sonicLAB has updated the Oceanic bundle and released OceanicW. Oceanic bundle captures the essence of the ocean waves and transforms them into a symphony of additive sound synthesis. Until now the Oceanic app (simulates the oceanic waves) and the WaveBot plugin (creates the wavetables and the sound engine) have been separate applications. Now the OceanicW…
Fanan Team releases Fanan ASIO Driver – Universal ASIO Driver for Windows
Fanan team has released Fanan ASIO Driver, a universal ASIO driver for Windows. Fanan ASIO provides ASIO access to any Windows playback or capture device, including built-in laptop codecs, onboard chipsets and USB audio devices, without requiring a dedicated audio interface. It presents 2 inputs and 2 outputs in non-registered mode (free) and 16 inputs…
Best VST Instruments for Beatmakers in 2026 (Ranked)
Quick answer: Most beatmakers want three things: a synth for custom bass and leads (Serum), a fast rompler/library for melodies (Nexus, or DRILLER for huge all-in-one range), and a dedicated 808 tool (SubLab). Below are the best VST instruments for beats in 2026, ranked, with who each one is for. Part of our complete guide…
Convolution vs Algorithmic Reverb for Vocals: Which to Use
Quick answer: Use algorithmic reverb for most lead vocals — it’s flexible and easy to shape. Use convolution when you want a specific, believable real room, usually on background or cinematic vocals. Better still, use a plugin that gives you both. Part of our complete vocal reverb guide. If you’ve compared reverb plugins you’ve hit…
Reverb vs Delay on Vocals: Which to Use and When
Quick answer: Use delay when you want depth while keeping the vocal upfront and clear (great for busy, modern mixes), and reverb when you want a continuous sense of space and emotion. The best vocal chains use both — a short reverb for body and a tempo-synced, ducked delay for depth. Part of our complete…
How to Use Reverb on Vocals (Step-by-Step)
Quick answer: Put reverb on a send, set pre-delay to ~40–60 ms so the words stay clear, match the decay to the tempo, high-pass and de-harsh the return, then duck or gate the tail so it blooms in the gaps. That’s the whole recipe — the steps below fill it in. Part of our complete…
Vocal Reverb: The Complete Guide (2026)
Quick answer: Great vocal reverb is about control — use pre-delay to keep the words clear, match decay to the tempo, EQ and duck the tail so it sits behind the lead, and pick the right type (algorithmic for flexible leads, convolution for real rooms, gated for big controlled space). This guide covers all of…
MUEDsp releases two FREE macOS mastering plugins
Developer MUEDsp has released two free macOS plugins, MUEDsat and MUEDlim. Both plugins are taken from MUEDsp masterchain, a mastering suite that is currently in development. According to the developer Atsushi, each plugin is an actual stage from the master-bus chain used by the developer, pulled out and made free. So basically, these are not…