VST/AU plugin instrument/effect round-up: Week 61

Loadsa plugins

It’s been a few weeks since our last round-up, but we return with enough new virtual instruments and effects to fill an entire rack. Dive in and discover what the world’s plugin developers have been up to.

Also make sure you check out these regularly updated features:

The 39 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: HoRNet AutoGain

HoRNet AutoGain

If volume automation is taking up too much of your time, try this supposedly time-saving plugin. It has two inputs: one for the track you want to automate and a second for the volume reference (a single track, track group or whole mix). Hit play and AutoGain will attempt to keep your target track at the level of the reference one. Easy.

Buy or download demo of HoRNet AutoGain

Archetype Instruments Arc 5

A dual-layer synth that generates its sounds using five synthesis methods. There’s an arpeggiator with pitch and velocity step sequencer, various effects and a simple control system that promises to make it easy to tweak your sounds.

Buy or download demo of Archetype Instruments Arc 5

Voxengo Shinechilla

A creative plugin that enables you to blend second, third and fourth harmonics with your original sound. The theory is that in doing this you can add “shine and bite”. You can adjust the amount of colouration being added for each harmonic.

Buy or download demo of Voxengo Shinechilla

Airwindows Logical2

A bus compressor that’s designed to ‘glue’ your mix together. Logical2 promises SSL-style presence at the high-end and is billed as a perfect ‘set and forget’ compressor. The interface is pretty basic, but this allegedly helps with CPU efficiency.

Buy or download demo of Airwindows Logical2

MeldaProduction MWobbler

A distorting filter that’s designed to help you generate those ubiquitous dubstep wobble basses. However, you can also use it for the likes of rhythmic pads, rotary organs and drum-driven basses. MWobbler comes with an integrated LFO and level follower.

Buy or download demo of MeldaProduction MWobbler

SKnote MCAudioLab EQ1

A passive EQ with a tube output stage and solid state and tube power supply options. There are two stacked units for linked or dual control and a switchable Left-Right/Mid-Side matrix mode.

Buy or download demo of SKnote MCAudioLab EQ1

Axis Plug-ins Track EQ

TrackEQ is designed to let you “edit your digital data surgically”. It comes with eight individual filter blocks and for each block you can choose from 11 different filter types. You can solo/mute one filter block or a group of them.

Buy or download demo of Axis Plug-ins Track EQ

Massey Plugins CT5

Previously available for Pro Tools systems, this is a compressor that’s designed to provide smooth gain reduction with a little punch. You can choose from two compression curves for either a transparent or more aggressive sound and the CT5 has a sidechain input. A VST version of vt3, a 3-band EQ, has also been released.

Buy or download demo of Massey Plugins CT5

Illformed Glitch 2

The original version of Glitch was available for free, but version 2 is chargeable. Before you get too despondent, though, be aware that the plugin is now cross-platform and features a new and improved sequencer which can play multiple effects simultaneously. You can also trigger scenes from your keyboard.

Buy or download demo of Illformed Glitch 2

123creative.com Kastelheimer Veldberg XD

This new virtual analogue synth is based on algorithms from hardware VA synths. It comes with three oscillators and promises an “ultra sharp” sound. There are eight filters, three envelopes, two LFOs and a modulation matrix, while the instrument also promises oscillator signal routing/mixing and the so-called HyperTwist technology. Crikey.

Buy or download demo of 123creative.com Kastelheimer Veldberg XD

Sinevibes Switch

A gate sequencer that enables you to do new and exciting rhythmic things to beats, instruments and vocals. The interface comprises an easily understandable step sequencer and a single preset can hold up to eight different patterns. These can be automated in your DAW or when you’re performing.

Buy or download demo of Sinevibes Switch

Minimal System Mastering Limiter

A peak limiter that’s designed to maximise the level of your mix. It features a lookahead peak limiter algorithm and promises to give you precise control. It’s said to be “based on and inspired” by real analogue circuitry.

Buy or download demo of Minimal System Mastering Limiter

Minimal System Dreamscape Space Generator

Another release from Minimal System, this one is a ‘musical’ reverb that’s said to deliver a warm analogue-style sound and low CPU usage. Rather than have separate algorithms (plate, hall, room etc) you’re invited simply to tweak the available parameters to taste.

Buy or download demo of Minimal System Dreamscape Space Generator

Acidgrooves LSD-525

An amplifier and parallel EQ that was designed specifically to add extra punch and warmth to the sound of software synths. It’s a 4-channel EQ, comes with a built-in limiter and apparently has low CPU usage.

Buy or download demo of Acidgrooves LSD-525

Sinevibes Shift

This “animated frequency shifter” has “insane glitch” sounds in its sights, using a built-in step sequencer to modulate a model of a Bode frequency shifter. You can assign one of eight envelope shapes to each of the 32 available steps, enabling you to quickly create elaborate patterns.

Buy or download demo of Sinevibes Shift

DMG Audio EQuilibrium

This highly flexible and customisable EQ is designed very much for high-end users. It offers both digital curves and models of vintage EQs, plus routing, grouping, channel and metering control. It’s designed for both mixing and mastering purposes and promises to set “a new standard”.

Buy or download demo of DMG Audio EQuilibrium

The Interruptor Night Flight

Recreate the sound of those string ensemble keyboards from the ‘70s with this synth-powered instrument (no samples are used to generate the sounds). Night Flight’s feature set takes inspiration from a variety of string machines, so you should hopefully be able to generate some classic tones.

Buy or download demo The Interruptor Night Flight

Softrave Vintage Flanger Chorus Stereo

Inspired by Electro Harmonix’s classic analogue Electric Mistress pedal, this plugin is designed to serve as a lush flanger/chorus effect. The original pedal has been used by a wide range of artists and the software is said to be useful for multiple styles.

Buy or download demo of Softrave Vintage Flanger Chorus Stereo

eaReckon EARebound

A multi-delay plugin that’s been designed specifically to quickly create rhythm lines out of percussion sounds. The input and 15 tweakable delay lines correspond to steps in a sequencer, while there’s also a further global delay. You get Main, Mix and Timeline views to work in.

Buy or download demo of eaReckon EARebound

OverTone DSP FC70

An emulation of the Fairchild 670 Limiter that began life on Linux. Its purported hallmarks are “smooth, effortless dynamic control and uniquely musical character”.

Buy or download demo of OverTone DSP FC70

SKnote Rev250

A reverb plugin that’s modelled on “the first digital reverb”, presumably the EMT 250. Allegedly deep and full of attitude, it comes with chorus, phaser and delay options and mid-side balance for stereo width control.

Buy or download demo of SKnote Rev250