Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro review - His master's voice
Written testInnovation awardAlgorithmic reproduction of vocals and all their nuances is no easy task. How does the second version of Synthesizer V Studio fare?
Arturia V Collection 11 review - The eleventh hour
Written testBest Value awardEvery year, it's a bit of a ritual: Arturia delivers a new V Collection. This eleventh edition continues the trend begun in recent years, going beyond the simple modeling of vintage instruments. What…
Xils-Lab The Eighty review - The best of the 80s?
Written testWhen one of the world's most renowned software emulators of legendary synthesizers decides to offer its own interpretation of the Yamaha CS80, curiosity is bound to be piqued. Let's find out what set…
Arturia Pigments 6 review - All the colors of synthesis
Written testBest Product awardIt's become a habit now: every year, Arturia releases a new version of Pigments, its go-to virtual synthesizer. Let's find out what this sixth incarnation has in store.
Virtual synth buying guide - Which software synthesizer should you buy?
Buying guideToday we're bringing you a buying guide for sound synthesis plug-ins, aimed at beginners and more advanced users alike, to give you a clearer idea of what's available on the market today.
Arturia Synthx V review - Ex-eighties fan
Written testBest Product awardWith the Synthx V, Arturia further enriches its virtual museum dedicated to legendary synthesizers. This time, it's a model of the Elka Synthex. Let's find out what this new plug-in has to offer and …
Working with virtual instruments - The ultimate guide to audio recording - Part 79
LearningThe long chapter dedicated to recording electric guitar has come to an end. That said, the articles in the coming weeks will deal with topics that could easily be integrated into it. But I made the c…
A video review of the new synth from Lethal Audio - Killer Sounds from Lethal
Written testLethal Audio recently released Lethal, a crisp-sounding "rompler"-style software instrument with a heavy emphasis on EDM, but which will also be useful for pop, rock, hip-hop, and film scoring.
A review of Cakewalk Rapture Session - A Rapture on a Budget
Written testRecently, Cakewalk announced Rapture Session, a new member of its Rapture software-instrument family. It offers less sounds and no programmability, but it has the same synth engine as the flagship Ra…
These synths may be lesser known, but they sound awesome - 5 Top Soft Synths You Might Have Missed
LearningTo help you avoid making music that sounds like everyone else’s, I want to tell you about some premium-quality soft synths you may not know about. Although none of these instruments are terribly obsc…
MIDI Learn Explained - Control your software remotely with real knobs, buttons and faders
LearningI’m often surprised by musicians who use their mice or trackpads to change MIDI software parameters, and then complain that they miss using real knobs and buttons. I’m surprised because they could us…
A review of the U-He Hive virtual synth - Hive: Be Careful, It Stings!
Written testBest Product awardHive, the latest instrument from u-he, does not claim the precision of Diva the richness of Zebra 2, or the modularity of Bazille or Ace. No. Hive looks and feels simple, is easy to use, and provides…
Classic synth emulations that won't cost you a dime - 5 Free Vintage Synth Plug-Ins
LearningYou often hear that a $1,000 laptop today has the power of a billion dollars worth of computer equipment from 50 years ago. Likewise, the equivalent of thousands of dollars of vintage synthesizer gea…
A review of East West ProDrummer - Drumming with a Pro
Written testThe drum instrument market is a crowded one, and already full of excellent choices. East West, a company renowned for its high-quality instruments and sound libraries, has just thrown its hat in the …
These instruments and effects may not be well known, bu… - 5 Cool Plug-ins You May Never Have Heard Of
LearningSome people become addicted to plug-ins; others become connoisseurs. That is, they're borderline addicts but too refined to splurge on just anything. They need a certain something, which is what the…
