Virtual Instrument

Drum Workshop bring their considerable experience of drum hardware to the virtual world.

NI’s long‑established software sampler gains a raft of new features and other improvements.

Expressive E’s idiosyncratic synth sequel puts MPE front and centre.

We cut through the jargon to explain how software instruments achieve their incredible realism.

The Berlin samplemeisters link up with a Hollywood film composer to create two major string collections.

Synplant 2 takes a more horticultural approach to synthesis than you may be used to...

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 4/5 Stars. DreamWaves is based on the sounds of electric pianos that have been modified and processed to make them sound ambient, ethereal, lo‑fi — and in some instances mildly disturbing.

Trigger physically modelled percussion sounds with your fingers.

No room for a drum kit? No problem! Try one of these Virtual Drum apps.

Toontrack bring the world’s favourite organ to EZkeys 2.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 4/5 Stars. Supporting all the main plug‑in formats, Bloom Aether Vocal is based on samples of short vocal phrases, both male and female, that can be manipulated in creative ways.

With new and improved instruments, Arturia’s one‑stop synth shop is better value than ever.

Cinesamples’ subscription package promises an awful lot of bang for your monthly bucks.

Strokes has evolved from a clever MIDI sequencer to a sophisticated and original instrument in its own right.

SWAM String Sections combines playability with microscopic levels of control over the sound.

Minimal Audio’s Current is nothing if not ambitious, and not just as an instrument...

Westwood re‑imagine some classic instruments to take familiar sounds to new places.

Cherry Audio have resurrected the venerable ARP Pro Soloist in software.

Soniccouture have combined acoustic and electronic percussion to create something truly original.

IK’s sampled piano instrument aims to be more than just world-beating...

Modartt revisit the richly complex world of the pipe organ, reducing one of the world’s largest instruments to a mere 30MB.