VST Plugins (68)
Sonic Academy’s JU-60 Is Now Free, A Timeless Synth Gifted to Producers Everywhere
Written by Sounds SpaceSonic Academy’s JU-60 Is Now Free, A Timeless Synth Gifted to Producers Everywhere
Every once in a while, the music production world gets a pleasant surprise — a moment when a company drops something so generous, so producer-friendly, that it immediately sends shockwaves through the community. Sonic Academy’s decision to make their JU-60 synth plugin completely free is one of those moments.
For producers who’ve spent years trying to capture the warmth, nostalgia, and shimmering pads of classic Roland-style analog synthesis, this move feels like Christmas arriving early. Suddenly, an entire generation of creators — from bedroom beatmakers to professional engineers — has access to an instrument capable of defining a sound.
Today, we’ll dive into what makes the JU-60 special, why this free release is such a big deal, how it stacks up against modern analog emulations, and how producers can incorporate it into their workflow in ways that truly elevate their music.
A Love Letter to the 80s: What the JU-60 Actually Is
The JU-60 plugin is Sonic Academy’s tribute to the legendary Roland Juno-60, one of the most iconic polyphonic synthesizers ever created. If you’ve listened to synthwave, new wave, dream pop, house, techno, deep electronic, chillwave, or even modern R&B, you’ve heard the Juno-60’s DNA everywhere.
Its signature sound comes from a perfect storm:
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Warm analog chorus
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Solid, creamy saw waves
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Deep, weighty sub-oscillator
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Punchy envelopes
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A filter that sings when pushed
Sonic Academy’s JU-60 brings all of that into the digital world with remarkable accuracy. The plugin recreates the character, the oscillators, the filter response, and — most importantly — the Chorus I & II modes, which basically defined 1980s synth music.
And now… anyone can download it for free.
It’s not a “lite” version, not a stripped-down version, not a demo. It’s the whole analog experience, unlocked.
Why Making JU-60 Free Is a Massive Win for Producers
This isn’t just another freebie. This is a serious tool with real musical weight behind it.
Here’s why the JU-60 going free matters:
1. Analog Warmth Without the Price Tag
Let’s be honest: authentic analog tone usually costs money.
Most convincing Juno emulations run anywhere from $49 to $199+. Hardware? Thousands.
JU-60 being free means:
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Producers on any budget can access elite-level sound.
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Beginners can start their synth journey without spending a penny.
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Working professionals can add another high-quality color to their palette.
It lowers the barrier to creativity in a way that benefits the entire music community.
2. Perfect for Modern Genres
While the Juno is vintage, its sound is timeless.
The JU-60 drops beautifully into:
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Tech House
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Melodic House & Techno
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Synthwave
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Drum & Bass
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Trap
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Lo-Fi Hip-Hop
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Deep House
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Ambient & Cinematic
Producers today crave warmth — a counterbalance to the digital sharpness of modern mixing. The JU-60 gives that instantly.
3. Sonic Academy’s Reputation Adds Trust
Sonic Academy isn’t just a random plugin company. They’re the team behind:
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ANA 2
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Kick 2
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Countless high-quality tutorial series
When they release something — free or paid — it’s built with intention. JU-60 isn’t a marketing gimmick. It’s a genuine, professional-grade instrument.
4. A Gift to the Next Generation
Music right now is becoming more accessible, with creators emerging from small towns, remote regions, and countries where expensive music software is out of reach.
Free plugins like JU-60 democratize music creation. That creates a richer, more diverse global music landscape.
The Sound: What Makes JU-60 Stand Out
Let’s go deeper into what you can actually do with the JU-60 and why it sounds so good.
1. The Famous Juno Chorus
The JU-60 nails the two classic chorus modes that give the Juno-60 its lush stereo width and dreamy shimmer.
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Chorus I: Gentle, warm, silky
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Chorus II: Wide, glossy, dramatic
Turn them both on and you get the thick, swirling character that shaped synthpop and wave music for decades.
It’s emotional. It’s atmospheric. It’s unforgettable.
2. The Filter Is Unrealistic in the Best Way
The Juno-style filter is known for one thing: musicality.
The JU-60 models:
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Smooth low-pass curves
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High-resonance sweeps
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Beautiful self-oscillation
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That analog grit as it opens up
It's the kind of filter that makes you hold down a single note and just listen.
3. The Sub Oscillator Gives It Serious Weight
Producers today love low-end. JU-60’s sub-oscillator makes it effortless to:
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Fill space in a mix
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Add body to a pad
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Create thick basses
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Support lead synths with warmth
It’s the kind of sound that can tie a track together even before the drums come in.
4. Simplicity = Creativity
Many modern synths overwhelm users with:
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Hundreds of knobs
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Deep modulation matrices
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Complex routing
The JU-60 keeps the original Juno structure: clean, straightforward, and inspiring.
Limitations like that actually force creativity, which is why so many producers love vintage gear.
10 Use-Cases Where JU-60 Shines in Production
If you’re wondering where to start with the JU-60, here are real-world, producer-tested ideas you can try immediately.
1. Dreamy 80s Pads
Slow attack, long release, chorus I & II engaged.
Instant Stranger Things.
2. House Stabs
Short envelopes, filter slightly closed, a touch of resonance.
Great for Tech House and Melodic House.
3. Retro Basslines
Use the sub oscillator and keep the filter tight.
Perfect for analog-style grooves.
4. Glistening Plucks
Fast attack, medium decay, low chorus.
Beautiful in deep house or ambient tracks.
5. Emotional Chords
This is where the JU-60 shines — especially with both chorus modes on.
6. Reese-Style Dual-Layer Bass
Stack two JU-60 patches:
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One pure sub
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One slightly detuned
Great for DnB or techno.
7. Synthwave Arps
Add chorus, slightly detune the wave, sync delay — magic.
8. Ambient Soundscapes
Slow LFO, long release, reverb wash.
Works for meditation, film, and lo-fi scenes.
9. Punchy Leads
Brighten the filter and add a touch of drive.
10. Sidechained Pads for EDM
JU-60 pads + sidechain = huge modern EDM atmosphere.
How It Compares to Other Juno Emulations
There are quite a few Juno-style plugins out there:
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Arturia Jun-6 V
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TAL U-No-LX
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Roland Cloud Juno-60
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Cherry Audio DCO-106
Each has strengths, but the JU-60 holds up shockingly well — especially considering it’s free.
Where JU-60 Wins:
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Simplicity
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CPU efficiency
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Accurate chorus
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Warm filters
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User-friendly layout
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Zero cost
Where Paid Versions Might Edge It Out:
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Additional modulation options
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Expanded features
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Modernized FX racks
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Larger preset libraries
But for pure, nostalgic, analog tone?
The JU-60 punches far above its price tag — even when the price is zero.
Why This Release Matters for the Future of Music
Sonic Academy didn’t just release a free synth — they made a statement.
When companies give away high-quality tools, a chain reaction happens:
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More people make music.
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More genres evolve.
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More creativity enters the world.
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The community grows stronger.
Music isn’t created through equipment alone, but access to good tools opens doors for artists who want to express themselves but don’t have the financial freedom to invest in expensive software.
JU-60 becomes a bridge between dreams and reality.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of JU-60
Here’s how to squeeze every drop of potential out of this free synth.
1. Layer It
Stack two or three JU-60 tracks with slight parameter variations for huge, rich pads.
2. Use External Effects
Try it with:
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Valhalla VintageVerb
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Soundtoys effects
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Waves compressors
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Serum FX
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Arturia delay plugins
Layering modern effects with vintage-style synthesis creates magic.
3. Add Subtle Saturation
A gentle saturation or analog emulation plugin gives JU-60 even more authentic presence.
4. Automate the Filter
Moving filters bring tracks to life — especially in Tech House, Progressive, and Melodic Techno.
5. Explore the Presets First
Sonic Academy’s presets give you quick access to usable sounds.
Pick one, then tweak — that’s how you discover your style.
Final Thoughts: JU-60 Is a Love Letter to Creativity
The fact that a synth this good is now free says something powerful:
Music is evolving into a space where creativity is no longer gated by price or access.
Sonic Academy’s JU-60 is a gift to the producer community — a warm, analog, nostalgic instrument that adds soul to modern tracks and gives newcomers a chance to explore sound design without spending a cent.
Whether you're producing Tech House, Trap, Synthwave, Lo-Fi, Melodic Techno, or even cinematic scores, JU-60 deserves a permanent spot in your plugin folder.
Download it. Explore it. Abuse it.
Let it inspire you.
This is one of those rare free plugins that isn’t just “good for a freebie” — it’s simply good, full stop.
“As Close to Perfect as We Have Ever Heard”: Why ValhallaDSP’s Future Verb Took Eight Years to Create — And Why It Was Worth It
Written by Sounds Space“As Close to Perfect as We Have Ever Heard”: Why ValhallaDSP’s Future Verb Took Eight Years to Create — And Why It Was Worth It
In music production, some plugins are great, plugins that become industry standards… and then the rare ones that feel like they were beamed back from the future. ValhallaDSP’s newest release, Future Verb, falls into that last category — not because of hype, not because it’s trendy, but because it embodies eight years of relentless research, refinement, and sonic obsession.
When Valhalla calls something “as close to perfect as we have ever heard,” you pay attention. This is the company behind VintageVerb, Shimmer, and Supermassive — effects that reshaped the landscape of modern production. Future Verb is not just another reverb plugin in the chain. It represents a philosophical shift, a technological leap, and a reimagining of how space can be synthesized in digital form.
Let’s dive into what makes Future Verb so special, why it took so long to build, and how it is already redefining the sound design world.
The Long Road to “Future Verb”: Why Eight Years?
When developers take months to build a plugin, we call it dedication. When they take eight years, it becomes a mission.
Future Verb’s development cycle wasn’t about polishing a concept — it was about inventing something that didn’t exist yet. According to ValhallaDSP, the goal was to design a reverb that could simulate natural spaces, alien atmospheres, synthetic dreamscapes, and cinematic depth… all while remaining CPU-light and intuitive.
That challenge broke down into four massive hurdles:
1. A New Reverb Algorithm
Future Verb didn’t reuse or upgrade any previous Valhalla algorithms.
They built a brand new architecture capable of ultra-dense reflections, smooth tails, and zero metallic ringing. Most algorithmic reverbs struggle with artifacts at extreme settings — Future Verb’s model was built to thrive there.
2. Real-Time Modulation Without Phase Smear
Modulation helps reverbs feel lush and alive, but it often comes at a cost: phasing, blurring, or loss of clarity.
Valhalla spent years trying to keep modulation invisible, so the tone stays clean even when pushed.
3. Hybrid Reverb Possibilities
Future Verb blends algorithmic reverb with new computational techniques that mimic characteristics normally found only in convolution reverbs. But without convolution’s drawbacks. No heavy impulses. No static decay. No locked-in tonal signature.
4. Simplicity Without Sacrificing Power
Valhalla is famous for minimalistic UIs. The challenge? Designing a plugin that is deep enough for sound designers but simple enough for beginners.
They didn’t want a NASA control panel.
They wanted power through clarity.
Eight years later… they cracked it.
Future Verb’s Sound: Rich, Clean, Deep — and Shockingly Versatile
If you’ve used any Valhalla plugin, you know they have a signature. Future Verb continues that, but with more precision, depth, and dimension than anything they’ve built before.
Producers describe its tone as:
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“dimensional without muddying the mix”
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“huge but controlled”
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“smoothest tails ever heard in a digital reverb”
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“cinematic without the CPU death”
Future Verb can do the classic Valhalla lush ambience — but it can also do things none of their other reverbs could, like ultra-realistic spaces, evolving morphing echoes, and atmospheric textures that feel like they’re alive.
Let’s break down why it sounds so good.
The Technology Behind the Magic
Future Verb introduces several design concepts that aren’t found in typical algorithmic reverbs.
1. Hyper-Dense Reflection Network
Most reverbs rely on a network of delays and filters to simulate space. Future Verb uses a massively higher-resolution network — thick, smooth, and free from metallic artifacts.
This is why even extreme settings still sound musical.
2. Advanced Spectral Modulation
This is where eight years really paid off. Future Verb uses micro-modulations across the spectral field that keep the reverb tail constantly evolving without losing clarity or becoming “washy.”
It’s almost like the reverb is breathing.
3. Time-Warped Decay
This feature is one of the reasons sound designers are losing their minds over this plugin. You can stretch, bend, and warp decay envelopes in ways no traditional reverb allows.
This makes it perfect for:
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cinematic sound design
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sci-fi ambiences
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atmospheric dance music pads
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spectral vocal effects
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game audio
It’s reverb that bends time.
4. Ultra-Low CPU
This is a Valhalla trademark.
Producers can load Future Verb on dozens of tracks without cooking their laptop.
It’s boutique-level sound with beginner-level accessibility.
Presets: Not Just Presets — A Library of Worlds
Future Verb’s preset library doesn’t feel like a collection of settings. It feels like a selection of environments. Each preset is essentially a world you can drop your sound into.
You’ll find:
Cinematic Spaces
Perfect for scoring, trailers, and atmospheric breakdowns.
Modern Ambience and Rooms
Useful for mixing drums, vocals, instruments, and real-world environments.
Sci-Fi and Futuristic Tones
Think shimmering constructs, synthetic chambers, alien resonance.
Experimental and Evolving Tails
These presets are playgrounds for producers who want motion, texture, and uniqueness.
Valhalla has always taken presets seriously — but Future Verb’s library genuinely feels next-level.
How Future Verb Fits Different Production Styles
Because of its eight-year development cycle and hybrid design, Future Verb is shockingly flexible. Here’s how it serves different musicians.
1. Electronic Music Producers
Future Verb instantly elevates atmospheres, pads, leads, and transitions.
Its time-warping and modulation options turn simple synth notes into rich cinematic clouds.
Techno, trance, progressive house, ambient, trap — the plugin adapts to everything.
For vocals, you get clean lush tails without losing intelligibility. For drums, you get space without mud.
2. Film & Game Composers
This is where Future Verb shines.
Most reverbs either lean natural or synthetic. Rarely both.
Future Verb’s chamber algorithms feel real.
Its spectral modes feel alien.
This duality lets composers paint with sound rather than just “apply reverb.”
You can build entire atmospheres with a single hit or pad.
3. Mixing Engineers
Clean decay, no metallic artifacts, and soft diffusion — this is gold for mixers.
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Subtle room enhancement
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Tight vocal space
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Transparent ambience
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Gated or shaped responses
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Realistic instrument placement
It adds space without fogging the mix.
4. Sound Designers
Future Verb is a playground.
Extend decay to 30 seconds.
Freeze tails.
Warp time.
Push modulation.
Create alien acoustics.
Sound designers will squeeze endless creativity out of this plugin.
Why Producers Are Calling It “Almost Perfect”
Across forums, YouTube reviews, and early adopter impressions, one theme keeps showing up:
Future Verb does everything you’d want out of a reverb — and then goes further.
Here’s what people praise most:
1. It Has the Depth of a Convolution Reverb Without Its Limits
No static impulses.
No pre-recorded spaces.
No frozen personality.
Just evolving, living reverb.
2. It Has the Lushness of Valhalla’s Classics — But Cleaner
Supermassive is lush but huge.
VintageVerb is lush but character-driven.
Future Verb is lush and surgically clean.
3. It Handles Extreme Settings Better Than Most Plugins Handle Normal Ones
Huge decays? No problem.
Infinite ambience? Still musical.
Modulation? Smooth as silk.
4. The Sweet Spot Is Massive
Most reverbs have a tiny range of usable settings.
Future Verb sounds great across almost the entire dial.
5. It Inspires Music
This might be Future Verb’s greatest strength.
It makes simple ideas sound beautiful.
It makes producers want to keep tweaking.
It turns small sparks into full tracks.
When a plugin inspires creation rather than complicates it, that’s when it becomes timeless.
Eight Years of Work — Delivered in a Simple Interface
The beauty of Valhalla has always been in its minimalism.
While other companies push massive GUIs, Valhalla focuses on clarity and workflow.
Future Verb doesn’t confuse you with endless menus.
Instead, every parameter is expressive, responsive, and musically tuned.
You can dial in a world within seconds — or dive deep for hours.
Why Future Verb Might Be the Best Reverb Plugin of the Decade
Reverb plugins are everywhere. But Future Verb represents something different:
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a new algorithmic approach
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a new level of density
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a new standard of smoothness
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a new hybrid between realism and sci-fi
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a new workflow philosophy for Valhalla
This isn’t just a plugin.
It’s the result of nearly a decade of craftsmanship from a company that famously doesn’t rush anything.
And that’s exactly why Future Verb feels like a classic on day one.
Final Thoughts
Future Verb is the kind of release that doesn’t happen often. It’s a plugin that pushes the boundaries of algorithmic reverb, blending scientific precision with musical imagination. Eight years of development is unheard of in this industry — but hearing the final result, it makes perfect sense.
This is reverb that inspires.
Reverb that elevates production.
Reverb that adapts to any genre, any workflow, any creative vision.
ValhallaDSP didn’t set out to make a plugin that competes with others.
They set out to make something that didn’t exist yet.
And they delivered something truly special — something “as close to perfect as we have ever heard.”
“Almost the Only EQ You’ll Ever Need” – And It’s 25% Off Right Now on Sounds Space
Written by Sounds Space“Almost the Only EQ You’ll Ever Need” – And It’s 25% Off Right Now on Sounds Space
Every music producer, regardless of genre or skill level, eventually learns one crucial truth: a great EQ isn’t just a tool — it’s a partner in shaping your identity and sonic fingerprint. It’s how you carve space, add clarity, remove mud, highlight emotion, add punch, and achieve that polished character that listeners instantly feel.
And every once in a while, a plugin comes along that goes beyond being a simple utility and becomes a milestone in your workflow.
That’s why we’ve confidently called this plugin “almost the only EQ you’ll ever need.”
And the best part? It’s now 25% OFF exclusively at Sounds Space.
Today, we dive deep into why this EQ has earned such high praise, what sets it apart from the crowded world of audio processors, and why thousands of producers across EDM, hip-hop, pop, cinematic scoring, and even broadcast audio are switching to it as their main equaliser.
Why This EQ Is So Revered in the Music Production World
To say an EQ is “almost the only one you’ll ever need” is a bold claim — and we don’t make bold claims lightly.
Producers love this EQ because it blends:
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Surgical precision
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Organic musicality
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Analog warmth when you want it
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Ultra-clean transparency when you need it
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Lightning-fast workflow
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Modern features that go way beyond traditional EQing
Most EQs excel in one category:
They’re either clean, or analog-style, or tech-heavy, or simple, or creative.
But rarely all at once.
This EQ does something special — it merges the best of every EQ category into one powerful tool.
This is exactly why so many pros say:
“Once I switched to this EQ, I touched my older plugins far less.”
Precision Meets Musicality: The Best of Both Worlds
Some EQs are extremely clinical — perfect for removing resonances and fixing issues, but not so great when it comes to adding character.
Others are vibey and beautiful, but they’re not ideal for microsurgery.
This EQ achieves something producers dream of:
It gives you the ability to make transparent and character-rich decisions within the same interface.
You can clean up a vocal with surgical accuracy…
…then add analog-flavored air without ever reaching for a second EQ.
You can cut harshness from a synth lead…
…then add presence shaping that feels natural, smooth, and musical.
You can remove low-end mud from a mix bus…
…then sweeten it with warmth that feels subtle and controlled.
It’s the rare kind of EQ that adapts to your style rather than the other way around.
Workflow: Fast, Intuitive, and Built for Modern Producers
A lot of plugins sound good, but slow down your creativity.
This one does the opposite.
Everything has been designed to speed up your workflow, including:
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Smart parameter controls that respond naturally
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A clean, responsive interface
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Advanced visual feedback so you hear and see what you’re doing
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Context-aware features that help you make decisions faster
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Effortless gain compensation to avoid “louder sounds better” bias
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Real-time frequency tracking for complex sources
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Drag-and-drop filter creation
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A/B comparison tools for fast decision-making
This is the kind of workflow modern producers dream of — one where you stay in the creative zone without stopping every 10 seconds to tweak technical settings.
The Standout Features Everyone Talks About
Producers love this EQ because of a handful of features that truly separate it from the pack. Here are the highlights:
1. Ultra-Clean Digital Mode
Perfect for mastering engineers, mix engineers, and producers who need absolute transparency.
Ideal for:
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Vocal tuning
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Master bus clean-ups
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Removing harshness
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Fixing resonances without artifacts
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Sound design where phase accuracy matters
The clarity is unbelievable — it feels like lifting a blanket off your sound.
2. Analog Emulation Mode
When you want warmth, character, saturation, or vintage flavor, switching modes gives you instant analog behavior.
Producers use this mode for:
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Adding sparkle to vocals
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Bringing warmth to drums
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Adding presence to guitars
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Thickening pads and synths
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Enhancing reverb tails
It replicates analog EQ curves without adding noise or unwanted distortion — just pure, controlled musicality.
3. Dynamic EQ (Sidechain Capable)
This feature alone could replace a handful of separate plugins.
Dynamic EQ lets you:
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Tame harshness only when it appears
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Control boxiness in vocals as the singer’s tone shifts
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Tighten kick-bass interplay with sidechain EQ
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Reduce muddiness in busy mixes
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Control resonant peaks in real time
For modern genres like house, tech house, trap, drill, afrobeat, and EDM, this is a game changer.
4. Mid/Side Processing
Mastering engineers call this feature “essential,” and for good reason.
With Mid/Side EQ, you can:
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Add stereo width without touching the center
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Tighten your low-end while expanding your highs
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Enhance reverb in the sides
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Separate vocals from stereo instruments
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Clean up muddy side information
It gives you far more control over your stereo field — which can make your mix instantly sound more professional.
5. Spectrum Analyzer + Real-Time Feedback
Watching how your sound behaves visually helps speed up decisions — especially when dealing with resonances or complex textures.
The real-time analyzer in this EQ is:
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Accurate
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Clear
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Responsive
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Easy to read
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Not overly technical
You see exactly where problems are happening, and fixing them becomes intuitive.
6. Minimal CPU Load
This plugin punches well above its weight in terms of features — and yet uses surprisingly little CPU.
You can easily stack multiple instances on:
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Mix buses
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Individual tracks
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Sound design chains
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Master channels
Even producers using older laptops can enjoy smooth performance without worrying about freezing tracks.
Why Producers End Up Using This EQ for Almost Everything
When one EQ does:
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Clean digital precision
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Analog color
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Surgical cuts
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Musical boosts
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Dynamic processing
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Mid/Side shaping
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Real-time visualization
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Mastering-grade accuracy
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Mix-bus polish
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Sound design sculpting
…it becomes your default tool.
It removes the need to switch between:
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A clean EQ
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A vintage/emulated EQ
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A dynamic EQ
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A resonance suppressor
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A stereo field EQ
You simply load this one and get the job done.
That’s why many producers say:
“If I had to keep only one EQ plugin, it would be this.”
A Massive Value — Especially with 25% Off
Most plugins with this level of capability are extremely expensive.
Some EQs in this category cost:
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€150
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€250
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Even €300+
But right now, on Sounds Space, this EQ is:
25% OFF for a limited time.
This discount makes it accessible to:
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Beginner producers who want to level up quickly
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Intermediate producers looking to streamline their workflow
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Professional engineers needing a modern, versatile EQ
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Content creators, podcast editors, and sound designers
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Musicians doing their own mixing and mastering
Getting such a powerful tool at this price is rare — and a smart long-term investment if you’re building your essential plugin library.
How This EQ Elevates Your Mixes Immediately
Here are real-world examples of what changes when you start using this EQ:
Vocals
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Remove harsh peaks
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Add breathy air without sounding brittle
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Clean mud without thinning the tone
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Control sibilance dynamically
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Boost presence that cuts through the mix naturally
Drums
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Tighten kick thump
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Add snap to snares
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Remove boxiness
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Glue overheads
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Add analog character to toms
Bass
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Sculpt low-end weight
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Reduce boominess
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Add clarity around harmonics
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Use dynamic sidechain EQ to create space for the kick
Synths & Instruments
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Carve space between layers
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Add analog warmth and sparkle
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Remove conflicting harmonics
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Shape stereo width with Mid/Side
Mastering
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Transparent shaping
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Subtle stereo enhancement
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Dynamic tonal control
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Clean low-end adjustments
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More balanced, professional loudness
You begin to notice improved clarity, separation, punch, warmth, and cohesion throughout your entire mix.
Conclusion: A Must-Have EQ — And the Best Time to Get It
It’s rare for a plugin to become a go-to tool for so many different producers across so many genres.
This EQ achieves that because it’s:
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Versatile
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Modern
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Precision-ready
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Character-ready
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CPU-friendly
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Easy to use
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Loaded with advanced features
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Reliable in both mixing and mastering
When we say “almost the only EQ you’ll ever need,” it’s because this one really can fill the roles of multiple expensive plugins — all in one elegant, powerful interface.
And with 25% OFF right now on Sounds Space, it’s the perfect moment to add this powerhouse to your toolkit.
If your goal is cleaner mixes, faster workflow, better control, richer musicality, and a truly professional sound…
This EQ is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for.
ZL Splitter — The Swiss Army Knife of Signal Splitting (and yes, you can grab it on Sounds Space)
Written by Sounds SpaceZL Splitter — The Swiss Army Knife of Signal Splitting (and yes, you can grab it on Sounds Space) 🎛️
If you’ve ever wished you could treat parts of a sound differently — process the transients separately from the sustain, hit the low end with a different chain than the highs, or flip between stereo and mid/side processing without a messy routing setup — then ZL Splitter by ZL Audio is the kind of tool that makes audio production feel less like a battle and more like editing with fine-cut scissors. In this post I’ll walk you through what ZL Splitter is, why it’s useful, how to use it in your sessions, creative workflows and tips, and where to get it (spoiler: it’s available for download on our Sounds Space marketplace). Let’s go, brother.
What is ZL Splitter?
ZL Splitter is a multi-mode signal-splitting plugin that gives you the power to divide an incoming audio signal into two complementary paths that you can process independently and then recombine. That may sound simple, but this opens up a huge number of creative and corrective possibilities: imagine compressing only the sustain of a kick, adding saturation only to the transient snap of a snare, or sending the mid and side components of a stereo bus to different reverbs. ZL Splitter is free, open-source, and available in multiple plugin formats for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Key modes & splitting methods
ZL Splitter isn’t a one-trick pony — it supports several different splitting modes so you can choose the right tool for the job:
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Left / Right — split stereo into the two physical channels for independent processing.
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Mid / Side — split into mid (mono-compatible center information) and side (stereo width info) so you can treat width and center elements differently.
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Low / High (crossover) — classic frequency-based split to isolate bass vs. the rest of the spectrum.
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Transient / Steady (transient-sustain) — separate the fast attack components from the sustained body of a sound — brilliant for drum shaping and transient design.
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Peak / Steady — isolate peak energy for targeted saturation or clipping while leaving the rest untouched.
These modes are what make the plugin so flexible — whether you’re mixing, sound-designing, or performing surgical repairs, you can isolate the element that matters and send it down its own chain.
Why does this matter in real sessions?
Most DAWs can route signals into multiple buses, but that often requires extra tracks, more CPU, and a less tidy session. ZL Splitter condenses that flexibility into a single plugin slot — you split, tweak, and recombine in one place. Here are concrete wins:
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Cleaner automation: Want to automate only the transient portion of a loop? Do it inside the splitter without adding aux tracks.
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CPU efficiency: Process only what needs processing (e.g., only the low band), saving plugin instances elsewhere.
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Creative effects: Apply wildly different chains to the split parts — fuzz on the transients, lush reverb on the sustain — and glue them back together.
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Mix rescue: Pull apart the mid and side content to tame a harsh stereo reverb or to surgically boost vocal presence without wrecking width.
Those practical advantages are what make a splitter plugin a staple for modern mixing and sound design.
Formats, compatibility & licensing
ZL Splitter ships as VST3, AudioUnit (AU), and LV2 builds, and it supports macOS, Windows, and Linux — including ARM builds for modern Apple Silicon and ARM Windows where offered. It’s distributed under an open-source license (AGPLv3), and the project is hosted on GitHub where you can find source, releases, and documentation. That means it’s free to use, but do pay attention to the license terms if you plan to redistribute modified versions.
Quick start: how to use ZL Splitter
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Insert ZL Splitter on the track or bus you want to split (e.g., drum bus, synth track, master bus).
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Choose your split mode from the plugin UI (Mid/Side, Transient/Sustain, Low/High, etc.).
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Adjust crossover or sensitivity (for transient/steady splits you’ll usually find controls for sensitivity or threshold; for frequency splits you’ll set the crossover frequency).
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Route each split to its on-plugin chain. Some modes allow you to insert processors directly in each path; in other cases you’ll use send/return or parallel chains after the splitter — check the manual for your DAW-specific routing.
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Process independently — EQ, compress, saturate, modulate — do what you need.
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Blend & recombine — dial the mix of the two paths until the result sits right in the mix. Use soloing of each path to hear what you’re changing.
Tip: start by soloing each path to understand what the splitter is isolating, then bring them back together and make subtle adjustments.
Creative examples & templates
To make the ideas stick, here are hands-on examples you can try right now.
1) Snare with snap + body
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Mode: Transient / Steady
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Route: Add transient-focused saturation and a fast transient designer on the transient path; compress the sustain path lightly and add a short plate reverb. Blend to taste.
2) Punchy kick without muddying the low-end
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Mode: Low / High (crossover)
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Route: Send the low band to a tight, mono sub-bass enhancer and the high band to a short transient shaper and saturation to bring out click. Recombine.
3) Widened chorus that keeps mono compatibility
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Mode: Mid / Side
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Route: Add subtle chorus and reverb to the side path only; keep the mid dry to preserve focus. This gives perceived width without losing the center when folded to mono.
4) Vocal de-esser alternative
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Mode: Peak / Steady or Transient / Steady
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Route: Isolate sibilant peaks and run a light de-esser only on the peak path, preserving natural tone on the steady path.
These workflows show how a split-then-process approach lets you target musical elements with surgical precision.
Tips, gotchas & best practices
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Watch phase and mono-compatibility: When you split and heavily process the side or one channel, always check the result in mono. Some wide processing can collapse badly in mono. Use the plugin’s mid/side monitoring (or your DAW) to verify.
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Use low-latency modes for live performance: If you perform live with effects, choose modes that advertise zero or low latency (ZL Splitter has transient/steady splitting with negligible latency in most cases). Always test in your host.
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Bypass vs. mix: When auditioning heavy processing, compare with the dry bypass to ensure the split processing is actually improving the sound and not just adding density.
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CPU tradeoffs: Using oversampling or complex per-path processing can increase CPU usage; if you’re CPU-constrained, process only what's necessary on each path.
How ZL Splitter compares to other tools
There are several commercial splitters and multiband processors out there (and built-in routing tricks in DAWs), but ZL Splitter’s strengths are its clean, focused feature set and the fact that it’s free and open source. Commercial tools may ship with polished GUIs, bundled presets, or integrated per-band effects, but ZL Splitter gives you the modular control most engineers crave without the price tag — and because it’s open-source, it’s a good fit for tinkerers who like to understand what’s under the hood.
Where to get it — downloads & versions
ZL Splitter is officially distributed from ZL Audio’s website and GitHub releases as VST3/AU/LV2 installers for multiple operating systems. Packaging usually includes both x86-64 and ARM builds for modern platforms — check the releases for the latest installer that matches your OS and architecture. If you prefer curated marketplaces, you can also download ZL Splitter from reputable plugin aggregators and, of course, from our very own Sounds Space marketplace — making it easy to find, download, and keep your plugins organized.
Licensing & why open-source matters
Because ZL Splitter is licensed under AGPLv3, you get transparency and the freedom to inspect and modify the code. That’s excellent for learning, for integrating into custom toolchains, or for building community tools. Just be mindful that AGPL has specific redistribution requirements — if you adapt and redistribute the plugin (especially in networked contexts), check the license text and the project’s GitHub for guidance.
Final thoughts & who should try ZL Splitter?
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Mix engineers who want surgical control over components of a mix.
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Sound designers who love splitting and reprocessing parts of a sound to create new textures.
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Producers who want creative parallel processing without bloating their session with extra buses.
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Linux and open-source enthusiasts who prefer tools that are available and maintainable across platforms.
If you like hands-on control and modular routing without paying for yet another commercial license, ZL Splitter is absolutely worth a test drive.
Download it below
Ready to try it? Head to ZL Audio’s official releases or GitHub for the installers and manual, or make it super-easy: you can download ZL Splitter directly from the Sounds Space marketplace where we host the plugin alongside curated notes and a quick install guide to get you up and running fast. Grab it, test the modes, and drop a comment or DM if you want a preset pack or custom workflow — I can make some templates for your DAW, brother.
Quick links & resources
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Official ZL Audio plugin page & manual. Zl Audio+1
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GitHub repository and releases (source code, installers). GitHub
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Press writeups and reviews (good reading for user impressions).
Cloudmax Breeze Black Edition — The Free AI Vocal Plugin You’ll Want This Black Friday
Written by Sounds SpaceCloudmax Breeze Black Edition — The Free AI Vocal Plugin You’ll Want This Black Friday
If you make music — whether you’re a bedroom producer, an indie singer, or a budding mix engineer — the promise of instant, polished vocals is catnip. This Black Friday, Karanyi Sounds is handing out a very tidy shortcut: Cloudmax Breeze Black Edition, an AI-powered vocal processing plugin offered as a free, limited-time download on Black Friday (November 28, 2025). It’s a stripped-down, darker-toned sibling to the original Breeze plugin and a handy tool for anyone who wants great-sounding vocals fast.
What is Cloudmax Breeze Black Edition?
Cloudmax Breeze is a neural (AI) vocal processor built to analyze your vocal performance and apply a chain of studio-style treatments almost instantly. The Black Edition is a Black-Friday-exclusive skin/variant that emphasizes a darker tonal character — smoother highs, more body, and a bit of analog warmth — while retaining Breeze’s “one-knob” convenience and essential controls like Space, Crisp, and Heat. Karanyi’s neural engine analyzes the vocal and adjusts dozens of parameters under the hood (reverb, EQ, saturation, compression) so you can get from raw take to polished track in minutes.
Why does this Black Edition matter?
There are three reasons producers are excited about Black Edition:
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It’s free for a limited time. Karanyi is offering free licenses for Black Friday, but the number is limited, and the plugin moves to a paid price ($49) after the promotion. If you want to try a modern AI vocal chain without risk, this is an ideal moment.
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Speed without too many compromises. Breeze’s design centers around a single Breeze knob that blends complex processing into an intuitive control — great when you need a fast vocal sound for demos, reference mixes or finishing tracks quickly. The Black Edition keeps that workflow but with a different tonal emphasis.
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Realistic, musical results. Instead of generic “auto-EQ” artifacts, Breeze aims for musical choices: reverb character tailored to the vocal, context-aware saturation, and presence control that keeps vocal clarity without harshness. That’s part of what makes it attractive to both novices and experienced producers looking to speed up routine tasks.
Key features at a glance
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One-knob Breeze control — move from subtle polish to creative extremes quickly. The neural engine translates that single control into proportional changes across multiple processors.
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Space / Span — professional reverb controls to add ambience without drowning the dry vocal. The Black Edition focuses the reverb character toward darker, thicker tails.
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Crisp — an HF/presence control for adding clarity and air when needed. The Black Edition tempers the top end for smoother highs.
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Heat — neural saturation modeled on analog preamps and tape, for warmth and character. Black Edition leans toward a deeper tonal color.
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Makeup — a vocal-specific limiter/glue compressor that increases perceived level while controlling dynamics.
Together, these provide a compact vocal chain (reverb, EQ, saturation, compression) inside a single plugin — perfect for finishing vocals without building a long effects rack.
Who is it for?
Cloudmax Breeze Black Edition is useful for:
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Singers/songwriters who want professional-sounding vocals without spending hours on mixing.
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Beatmakers and producers making quick demos or releases who need vocals to sit properly in the mix fast.
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Mix engineers who want a starting point: use Breeze to get a vocal into a good ballpark, then refine with manual processing.
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Content creators and podcasters who need better-sounding spoken vocals without a complex chain.
It’s not a replacement for deep manual mixing for high-end commercial releases, but it’s a massively useful tool for getting there faster.
How to grab it?
Karanyi’s approach for this Black Friday drop is straightforward:
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Pre-register with your email on Karanyi’s promo page to get early access/claim instructions. Karanyi will email the download link when the plugin goes live on Black Friday, November 28, 2025. Act fast — licenses are limited.
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Install and authorize following Karanyi’s instructions once you receive the link (typically a serial/license or account activation).
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Drop it on your vocal track and start with the Breeze knob; tweak Space, Crisp, Heat, and Makeup to taste.
Pro tip: try the Black Edition on a duplicate vocal track (wet) and blend it under the dry signal if you need more control over the original performance.
Real-world impressions
Early reports from music blogs and reviewers who’ve tested previews of the Black Edition are positive: many praise the plugin’s ability to add warmth and presence without brittle highs, and they note the convenience of the single-knob workflow. Reviewers highlight that Black Edition has a slightly darker character compared to the standard Breeze — a useful option if you want a warmer vocal palette. As always, the AI is best used as an assistant: it gets you 70–90% of the way there very quickly; human taste still matters for final decisions.
When it’s not the right tool
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If you need surgical corrective work (sibilance removal, heavy de-essing, precise spectral surgery), you’ll still want dedicated tools (de-esser, dynamic EQ, spectral repair). Cloudmax Breeze is optimized for tonal shaping and cohesive vocal character.
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If you prefer to sculpt every parameter yourself for maximal control, the one-knob approach may feel limiting. However, Breeze does expose several parameters, so you can still refine things after the AI has done its job.
Tips & tricks to get the best from Black Edition
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Use good source material. A great plugin can’t fix fundamentally poor recordings. Clean mic technique, good gain staging, and a quiet room make a huge difference.
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Start with subtle settings. Turn the Breeze knob up until you like the general balance, then back off and tweak Space/Crisp/Heat. Often, less is more.
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Blend wet and dry. Use the plugin on an aux/parallel track if you want to keep articulation from the raw take and layer the processed sound behind it.
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Automate for emotion. Automate amount or Makeup gain for emotional sections — slightly more presence in the chorus, less in the verse — to add dynamics without much fuss.
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Compare to reference tracks. Use commercial releases in your genre as A/B references to make sure the plugin’s tonal choices fit your project.
Final thoughts — worth the sign-up?
If you’re into efficient workflows, love trying new production toys, or simply want to improve your vocals without a mountain of effort, Cloudmax Breeze Black Edition is well worth signing up for. It’s an accessible way to experience modern neural vocal processing and, at no cost for a limited time, it’s an excellent Black Friday score. Just remember licenses are limited and Karanyi has said the plugin will become a paid product after the giveaway (regular price noted at $49), so if you want it free, register and claim it on or before November 28, 2025.
Minimal Audio Evoke: A Must-Have Vocal Processor That Might Be a Little Too Expensive
Written by Sounds SpaceMinimal Audio Evoke: A Must-Have Vocal Processor That Might Be a Little Too Expensive
In the world of modern music production, vocal processing tools have become as essential as EQs and compressors. Whether you produce pop, EDM, hip-hop, trap, house, or cinematic soundscapes, vocals are usually the center of the mix — and having a plugin that can transform, polish, enhance, or completely reshape them is a huge advantage. Minimal Audio stepped into this competitive market with Evoke, a vocal processor that has made a lot of noise because of its incredible sound quality and sleek modern design. But while many producers agree that Evoke is undeniably powerful, there’s also a growing conversation around its price — and whether it’s justified for the average creator.
In this detailed blog, we will dive deep into what Minimal Audio Evoke offers, why so many producers call it a “must-have,” where it truly shines, and why some musicians feel the price tag might be a little too high.
1. What Is Minimal Audio Evoke?
Evoke is a next-generation vocal processing plugin created by Minimal Audio, the company behind Rift, Cluster Delay, MorphEQ, and a range of cult-favorite effects known for clean interfaces and bold, modern DSP (digital signal processing). Evoke aims to be an all-in-one vocal enhancer, allowing you to handle everything from pitch correction to tone shaping to effects, without needing a complicated chain of separate plugins.
The goal is simple:
Make vocals sound expensive, modern, and ready for release — in the shortest amount of time possible.
Evoke is not trying to be a traditional tool like Auto-Tune or Melodyne. Instead, it focuses on creative shaping, modern color, and instant vibe, almost like an “instant vocal glow-up” button combined with high-quality modular FX.
2. The Core Features: What Makes Evoke So Special?
Minimal Audio is known for sound design excellence, and Evoke lives up to that reputation. Here are the features that make this plugin stand out:
✔️ 1. Intelligent Vocal Enhancement
Evoke analyzes the input signal and applies subtle corrections and tonal balancing to make the vocal cleaner and more consistent. This includes:
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Smart EQ moves
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Gentle compression
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Dynamic enhancement
These features make a vocal feel “mixed” even before you do anything else. Many users say just turning the plugin on gives an instant professional tone.
✔️ 2. Tonal Sculpting Tools
Evoke gives you hands-on control for shaping the character of the vocal:
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“Shape” (tone enhancer)
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“Clarity” (mid/high-end harmonic definition)
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“Body” (warmth and low-mid richness)
Unlike simple EQ boosts, these are harmonic-aware and tailored to how human vocals behave. They add color without harshness or mud.
✔️ 3. Pitch and Formant Control
Evoke lets you adjust:
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Pitch tightening for slight corrections
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Robotic-style pitch shifting
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Formant shifting for gender-bending, stylized pop, EDM, and trap effects
The formant section alone can create some unbelievably cool textures.
✔️ 4. Built-In Effects Engine
This is one of the biggest strengths of Evoke. The effects include:
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Reverb
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Delay
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Saturation
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Distortion
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Stereo widening
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Modulation
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Creative FX like glitchy or liquid-style textures
Each effect can be blended in with intuitive macro controls, making it extremely easy to create vocal soundscapes and unique dimensions.
✔️ 5. The Minimal Audio Workflow
The interface is clean, futuristic, and fast. Even beginners can get professional results in under a minute. Advanced producers appreciate how quickly they can sketch an idea.
Where a classic vocal chain might include:
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Auto-Tune
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EQ
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Compressor
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De-esser
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Saturator
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Reverb
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Delay
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Doubler
Evoke can do most of that in one plugin.
3. Why Producers Call It a Must-Have
### 🔹 1. The Sound Quality Is Unreal
Minimal Audio has some of the best DSP in the game, and Evoke continues the tradition. Vocals instantly gain:
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More clarity
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More presence
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More polish
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A modern glow
Even raw recordings can suddenly feel “radio-ready.”
🔹 2. It Saves a Ton of Time
Instead of building a chain of 6-10 plugins, you get everything in one place. For producers who work with multiple artists, the time saved is huge.
🔹 3. It Helps You Stay Creative
Because everything is controlled through smart macros and sliders, you can keep your creative flow going instead of getting stuck tweaking technical settings.
🔹 4. It Replaces Multiple Other Plugins
For some producers, Evoke replaced:
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FabFilter Pro-Q
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Waves R-Vox
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Antares Auto-Tune EFX
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Soundtoys MicroShift
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Valhalla reverb plugins
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Saturation plugins
The exact list varies per user, but overall, Evoke can dramatically simplify your vocal chain.
🔹 5. Perfect for Modern Genres
This plugin shines especially in:
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Pop
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Hyperpop
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House
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EDM
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Tech House
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Trap
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Drill
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RnB
Any genre that demands modern, shiny, energetic vocal production benefits from Evoke.
4. So What’s the Problem? The Price.
This is where the conversation gets interesting.
Minimal Audio plugins have always been considered premium, but Evoke’s price has surprised many producers. While the quality justifies a premium tag, the affordability for the average musician is questionable.
Here are the main issues:
❗ 1. It’s More Expensive Than Many All-In-One Competitors
For example:
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iZotope Nectar
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Waves Ovox
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Antares Vocal EQ
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Slate All Access Pass (subscription)
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Baby Audio “All You Need” bundles
Many of these offer similar or greater functionality at a lower cost or through a more affordable subscription.
Evoke comes in at a price point closer to high-end mixing suites.
❗ 2. No Ongoing Updates or Expansion Packs (Yet)
Some producers feel that for the price, there should be:
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Additional presets
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More effect modules
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Expanded vocal repair tools
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More AI-assisted features
These could arrive in the future, but at its current version, it doesn’t feel “complete enough” to justify a premium cost for some users.
❗ 3. Minimal Audio Is Still a Small Company
While trustworthy and respected, some producers feel safer investing heavily in plugins from long-standing giants like FabFilter, iZotope, or Waves — companies with huge update cycles and long-term support.
❗ 4. Not Everyone Needs an All-In-One Vocal Suite
Producers who already own:
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Auto-Tune
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Melodyne
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FabFilter Pro Suite
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Soundtoys bundle
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Valhalla bundle
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Slate plugins
…may feel they’re paying for something that overlaps with tools they already have.
5. Is Evoke Worth It?
This depends on the type of producer you are.
✔️ Evoke is worth the price if:
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You want extremely fast results
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You work with a lot of vocalists
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You want a single plugin that does almost everything
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You prioritize modern, glossy, exciting vocal tones
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You are a sound design-oriented producer
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You value high-end DSP and simplicity
In this case, Evoke becomes an absolute must-have.
✖️ Evoke may not be worth the price if:
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You already have advanced vocal processing plugins
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You don’t produce vocal-heavy music
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You are on a tight budget
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You prefer separate modular tools instead of all-in-ones
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You want deep pitch correction like Melodyne or Auto-Tune Pro
For some, Evoke is a luxury — not a necessity.
6. Breaking Down the Value: What You Actually Get for the Money
Let's put the price aside for a moment and focus on the value the plugin brings:
🎤 1. A Complete Vocal Chain in One Plugin
Instead of stacking 10 plugins, Evoke handles nearly all essential vocal tasks.
🎨 2. Creative Effects That Compete with Soundtoys
Many producers compare its FX engine to a mini Soundtoys bundle — especially for reverb, widening, and saturation.
⚙️ 3. Intelligent Processing
You’re not just applying static EQ or compression; you’re using smart, adaptive DSP built specifically for vocal signals.
🎧 4. Production-Speed Efficiency
Speed is money. If you save 10 minutes per track across 200 projects per year, the time savings alone justify the cost for professional producers.
🎚️ 5. A Beautiful, Modern UI
Everything feels smooth, inspiring, and enjoyable to use.
But still… the price remains a debated topic.
7. The Final Verdict: A Brilliant Plugin That Needs a Friendlier Price
Minimal Audio Evoke is an incredible piece of vocal technology — clean, modern, powerful, and ridiculously intuitive. It is easily one of the best modern vocal processors available right now.
For many people, it becomes a go-to plugin on every session from the moment they install it.
But the price tag may push away hobbyists, beginners, and intermediate producers who simply cannot justify spending that much on a single plugin — especially when great alternatives exist for cheaper.
If Minimal Audio lowers the price or offers occasional sales, Evoke would instantly become one of the most competitive vocal tools on the market.
At its current price, it is a premium tool for producers who demand convenience, speed, and elite sound quality.
8. Conclusion
Minimal Audio Evoke truly lives up to its hype in terms of quality.
It is sleek, powerful, easy to use, and capable of transforming vocals in seconds. For professional producers, the price can be justified by the speed and results it provides. For others, it may feel like an expensive luxury — something you want, but don’t necessarily need.
In the end, Evoke is a “must-have” for serious vocal producers… but the only thing holding it back from dominating the entire market is its pricing.
If you can afford it, you will not regret the purchase. If not, there are more budget-friendly options that can achieve great results with a bit more work.
Kage Music Korea releases the KG Series — a collection of free, analog-style VST plugins for Windows
Written by Sounds SpaceKage Music Korea releases the KG Series — a collection of free, analog-style VST plugins for Windows
Kage Music Korea is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about names in the free plugin scene. Their latest contribution, the KG Series, is a full suite of analog-style VST plugins designed for Windows users — and they’re all completely free to download.
For producers, engineers, and creators chasing that warm, analog vibe without breaking the bank, this series is a gem. From compressors and EQs to enhancers and saturators, the KG Series covers all the essential mixing and mastering tools, wrapped in a slick, minimal interface that keeps the focus where it belongs — on sound.
Let’s dive deep into what the KG Series is, what makes it special, and how you can use it to elevate your mixes.
A new player with an old-school soul
Kage Music Korea is a relatively young developer, but they’re already making big waves in the plugin community. Their approach is refreshingly straightforward: offer professional-quality tools inspired by analog hardware, optimized for simplicity and musicality, and make them accessible to everyone — especially Windows-based producers.
While many free plugins out there feel like stripped-down versions of paid software, the KG Series feels different. Each plugin has been designed with a clear purpose, intuitive control layout, and that subtle touch of analog saturation and warmth that gives digital mixes life.
The KG Series includes several powerful processors — from compressors and de-essers to enhancers, EQs, and more. Each tool is lightweight, easy on CPU, and capable of giving mixes that analog-style richness without requiring expensive hardware.
The philosophy behind the KG Series
The core philosophy of Kage Music Korea’s KG Series can be summed up in three words:
Simplicity. Musicality. Accessibility.
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Simplicity: Every plugin in the KG Series is designed around a handful of essential controls. No endless parameters, no confusing menus — just the core features you actually need to get the sound right.
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Musicality: Kage Music Korea tunes each processor with real-world mixing use in mind. Whether it’s the smooth compression curve of KG-Comp or the silky top-end lift of KG Clarity1, the plugins respond in ways that feel musical rather than mechanical.
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Accessibility: The entire collection is free and available for all Windows users in VST formats. No sign-up walls, no trial limitations — just straightforward downloads and instant use.
It’s a refreshing philosophy in an era where plugin ecosystems are often locked behind subscriptions or paywalls.
What’s included in the KG Series?
Let’s break down the core lineup of the KG Series plugins and what each one brings to the table.
🎚️ KG-Comp
A classic-style analog compressor that delivers smooth, warm compression without over-squashing your sound. Perfect for vocals, drums, and bass. The response is gentle and forgiving — ideal for those who want analog-style control with minimal fuss.
Best for: Glueing drums, tightening vocals, and adding punch to synths.
🔊 KG-2A
Inspired by the iconic LA-2A compressor, KG-2A recreates that slow, tube-like compression that’s perfect for vocals and bass. It adds instant character, taming peaks while enhancing presence and warmth.
Best for: Vocals, bass guitars, or any source needing vintage tube smoothness.
💨 KG Clarity1
The newest addition to the family, Clarity1 is an “air” enhancer plugin that adds openness and brilliance to your tracks. With just three controls — Clarity, X-Over, and Delay — it’s one of the simplest yet most effective ways to bring your mixes to life.
Best for: Vocals, guitars, pads, and master bus sparkle.
🎛️ KG-Deesser
Harsh sibilance and unwanted “S” sounds are a common mixing headache. The KG-Deesser handles them gracefully with a warm, musical approach. It reduces sibilance without dulling the overall brightness of your vocal track.
Best for: Vocals, cymbals, hi-hats, and even bright guitars.
🔥 KG-Saturator
Analog character meets digital precision. KG-Saturator introduces harmonic richness, subtle grit, and tube-style warmth that can turn lifeless digital recordings into vibrant, textured mixes.
Best for: Adding color to drums, bass, and synths — or gluing the mix together on the master bus.
🎚️ KG-EQ
A clean, analog-inspired equalizer with wide, musical curves. Instead of surgical cuts, it encourages broad, tonal shaping — exactly how vintage hardware EQs worked.
Best for: Smooth tone shaping on vocals, instruments, or full mixes.
💥 KG-Sub
A focused low-end enhancer designed to strengthen your bass and kick without muddying your mix. It adds controlled low frequencies that blend seamlessly into the mix.
Best for: EDM, hip-hop, or any genre where bass matters.
Each plugin in the KG Series has been designed to complement the others — so when used together, they form a complete analog-style production chain. You can go from raw recording to polished master using only KG Series tools.
The sound: clean, warm, and analog-inspired
What really sets the KG Series apart is its sound quality. Kage Music Korea’s design choices are based on analog-style processing curves that emulate real hardware response — but without trying to be carbon copies of specific models.
Instead of “modeling” a particular compressor or EQ, they focus on the essence of analog sound: smooth harmonics, natural saturation, and musical tone shaping. The result is a suite of tools that give mixes depth and warmth without introducing digital harshness.
When compared to other free plugins, KG Series tools sound impressively balanced — there’s none of that brittle top end or muddy low-end often found in budget digital EQs and compressors.
Interface design: minimalism done right
Every KG Series plugin shares the same design language — dark backgrounds, clear typography, and large rotary knobs that make tweaking quick and intuitive. There’s no clutter, no visual distractions, and everything responds smoothly in real time.
This minimal aesthetic isn’t just for looks — it’s practical. The uniform interface makes switching between KG Series plugins effortless. Once you get used to one, you can operate them all instinctively.
It’s a workflow-friendly design that prioritizes sound over show.
Performance: light on CPU, big on results
Kage Music Korea clearly understands that not every producer has a high-end studio rig. The KG Series is optimized for low CPU usage, making it perfect for laptop setups or sessions with dozens of tracks.
You can easily load multiple instances of KG plugins without worrying about lag or performance drops — even on older systems. That’s a huge plus for home producers working in tight DAW environments like FL Studio, Ableton Live, or Reaper.
Real-world applications and mixing tips
Here’s how you might integrate the KG Series into your workflow:
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Start with KG-Comp or KG-2A on your vocals or drums to smooth dynamics while adding character.
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Use KG-EQ to shape tonal balance — boost some midrange on guitars, or gently lift the top end on vocals.
-
Add KG-Saturator for harmonic warmth. Try subtle drive on basslines to help them stand out in the mix.
-
If the low end feels weak, KG-Sub can bring fullness and roundness without mud.
-
Use KG-Deesser to keep vocals silky-smooth.
-
Finish with KG Clarity1 on the master bus to introduce air and brightness.
Together, they can take a flat digital mix and make it sound like it passed through a small analog studio chain.
Why the KG Series stands out in the free plugin world
There’s no shortage of free plugins out there — but few are both free and genuinely good. The KG Series strikes that rare balance of quality, consistency, and generosity.
Here’s why it stands out:
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Consistency across tools — all plugins share a unified look and feel.
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Analog warmth without hype — subtle, tasteful emulation rather than extreme coloration.
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Practical usability — simple controls that deliver quick results.
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Free with no restrictions — no watermarks, no time limits, no paywall.
In short, Kage Music Korea isn’t just releasing freebies — they’re building an ecosystem for Windows-based producers who want cohesive, analog-style tools.
Availability and system requirements
The entire KG Series is currently available for Windows users only, in VST2 and VST3 plugin formats. All plugins can be downloaded directly from Kage Music Korea’s official website or via trusted plugin news outlets.
System requirements:
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Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
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Compatible with most major DAWs (FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Reaper, Ableton Live, etc.)
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Minimal CPU footprint — suitable for laptops and low-spec PCs
Mac support may arrive later, but for now, Windows producers are the lucky ones.
The community response
Since their launch, the KG Series plugins have been creating buzz across forums and social media. Producers are praising their clean sound, easy workflow, and lightweight performance. The Clarity1 “air” enhancer in particular has gained popularity as a free go-to for adding high-end sparkle to mixes.
Plugin reviewers have noted that while the KG Series doesn’t chase flashy GUI designs or over-the-top emulations, it nails what really matters: great sound, low CPU use, and simplicity.
Final thoughts — a must-have toolkit for every Windows producer
In an industry overflowing with complicated software and expensive subscriptions, Kage Music Korea’s KG Series feels like a breath of fresh air.
It proves that great sound doesn’t need to come with a price tag.
Whether you’re mixing your first song or running a full studio, these plugins deliver analog-style tone shaping, dynamics control, and warmth — all in a lightweight, user-friendly package. The cohesive design makes them easy to learn, and their musical response means you can trust them in any mix context.
If you’re on Windows and looking to build a free, high-quality plugin arsenal, the KG Series is absolutely worth downloading.
Kage Music Korea isn’t just releasing plugins — they’re building a new creative ecosystem for the next generation of producers.
DOWNLOAD HERE
KAGE Clarity1 — free “air” enhancer from Kage Music Korea
Written by Sounds SpaceKAGE Clarity1 — free “air” enhancer from Kage Music Korea
Hey brother — big news for Windows producers: Kage Music Korea has just dropped KAGE Clarity1, a free “air” enhancer plugin that promises smooth, musical sparkle for vocals, guitars, synths and more. It’s part of the new KG Series of lightweight, analogue-inspired tools and — best of all — it’s available to download now. I tried to collect the essentials and write this up so you can see what it does, how to use it, and why it’s worth adding to your toolbox.
What KAGE Clarity1 is
KAGE Clarity1 is a focused high-frequency enhancer: a small, three-control plugin that’s built around a single “Clarity” control (the amount of top-end enhancement), an X-Over knob (to choose the frequency region where the effect applies), and a Delay control (which introduces a subtle timing offset to help the enhanced signal blend naturally). The goal is simple — give mixes an airy, detailed top end without making them brittle or harsh. The developer presents it as part of a larger KG Series of free tools, aimed at giving creators practical, affordable mixing options.
Why a single-purpose “air” enhancer matters
In modern production, “air” or “sparkle” plugins are one of those secret weapons. A little push in the upper registers can make a vocal sit forward without raising overall volume, add shimmer to pads and acoustic instruments, and make a mix read better on small speakers. But poorly designed HF boosts are easy to overdo: you can end up with brittle cymbals, nasty sibilance, or headphone-fatigue. That’s why a plugin like KAGE Clarity1 — which gives you control over where the boost happens (X-Over) and how the new signal is merged (Delay) — is useful. It’s faster than opening a multiband EQ or setting up serial mid/side chains when you only need a tasteful sheen.
The controls — three knobs, big results
KAGE Clarity1 keeps the GUI simple and approachable:
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Clarity — the main amount control. Think of it as a musical HF boost tailored for presence and air. Push gently for a subtle lift or more for an obvious sheen.
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X-Over — choose the crossover point where the enhancement kicks in. This is crucial: set it too low and you’ll brighten the midrange; set it too high and the effect only touches the very top of the spectrum. The X-Over lets you target exactly the band that benefits most.
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Delay — adds a slight time offset to the processed signal before it’s mixed back in. This can soften comb filtering or create a subtle stereo/width effect when used carefully. It’s a clever way to make it feel more natural.
This “three-knob” philosophy is intentional — Kage Music Korea is rolling several KG Series utilities with the same minimal design language so producers can quickly dial in improvements without getting lost in menus.
Formats, platform, and availability
As of the launch, KAGE Clarity1 is free for Windows and offered as VST2 and/or VST3 formats (the KG Series is broadly Windows-focused), and the developer’s site hosts the downloads. Some early announcements and beta notes point out that this is currently Windows-only and labeled as a beta in places, so Mac users will have to wait or try compatibility workarounds. The KG Series itself is presented as a free project from Kage Music Korea intended to lower the entry barrier for creators.
How to use KAGE Clarity1 in real mixes
Here are practical ways to get musical results fast:
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Vocal top-end — insert on a vocal track as an auxiliary/bus or directly in the insert slot. Start with Clarity at 9–12 o’clock and X-Over around 6–12 kHz, depending on the vocalist. Use Delay sparingly to avoid odd phasing.
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Acoustic guitars & strings — a little Clarity adds air and pick detail; use a lower X-Over if you want articulation without harshness.
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Synth leads & pads — for pads, long Delay values can create atmospheric shimmer (sound design mode). For leads, keep Delay minimal and X-Over precise for intelligibility.
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Master bus (subtly) — try a tiny amount (0.5–1.0 dB equivalent) on the master with a high X-Over — just enough to give overall polish. But be careful: major boosts on the master can alter tonal balance and loudness.
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A/B test — flip the plugin on/off frequently and check in different speakers/headphones; MF-HF boosts can sound different across systems.
These are starting points — the plugin’s simplicity means experimentation often yields the best creative uses.
Sound and character — what to expect
From early impressions and community tests, KAGE Clarity1 is described as musical and tasteful rather than clinical. It’s built to “breathe vibrancy and clarity” into tracks, not to make them artificially bright. The Delay parameter is a standout: instead of a raw HF boost, blending a slightly delayed version of the enhanced band can reduce metallic artifacts and give the effect a more natural, spatial feel. In short: it’s not just a shelving EQ in disguise — it’s a deliberately designed enhancer with blending options to preserve musicality.
Where it fits among other free plugins
The free plugin market is crowded, but many free offerings are either stripped down or aimed at a niche. KAGE Clarity1 sits nicely alongside other compact utilities in the KG Series — tools that cover bass enhancement (KG-Sub), compression (KG-Comp/KG-2A), de-essing, tube saturation and more. If you’re building a lean palette of go-to freebies on Windows, the KG Series gives a cohesive set of processors that share consistent UI logic and sonic intent. For those collecting “go-to” free tools, Clarity1 is a useful addition.
Who should download it?
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Bedroom producers who want quick, musical top-end without fuss.
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Mix engineers on a budget who need a fast way to add air to stems.
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Sound designers looking for delayed shimmer effects from a simple UI.
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Students and beginners who can learn HF control concepts without being overwhelmed.
Because it’s free, there’s little downside to testing it in your sessions — just remember it’s Windows-oriented for now.
A note on the KG Series project and how Kage Music Korea is positioning it
Kage Music Korea has packaged the KG Series with the stated mission of making production tools accessible — the site lists several KG-branded utilities and emphasizes a no-cost approach for creators. The idea of a compact, consistent plugin family is smart: it reduces cognitive load while offering specialized processors. Some outlets and bloggers have praised the suite for punching above what you’d expect from freebies, especially in the Windows VST ecosystem, where high-quality free tools are still very welcome.
Caveats and things to watch
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Windows-only (for now) — if you’re on macOS, you’ll need to wait or research compatibility solutions. Several sources note VST3 and Windows as the current formats.
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Beta status — early mentions suggest some releases are beta; expect tweaks or updates as the developer collects feedback.
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Use with care on masters — any HF enhancement on master channels should be applied very subtly and checked across multiple playback systems. (Always the golden rule.)
How to get it — quick steps
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Visit Kage Music Korea’s KG Series page or the KG Clarity listing.
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Download the VST3 (and VST2 if offered) installer or ZIP for Windows.
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Install to your usual VST folder and rescan in your DAW.
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Try the plugin on a vocal or lead instrument first and tweak Clarity / X-Over / Delay while AB’ing.
Multiple blog posts and plugin review sites link to the official download page, and early social posts from plugin aggregators have highlighted Clarity1 as a standout free utility.
Final thoughts — should you add KAGE Clarity1 to your collection?
If you like simple, musical tools that do one thing well, yes, absolutely give KAGE Clarity1 a spin. It’s free, lightweight, and purpose-built to add air without complexity. For Windows users in particular, it’s an easy install that could become a daily driver for vocals, acoustic instruments, and sound design tasks. And because it’s part of a larger KG Series, grabbing Clarity1 might introduce you to other useful free processors from the same developer. Download it, AB it on familiar mixes, and see whether the Clarity/X-Over/Delay combo becomes one of those tiny workflow shortcuts you end up using all the time.
Waves is giving away a free plugin — we don’t know what it is, but here’s how to get in line
Written by Sounds SpaceWaves is giving away a free plugin — we don’t know what it is, but here’s how to get in line
Every November, Waves runs a much-anticipated Black Friday surprise: a brand-new plugin released for free for a very short window. The catch? Waves rarely reveals the plugin beforehand; they give away only a limited number of licenses, and you must be fast and prepared the moment it drops. If you want to avoid missing out this year, treat this guide as your pre-flight checklist: everything to do before, during, and after the free-plugin drop so you’re first in line (and actually able to claim, install, and use your prize).
Quick snapshot — what we do know
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Waves typically releases this Black Friday free plugin on or around November 28–30, and it’s offered in limited quantities on a first-come, first-served basis.
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To claim it, you usually must sign up or enter your email on Waves’ special Black Friday page when the giveaway is live; Waves then sends a serial number or registration instructions by email that you redeem in your Waves account (and with Waves Central).
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Waves also maintains a handful of permanent free downloads and a Free Plugin Pack — but the Black Friday giveaway is a separate, limited-time brand-new plugin.
Before the drop — prepare like a pro
You’ll give yourself the best shot at getting a license if you finish the following setup in advance.
1) Create and verify your Waves account now
If you don’t already have one, create a Waves account and verify your email address. Most giveaways require you to register the serial to the Waves account that’s tied to your email. Do these days before Black Friday, not the day of.
2) Install Waves Central & update it
Waves Central is Waves’ license management and installer app. Download and install it today, log in with your Waves account, and check that it runs and updates plugins. If something goes wrong on the big day, you don’t want to be scrambling to troubleshoot installers and permissions.
3) Clean up your Waves account details
Add and confirm an email address you actively check (and whitelist @waves.com and @wavesupport), so the registration email doesn’t end up in spam. Add phone-auth or any required two-factor settings now if you’ll need them. Tighten up your password and save login info in a secure password manager.
4) Sign up for Waves Black Friday reminders/newsletter
Waves typically hosts a Black Friday landing page and sign-up form to be notified about the giveaway — sign up there and subscribe to Waves’ newsletter for the reminder email. Production Expert, MusicTech and other outlets point repeatedly to Waves’ sign-up / reminder mechanics as the official route.
5) Follow Waves on social (and follow reliable plugin-deal trackers)
Follow Waves on Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, and sign up for deal trackers like Dubspot or the Black Friday freebies lists (these trackers will often post the exact moment the claim form is live). Bookmark Waves’ Black Friday and specials pages.
6) Clear disk space and update your DAW
Make sure you have space to download the plugin installer and any content it needs. Update your DAW and plugin hosts if applicable, so once you register, you can install and open the plugin immediately.
On the day — exact playbook for Nov. 28 (or date announced)
When the giveaway goes live, every second matters. Here’s a tactical checklist to follow in real time.
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Be logged into your Waves account in Waves Central and on the Waves website (same email you used to sign up).
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Open Waves’ Black Friday page (or the page the reminder email points to) at least 5 minutes before the official drop. Keep one browser tab for waves.com and another for social/deal trackers.
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Have your email open — Waves often emails serials directly to the address you registered. Check spam/junk quickly if you don’t see it.
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Submit the serial request if prompted — past mechanics have involved entering your email during the Black Friday window to request a serial; Waves then emails the serial, and you register it in your Waves account. If there’s a ‘Get it free’ or similar button, click it immediately.
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If the site returns a limited-stock message, don’t refresh repeatedly — refreshing can knock you out of a queue. Instead, try a second device or network if you think you’re missing the chance (e.g., mobile data vs. Wi-Fi).
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Register the serial in Waves immediately when you receive it, then open Waves Central and install. If you don’t finish the registration process, the license could be lost.
Tips to improve your odds
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Use multiple devices: be logged in on a desktop and a mobile browser. Some users report success by quickly hitting the signup form from both.
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Fast connection helps: if possible, use wired Ethernet or reliable, low-latency Wi-Fi.
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Avoid third-party “giveaway” sites: only claim the free plugin through Waves’ official channels — their Black Friday page, the reminder email, or Waves Central. Third-party sites may be scams or confused mirrors.
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Time zone check: Waves is global; confirm the exact release time in your local time so you don’t miss it because of timezone math. The news coverage lists November 28 (Black Friday) as the launch date window.
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Don’t pay for “priority” help: real Waves giveaways don’t require payment. If someone is selling access to the free plugin, it’s either a scam or reselling something you can get free.
What happens after you claim it
Once you receive your serial and register it to your account, Waves Central will let you download and install the plugin. Keep these post-claim steps in mind:
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Activate/register the plugin in your Waves account — registration binds the plugin license to your Waves account, so you can reinstall later.
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Download via Waves Central — that’s the official installer manager. Open your Waves Central, go to “My Products” and install the plugin.
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Check compatibility — Waves plugins support major DAWs, but confirm which formats (VST3/AU/AAX) the giveaway supports before you start heavy testing sessions.
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Keep the serial email — treat it as a backup until the plugin shows in your Waves account.
Why this giveaway is worth the effort
Waves is known for making high-value tools available for free during Black Friday. Last year’s giveaway (IDX Intelligent Dynamics) is an example of a plugin that later carried a retail price, but was briefly free — meaning that being fast yields real, lasting value for your toolbox. News outlets and plugin communities treat these drops as genuine opportunities to add serious tools to your library.
If you miss it — alternatives and consolation prizes
Don’t sweat it if the giveaway sells out — there are still ways to benefit:
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Waves runs massive Black Friday discounts across its catalog and subscription plans during the same window. You can often pick up top-tier plugins at deep discounts (sometimes beating the price of many boutique tools).
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Track community-curated lists of Black Friday freebies (Dubspot and other guides collect limited-time free deals so you can add other freebies).
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Waves also maintains ongoing permanent freebies (Free Plugin Pack and other downloads) that are worth grabbing at any time.
Final checklist — copy/paste the essentials
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Create & verify Waves account (today).
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Install Waves Central and log in (today).
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Sign up on Waves’ Black Friday / reminder page (today).
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Follow Waves & trusted deal trackers (Dubspot, Production Expert, MusicTech).
On Nov 28: be logged in, watch the Waves Black Friday page, submit the email/serial request immediately when live.
Register the serial in your Waves account and install via Waves Central.
Closing note
These Waves Black Friday giveaways are part luck, part preparation. The unknown plugin and limited licenses create FOMO — but the real advantage goes to those who do the prep work ahead of time: verified Waves account, Waves Central installed, inbox cleared, and reminders in place. Treat it like a small release-day launch: get logged in, be ready to act within seconds, and you’ll have a much better chance of scoring one of the free licenses. Good luck — and happy mixing.
Reimagine your voice using AutoTune’s new “ethically trained” AI transformation plugin, Metamorph
Written by Sounds SpaceReimagine your voice using AutoTune’s new “ethically trained” AI transformation plugin, Metamorph
If you’ve ever dreamt of singing in a completely different timbre — a soulful soprano one minute, a warm baritone the next — but didn’t have access to a choir of guest vocalists or the cash to hire session singers, upcoming AI tools make that fantasy reachable. Enter Metamorph: the new AI voice-transformation plugin from the makers of Auto-Tune (Antares). It’s being billed as an “ethically trained” vocal-modeling tool that runs inside your DAW, keeps processing local to your machine, and lets you reshape the tone of any vocal performance while preserving the original performance’s emotion and timing. If you’re a producer, songwriter, or vocal artist, Metamorph promises to add another palette of expressive options without nuking the human element that makes music meaningful.
What does Metamorph actually do?
At its core, Metamorph is a real-time (or near-real-time) vocal transformer: you feed it a vocal take, it analyzes the spectral and performance characteristics, and then maps those characteristics onto one of several pre-trained voice models. The result isn’t just a simple pitch shift or a robotic vocoder effect — it’s a timbral transformation intended to sound like a different type of human voice while keeping the phrasing, inflection, and emotional delivery intact. That means the riff you recorded at 2 a.m. can sound like it was sung by a different-sized singer without re-recording the line or rebuilding the performance from scratch.
Antares emphasizes that Metamorph is designed to expand creative possibilities rather than replace singers. The plugin ships with a selection of voice models (twelve, with additional models available through partnered platforms), which cover a variety of vocal styles — from airy falsettos to robust low-end tones — so you can choose the flavor that fits your track. Processing is handled locally (no mandatory cloud upload), which addresses privacy and latency concerns for many creators.
“Ethically trained” — what does that mean?
“Ethically trained” is the phrase Antares uses to describe Metamorph’s voice models. In an era when AI voice tech has raised red flags about cloning artists’ voices without consent, this is an important distinction: according to Antares, the vocal models used in Metamorph were created with the consent and compensation of the performers involved. That means the models are not surreptitiously scraped from random online recordings — they’re built from datasets where contributors were aware and paid. The plugin’s offline processing model also helps keep user-recorded vocals from being uploaded to unvetted servers.
Ethics in AI is a spectrum, not a single checkbox. Transparency about how datasets were collected, contracts with vocalists, and clear licensing terms for output are the practical things to watch for. Antares has leaned into the language of responsibility and artist-centered design, but smart creators will still want to read the license and terms of use before using a transformed vocal in a commercial release. (More on the legal and creative considerations below.)
Creative use cases — how to actually use Metamorph in a project
Metamorph isn’t just novelty; it’s a workflow tool. Here are some ways you might use it in a real session:
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Double or duet without another singer: Record one vocal take, then apply a contrasting Metamorph model to create the feel of a duet or call-and-response without scheduling another session. Great for demos or full productions when collaborators are remote.
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Tone matching: Transform an imperfect reference vocal to match the timbre of a lead vocalist on the record — useful for guide vocals that must sit right in the final mix.
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Experimentation and sound design: Push vocals into cross-genre territory — make a pop vocal sound cinematic, or a spoken word track feel operatic. Metamorph’s creative flexibility can be a sound-design playground.
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Accessibility and translation of parts: Convert a male vocal demo to a female register (or vice versa) to audition arrangements without re-tracking.
Because Metamorph aims to preserve performance dynamics, it’s especially useful when you love a take but need a different tonal color — it keeps vibrato, timing, and phrasing intact while swapping the vocal identity.
Workflow tips & best practices
If you want the best, most musical results, keep these practical tips in mind:
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Start with a good dry take: Metamorph performs best when the input is clean and expressive. Garbage in, garbage out still applies.
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Use it as a creative effect, not a crutch: Human nuance (emotion, breath, articulation) is still why listeners connect. Use Metamorph to enhance, not to entirely replace human craft.
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Blend wet/dry: Often, the most convincing results come from mixing the transformed voice subtly with the original to retain character.
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Mind the formant and pitch interplay: If you heavily pitch-shift before applying transformation, experiment with formant controls (if available) to avoid unnatural artifacts.
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Automate with taste: Automating the mix between models or toggling the effect on phrasing can create dynamic moments without sounding static.
Most importantly — listen critically. Try different models and trust your ears; the aim is musicality, not novelty for novelty’s sake.
Legal and ethical considerations (don’t skip this)
Antares’s “ethically trained” claim is a reason to relax, but not to ignore the fine print. Key questions to answer before releasing music that uses Metamorph:
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What rights am I granted for output? Check whether transformed vocals can be used commercially without extra attribution or royalties.
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Are any model voices tied to identifiable artists? Antares says contributors were involved and compensated, but confirms whether any model is explicitly tied to a specific famous voice, which can create additional rights questions.
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Do collaborators/labels accept AI-transformed vocals? Some collaborators or labels may have internal policies about AI content; transparency is usually best.
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Moral clarity: If you use Metamorph to create a “voice” that mimics a living artist’s characteristic sound, tread carefully and consider attribution or explicit permission.
In short, the tool mitigates many concerns by using consented datasets and local processing, but creators should always read the licensing and, when in doubt, ask for clarification from Antares or legal counsel.
How Metamorph stacks up against alternatives
There are a growing number of AI vocal tools (voice conversion, singing synthesis, and style transfer). What sets Metamorph apart is the brand lineage (Auto-Tune’s makers), an emphasis on offline/local processing, and the explicit “ethically trained” framing. Some competing tools have leaned on cloud processing or faced controversy over how training data was sourced; Antares seems to have designed Metamorph with those concerns front-of-mind. That doesn’t make it objectively superior for every use case — some cloud-based platforms offer custom model creation or very specialized synthesis features — but for DAW-centric producers who value privacy and immediate integration, Metamorph is a compelling choice.
Cost and availability
At launch, Metamorph is being sold as a paid plugin (with launch/Black Friday discounts reported around 50% off the retail price in some promotions). Antares has positioned it as part of their modernized product lineup, targeted at both hobbyists and professionals who use Auto-Tune and related tools within their workflows. Always check the official Antares site or authorized dealers for the latest pricing and bundle deals.
Final thoughts — why this matters for musicians
Metamorph is not merely a flashy new toy; it’s an example of how AI can be folded into musical practices responsibly. For artists, it broadens the palette: you can audition arrangements faster, fill out demos without extra performers, and creatively sculpt voices in ways that were previously time-consuming or impossible. For producers, it reduces friction in collaborative and remote workflows. And for the industry, Antares’s explicit focus on ethical data sourcing and local processing signals that vendors are listening to artists, to privacy advocates, and to the market’s demand for responsible AI.
That said, technologies like Metamorph change the creative conversation. They demand new conversations about credit, ownership, and the boundaries of human and machine collaboration. As a creator, use these tools to enhance expression, not to erase the human threads that make music powerful.
If you want, I can draft a short checklist you can follow before releasing a track that uses Metamorph (things like "read the license," "notify collaborators," and "test alternate mixes") — or write a quick step-by-step tutorial on integrating Metamorph into your usual vocal chain (pre-EQ → Metamorph → compression → reverb). Which would you prefer? 🎛️🎙️
Sources & further reading: Antares’ Metamorph announcement and product pages, press coverage and early hands-on pieces discussing the plugin’s features, ethical claims, and DAW integration.
More...
The Best Free VST Plugins in 2025 — a producer’s guide to sounding great without spending a dime
Written by Sounds SpaceThe Best Free VST Plugins in 2025 — a producer’s guide to sounding great without spending a dime
The barrier to entry for music production has never been lower. In 2025, the free VST ecosystem is insane: high-quality synths, realistic sampled instruments, creative effects and pro mixing tools are all available at zero cost. Whether you’re starting out, building a portable beat kit, or keeping your mix tools lean, the current crop of freebies proves you don’t need expensive software to make professional music.
Below, I run through why free plugins matter, the standout freebies by category, quick tips for using them, and a compact “starter pack” so you can download and get making immediately.
Why free VSTs are actually important (not just cheap)
Free plugins do three things for producers:
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Let you experiment without financial friction — which means more ideas and faster learning.
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Force creative problem solving: limited controls often inspire unexpected results.
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Are often the gateway to paid upgrades and premium ecosystems — many developers give excellent free versions or bundles that integrate with their paid lines.
Because major developers now include polished free offerings (bundles and standalone gems), you can build a modern production toolbox with zero outlay and still compete sonically.
Standout free instruments (synths & sampled libraries)
Komplete Start — a full starter bundle
If you want a single place to start, Native Instruments’ Komplete Start bundles a range of instruments and effects — drums, synths, keys and some sample players — and is an easy way to get a professional palette without spending anything. It’s a curated gateway into a larger ecosystem, so you can graduate to paid NI instruments later if you want. Native Instruments
Vital — a modern wavetable powerhouse
Vital is a visual wavetable synth with advanced modulation and a clean, fast workflow. It’s hugely flexible (from classic pads to hypermodern digital textures) and offers pro features in the free tier that used to cost money only a few years ago. If you like making evolving pads, granular-ish textures or aggressive leads, Vital should be one of the first installs on your machine. Vital - Spectral Warping Wavetable Synth
Surge XT — open-source hybrid synth
Surge XT (the open-source continuation of Surge) is a fully featured hybrid synth with multiple oscillator types, flexible routing and a massive sound design toolkit — and it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Being open-source, it’s actively maintained by the community and is a powerful, no-strings synth for everything from EDM to cinematic scoring. surge-synthesizer.github.io
Dexed — classic FM character for free
If you’re into FM timbres — electric bells, metallic basses, classic 80s electric pianos — Dexed is an excellent DX7-style FM synth. It’s not the friendliest UI for beginners, but it’s a faithful FM engine that loads and edits classic DX7 patches. (Great when you want those vintage FM textures in modern tracks.) Audio Plugins for Free
Spitfire LABS / Splice INSTRUMENT presets — free sampled instruments with personality
Spitfire’s LABS remains a go-to for emotive, high-quality sampled instruments (pianos, strings, weird textures and unique instruments) and continues to grow with new packs. In 2025 the broader industry has also seen companies package curated free preset banks and instrument players (Splice’s INSTRUMENT platform is one new example combining multi-sampled presets and free packs), which means you can get orchestral colors or unique textural sounds without paying. LABS+1
Standout free effects & mixing utilities
Valhalla SuperMassive — massive space (reverb/delay)
If you want lush, huge reverbs and creative delay/reverb hybrids, Valhalla SuperMassive is an instant favorite. It’s famously free and excels at ambient textures, giant vocal spaces and experimental diffusion effects. Use it on pads, returns and vocal FX sends for instant size. Valhalla DSP
TDR Nova — intelligent dynamic EQ
TDR Nova from Tokyo Dawn Labs is a dynamic, parallel-capable EQ that can act like a parametric EQ, de-esser, transient shaper and gentle compressor — all in one banded layout. It’s indispensable for mixing and fixing problematic frequencies without destructive processing. Tokyo Dawn Records
MeldaProduction MFreeFXBundle — a Swiss army knife
Melda’s MFreeFXBundle gives you dozens of effects: EQs, compressors, tape saturation, modulation tools and utilities. The bundle is huge, and while some advanced features are locked to paid versions, the free set is powerful and flexible for mixing and sound design. MeldaProduction
Voxengo SPAN — spectrum analysis
A good set of analyzers is as important as reverbs. Voxengo SPAN is a free, professional spectrum analyzer that helps you spot frequency imbalances, phase issues or where energy is sitting in your mix. It’s the kind of utility plugin you’ll open on every master bus. Voxengo
Utility & creative freebies worth noting
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Voxengo SPAN (spectrum analyzer) — see above for real mixing utility. Voxengo
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Valhalla SuperMassive — creative reverb/delay powerhouse. Valhalla DSP
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Free compressors, saturators and modulation plugins from developers like Klanghelm, Klevgrand, Blue Cat’s freeware pack and numerous boutique makers: keep an eye on BPB, KVR and developer sites for monthly freebies and promo gems. (Community sites curate great finds.)
How to choose which free plugins to install
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Start with gaps in your toolkit. Need a synth? Get Vital or Surge. Need realistic acoustic sounds? LABS or Splice packs. Need mixing tools? TDR Nova + Voxengo SPAN + Melda bundle.
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Watch for compatibility. Most major free plugins are available as VST3/AU; Surge supports Linux too. Always check OS & host compatibility on the developer page before downloading. surge-synthesizer.github.io+1
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Think modular: one great synth + one sampled instrument + 3 effects + 1 analyzer = huge coverage.
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Avoid “plugin bloat.” Install what you’ll use. Too many plugins slows workflow and searching.
Quick workflow tips to get the most from free plugins
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Use dedicated buses: send your reverbs (SuperMassive, spring/tape emulations) to aux returns and automate wet/dry for depth without clutter.
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Layer synths with sampled instruments: a Vital pad under a LABS piano adds presence and thickness while remaining CPU-light.
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Analyze before you EQ: open Voxengo SPAN on the master and reference tracks so you base decisions on visuals and ears.
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Save presets and chains: the free tools shine when combined — build template chains (e.g., instrument → subtle saturation → group compressor → tape emulation) and save them.
Legal/licensing & safety — what to watch for
Free does not always mean “royalty-free for all uses.” Most major free plugins (Native Instruments Komplete Start, Vital, Surge, Spitfire LABS, Valhalla SuperMassive, Melda) allow commercial use, but check each developer’s license if you plan to distribute sample-heavy packs or use library content with restrictive terms. Always download from the official developer pages to avoid malware and ensure you’re getting the latest compatible builds. Native Instruments+1
A compact “Free Producer Starter Pack” (download these first)
If you only want five plugins that cover most bases today, install:
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Komplete Start — instruments & effects starter bundle. Native Instruments
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Vital — ultimate free wavetable synth. Vital - Spectral Warping Wavetable Synth
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Surge XT — deep hybrid synth (open-source). surge-synthesizer.github.io
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Spitfire LABS (or Splice’s free INSTRUMENT presets) — beautiful sampled instruments. LABS+1
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TDR Nova + Voxengo SPAN — dynamic EQ and spectrum analyzer for mixing. Tokyo Dawn Records+1
Install these and you’ll have synths, sampled instruments, creative reverb/delay options, and professional mixing utilities — everything to sketch, arrange and mix a convincing track.
Where to discover more free plugins
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Curated lists: Bedroom Producers Blog, KVR, Producer. Zone and MusicRadar publish updated free plugin roundups and seasonal giveaways — bookmark them.
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Developer pages: always go directly to sites like Vital, Surge, Native Instruments, Spitfire, Valhalla, and Melda for downloads and documentation. MeldaProduction+5Vital - Spectral Warping Wavetable Synth+5surge-synthesizer.github.io+5
Final words — free doesn’t mean amateur
The “free” landscape in 2025 is both generous and professional. Many freebies are developed by boutique teams and established companies that treat their free offerings as brand ambassadors — meaning you get high-quality sound, stable code and active support. The trick is to be selective, build a compact toolkit, and lean into creative combinations rather than collecting plugins like trophies.
Start with a few of the picks above, assemble a template in your DAW, and use those tools daily: you’ll be surprised how far a handful of well-chosen free VSTs will carry your productions. Got a genre in mind? I can give a custom 5-plugin starter kit tailored to your sound (tech house, lo-fi hip-hop, cinematic, etc.) — tell me the vibe and I’ll make a focused list with routing and preset tips.
Lux Sub-Bass (by Luxora Audio) — Deep low end, zero cost: a hands-on guide
Written by Sounds SpaceLux Sub-Bass (by Luxora Audio) — Deep low end, zero cost: a hands-on guide
If your mixes feel thin in the very bottom end or your 808s and bass guitars need more presence without getting muddy, Luxora Audio’s Lux Sub-Bass is one of the quickest, most musical tools you can try — and yes, it’s free. In a single, focused plugin the developer combines analog-style tube saturation, a low-end EQ, and high-resolution oversampling so you can add weight and character to sub frequencies without turning your mix into a swamp. You can grab the plugin directly from Luxora Audio’s site.
What is Lux Sub Bass?
Lux Sub-Bass is a free low-end enhancer aimed at producers, mixers and beatmakers who want richer sub frequencies for 808s, bass guitars, synths and drum buses. It uses an analog-modeled tube saturation algorithm (modeled on the 12AU7 family) and includes a dedicated EQ optimized for the sub range — all while keeping CPU usage reasonable thanks to careful oversampling. The plugin is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats for macOS and Windows.
Why is it useful?
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Adds musical harmonics — Instead of only boosting LF energy with an EQ (which can make things boom and mask other elements), Lux Sub-Bass generates harmonics from a modeled tube stage, making bass feel louder and fuller on small speakers and in clubs without excessive low-end gain.
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Quick workflow — The UI and control set are designed for speed: get more body with a single dial of saturation and then sculpt with the built-in EQ. That makes it ideal for fast sessions and for producers who want results with minimal tweaking.
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Mix-friendly — Because the plugin focuses on adding harmonics and shaping rather than brute-force boosting, you can maintain headroom and clarity across the mix. This is especially helpful on drum buses and layered 808s.
Key features at a glance
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Analog-modeled 12AU7 tube saturation for warm harmonic content.
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Built-in EQ tailored to sub-bass and low-mid shaping.
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High-resolution oversampling to avoid aliasing while saturating.
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Formats: VST3, AU, AAX (Windows & macOS).
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Low CPU footprint relative to the quality (though heavy oversampling or extreme settings can increase usage).
How to use Lux Sub-Bass — practical tips
Insert point: Put Lux Sub-Bass either directly on the bass instrument/track (808, bass DI, synth bass) or on a drum bus when you want extra weight on the low end of the kit. If you use it on the master, use it sparingly — it’s more of an instrument/bus tool.
Gain staging: Drive the input until the tube indicator shows activity, then back off the output so the plugin’s coloration is doing the perceived loudness work rather than gain. The tube indicator tells you when the modeled tube stage is contributing harmonics.
EQ use: Use the built-in EQ to tighten the sub region after adding saturation. Often a slight low-shelf or tuned bell will let the sub sit without smearing the low-mids. If you’re working with a bass guitar, try a narrow boost around the subfundamental and then a small cut in the low-mids to remove boxiness.
Parallel trick: For more control, send your bass to an aux with Lux Sub-Bass on it and blend parallel. That way you retain the original transient clarity while adding harmonic weight underneath.
Preset starting points: Start conservatively — 20–30% saturation and gentle EQ — then increase for genres that want more coloration (trap, certain EDM styles). For more natural music (jazz, acoustic), keep saturation subtle.
Download and installation
Luxora Audio offers Lux Sub-Bass as a free download on their website in multiple plugin formats. You can download it from Luxora’s official sub-bass product page. If the site requires a quick registration or an email to access the installer, that’s normal — a few third-party writeups have mentioned a short registration step before downloading.
Download spot (quick): Download Lux Sub-Bass from the official product page on Luxora Audio’s site.
(If you prefer reading community impressions first, sites like AudioLatry, KVR and Bedroom Producers Blog also covered the release and link to the official download.) (
Real-world examples
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808s in modern trap: Instead of increasing the low-frequency fader by 3–6 dB (which can make a sub boomy), add harmonic saturation so your 808 reads stronger on club systems and phone speakers without redistributing energy.
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Bass guitar in a rock mix: Give the bass a rounder, thicker core by lightly saturating the sub region and pulling a bit of low-mid mud with the plugin’s EQ.
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Drum bus glue: A touch of sub saturation on the drum bus can glue kicks and low percussion together, making the groove feel heavier.
Many early reviewers praised Lux Sub-Bass for sounding musical and for how quickly it can fatten a low end without obvious artifacts. As always, use your ears and A/B comparisons (bypass on/off) to check that you’re enhancing rather than masking important mix detail.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Free and available in industry formats.
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Musical tube modeling tailored to the low end.
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Simple, fast workflow for quick sessions.
Cons
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Some users report extra CPU load when using oversampling + EQ at extreme settings. Keep an eye on load in large projects.
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It adds color — which is usually good — but you may prefer linear tools in surgical mastering situations.
Final thoughts
For producers who want to add weight, warmth and perception of volume to their low end without resorting to large EQ boosts, Lux Sub-Bass is a high-value tool — especially because it’s free. It’s fast to dial in, compatible with major DAWs, and designed specifically for the task of sub-bass enhancement. Whether you’re polishing a mix, designing a heavy 808, or trying to make a synth bass translate better to small speakers, Lux Sub-Bass deserves a spot in the toolbox. Download it from Luxora Audio and try a few parallel and in-chain experiments to hear the difference.
Antelope Audio MG4+ — The Free EQ That Brings “Air” to Your Mixes
Written by Sounds SpaceAntelope Audio MG4+ — The Free EQ That Brings “Air” to Your Mixes
If you’ve been hunting for a simple, musical equalizer that can add immediate polish to vocals, acoustic instruments, and mixes without sounding brittle, Antelope Audio’s MG4+ just landed in your lap — for free. It’s a native software take on a beloved 500-series six-band EQ (the hardware many engineers associate with that famously silky top end), and Antelope is giving it away for a limited time as they roll out individual perpetual licenses for their plugin library. In short, it’s approachable, fast, and sonically flattering in ways that are easy to hear in a mix.
Below I’ll unpack what the MG4+ is, why it matters, how it sounds, where it fits in your workflow, and a few practical tips to get the best results — whether you’re tracking, mixing, or mastering.
What is MG4+?
MG4+ is Antelope Audio’s native software emulation of a legendary six-band 500-series EQ module best known for its “Air” or “Sky” band — a high-frequency shelf that adds sheen and perceived loudness without the harshness you’d get by cranking simple high-shelf boosts. Antelope’s version is named MG4+ and ships as a VST3/AU/AAX plugin for macOS and Windows; it’s built from the same analog-modeling heritage that powered their Synergy Core DSP plugins but now runs natively on your computer.
Antelope released the MG4+ as a free giveaway to celebrate the availability of individual, perpetual licenses for its growing catalogue of native plugins — a move that makes their historically hardware-tied emulations available to anyone with a DAW. The promotion is time-limited, so it’s a great moment to try one of their flagship emulations without any upfront cost.
Why audio engineers love the original (and why MG4+ cares)
The hardware EQ that inspired MG4+ earned its reputation for adding “expensive”-sounding air to the top end while keeping sibilance and harshness at bay. That trick is more about the shape and phase behavior of the band than raw boost — it’s a musical, sympathetic shine rather than a bright, hard bump. Antelope’s modeling attempts to capture that character while adding flexible controls so you can adapt it to modern mixing tasks. If you want presence and clarity without the tinny artifacts that a lot of transparent digital EQs produce, this is exactly the use case the MG4+ targets.
Key features at a glance
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Six bands: five fixed-frequency bands for precise tonal sculpting plus the special Sky (Air) band for top-end sheen. The fixed bands are musically placed for common corrective and creative work.
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Sky Band (Air): the plugin’s star — designed to enhance perceived brightness and openness without making a signal sound brittle. Great for vocals, acoustic guitars, piano, and mix buses.
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Native plugin formats: AU, VST3, and AAX for cross-platform compatibility. No Antelope hardware required.
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iLok authorization: The free activation process uses Antelope’s user portal and iLok licensing (iLok Cloud or USB), and installation runs through the Antelope Launcher. Expect a short account/linking step before use.
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Presets & use cases: Includes artist/engineer–inspired starting points for vocals, instruments, and buses, which help you learn the plugin fast.

How MG4+ sounds — practical listening impressions
If you’re reading this to decide whether MG4+ is worth adding to your toolkit, here are the sonic characteristics that engineers repeatedly mention:
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Silky highs without sibilance. The Sky Band gives the impression of air and presence more than raw top-end boost. That means a vocal can cut through without sounding shouty. This is especially useful when you want modern radio-ready shine without de-essing surgical edits.
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Musical midrange control. The fixed bands are placed to catch typical problems or sweet-spot areas (low-end weight, muddiness, body, and presence). Rather than ultra-surgical, narrow cuts, the MG4+ leans toward musical, musically usable shapes that “sit” in mixes.
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Mix bus/mastering utility. Because of its smooth behavior, the EQ is often used in gentle amounts on buses or masters to impart a sheen and cohesion without introducing phase oddities that can ruin a stereo image. Antelope explicitly positions it as useful on vocals and stereo buses.
Users on forums have compared the native version favorably to the DSP version and to other Maag-style EQs, noting the MG4+ tends to be musical and usable even with relatively aggressive settings. As always, your mileage will vary by source material and monitoring environment, but the consensus is clear: it’s an easy “go-to” for top-end enhancement tasks.
Workflow tips — how to integrate MG4+ into your sessions
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Less is more on the Sky Band. Try small amounts (1–3 dB) at first. The Sky Band is addictive: a little goes a long way. On vocals, use it to add presence after compression rather than before, since compression can change perceived brightness.
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High-pass before sculpting. If you’re using MG4+ on a single channel, dial a high-pass on the source track (or a gentle low-end cut inside MG4+ if available) to prevent unnecessary low energy from triggering perceived loudness changes when you boost highs.
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Use it in tandem with surgical EQ. MG4+ is excellent for musical enhancement. For surgical removal of resonances or ringing, pair it with a precise, narrow parametric EQ first, then let MG4+ add the breath and air.
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Try it on buses. Put a subtle Sky Band boost on a vocal bus or vocal group to glue doubles and impart uniform air. Small boosts on a drum bus can also lift the kit without adding harshness.
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Check in mono. Because “air” can interact with the phase and the stereo image, occasionally check your adjustments in mono to ensure you haven’t introduced issues that collapse poorly.

Installation & claim process (quick how-to)
Antelope is distributing MG4+ as a free giveaway for a limited time. To claim and install:
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Visit Antelope Audio’s free plugin claim page and enter your email to receive the download/claim link.
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Create/link your Antelope account and ensure your iLok account is connected (the license is sent to iLok Cloud by default). If you don’t already have iLok, a free cloud account will suffice.
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Download the Antelope Launcher, install the plugin formats you need (AU/VST3/AAX), and authorize using iLok Cloud or USB. Then load the plugin in your DAW.
Note: Several independent outlets report high demand during the free period, so expect possible short delays on Antelope’s download servers. If you plan to grab it, do so while the promotion runs. Articles listed the free period running through November 30, 2025; confirm current availability on Antelope’s site.
Where MG4+ fits compared to other EQs
MG4+ isn’t positioned as a surgical parametric EQ or a linear-phase mastering tool (though people do use it on buses). It’s a character EQ — like Pultec-style or Maag-style tools — that enhances tonal balance with minimal fuss. If you already own highly transparent parametrics for corrective work, MG4+ fills the gap for tonal color and top-end glamour. Think of it as one of the “tweak-and-love” plugins: less about solving problems, more about making things feel finished.
Who should try MG4+ right now?
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Vocal producers and mixers who want to add presence quickly.
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Home studio owners without Antelope hardware who are curious about the company’s analog-modeling sound.
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Mix engineers are looking for an easy bus enhancer.
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Mastering engineers who want a tasteful top-end option for gentle polish (use sparingly and monitor carefully).
Final thoughts: Is it worth your time?
Yes. For a free, native EQ that’s modeled from a respected hardware lineage and designed specifically to give you that smooth, opening top end, MG4+ is absolutely worth grabbing — especially while Antelope is handing it out as part of their plugin rollout. It’s intuitive, musical, and bridges the gap between vintage EQ coloration and modern DAW convenience. Even if you don’t fall in love with it immediately, it’s a great tool to keep in the utility belt for quick tone shaping and mix finishing.
If you want to try it now: claim it through Antelope’s free plugin page, link your iLok account, and install via the Antelope Launcher. Then try the Sky Band on a lead vocal and hear what a little air can do.
StageVox — Why Cedar Audio’s new vocal plugin deserves a serious listen
Written by Sounds SpaceStageVox — Why Cedar Audio’s new vocal plugin deserves a serious listen
If you work with live vocals, streaming, broadcast, or even studio tracking, you’ve probably wrestled with the same problems: room noise, stage bleed, unpredictable ambience, and the tension between aggressive noise reduction and preserving the life in a voice. Cedar Audio’s new StageVox plugin is built specifically to tackle those problems in real time — and it brings some of Cedar’s most respected restoration tech into a low-latency, singer-friendly format. In this post, I’ll walk through what StageVox does, how it works, why it stands out from other vocal tools, and practical reasons you should at least download the trial and try it on a vocal chain.
What StageVox is:
StageVox is a near-zero latency noise-reduction plug-in designed specifically for singers and live vocal applications. It’s part of Cedar’s new “icons” series of plug-ins and uses the company’s CEDAR Quantum technology to deliver extremely low latency processing suitable for live sound, live broadcasting, tracking, and even mastering. The interface is intentionally simple: the controls focus on removing background noise and taming excessive reverberation while letting natural ambience remain when you want it.
Near-zero latency, based on CEDAR Quantum
Cedar’s reputation has always come from forensic-grade restoration and efficient, high-quality algorithms. StageVox leverages CEDAR Quantum technology: that’s the new family of algorithms Cedar is promoting as delivering sub-millisecond latency for live use. The implication is big — you can insert StageVox on a vocal channel for a live performance or monitoring chain without the distracting echo/delay singers hate. For live engineers and streamers, sub-1 ms latency means you can use real-time noise suppression with no timing penalty.
Key features that matter and why they matter:
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Near-zero latency noise suppression. This is StageVox’s headline feature. Unlike many advanced noise tools that only work well offline, StageVox is designed for real-time environments — live sound, broadcasts and tracking — where latency kills performance. That’s a game changer for on-stage and on-air use.
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Singer-optimised processing. Cedar has tuned the algorithms specifically for singing, not just speech. The spectral properties of singing (sustained vowels, wide dynamic range, melodic motion) are different from spoken dialogue, so a singer-focused algorithm preserves timbre and expression while removing hiss, stage rumble, or audience/mic bleed.
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Reverb/ambience control. StageVox includes controls to suppress excessive reverberation while letting desirable, natural ambience remain. That means you can clean up a vocal that’s too wet without removing all the room character — a nice middle ground between “dead” and “chaotic.”
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Efficient CPU usage. Cedar advertises StageVox as processor-efficient, allowing multiple instances across a mix. In practice, that means you can use it on dozens of tracks or multiple stage mics without instantly maxing out your system — critical for large live rigs or dense streaming sessions.
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Simple controls for fast results. Instead of presenting a labyrinth of parameters, StageVox focuses on a few meaningful controls — attenuation (how much noise reduction), ambience (how much natural room to leave), and an intuitive GUI. That simplicity is important in live and broadcast contexts where engineers need to dial things in fast.
How StageVox compares to other vocal/noise tools
There are two common approaches to noise suppression you’ll have used: heavyweight offline tools (iZotope RX-style spectral repair), and lightweight real-time gates/expanders or simple denoisers. StageVox sits in a sweet spot: it brings higher-quality, restoration-grade algorithms into a real-time capable, singer-centric plugin.
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Vs. offline restoration (RX): RX and similar tools are amazing for surgical repair, but require offline processing and a lot of tweaking. StageVox won’t replace deep spectral edits, but it prevents problematic noise before it’s recorded or broadcast — saving time and improving source quality.
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Vs. live gates/expanders: Traditional gates cut silence but can be crude with sustained singing or breathy passages. StageVox reduces noise without the abrupt artifacts of gating and works across the frequency spectrum intelligently. For live vocals that need to remain natural, that’s a big advantage.
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Vs. other low-latency denoisers: There are other live denoisers, but Cedar brings decades of restoration pedigree (they’ve long been the go-to in broadcast and forensics). Their algorithms are battle-tested on high-end restoration projects, and StageVox packages that expertise into a plugin tuned for musical vocals. That heritage matters when transparency is a priority.

Real-world use cases — where StageVox shines
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House of worship & theatre: Many live venues have noisy HVAC, stage rumble, or audience noise. StageVox reduces distractions while preserving vocal presence for worship leaders, musical theatre leads, and soloists.
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Live broadcast and streaming: Podcasters and streamers who bring live guests or perform vocals can use StageVox to drop the noise floor in real time, improving on-air clarity without needing complex routing or post edits.
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Tracking and vocal production: Recordists can use StageVox during tracking so takes are cleaner off the board, reducing the need for noisy cleanup later. Its efficiency means multiple takes or stacked vocal tracks remain practical.
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Mastering & post: Cedar even suggests uses in mastering and post where subtle noise and reverb control can polish a final vocal pass — again, thanks to algorithmic transparency.
Practical tips for getting the best results
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Start conservative. Use modest attenuation and pull back the ambience control only if the vocal still sounds thin; the goal is to reduce distractions without stripping life from the voice.
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Use it early in the chain. Insert StageVox before heavy EQ and compression when tracking or broadcasting so you’re feeding a cleaner signal into downstream processors.
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Monitor in context. Evaluate suppression while playing the full mix; what sounds obvious in solo can be perfectly fine in the band/bed.
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Multiple instances are okay. Because it’s CPU-efficient, don't be afraid to place StageVox on a few mics (main vocal and a backing vocal bus, for example) rather than routing everything through a single bus where you might lose control.
Pricing and availability
StageVox is sold through Cedar’s online shop — its launch pricing sits in the pro tier (the shop lists it at £249 as of publication). Cedar also offers trial downloads from their site so you can audition StageVox in your own system before buying. If you care about live performance quality and real-time monitoring, that trial is the best next step.
Why you should at least check it out
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It’s real-time, which changes workflows. Having near-zero latency noise suppression means you can fix problems in the moment — during tracking and live shows — instead of fixing them later (when fixes are often harder and more expensive).
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Cedar’s pedigree matters. Cedar’s tools are used by broadcasters, archives and forensic labs; their move into affordable plug-ins brings a level of algorithmic quality that many other live denoisers don’t match. That shows up in transparency and artifact behavior — vital for musical material.
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Simplicity for live use. The interface and limited control set are a feature, not a bug, when you’re on stage or on air. Quick results with minimal fiddling are huge in those environments.
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Efficient enough for real setups. If you’ve avoided high-quality denoisers because they taxed your CPU, StageVox’s efficiency opens doors for using restoration tech on many channels simultaneously.
Final thoughts — who should try StageVox first
If you run live sound for vocalists, produce live streams, record vocalists in imperfect rooms, or mix broadcasts and want a cleaner signal with as little latency as possible, StageVox should be on your short list. It’s not a replacement for deep offline spectral cleanup, but it is a fundamentally practical tool that helps you capture better performances in the moment — and that often saves hours in post. Cedar’s reputation, the Quantum tech, and the clear focus on singer use make it worth downloading the trial and hearing the difference on your own material.
