio
"If your singing sounds like a dying cat, this finally kills the cat": This hilariously bad mic modelling plugin is free for International Joke Day
Plugin Chains
How to emulate a classic analogue recording system entirely with plugins
Mixing Night Audio
Predicting the future evolution of plugin design
Latest in News
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: It's your last chance to grab a Prime Day deal on gear from Fender, Roland, Casio, Yamaha, Toontrack & more - but you'll have to be quick
Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino StingRay: the bass legend's new signature model is offered fretted or fretless, and in a deep and luxurious 79 Burst finish.
Pino Palladino teams up with EBMM for a signature StingRay inspired by the bass that started it all
Amerie
How Amerie created a ‘00s R&B/funk classic with producer Rich Harrison
Mooer Audio F15i Li Intelligent Amp: this battery-powered take-anywhere guitar amp is packed with amp and effects models, and is an all-in-one practice solution.
Mooer’s F15i Intelligent Amp is a desktop doozie equipped with 55 amps, 69 effects and a touchscreen
lemonaide
"I love it, but a part of me is a little afraid of it": Trap producer Lex Luger releases generative AI model based on his sound
Queen at Live Aid
“Freddie rose to the occasion. I remember getting chills”: Brian May recalls the glory of Queen at Live Aid

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • 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...