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
  • Black Friday
  • 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
Soundtoys SpaceBlender
Tech Soundtoys makes some of the best effects plugins we've ever tested - and they're discounted by up to 75% for Black Friday
Native Instruments Kontakt on the screen of an Apple laptop
Software & Apps Black Friday plugin deals 2025 LIVE: my pick of today's best music software sales at Plugin Boutique, Native Instruments, UA and more – plus, the freebies to blag right now
A selection of free plugins on a lime green background
Plugins I've found 9 free plugin deals for Black Friday including a killer bundle deal - help yourself to something for nothing
A Macbook running Universal Audio plugins on a studio desk
Plugins Universal Audio just dropped a genuine Black Friday freebie - take your pick from an 1176, LA-2A, Pultec EQ, and more completely free of charge
FabFilter screen grab
Software & Apps FabFilter's killer Black Friday sale just launched, including hefty discounts on the essential production tools I reach for with every mix
iZotope FXEQ
Fx Software “Allows you to do away with stacks of insert or return effects and potential high processor loads”: iZotope FXEQ review
A Macbook with music plugins running on it on a blue background
Software & Apps Black Friday plugin deals 2025: The definitive guide to the top audio plugin deals
A selection of IK Multimedia plugins for music production on a purple background
Plugins Buy one $49.99 IK Multimedia plugin and get a whopping 38 free with the best plugin deal of the year so far
Three Waves screen grabs reflecting in a shiny black surface
Software & Apps 5 Waves plugins for just $99 is the perfect Black Friday deal to fill the gaps in your music software arsenal – get them for less than $20 each
plugin boutique
Tech Save up to 95% on incredible plugins, software and bundles in Plugin Boutique’s Black Friday sale – and grab an exclusive free plugin for MusicRadar readers
mg4
Tech Antelope Audio drops free EQ plugin to celebrate the release of individual perpetual licenses for 75+ plugins
ValhallaDSP ValhallaFutureVerb
Tech “As close to perfect as we have ever heard”: ValhallaDSP’s new plugin is the product of eight years R&D
slower fragments
Tech This free plugin captures the "evocative warmth and warped textures" of half-speed tape recordings
A Macbook with plugins running on it on a blue background
Software & Apps Cyber Monday plugin deals 2025: All you need to know before the biggest sale of the year
splice
Tech “For the first time, we’re moving beyond samples”: Splice unveils free plugin and virtual instrument platform with hundreds of free presets
More
  • Black Friday plugin deals - LIVE
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps
  3. Plugins

VST/AU plug-in instrument/effect round-up: Week 50

News
By Ben Rogerson published 4 July 2012

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

50 up

50 up

We hit a cool half century of plug-in round-ups with a typically diverse selection of instruments and effects. Some are available at pocket money prices; others will set you back rather more.

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: Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

Slate isn’t holding back on the marketing for this one, claiming that it’s “the most advanced, dynamic, true-to-life analogue tape emulation ever achieved”. It sports a 16-track, 2-inch machine and a 1/2-inch mastering deck. There are two tape machines and speeds, plus control over various parameters.

Buy or download demo of Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
EGP Audio Top Ron

EGP Audio Top Ron

This saturation unit can serve as a general purpose dual-stage distortion device on all kinds of material (beats and drum tracks in particular are cited). There are two subtly different modes of operation, while the Timbre control enables you to make fast but significant EQ tweaks.

Buy or download demo of EGP Audio Top Ron

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Ample Sound Ample Guitar bundle

Ample Sound Ample Guitar bundle

A selection of sample-based guitar emulation plug-ins for keyboard players. AGP recreates the PRS Artist Custom 24; AGF apes a Fender Stratocaster Custom ‘50s instrument; and AGG is based on the sound of a Gibson Les Paul Custom R8. Each one is also available separately and supports a range of playing techniques.

Buy Ample Sound Ample Guitar bundle

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Softrave Vintage Analog Ring Shift Modulator

Softrave Vintage Analog Ring Shift Modulator

Designed to stand out, clearly, this FX plug-in provides a mixture of pitch shifting and ring modulation. It can be used to create vibrato and distortion effects, bell-like sounds and more strange sonic stuff. It was inspired by Electro-Harmonix’s Ring Thing pedal.

Buy or download demo of Softrave Vintage Analog Ring Shift Modulator

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
LSR Audio SK_Drive and SK_Bright

LSR Audio SK_Drive and SK_Bright

If one knob at a time is quite enough for you to be dealing with, this pair might catch your eye. SK_Drive is designed to add body to your sound through a combination of compression and attenuation, while SK_Bright adds brightness, presence and harmonics with the help of tube overdrive.

Buy or download demos of LSR Audio SK_Drive and SK_Bright

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. 

Deals not to miss
Soundtoys SpaceBlender
Soundtoys makes some of the best effects plugins we've ever tested - and they're discounted by up to 75% for Black Friday
 
 
Native Instruments Kontakt on the screen of an Apple laptop
Black Friday plugin deals 2025 LIVE: my pick of today's best music software sales at Plugin Boutique, Native Instruments, UA and more – plus, the freebies to blag right now
 
 
A selection of free plugins on a lime green background
I've found 9 free plugin deals for Black Friday including a killer bundle deal - help yourself to something for nothing
 
 
A Macbook running Universal Audio plugins on a studio desk
Universal Audio just dropped a genuine Black Friday freebie - take your pick from an 1176, LA-2A, Pultec EQ, and more completely free of charge
 
 
FabFilter screen grab
FabFilter's killer Black Friday sale just launched, including hefty discounts on the essential production tools I reach for with every mix
 
 
iZotope FXEQ
“Allows you to do away with stacks of insert or return effects and potential high processor loads”: iZotope FXEQ review
 
 
Latest in Plugins
Soundtoys SpaceBlender
Soundtoys makes some of the best effects plugins we've ever tested - and they're discounted by up to 75% for Black Friday
 
 
A selection of free plugins on a lime green background
I've found 9 free plugin deals for Black Friday including a killer bundle deal - help yourself to something for nothing
 
 
ValhallaDSP Supermassive 5.0
Valhalla Supermassive 5 can do everything from clean delay to “nearly eternal space reverbs” – and it’s free!
 
 
A selection of Universal Audio Spark plugins on a multi-coloured background
With a year’s UAD Spark subscription plummeting to just $79, this plugin deal is the best way to improve your mixes over the next 12 months
 
 
A Macbook running Universal Audio plugins on a studio desk
Universal Audio just dropped a genuine Black Friday freebie - take your pick from an 1176, LA-2A, Pultec EQ, and more completely free of charge
 
 
mercury 8
"It's not just another recreation of the Jupiter-8": Cherry Audio goes "beyond Jupiter" with the Mercury-8 soft synth
 
 
Latest in News
TC Electronic Plethora X1 pedal
Just £99 for 14 effects pedals in one? Surely this TC Electronic Plethora X1 compact multi-effects deal makes it the most value-packed stompbox this Black Friday
 
 
Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Lab 2 and Cre8audio Boom Chick
Buy bleeps, get beats free: These synth and drum machine combos are the most tempting Black Friday deals I’ve seen
 
 
Apple iPad Air M3
I’ve scoured the Earth for the best Black Friday iPad deal, and this is the one I think musicians should go for
 
 
Squier Sonic Strat deal
This amazing-value Walmart Squier Sonic Strat deal proves beginner guitarists have never had it so good - get 25% off for Black Friday
 
 
Roland TD313 with Black Friday logo
Roland only just released its next-level TD313 electronic drum set, but you can already save £200 with this surprise Black Friday deal
 
 
Moog Messenger and Walrus Audio Qi Etherealizer deals at Sweetwater
Get $200 off the Moog Messenger at Sweetwater this Black Friday
 
 

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
  • 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...