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
Cyber Monday plugin deals graphic
Software & Apps Cyber Monday plugin deals 2025 LIVE: all of today's most unmissable music software discounts on Native Instruments, IK Multimedia, Plugin Boutique and around the web
A Macbook running Universal Audio plugins on a studio desk
Plugins Universal Audio's amazing Black Friday freebie is still live - for now. Take your pick from an 1176, LA-2A, Pultec EQ, and more completely free of charge
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 - help yourself to something for nothing before the offers disappear
Moog Messenger and Walrus Audio Qi Etherealizer deals at Sweetwater
Analogue Synths Get $200 off the Moog Messenger at Sweetwater this Black Friday
tape double track
Tech This $99 plugin recreates a classic studio technique invented at Abbey Road for The Beatles – and it's free for the next three days
Cherry Audio Mercury-6
Soft Synths This is the first synth I reach for when I need an arp - and right now it's 51% off!
A Macbook with music plugins running on it on a blue background
Software & Apps Black Friday plugin deals 2025: These are the last remaining deals on software
Best impulse buy $50 plugins Cyber Monday 2025
Tech 19 of the best plugins under $50 for last-minute impulse buying this Cyber Monday
SYNTHDEALS
Synths I've spent all day looking at Black Friday synth deals and these are the 5 I'd actually buy - grab them while you can!
mercury 8
Tech "It's not just another recreation of the Jupiter-8": Cherry Audio goes "beyond Jupiter" with the Mercury-8 soft synth
Elektron Syntakt Cyber Weekend deals
Drum Machines I love the Elektron Syntakt, mostly because it’s like a Rytm, but cheaper, and it’s got one of the biggest savings I’ve seen this Cyber Monday
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
Positive Grid Mini on a shelf
Guitar Amps Positive Grid is knocking up to 30% off its range of top-rated smart amps and software this Black Friday weekend - including the Spark 2, Spark Mini & Bias X
 universal audio
Plugins “We built Paradise to make any guitarist feel like they’re playing in a dream studio": Universal Audio releases Paradise Guitar Studio – and it's 25% off for Cyber Monday
A Fractal Audio VP4 Virtual Pedalboard multi-effects pedal on a concrete floor
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals 2025: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
More
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • 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. 

Read more
Best impulse buy $50 plugins Cyber Monday 2025
19 of the best plugins under $50 for last-minute impulse buying this Cyber Monday
 
 
Cyber Monday plugin deals graphic
Cyber Monday plugin deals 2025 LIVE: all of today's most unmissable music software discounts on Native Instruments, IK Multimedia, Plugin Boutique and around the web
 
 
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 - help yourself to something for nothing before the offers disappear
 
 
A Macbook running Universal Audio plugins on a studio desk
Universal Audio's amazing Black Friday freebie is still live - for now. 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
 
 
Latest in Plugins
tape double track
This $99 plugin recreates a classic studio technique invented at Abbey Road for The Beatles – and it's free for the next three days
 
 
 universal audio
“We built Paradise to make any guitarist feel like they’re playing in a dream studio": Universal Audio releases Paradise Guitar Studio – and it's 25% off for Cyber Monday
 
 
Best impulse buy $50 plugins Cyber Monday 2025
19 of the best plugins under $50 for last-minute impulse buying this Cyber Monday
 
 
Toontrack Hitmaker SDX
I've waited for Toontrack's Hitmaker SDX Expansion to be discounted ever since it was released. Now it's nearly half-price for Black Friday and I'm about to ruin Christmas by spending way too much on Superior Drummer samples in Thomann's Cyber Week Sale
 
 
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 - help yourself to something for nothing before the offers disappear
 
 
Latest in News
Text saying 'Just the way it is'
“It’s quite normal to be groped by men”: Harassment, low pay and exploitation all reported by young musicians and artists in new survey
 
 
Dirty Boy SilverBOY: This high-end all-analogue preamp pedal was inspired by a digital plugin
Dirty Boy turns the tables on guitar’s digital revolution with an all-analogue preamp pedal inspired by a plugin
 
 
Eric Clapton and Sheryl Crow perform at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 held at Toyota Park on July 28, 2007 in Bridgeview, Illinois.
"They put it on hold so nobody else can record it. But he didn’t actually record it. That was when Don Henley said, ‘You need to quit giving your songs away’”: Sheryl Crow says that she once wrote a song for Eric Clapton that never saw the light of day
 
 
oxi
"We didn't want to make just another controller": OXI Instruments' E16 is a sleek and portable MIDI controller that's more powerful than it looks
 
 
Serato and AlphaTheta launch Slab for Serato Studio
AlphaTheta and Serato launch Slab, the first hardware controller for Serato Studio
 
 
Steve Cropper in 2007
“My mom said, ‘I’ll lend you a quarter if you become a guitar player.’ I think I did!”: Steve Cropper dies aged 84
 
 

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...