Plug-ins

Sound designer Rob Papen may be best known to you as the man behind amazing sounds for the Access Virus or Alesis Andromeda. Now he's moved into producing software-based synths of his own. So how good is it?

Like many of Sony Oxford's plug-ins, their new limiter takes a familiar concept and applies a novel twist.

Ever fancied arranging 'Oops, I Did It Again' for a full choir? Well now you can, courtesy of Symphonic Choirs, the latest virtual-instrument sample library from East West and Quantum Leap.

We test two hot new plug-ins: Camel Audio's Camel Space (PC VST & Mac OS X AU) and TC Electronic's DVR2 (Mac/PC Powercore).

There can't be many Pro Tools users left who have not had to invest in an iLok key in order to run their favourite plug-ins. But did you know that you can insure, transfer and even buy and sell iLok plug-in licences electronically? Find out more...

Software guitar amp modelling has been around for a while, but GTR is Waves' first foray into the field — and as you'd expect, they have made a huge effort to get it right, even hiring guitar maker Paul Reed Smith to design a bespoke preamp.

The new Tiger AUPitch plug-in promises better pitch-shifting performance, but does it deliver in practice?

Basement Arts Frantic, Cakewalk Z3TA+, and Progress Software Soup get the install treatment.

Altiverb was one of the first convolution reverbs to appear. Is it still the best?

Cycling 74's Pluggo plug-in bundle continues to grow, and now encompasses over 100 effects, synths and modulation sources.

Looking for a new bass player? If you'd consider a software candidate, Steinberg's Virtual Bassist is now ready for audition...

This month: Universal Audio Boss CE1 • TC Electronic NonLin2 Stereo Effects Reverb

String Studio uses Applied Acoustics' physical modelling expertise to (in theory) generate the sound of any string instrument. Good or bad vibrations? We find out...

Anarchy Rhythms is a novel VST plug-in/stand-alone application, whose author accurately describes it as "a hybrid between an effect and a drum machine".

If you want your mixes to go to 11, Waves' new mastering limiter might be the weapon you need.

Mini-reviews of Bizune's Bizune VST • Sonalkis SV517 • Universal Audio Precision EQ • Nusofting Microrock Pro • Fabfilter Volcano

A new plug-in bundle from Dutch developer Audio Ease brings together three unique sound-shaping tools.

Thanks to the new MD3 package, Powercore users now have access to high-end mastering tools from TC's System 6000 processor.

If you want to get your hands on the latest VST Instruments and Plug-in effects, but don't fancy having a PC in your studio, Muse Research's Receptor could be the answer.

We check out another batch of plug-ins destined to find a place in your virtual rack.

Concrete FX's plug-ins incline towards the less well-trodden areas of sound generation, and their latest is a wavetable synthesizer that recalls the Waldorf Microwave.