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
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Christine McVie's masterpiece
  • Macca vs Phil Collins
  • Music theory tricks
  • Kiss From a Rose
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Yes
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps
  3. Plugins

VST/AU plug-in instrument/effect round-up: Week 8

News
By Ben Rogerson
Published 20 April 2011

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

Refreshment for your rack

Refreshment for your rack

With so many plug-ins already on the market, you sometimes wonder if there are any new instrument and effect concepts left to be explored, but developers are still coming up with fresh ideas and twists on old ones.

Evidence of this can be found on this week’s round-up, which is full of new sound-making and processing tools.

Also check out these regularly updated features:

The 17 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: Sugar Bytes Turnado

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Sugar Bytes Turnado

Sugar Bytes Turnado

Following hard on the heels of Waves’ OneKnob series comes this new multi-effect plug-in from Sugar Bytes in which all the effects are tweaked with - you guessed it - one knob. The main focus is said to be on live performance and beat manipulation - Turnado will be sweeping in early this summer.

Find out more about Sugar Bytes Turnado

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Two Notes Audio Engineering Torpedo PI-101

Two Notes Audio Engineering Torpedo PI-101

The Torpedo PI-101 is a guitar/bass channel strip that comprises three processing sections. There’s a power amp sim with eight different ‘topologies’; a miking section (more than 30 cabs and eight mics are featured); and a Post-FX section with a low-cut filter, 5-band EQ, exciter and compressor. The price includes an iLok 2.

Buy Two Notes Audio Engineering Torpedo PI-101

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Empty Room Systems EMpTy 250

Empty Room Systems EMpTy 250

This is an emulation of the EMT-250, the world’s very first digital reverb. Empty Room claims to have identified the ‘specifics’ of the original unit and recreated them in this plug-in, so if you’re looking to capture the EMT-250’s lush sound but don’t have the resources to get your hands on one of the few units that were built, it could be a goer.

Buy or download demo of EMpTy 250

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Audiffex ampLion Pro

Audiffex ampLion Pro

A new guitar gear simulator that contains 30 effects, nine preamps, seven power amps, 12 speakers, eight mics and two speaker channels. The developer claims to have packed all of these into an intuitive interface: it remains to be seen whether it has the tone to challenge the The 11 best VST guitar amp/effect modelling plug-ins in the world today. A free version is also available.

Buy Audiffex ampLion Pro

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
WOK EFU-1

WOK EFU-1

Billed as an echo freeze unit, this is a delay plug-in with a twist. As well as offering standard delay parameters, it also enables you to use the delay buffer as a sampler - it can record audio and then play this back continuously at a selectable speed (or even reversed).

Buy or download demo of WOK EFU-1

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
TubeOhm Anti-Transpirant 8000

TubeOhm Anti-Transpirant 8000

Given its vintage look, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that Anti-Transpirant 8000 is inspired by analogue hardware keyboards of yore. That said, this 8x oversampling instrument promises to have its own character. If you’re an existing TubeOhm customer, you can have a mono version for free.

Buy TubeOhm Anti-Transpirant 8000

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Sinevibes Sequential

Sinevibes Sequential

Designed for creating rhythmical effect patterns, Sequential offers filters, waveshapers, distortion, ring modulation and audio-controlled oscillators. These can be driven by the 32-step sequencer that has variable speed and swing settings, so if your current FX processing feels a bit static, give it a whirl.

Buy or download demo ofSinevibes Sequential

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 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
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 Check out this fantastic treasure trove of free glitch plugins
 
 
Best guitar VSTs: Soundtoys Effects Rack
Plugins The effects the pros reach for first - Why Soundtoys 5 lives on the world's busiest sessions
 
 
LANDR AUDIO
Plugins Unlock infinite sound design - inside Reason 14’s new RV-9 reverb and upgraded rack workflow
 
 
Oeksound Soothe
Plugins I’ve been a professional producer for decades, and these are the plugins I always call-up when working on a project
 
 
Steinberg Classics Collection
Plugins Steinberg marks 30 years of VST with the Classics Collection, which includes the first VST synth
 
 
ujam
Tech UJAM's Retrocraft is an all-in-one multi-effects plugin for lo-fi vintage vibes
 
 
Latest in Plugins
Steinberg Classics Collection
Plugins Steinberg marks 30 years of VST with the Classics Collection, which includes the first VST synth
 
 
ua
Tech “Some sounds never go out of style”: Universal Audio makes two classic reverbs used by The Beatles, Radiohead and Brian Eno available natively
 
 
glitch2
Tech Illformed Glitch2 multi-effects plugin made available for free following its creator's passing
 
 
dubbox
Tech Beatbox your ideas into reality with Vochlea's DubBox, an app that converts your voice into drum loops
 
 
charli xcx
Artists How Charli XCX's producers ran a jam session through an AI sampling plugin to make No One Lasts Forever
 
 
Mastering The Mix MixVault
Plugins Eliminate those pesky hours of laborious EQing with MIXVAULT, a new approach to addressing your tonal balance without leaving your creative flow
 
 
Latest in News
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 05: Lindsey Buckingham attends the Variety Power of Young Hollywood 2026 event at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on August 05, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/WireImage)
Singers & Songwriters “Quite a few things will reveal themselves”: Lindsey Buckingham teases possible Fleetwood Mac activity
 
 
William Orbit
Artists We look back at a classic William Orbit interview
 
 
William Orbit
Artists William Orbit, the production genius behind Madonna’s Ray Of Light, has died, aged 69
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill attend the 'Diaspora Calling' merch pop-up & signing event in celebration of the Fugees 30th Anniversary at 180 Studios on August 5, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Grant Buchanan/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Bands Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean are positive that the Fugees will record again
 
 
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 11: Nikki Sixx (L) of Mötley Crüe performs at GIANTS Stadium on November 11, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)
Gigs & Festivals Nikki Sixx admits that Mötley Crue do use backing tapes, but says that the band plays 100% live
 
 
pigments play
Tech Arturia's Pigments Play is a free version of one of the best soft synths around – and it's more powerful than you might expect
 
 

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...