Acustica debuts AI presets in its Cola vintage British console emulation

For the first time, Acustica has employed deep learning AI tech in the role of simulating the mixing decisions of a real-life audio engineer! Is Cola the dawn of a new era in mixing?

Cubase and Nuendo add ARA support – great news for Melodyne users

Using Melodyne in Cubase or Nuendo? You're in for a treat! With the latest updates, Steinberg has added ARA 2 support to both of its DAWs. It's a major workflow improvement for Melodyne users.

Native Instruments Massive X is here. Finally!

Native Instruments has released its hotly anticipated update to Massive, Massive X! And it's certainly a big update - but can it live up to the enormous expectations?

Joyo Bantamp FireBrand: A lunchbox amp for modern high-gain metal tones

Joyo Audio has just launched their new Bantamp Firebrand and it has twin channels, a 12AX7 preamp, Bluetooth and 20-watts of Class D power

Sinee Audiotools Kikzilla creates instant rumble bass lines for techno

Kikzilla by Sinee Audiotools and ISM creates techno rumble bass lines from any kick drum track with just a few clicks. If you're into the harder varieties of techno, this plug-in may be worth a look!

Cryptocurrency-mining Trojan found in pirated music software

Still snooping around on warez sites for music software? Watch out for a nasty bit of malware written exclusively for people like you, hiding inside your download folder.

Adorable wooden buttoned Organelle thing gets a hardware update

The Critter and Guitari Organelle is a remarkable little blue box with wooden buttons and an engine full of effects, synthesis and sampling. New version brings more power, a speaker, MIDI ports and mic

Ableton presents “Learning Synths” browser based synth teaching tool

Learning Synths from Ableton is a browser based interactive sound generating tool that takes you through all of the synth basics - and it's brilliant.

Kush Audio AR-1 plug-in: A modern take on a classic Abbey Road compressor

Kush Audio released an emulation of an interesting hardware compressor with deep musical history. The unit saw notable use at the Abbey Road Studios on later Beatles and early Pink Floyd records.

PRS Private Stock Modern Eagle V Limited: Soaring to new heights?

The latest version of the PRS Private Stock Modern Eagle has some interesting switching options and amazing tone woods.

Native Instruments Massive X set for June 27 release date

After months of waiting, it looks like Native Instruments Massive X is about to be released. Word is that the software synthesizer will come out on June 27, as NI has revealed on social media.

Gibson launches anti-counterfeiting website report form: Anything to declare?

Gibson is taking its anti-counterfeiting efforts to the next level, launching a web page for the public to report potential copyright infringements. But who is the target of this new initiative?

More distortion from Noise Engineering in the all-analogue Viol Ruina

Viol Ruina is the 3rd distortion module from Noise Engineering and features an all-analogue 4-pole resonant filter with envelope following feedback, resonance modulating and mangled distortion - nice!

Rumor: 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro coming in September?

Is Apple planning a new 16" Macbook Pro for September? The rumour mill claims the new MBP will have a stunning 3072 x 1920 screen! Enough to fit on your DAW's mix console, then...

Revv G2: From boost to crunch, a “touch-sensitive” Green Channel drive pedal

The new G2 pedal is based on the Green channel from Revv's Generator amps heads, and is designed to act like "touch-sensitive" amp channel covering the boost, crunch and mid-gain range.

Maxon OD808-40K: Maxon and Keeley collaborate on 40th anniversary version

A Limited Anniversary Mod by Robert Keeley: The Maxon OD808-40K comes with more gain, heights and a hefty price tag. Sought-after collector's object or rip-off? You decide.

Audiority PlexiTape brings the Echoplex EP-3 tape delay to your DAW

Audiority has released PlexiTape, an emulation of the Echoplex EP-3 tape delay. The plug-in models every aspect of the original, adding some modern features like a stereo delay line, and tempo sync.

Instinct: a distortion and dynamics processor from the land of the weird

Need an experimental sound-shaping tool for your next project? Take a look at Instinct, a creative processor that bridges the gap between saturation and dynamics processing in interesting ways.

Shergold Masquerader SM01-SD Ltd Ed Tango Fandango: Bright finish, flexible tones

The limited edition Shergold Masquerader SM01-SD Ltd Ed Tango Fandango will certainly turn heads! But under the scorchingly bright finish is a sonically flexible hard tail guitar worth checking out.

Sonible smart:comp puts AI and spectral compression in charge of helping your mix

smart:comp is designed around the concept of spectral compression - input signal is continuously analyzed across more than 2000 bands with the plug-in acting as an intelligent multiband compressor.

Dreadbox Erebus V3 80s-tastic special edition

Following on from the stunning retro looks of the Hypnosis multi-effects box comes this special edition of the Erebus V3 duophonic analogue synthesizer.

Vector digital hardware synthesizer warps its way into availability

The Vector Synth brings together additive, FM and subtractive synthesis with a touchscreen interface for 2D orbital parameter modulation and sequencing. Preorders open next week.

Coma Tone guitar pedal by Shy Boyz: Brave enough to leave your sound alone!

The new Coma Tone pedal from the Shy Boyz is unique because it's designed to not mess with your guitar tone in any way, shape or form. Get well soon, Billy Cardigan!

Gibson Joan Jett Signature ES 339 – A cherry bomb rock’n’roll machine

The new Gibson Joan Jett Signature ES 339 is a departure from her usual Melody Maker guitar but brings a whole new range of rock'n'roll tones, which will probably sound the bomb!