Latest news
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
Our picks of the modern virtual tools that will transform any self-sustaining producer’s workflow
“Learning how to mix is almost as important as hitting on your original musical idea”: New to the mixing process? Start here
Don't let a brilliant song be swallowed up in a bad mix by following our guide to the central principles of the process
"As nuanced as the real thing, but only if you know what you're doing": The ultimate guide to plugin guitars
After spending decades trying to emulate the guitar, it might have been easier just to pick one up and learn how to play it…
Loukeman reveals his favourite plugins and unusual production techniques
Toronto-based producer Loukeman talks his new project Sd-2, sampling techniques and unconventional effects processing
How to master virtually any software synth
Don't let your software arsenal overwhelm you - sometimes the best route to creative success is to mine just one instrument
Steven Wilson reveals the $20 plugin he used on all the guitars on his new space rock epic
And it turns out it is the same affordable plugin Finneas used on Billie Eilish’s Barbie track, What Was I Made For?
Our go-to plugins for adding flavour to our sounds
With so much processing available in modern DAWs, we take a look at some of the more left-field plugins and approaches for maximising the colour of your audio signal
Output's AI-powered Co-Producer plugin chooses samples for you, but is it streamlining workflows or outsourcing creativity to AI?
We speak to Output CEO Gregg Lehrman about the company's AI-assisted digital crate-digger designed to speed up sample discovery
"Our aim with ShaperBox is to make it easy for any producer to get complex-sounding results, all in one plugin": Cableguys talk modulation-mad multi-effects plugins and more
We sit down with the developer behind ShaperBox and Kickstart to find out more about Cableguys' inspired creations
Hit Record Meter is the free plugin that can assess the commercial appeal of your track. But does it actually work?
Airwindows' creation reveals the inner workings of what makes the hits 'tick'… But is it a hit or a flop?
"It’s the best reverb for the buck": Composer Jason Graves on his go-to reverb plugin
After scoring Dead Space and Call of Duty, Graves' most recent video game project takes him offshore to a monster-infested oil rig
Exploring the rise of plugin subscriptions and possible alternative models
“I think the dislike of subscriptions is almost universal”
How to record virtual and live instruments more smoothly by taking stock of your sample buffer
Latency on your plugins and audio recordings can derail a developing musical idea - but if you get a handle on managing your sample buffer you’ll have a much smoother ride
"It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
From full-featured behemoths and retro emulations to MPC-style beatmakers and must-have freebies, we round up 10 software samplers that make sampling fun, fast and intuitive
“She thought anything could be pop“: Sophie’s brother and studio engineer Ben Long on the release of her final album
We sit down with Ben Long to talk through the making of Sophie's posthumous final project and gain a rare insight into the creative process of a generational talent
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
Hybrid synths offer a wealth of synthesis options and this one is absolutely free. What are you waiting for?
Don't know where to start with virtual instruments? We're here to help
Because there's never been a better, easier, more affordable time to make great music on your computer
The ultimate soft synth showdown: Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: But which is best?
We pit five of today's most powerful, flexible and versatile synth plugins against each other to find out who comes out on top in 2025
