Find the right gear for you.
Alex Hilton A1TriggerGate This is an oldie, but certainly still a goodie. TriggerGate was designed to reproduce the rhythmic gated effect used in a lot of types of dance and pop music, but use it and abuse it to its full and it becomes one of the most creative tools around. An onboard pattern sequencer […]
Ignite Amps PTEq-X It’s a Pultec in looks and (almost) name, but Ignite Amps – one of the best developers of guitar-effect freeware – has added a few extras to this EQ. PTEq features three types of EQ – PEQ1A, MQ5 and HL3C models – and four valve types. There are more precise frequency controls […]
Novation SuperNova/SuperNova II The SuperNova and SuperNova II are virtual-analogue synths that deliver a lovely, rich sound. Most commonly found as a rack module (a keyboard version does exist), the synth’s extensive control panel provides oodles of MIDI-recordable hands-on control over the instrument. The version 2 model has an external audio input, too. Circa £550 […]
Blue Cat Audio Free Amp This is a straight-down-the-line, three-way amp emulation featuring Classic Clean, Classic Drive and Modern Drive models. Simply load them onto your DAW channel and play; no nonsense about upgrading to full versions, they work straight out of the download. More importantly, they sound great and each has a range of […]
AudioSpillage MiniSpillage A returning drum favourite and must inclusion is MiniSpillage, a synth/drum plug-in. It’s still Mac only, we’re afraid, but an essential download for that platform. It’s a cut-down version of AudioSpillage’s DrumSpillage with three drum pads for kick, hat and hollow drum. It comes with several kits and synth features – LFO, filter, […]
Martin Lüders PG-8X Roland did make a great range of classic synths back in the 80s and the freeware community does pay homage in abundance and this is our second classic reimagined, this time the JX-8P. Rather than the synth getting shown in the UI, it’s the optional original PG programmer, which makes sense. Make […]
Martyn Nytram Dread Recordings Vol 8 Best all-rounder If you’re looking for a good all-round pack, then this Loopmasters release covers both classic and familiar jungle vibes and more aggressive and original new sounds. Producer Martyn Nytram has raided his vaults for a killer collection that nods to the old school while sounding fresh and […]
Native Instruments Kontakt 6 NI has steadily built Kontakt into an awesome powerhouse of a sampler and its latest iteration is one of the most powerful sample-based instruments that’s ever existed. Its flexible sampling stage is linked to an equally flexible synthesis stage and incorporates powerful DSP abilities and great-sounding effects. Price £359 Steinberg HALion […]
Yamaha DX7 / DX7-II / TX802 A good example of an original DX7 will set you back around £350, but you should aim for the Mk II model as it has a larger screen, better buttons, better build strength and updated 16-bit circuitry giving cleaner sound quality. The rackmount TX802 also has these MkII updates. […]
Elektron Model:Samples The first in Elektron’s more affordable ‘Model’ series (well, it’s probably going to be a series), Model:Samples is an accessible machine that shouldn’t be dismissed. Even though it’s a sample playback-only device, which could be considered limiting, it has a very user-friendly array of interactive controls and also has a decent MIDI spec. […]