Plug-ins

Once again, Waves have tried to bottle the magic of a celebrated mix engineer, so that it can be uncorked in the home studio...

The ‘Ricky’ bass sound graces many a classic track. Have Scarbee nailed its distinctive qualities?

IK’s flagship suite of plug-in processors continues to grow, with the addition of a channel strip and several handy multi-band modules.

This month we review the M-RGT Ambitron and Universal Audio, Precision K-Ambience Recovery Tool.

Sound Toys turn back the clock to bring some ’60s grit into your DAW.

As loudness standards evolve, so we need new metering plug-ins. Izotope’s suite covers all the bases.

Waves’ latest analogue emulation has unrivalled pedigree. But is there still a role for a mixer that was declared obsolete 40 years ago?

Sonoris’s innovative plug-in designs prove that not all digital equalisers sound the same.

The Holy Grail of location recording is the ability to isolate the sound of a source from that of the space in which it was recorded. Have Zynaptiq found it?

Native Instruments have teamed up with Softube to model three pieces of highly regarded valve outboard gear.

Behind Fabfilter’s elegant interface lurks an advanced algorithm that is claimed to offer the most natural de-essing yet.

Rhythmic Robot, Loopscape, Universal Audio, MXR Flanger/Doubler, Waves NS1

Izotope have improved the formula of their ‘do everything’ mixing plug-in. Is this new Alloy platinum sterling, or pinchbeck?

Does Kush Audio’s expertise in designing analogue equipment translate into the plug-in realm?

Waves are the latest manufacturers to try to package the sound of large-format mixing consoles in plug-in form.

The virtual vintage front panels of LSR Audio’s plug-ins conceal processors with plenty of personality.

There are hundreds of reverb plug-ins to choose from, but none quite like Eventide’s Blackhole...

The sound of magnetic tape stems from a hugely complex set of interacting factors. Slate Digital’s VTM is the most detailed attempt yet to capture these in digital form.

Audio files to accompany the article

With so many virtual guitar amps already on the market, can newcomers Scuffham Amps bring something fresh to the party?

Paradoxically, adding distortion in mastering can make tracks sound clearer. That’s the idea of Brainworx's clever multi-band plug-in.