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
UA
Tech Universal Audio is giving away eight of its most popular plugins for free in the UAD Explore FREE bundle
Elektron Tonverk
Samplers “Easily one of the most inspirational and accessible Elektrons we've used”: Elektron Tonverk review
Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator
Drum Machines Best drum machines 2026: Top beat boxes for all budgets and skill levels
An UDO Super Gemini synthesizer on a white table
Synths Best synthesizers 2026: Top analogue, digital, mono and polysynths
An Apple Mac Mini M4 on a light green background
Computers Best PCs for music production 2026: Apple Macs and Windows machines for your home studio
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals 2026: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: We've found $200 off an accessible Yamaha turntable, $100 off an iconic Korg synth and healthy discounts on guitars and much more
plugin
Tech You might want to open a window before using The Crow Hill Company's filthy new synth
Beetronics Pollinator Hazee Delay
Guitar Pedals “It feels more like a DIY creator building something weird for themselves”: Beetronix Pollinator Hazee Delay
inear
Tech I just stumbled on a treasure trove of free glitch plugins
Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone pedal on a wooden floor
Guitar Pedals Best chorus pedals 2026: Our pick of the top chorus pedals
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
studio
Music Theory And Songwriting Want to finally finish that track? Here’s how to escape the 4-bar loop trap and actually make some music
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
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
More
  • Jimmy Douglass speaks
  • Ultravox's Vienna
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Elektron Tonverk Review
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps
  3. Plugins

VST/AU plug-in instrument/effect round-up: Week 47

News
By Ben Rogerson published 13 June 2012

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

Six of the best

Six of the best

It’s been a little while since our last round-up, but we return with a fine and varied selection of instruments and effects.

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: ToneBytes Ambient Nature Noise

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
ToneBytes Ambient Nature Noise

ToneBytes Ambient Nature Noise

If your tracks are lacking a bit of atmosphere, this plug-in could fill the gap. It offers 21 ‘sound profiles’ that cover not only living things such as birds, insects, bats, trees and flora and fauna, but also other nature noises including the sound ofa waterfall, rain and a fire crackling.

Buy or download demo of ToneBytes Ambient Nature Noise

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Inear Display Bucephal

Inear Display Bucephal

The curious thing about this “nasty dual delay” is that it’s not intended to be employed as a delay. Instead, thanks to the inclusion of an envelope follower and LFO, you can use it for glitching purposes, morphing between vibrato, flanging, pitchshifting, and crushing effects. Use the randomizer and waveshaper to add even more dirt.

Buy or download demo of Inear Display Bucephal

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
G-Sonique Monitor MSX5

G-Sonique Monitor MSX5

The perils of mixing using headphones are well-documented; this plug-in aims to eliminate the problems by simulating the way that you hear your music when you’re using monitors. A range of tweakable parameters enable you to optimise performance.

Buy or download demo of G-Sonique Monitor MSX5

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
OverTone DSP EQ500 and DYN500

OverTone DSP EQ500 and DYN500

These channel EQ and dynamics plug-ins are styled to resemble API-500 format modules. DYN500 offers soft-knee compression and gentle tape saturation style overdrive, while EQ500 does three-band parametric EQ. Both work in mono and stereo.

Buy or download demo of OverTone DSP EQ500 and DYN500

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Manx XS-2

Manx XS-2

Released as a replacement for the now discontinued XS-1, XS-2 is a 2-oscillator synth that also sports three 6-stage envelope generators and a filter section. The synth is designed to emulate DCO technology from the ‘80s, the theory being that you’ll get a distinctive sound that’s bright and punchy.

Buy or download demo of Manx XS-2

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Overloud Mark Studio 2

Overloud Mark Studio 2

This Markbass-branded bass amp/effects suite has been updated so that it now brings you six heads, nine cabinets and a much-enhanced pedalboard. Other enhancements include MIDI and plug-in automation support and an increased number of presets.

Buy or download demo of Overloud Mark Studio 2

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 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
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
inear
Tech I just stumbled on a treasure trove of free glitch plugins
 
 
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
 
 
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
 
 
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
 
 
tape fiasco
Tech This free, super-glitchy multi-effects plugin is designed for happy accidents
 
 
beautyflute
Tech This free plugin captures the shrill and squeaky sound of the most irritating musical instrument known to man
 
 
Latest in Plugins
plugin
Tech You might want to open a window before using The Crow Hill Company's filthy new synth
 
 
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
 
 
Latest in News
Prince embraces Apollonia Kotero in a scene from the film 'Purple Rain', 1984. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images)
Artists Prince’s Purple Rain co-star recalls the moment he had the idea for one of his greatest songs
 
 
GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Olivia Rodrigo performs with Robert Smith of The Cure on the Pyramid stage during day five of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 29, 2025 in Glastonbury, England. Established by Michael Eavis in 1970, Glastonbury has grown into the UK's largest music festival, drawing over 200,000 fans to enjoy performances across more than 100 stages. In 2026, the festival will take a fallow year, a planned pause to allow the Worthy Farm site time to rest and recover. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Artists Olivia Rodrigo still has The Cure’s Robert Smith on her mind on new single, Drop Dead
 
 
boc
Artists Boards of Canada are back with their first new music in 13 years
 
 
plugin
Tech You might want to open a window before using The Crow Hill Company's filthy new synth
 
 
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: We've found $200 off an accessible Yamaha turntable, $100 off an iconic Korg synth and healthy discounts on guitars and much more
 
 
David Lee Roth performs at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival - Weekend 1 - Day 1 on April 10, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
Artists David Lee Roth has clarified his creative role in Van Halen (again)
 
 

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...