The Acustica Mystic 2 put the tube console channel back in the spotlight with its neural modeling. Around the same idea (preamp, EQ and dynamics bundled to lay down a color), here are eight software channel strips, from big-console emulations to free ones, with an honest take on which truly do the same job.
With Mix Unlock, Waves moves source separation from an offline process to a real-time tool…
Erica Synths and Dutch developer 112dB present the Razornator, a desktop effect unlike anything else…
Isla Electronics’ Caladan is finally real: the multitimbral hybrid synth with hot-swappable voice cards is heading into production for a Summer 2026 launch. One chassis, eight parts, and a rack of analogue and digital engines you swap like cartridges.
Greg Mackie and Peter Watts no longer design for other brands: with the D24 and…
After twenty years, Tweakbench is back with Tendril, a generative instrument with a Euclidean sequencer, per-note locks and a granular-sculpted subtractive engine. $10 in the bundle.
Audio Damage releases Tessera, a 12-voice tuned resonator plugin: 11 physical models, 5 motion engines, no DRM, and Mac/PC/Linux/iPad builds. From $39.
Behringer is shipping the JT-2, an analog paraphonic synth packing one Roland Jupiter-8 voice into an 80 HP Eurorack module that also works standalone. Dual VCOs, switchable filter and arpeggiator, around $189.
Soyuz is adding a third member to its 017 series, the brand’s flagship range. The…
Doppler shapes any source into a kick, snare or hi-hat via a delay-line pitch engine. Its real trick: swapping firmware by dropping a physical overlay onto the panel, no computer needed. 6 HP, €270, shipping now.