Music Production Forum

Spectrasonics introduces the upgrade of its flagship software synthesizer Omnisphere 3 — and it’s packed with thousands of new sounds. Spectrasonics has announced the upgrade of its flagship software synthesizer Omnisphere. Version 3 comes packed with thousands of new sounds, powerful new synthesis features, brand new next-generation effects, Adaptive Global Controls for instant patch customization, curated libraries, and [...] The post The O3: Spectrasonics Drops Omnisphere Version 3 appeared first on DJ LIFE Magazine. View the full article

Will the Akai Pro MPC Sample be a Teenage Engineering EP–133 KO II killer?… Read More Akai Pro MPC Sample Coming March 24View the full article

Plugin Alliance currently offers Animate by Mastering The Mix for free (regularly $66). The offer lasts until March 24th and is limited to one license per user. If you missed our own Animate freebie offer a couple of years ago, here’s another chance to get it for free. Animate works on Windows and macOS in AU, [...] View post: Animate by Mastering The Mix is FREE at Plugin Alliance until March 24th View the full article

BandMatrix by Kojima Audio is a multi-band dynamics plugin available for free on both macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats. The plugin has 6 bands that apply compression and expansion, like your run-of-the-mill multi-band compressor, but that’s not all. I’ve never heard about this developer before, but their concept delivers right out [...] View post: Kojima Audio released BandMatrix, a side-chain multi-band dynamics plugin View the full article

Ultramaster KR-106 is a free, open-source virtual analog synthesizer inspired by the Roland Juno polysynths. It was shared in our BPB community, and the backstory alone makes it worth a look. The project started in the year 2000 in a Brooklyn loft, when two developers set out to build professional audio software for Linux. Life [...] View post: Ultramaster KR-106 is a FREE open-source Juno-inspired synth plugin 25 years in the making View the full article

Native Instruments CEO Nick Williams has issued an official update on the company’s insolvency proceedings, reiterating its determination to “secure a healthy, financially sustainable future”. Native Instruments caused a ripple in the music production world when it announced it was entering preliminary insolvency proceedings in January 2026. NI is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of music-making software and hardware – behind the likes of Massive, Kontakt, Maschine and many more – so the news naturally caused its user base considerable concern... The post Native Instruments CEO issues new update on insolvency proceedings: “We are working to secure a healthy, finan…

UVI is now offering the Shade creative EQ and filter plugin for just $29 (previously $99), in a 70% off deal exclusively available at Plugin Boutique. The deal expires on March 31, 2026. Shade is a 64-bit-only macOS and Windows plugin for AU, AAX, VST, and VST3. When you buy Shade, you can also score [...] View post: Get the UVI Shade Creative EQ and Filter for only $29 (70% OFF) View the full article

I want to share a direct update on the restructuring process underway here at Native Instruments. Business continues as usual across Native Instruments, iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx. Our products, platforms, services, downloads, and customer service remain fully available. The support we are receiving from our partners, artists, and community has been extraordinary. This loyalty isn’t something we take for granted, and it’s a reflection of what Native Instruments means to the people and businesses we work with every day. At the end of January I said: “We are working diligently and responsibly to secure a healthy, financially sustainable future for Native Inst…

Roland says that the result is a new kind of production workflow, where humans and software work side by side to bring music to life.… Read More Roland Melody Flip Promises To Make AI Your Composing PartnerView the full article

Temecula DSP has released MDV-II, a free Alesis Midiverb II emulation for macOS and Windows. When it comes to sought-after studio gear, Alesis isn’t a brand name that instantly comes to mind. But the typically budget-friendly manufacturer has produced a few models that have become must-haves for many producers over the years, and none more [...] View post: Temecula DSP releases MDV-II, a FREE Alesis Midiverb II emulation View the full article

HoRNet’s TrackUtility has been around for over a decade, with various updates since its release. The plugin that HoRNet calls the “Swiss army knife audio utility” used to retail for €9.90 but is now free. TrackUtility comes in AU, VST2, VST3, RTAS, and AAX formats for macOS (10.7 and later) and Windows. We’ve had a [...] View post: HoRNet Plugins TrackUtility is now FREE for macOS and Windows View the full article

Last week, we covered the free FedDSP Morso distortion plugin. This was the first installment of a series of FedDSP plugins that the developer will be releasing for free on a weekly basis. They are keeping their word with this week’s new offering – Snapper. Snapper is a compression-and-saturation tool inspired by an OTA (operational [...] View post: Snapper OTA compression plugin by FedDSP is FREE for a limited time View the full article

Baby Audio has introduced Grainferno, a new software granular synth for Mac & Windows.… Read More Baby Audio Intros Grainferno Granular InstrumentView the full article

Developer SaschArt has released DynamicEchoFree, a free dynamic delay plugin for macOS and Windows. It’s been a busy couple of days for delay plugins. We’ve had Sonicora Audio’s LiquidTrail (free for a limited time), Overload Audio’s Echodude BBD-150 (vintage BBD delay emulation), and now we have DynamicEchoFree by SaschArt. DynamicEchoFree offers something a little different [...] View post: SaschArt releases DynamicEchoFree, a FREE dynamic delay plugin View the full article

From developer Overload Audio comes Echodude BBD-150, a free vintage delay plugin for macOS and Windows. Overload Audio is taking us back to the 1980s with a virtual recreation of classic bucket brigade delay units, particularly inspired by the Melos DE-1 and the Echoman EM-150. I’m not familiar with these hardware units, but I didn’t [...] View post: Overload Audio releases Echodude BBD-150, a FREE vintage delay plugin View the full article

Vicious Antelope just made its Vicious Saws synth (normally $28) available for free download for a limited time via an exclusive Audio Plugin Deals offer. Vicious Saws is made for creating majestic, gloomy synth tones with a cinematic touch. Keep in mind that running Vicious Saws requires the full, paid version of Native Instruments’ Kontakt [...] View post: Vicious Antelope offers the Vicious Saws Dark Synth for Full Kontakt for FREE View the full article

IK Multimedia is currently offering the gargantuan Total VI Max 2 bundle for just $69.99, down from $1,499.92, in a 95% off deal exclusively available at Plugin Boutique. I think it’s safe to say that’s an absolutely nutty deal, allowing you to save $1,429.93. The offer expires on March 29, 2026. Total VI Max 2 [...] View post: IK Multimedia offers the gargantuan Total VI Max 2 Bundle for $69.99 (95% OFF) View the full article

Plugin Boutique’s DriveMod distortion plugin is free for a limited time. The plugin normally costs $49, but you can grab it with the coupon code “MASTERMOD” at checkout. We covered DriveMod on BPB back in 2024 when it was available for $1. This time around, it’s completely free, so if you missed it then, now [...] View post: Plugin Boutique offers the DriveMod distortion plugin for FREE for a limited time View the full article

In celebration of the 2026 Game Developers Conference, Sonniss is giving away a game design bundle with more than 347 files (7.47 GB) of high-quality, royalty-free samples (WAV.). Sonniss, founded in 2014, is a digital marketplace for royalty-free sounds. This bundle consists of sounds from several different libraries that you’re free to use with no [...] View post: Sonniss releases the GDC 2026 game design bundle for FREE (7+ GB) View the full article

Kern is now offering their plugin Check, a spectral mono-compatibility analyzer for free. It works on Windows and macOS and comes in VST3 and AU formats. This plugin might be a lifesaver if your mix tends to collapse on mono systems! While “spectral mono-compatibility analysis” certainly is a mouthful, it’s no less important for a [...] View post: Get Check, a spectral mono-compatibility analyzer by KERN, for FREE! View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Outlines VI blends raw acoustic gestures with tape loops and modular-processed tonal experiments. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT As an outline of a musical idea ready to be expanded and reshaped into something larger, each preset propelling outlines’ openly creative collection of tonal variations duly designed to be combined and explored is a result of Thephonoloop spending some serious time gathering suitable source material […] The post New Outlines VI For Native Instruments’ Kontakt Player appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Black Rooster Audio introduces VWB-1X – an all-in-one mixing plug-in combining classic analogue mixing chain tools into single, elegant interface. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT By being inspired by renowned units like TUBE-TECH’s Classic Channel, VWB-1X brings together the smooth compression and warmth of vintage tubes with the musicality and precision of passive equalisation. As a result, its signal path captures the […] The post New VWB-1X All-In-One Mixing Plug-in appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - The three-part series offers an intimate look at the philosophy, experimentation, and sonic architecture behind modern modular synthesis. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Capturing the Invisible: A Conversation with Robin Rimbaud (Scanner) was recorded and interviewed by Kim Bjørn and will premiere on March 19th at http://patchandtweak.com. Recorded and conducted by synthesist, author, and PATCH & TWEAK Club founder […] The post Capturing the Invisible: A Conversation with Robin Rimbaud (Scanner) appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

A mix “translates” when it still feels like the same track everywhere: tiny phone speaker, mid-range car system, big club rig. Translation isn’t magic—it’s usually a few predictable things: Mono compatibility Low-end control Midrange clarity Loudness without crushing transients A consistent testing routine Here’s a practical playbook you can run on every track. View the full article

THE Fastest Way to Arrange a TrackIf you struggle to finish tracks, you’re not alone. Here’s the fastest way to arrange a track! Most producers don’t fail because their sounds are bad. They fail because they don’t know how to arrange a track quickly without overcomplicating it. The good news? There’s a much simpler way! In this guide, you’ll learn the fastest way to arrange a track using one core chord progression — and how to turn it into a full song without adding more chords or changing key... The post THE Fastest Way to Arrange a Track appeared first on EDM Tips. View the full article

The Sequential Circuits Pro-One synthesizer was responsible for some of the most iconic sounds of '80s synthpop. … Read More The Sequential Circuits Pro-One Synthesizer & The Sound Of ’80s SynthpopView the full article

Plugin Boutique is offering the XLN Audio RC-20 Retro Color character plugin for $40 (down from $99) until March 29th. The RC-20 Retro Color is envisioned as a real trip down memory lane regarding audio effects and production methods. Warming saturation, wow and flutter that creates organic movement, noise, and hiss for that sonic patina [...] View post: RC-20 Retro Color is 60% OFF for a limited time! View the full article

From developer Subhankarda comes De-Esser NXT, a native Windows 11 VST3 plugin that aims to remove sibilance, leaving you with the cleanest audio possible. The developer chose to make De-Esser-NXT a Windows 11 exclusive to take advantage of the operating system’s enhanced audio infrastructure. As such, you can also choose your driver mode from WASAPI [...] View post: Subhankardas releases De-Esser NXT, a FREE de-esser plugin for Windows 11 View the full article

LiquidTrail is a new delay plugin from Sonicora Audio, priced at $79. However, as a special launch promotion, you can download it for free for a limited time. As is often the case with launch promotions, I’m not certain when the offer will end, so it’s best to grab it quickly. LiquidTrail is available in [...] View post: Sonicora Audio’s LiquidTrail creative delay plugin for macOS is FREE for a limited time View the full article

UVI has made its Darklight IIx vintage-inspired three-instrument virtual suite available for just $19, down from $99, in an 81% off deal exclusively available at Audio Deluxe. Darklight IIx includes a synth, drum machine, and multiple-phrase sequencer. The release appears to be based on the Fairlight CMI IIx synth, sampler, and DAW that debuted in [...] View post: Get the UVI Darklight IIx recreation of ‘79 Fairlight CMI IIx Synth for only $19 View the full article