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)

Black Lion Audio Auteur 8DAT The Auteur 8DAT is an eight-channel microphone preamplifier and A/D converter designed to expand interface setups via ADAT. The unit combines the company's signature high-speed transparent preamplification with integrated digital conversion, offering a solution for tracking full drum kits or large ensembles within a single rack unit. The Auteur 8DAT features eight channels of Chicago-style transformer-coupled preamps. The first two channels include front-panel Hi-Z inputs for direct instrument tracking. Each channel is equipped with a dedicated gain control, polarity flip, 10dB pad, and 48V phantom power. The analog circuit is designed to provide a wide frequency response and low noise floor, while the IC-based input stages ensure rapid transient response. For digital integration, the unit utilizes high-quality A/D converters capable of resolutions up to 24-bit/192kHz. Connectivity is handled via dual ADAT Optical outputs, allowing for full eight-channel counts even at higher sample rates (S/MUX). The unit also includes a Word Clock I/O for synchronization with external digital clocking systems. Key Features Eight-Channel Preamplification: High-speed transparent circuitry with Cinemag output transformers. Integrated A/D Conversion: Supports sample rates from 44.1kHz up to 192kHz. Front-Panel Access: Two Hi-Z instrument inputs for guitars and basses. Flexible Connectivity: Dual ADAT outputs and BNC Word Clock I/O. Per-Channel Controls: Independent 48V phantom power, phase invert, and 10dB pad. Metering: 8-segment LED meters for accurate signal monitoring on every channel. Form Factor: 1U rack-mountable chassis with an external power supply to minimize internal noise. Technical Specifications & Requirements Preamp Type: Solid State (Transformer-coupled output). Digital Outputs: 2 x ADAT Optical (Toslink). Max Sample Rate: 192kHz. Analog Inputs: 8 x XLR (Rear), 2 x 1/4" TS Hi-Z (Front). Word Clock: 1 x BNC In, 1 x BNC Out. Power: External 24V DC Power Supply. Read More

Reffrey is a FREE reference track plugin for Mac and Windows
Reffrey is a free reference track plugin available in VST3 and AU formats for Mac and Windows, with no account required to download. Plugins like this one are useful when you want to quickly compare your track to your favorite mixes, and referencing is one of the most important parts of mixing, in my opinion. [...]
View post: Reffrey is a FREE reference track plugin for Mac and Windows

Native Instruments release Komplete 26 Available in four versions, Komplete 26 delivers everything from virtual synths and orchestral sample libraries to high-quality mixing and mastering processors, and as you’d expect, offers tight integration with NI’s hardware controllers.