Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Total Guitar
  • Bass Player
More
  • How to make an AI cover song
  • 84000+ free music samples
  • Foo Fighters' new drummer
  • Ken Scott on recording The Beatles
  • First EVH Jump synth recording

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

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Future Music

The 14 best new effects plugins of 2018

By MusicRadar Team
( Future Music )
published 29 December 2018

Add these ace effects to your sonic arsenal

10. Sound Radix Powair

10. Sound Radix Powair

The Future Music/Computer Music/MusicRadar Best in music tech 2018 polls received thousands of votes, and we're now ready to roll out the winners. The nominees were what we considered to be the personalities and gear that have excelled in 2018. Here, we present the best new effects plugins of 2018.

Taking up positions 14 to 11 are:

14. Gothic Instruments Dronar Master Edition
13. Kush Audio REDDI
12. Audiority Tube Modulator
11. Kush Audio Novatron

Kicking off the top 10 we have Sound Radix Powair...

We say: An absolutely stunning compressor and leveller that no one should be without.

Read the review: Sound Radix Powair review

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
9. Positive Grid BIAS Amp 2

9. Positive Grid BIAS Amp 2

We say: Positive Grid has raised the amp plugin game with this fully featured, tone-filled update.

Read the review: Positive Grid BIAS Amp 2 review

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
8. eaReckon EARevolve

8. eaReckon EARevolve

We say: With its two layers of rotary speaker action and sublime dual chorus, EARevolve is a stereo modulation powerhouse.

Read the review: eaReckon EARevolve review

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
7. D16 Group Toraverb 2

7. D16 Group Toraverb 2

We say: Even at its increased price-point, Toraverb 2 is still one of the biggest bargains in music software - don’t miss it.

Read the review: D16 Group Toraverb 2 review

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
6. Softube Weiss DS1-MK3

6. Softube Weiss DS1-MK3

We say: If you can’t afford five grand for the second hand hardware, Softube’s plugin Weiss DS1- MK3 is a more than worthy substitute.

Read the review: Softube Weiss DS1-MK3 review

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
5. Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor

5. Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor

We say: Like having a real Distressor inside your DAW, EL8 Distressor brings one of the greatest dynamics processors ever made to Apollo and UAD-2 in style.

Read the review: Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor review

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
4. Waves Abbey Road Chambers

4. Waves Abbey Road Chambers

We say: A superb reverb/delay that offers much more than ‘just’ a flawless emulation of Abbey Road’s Studio Two chamber.

Read the review: Waves Abbey Road Chambers review

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
3. DMG Audio TrackComp

3. DMG Audio TrackComp

We say: Integrating five brilliantly realised virtual compressors within an intuitive homogeneous GUI, TrackComp rocks.

Read the review: DMG Audio TrackComp review

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
2. u-he Colour Copy

2. u-he Colour Copy

We say: The German maestro strikes gold again with this gorgeous-sounding, wonderfully creative delay effect. Essential.

Read the review: u-he Colour Copy review

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Winner: FabFilter Pro-L 2

Winner: FabFilter Pro-L 2

We say: What was already a first-choice limiter is now even more essential, with expanded scope for both mixing and mastering.

Read the review: FabFilter Pro-L 2 review

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
MusicRadar Team
MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the number 1 website for music makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, djs or producers...

GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high- quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts. TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars. STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music making that no other music website can.
All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more. image
All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more.
Get the latest issue now!
More Info
More about tech
Cakewalk software

BandLab confirms that it plans to discontinue its current free Cakewalk DAW and bring back a new version of Sonar

Caelum Audio Choric

Caelum Audio Choric review

Latest
PRS SE Silver Sky Maple

PRS expands its John Mayer signature SE Silver Sky lineup with new maple fretboard options and fresh finishes

See more latest ►
Most Popular
Should musicians be goggle-eyed for Apple’s new 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio and Mac Pro?

By Ben Rogerson6 June 2023

Best Fender amps 2023: From all-tube classics to cutting edge modelling options

By Richard Blenkinsop6 June 2023

5 of the best free guitar amp simulator plugins

By "OSC" Steve6 June 2023

Watch a teenage Josh Freese appear in a promo video for Simmons electronic drums

By Stuart Williams5 June 2023

Danny Carey reveals the Tool songs he finds most difficult to play live

By Stuart Williams5 June 2023

How Kylie Minogue’s Can’t Get You Out Of My Head was written in a couple of hours and took most of its sounds from the Korg Triton

By Ben Rogerson5 June 2023

Score significant savings on Strats, Teles, Jaguars and Mustangs as Thomann slashes the price of popular Squier models

By Daryl Robertson5 June 2023

10 of the best new free plugins we discovered this month

By Matt Mullen5 June 2023

Choose a genre and BPM and this online DAW will use AI to make a complete track for you

By Ben Rogerson5 June 2023

Watch Noel Gallagher use a Fender Strat for High Flying Birds’ “blasphemous” cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart

By Jonathan Horsley2 June 2023

Ben Folds names the only album on which Elton John is “represented as a piano player”

By Ben Rogerson2 June 2023

  1. plugins
    1
    10 of the best new free plugins we discovered this month
  2. 2
    Score significant savings on Strats, Teles, Jaguars and Mustangs as Thomann slashes the price of popular Squier models
  3. 3
    Should musicians be goggle-eyed for Apple’s new 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio and Mac Pro?
  4. 4
    5 of the best free guitar amp simulator plugins
  5. 5
    BandLab confirms that it plans to discontinue its current free Cakewalk DAW and bring back a new version of Sonar
  1. jon hopkins
    1
    Jon Hopkins spent 4 months perfecting the synth riff for Open Eye Signal on a 1979 Korg MS-20: “So much effort into trying to make something sound effortless”
  2. 2
    10 of the best new free plugins we discovered this month
  3. 3
    Watch Noel Gallagher use a Fender Strat for High Flying Birds’ “blasphemous” cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart
  4. 4
    Score significant savings on Strats, Teles, Jaguars and Mustangs as Thomann slashes the price of popular Squier models
  5. 5
    Propellerhead’s ReBirth is reborn as a hands-on hardware synth, and it’s all thanks to Look Mum No Computer

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.