Are classic analog synth sounds you've always wanted to achieve with software plug-ins really possible? Darren Burgos explores Spire by Reveal Sound and finds it is more than the sum of its parts.
Since the first Maschine, Native Instruments have captured the hearts and minds of musicians, producers & finger drummers! So what does Maschine Studio bring to the table? Hollin Jones taps into it.
There's loops upon loops all vying for you attention... so, what is it about Minimal Techno Revolution that helps it stand out from the crowd? G. W. Childs discovers more than he bargained for.
iZotope's original Nectar plug-in gained a reputation as a one-stop-shop for vocal production. But will Nectar 2 be a sweet deal? Matt Loel T Hepworth dives deep inside.
Us producers are always looking for affordable and fresh sound libraries to add to our existing sonic palettes. Noah Pred checks out Wave Alchemy's latest focus packs designed to get your beats on.
With dozens of good software reverb units available, a new reverb plug-in would need to be pretty special to make us sit up and take notice. Find out what effect Spark Verb has had on Mo Volans...
Are you looking to up your game as a producer... and have some cash to spend? If so, you may be in the market for a good pair of studio monitors. Hollin Jones puts the ATC SCM25A monitors to the test.
Mac audio editors have been dropping like flies the past couple of years, but with Parallels there's a world of PC audio editors available, including Sound Forge 11. Gary Hiebner gets editing.
In a world where we try to have one device do everything (iPhone I'm looking at you), it's refreshing that Akai have created the MPX8 with specialist sample player and MIDI controller functionality.
Rack Extensions! You've got to congratulate Propellerhead for creating this format. And since they have every developer worth their salt has jumped on board with their plug-ins, including kiloHearts.
FXpansion's BFD3 has arrived! BFD2 is still much loved and used for drum production... but, will BFD 3 take the crown for best acoustic drum instrument in a plug-in? Read our review to find out more.
Those who score music usually reach for Sibelius or Finale. However, PreSonus have recently acquired Notion, which at version 4, looks set to provide a capable alternative. Lynda Arnold checks it out.
Probably the most talked about analog synths in 2013 are from Korg. G. W. Childs wasted no time getting hands on with the Volca Keys, which at under $150 is a steal, but how does it sound and perform?
In our continuing series of using sound as a healing tool, Lynda Arnold returns with a review of Ambiscience for iPhone: a powerful app capable of altering your brainwaves using binaural beats.
Good quality headphones tend to last a lifetime... so a good, comfy pair of cans make for a good investment. G. W. Childs tries on the Yamaha MT-220 studio headphones for size and reports back...