InMusic just bought Native Instruments. So what now for Traktor?Native Instruments has been sold. InMusic Brands, the U.S. parent of Akai Professional, Denon DJ, Numark, Rane, M-Audio, Moog, and Engine DJ, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire NI in full. That includes Traktor, Maschine, Komplete, Kontakt, Reaktor, and the broader iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx stack that NI absorbed over the last few […]
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hzitools HziLooperTrack Multi-Layer Looper Plugin (VST3/WIN): Dynamic Track Allocation: A scalable architecture supporting up to 8 independent stereo loop tracks for complex, layered compositions. Advanced Track Routing: Route any track to the master output or assign it to Bus A or B for Morphing. Mute/Solo Tracks and Route them to your DAWs Channels separately. Retro-Grab (Time Machine): A constant 60-second global history buffer that allows you to "capture the past". Instantly transform live input into a loop by grabbing 4 bars, 2 bars, 1 bar, or even 1/4 bar segments. Sync: BPM synchronization with multiple modes, including Free, Auto-Quantize, and Bar-relative sync, ensuring loops stay perfectly locked to your host DAW. Harmonizer: One-click musical harmonization engine that automatically pitches your active tracks to form cohesive chords, triads, 7ths, and granular clusters. Master Controls: Global parameters for Master Pitch with semi-tone quantization and a Global Stop featuring adjustable tape-style glide times. Performance MIDI Modes: Play your loops chromatically across a keyboard for melodic re-pitching, or use 'Trigger Mode' to fire off specific slices and tracks like a classic sampler. Spectral Morphing and Snapshot System: Frequency-Domain Morpher: Spectral processing engine that crossfades and intertwines the frequency content of Morph Bus A and Morph Bus B. Spectral Blur & Contrast: Smear the FFT frames for ghostly, frozen textures using the Blur control, or push the dynamic range of the spectrum using the Adaptive Contrast knob. A/B Snapshot Gliding: Seamlessly interpolate not just audio, but your entire UI, modulation matrix, and parameter states between two snapshots using the Snapshot Morph slider. Slicing & Sequencing: Slice Editor: Waveform overlay for precision slicing, manual transient addition and pattern manipulation. Grid & Auto-Transient Modes: Divide loops into rhythmic grids from 1/2 down to 1/64, or utilize marker-based slicing for organic, transient-driven deconstruction. Per-Step Automation (Sequencer): Every track features a dedicated sequencer to automate sonic characteristics per slice. Drill & Reverse Sequencing: Create rhythmic stutter repetitions within a single step, or independently reverse specific slices. Spatial Pan & Width Sequencing: Orchestrate dynamic stereo movement and width per slice. Slice Shifting & Decay: Dial in real-time phase-shifting of individual slices for "drunken" rhythms and sculpt the envelope of each slice with the Decay control. Per-Channel Signal Chain & FX: Ambient Strip (Flux & Aura): Add movement and pitch-drifting width using Flux and create ghostly, expanding reverb tails with the Aura shimmer engine. Multi-Mode Channel Distortion: Inject grit with three distinct flavors: warm Crunch, aggressive Wavefolding, and aliasing 8-Bitcrush. Dual-State Filter: Resonant filters per track that morph from surgical Low-Pass to High-Pass sweeps. Granular Stutter Engine: A 32-grain engine per track with deep control over rate, size, positional offset, and stereo spread. Global FX & Textures: Integrated Texture Engine: Layer your sound with 9 lo-fi models (including Vinyl Dust, Tape Hiss, Broken Motor, Abyss Drone, Rain, and Mechanical Grinding) with adjustable pitch and amount. Master Tube Saturation: Heat up the mix with tube modeling. Shimmer Reverb: A pitch-shifting feedback reverb specifically tuned for ethereal, glassy pads alongside standard Room, Hall, and Cathedral modes. Complex Master Delay: Four distinct delay models: Digital, Tape with pitch-slew, Ping-Pong, and Ghost. Workflow, Modulation & Performance. 8-Slot LFO Matrix: Modulation system with 8 LFOs featuring Sine, Triangle, Saw, Square, Random, and a Custom Draw Mode. Map them to nearly any parameter via a simple right-click overlay. Deep Randomization System: A highly configurable "RND ALL" engine. Choose exactly what gets randomized (Pitch, Filter, Pan, Stutter, Slices, Ambient, or Distortion) for controlled chaos. Snapshot Storage: Store up to 8 global snapshots containing sequencer data, parameter states, and modulation routings for instant recall. Sidechain Ducking: Built-in sidechain compressor with a yellow threshold visualizer to let your kick drum breathe through the loop. Preset & Asset Management: Preset saving that automatically creates sidecar folders for your exported audio assets. Drag & Drop Export: Instantly render your current mix and drag the rendered WAV file directly from the plugin into your DAW. Read More

Goodhertz releases LA-210, a FREE compressor/clipper/saturation plugin
Goodhertz has released LA-210, a free saturation plugin that combines an opto compressor, soft clipper, and cassette tape model in a single interface designed to look like a Southern California freeway map. I have to point this out right away. I’m a huge fan of Goodhertz plugins, both for the way they sound and for [...]
View post: Goodhertz releases LA-210, a FREE compressor/clipper/saturation plugin

SUPERBOOTH 2026: Erica Synths Bullfrog Drums The Bullfrog Drums is the latest collaboration between Erica Synths and Richie Hawtin, and delivers an educational instrument that's easy to use, but still packs in enough pro features to satisfy serious users.

Native Instruments to be acquired by inMusic Native Instruments CEO Nick Williams has announced that a definitive agreement has been signed for the company to be acquired by inMusic.

Nektar Panorama CS12: Reaper & Fender Studio Pro support In addition to its Logic Pro and Cubase/Nuendo support, Nektar's Panorama CS12 now boasts integration with Cockos Reaper and Fender Studio Pro / PreSonus Studio One.

Sender Spike releases DR.89, a FREE Roland TR-909 drum machine emulation for Windows
Developer Sender Spike has released DR.89, a free Roland TR-909 inspired drum machine plugin for Windows. If the name Sender Spike sounds familiar, that’s because we’ve covered a few of this developer’s plugins recently, including the SN Zero hybrid FM synthesizer, the qb (Kyubi) multimode distortion, and the filter.tank dual filter. SN Zero is one [...]
View post: Sender Spike releases DR.89, a FREE Roland TR-909 drum machine emulation for Windows

Unusable Engineering Curves & MembranesCurves & Membranes is a one-oscillator mono synth built around Bézier wave shaping, orbital modulation, and a membrane-style filter model. The idea was not to make a synth that does everything, but to make a smaller instrument where the few core parts actually behave in interesting ways. It is monophonic on purpose. I did not want to lower oversampling or update rates, because I did not want to compromise the sound. I also did not feel any need to add more oscillators when the one that is there already does enough interesting things on its own. The smaller structure also makes the interface easier to grasp, and to me the limitation makes it more attractive, not less. The oscillator uses a repeating single-cycle Bézier waveform. You shape it by moving handles and midpoint rather than selecting from a fixed set of waveforms. From there, the synth runs two modulation concepts in parallel: an 8-slot wave preset bank with slew and clocked stepping, and independent orbital modulators for each point and handle. In the filter stage, 32 membrane lanes react to LP, BP, and HP actuator points in parallel, with damping, tension, width, emphasis, and keyboard tracking changing the response. A big part of the point is that the sound and the visuals reflect the same thing. The oscillator shape, the modulation movement, and the filter behavior are all part of the same core idea, so what you see on screen is not just decoration pasted on top. It works especially well for bass lines with movement, expressive mono leads, and long evolving drone material. You can keep it simple and musical, or push it much further with wave sequencing and orbital motion. Even with a lot of movement, the synth is designed to stay pitch-stable and playable. There are no preset system included. The thinking there is simple: if the interface is clear enough, you should be able to make your own sounds without starting from a giant preset browser. Randomization is also a big part of the workflow. The modulation systems are built to make exploration fast, not precious. Highlights: One-oscillator mono synth. Bézier single-cycle oscillator. None, Clip, and Fold wave distortion modes. 8-slot Wave Preset Bank with slew. Internal or host-clocked wave sequencing. Independent orbital modulators for each point and handle. 32-lane membrane filter with LP, BP, and HP actuators. Direct interface with no hidden panels or secondary pages. Videos Full walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgsCDjBzLlk Sounds / patch ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo4qDD3YghU Read More

Polyend Drums hybrid drum machine Polyend's latest release Drums features eight tracks designed for creating percussion using analogue voices, digital synthesis methods or sample-based instruments.

Shed Valley Labs Chief LP-2Chief LP-2 is a free, 2-channel audio looper for Windows, built for live performance. It pairs a precise audio engine with a fast recording workflow - tap a tempo, record a loop, and it locks to the bar automatically. Core features: - 2 independent loop channels with per-channel gain, mute, and input mute - MIDI learn on all controls - Direct Host VST-instruments (VSTI) and record the output as audio - Metronome-locked recording: loops snap to bar boundaries automatically - Count-in and fixed-length recording modes - Overdub with configurable decay - 1 mute group for instant channel muting - 1 programmable macro button (trigger multiple channel actions in one keystroke or MIDI message) - Per-channel VST3 plugin insert - Per-channel routing: choose any hardware input/output, with mono output option - MIDI clock master and slave (beta) - Chromatic tuner - Song settings save/load - Song templates (save/apply a default rig setup). Coming soon: Upgrade to the Chief LP-6, featuring 6 channels, 4 mute groups, 5 macros, A/B/C sections, and a built-in lyrics/chords screen. Read More

Focusrite: Designing The ISA C8X Audio Interface Learn about the history of the Focusrite ISA preamp circuit, explain what makes it special, and lay bare the intensive development process behind the first ISA audio interface.

Analog Obsession releases MuChild, a FREE Fairchild 660 emulation plugin
uchDeveloper Analog Obsession has released MuChild, a free Fairchild 660 emulation for macOS and Windows. It’s a good day for Analog Obsession fans; we’ve already had LAEA and RazorClip from the developer this year, and here we are getting ready to discuss another new release. This latest release is MuChild, Analog Obsession’s take on the [...]
View post: Analog Obsession releases MuChild, a FREE Fairchild 660 emulation plugin

RME TotalMix FX 2 now available TotalMix FX 2.0 delivers some major updates to the popular mixing and routing tool, introducing a new graphics engine along with a scaleable user interface and a whole host of enhancements.

Pulsar Audio Smasher is FREE for a limited time again
Pulsar Audio is giving away Smasher, its €49 FET compressor plugin, as a free perpetual license. If the name sounds familiar, it should. We’ve covered Smasher being free four times before, going back to 2020. If you’ve somehow missed it every single time, here’s another chance. And I’m having a hard time coming up with [...]
View post: Pulsar Audio Smasher is FREE for a limited time again

Mastering The Mix releases STEREOVAULT, a new stereo width plugin (LAUNCH OFFER)
Mastering The Mix has released STEREOVAULT, a stereo width plugin for macOS and Windows. The plugin addresses a common problem where stereo widening can make audio sound bigger immediately, but it often weakens the low end, blurs the center of the mix, and introduces phase issues that hurt translation outside the studio. STEREOVAULT fixes this [...]
View post: Mastering The Mix releases STEREOVAULT, a new stereo width plugin (LAUNCH OFFER)