MusicTech’s favourite plugins of 2025 — so farWe’re halfway through 2025, but plugin developers have already dropped enough software this year to keep you busy for about a decade. MusicTech’s reviewers have checking out as many of them as possible — thankfully, we’ve found some absolute gems and separated the hype from the genuinely helpful.
Whether you’re hunting for the best VST plugins of 2025 or just looking to upgrade your go-to tools, our team of producers and reviewers have some useful options. From sleek EQs to leftfield synths, these are the plugins that have actually made it into our day-to-day projects — and might just earn a spot in yours too. Here are MusicTech’s favourite plugins of 2025…so far.
Wavea’s Flite is one beautiful maiden voyage
Play interface. Image: MusicTech
[products ids=”2q6Vqp3pm78hfuOa55MyEX”]
Beautifully wrapped in a minimalist UI, Wavea’s debut Flite plugin is a colourful playground of sound design that I’ve come back to time and time again. The starting point is an expertly curated preset library, but there’s so much versatility and scope for crafting unique and experimental sounds. With four samplers, a three-oscillator synth engine and a rounded selection of built-in effects, Flite’s strength lies in how easy it is to stack, combine, and route these modules swiftly and intuitively.
Flite proves there’s still plenty of room for indie developers to knock it out of the plugin park and stand shoulder to shoulder with the giant developers.
As mentioned in my review of Wavea Flite, it’s great value for money at $99. “This endearing plugin could easily become a firm favourite in your kit,” I added. “Considering that this plugin is the maiden flight from Wavea, you might expect it to be a little rough around the edges. Instead, Flite is warm, inviting and packed full of fun.”
— Garling Wu
Waves Curves Equator is an amazing value plugin
Editing on Curves Equator. Image: MusicTech
[products ids=”1DTCnKT5Z1amz3sLJdm6Ah”]
The plugin I’ve probably used the most this year is Waves Curves Equator. I’m still a big fan of Oeksound’s Soothe 2, but I’ve found this to be a killer alternative for quickly and easily tucking in resonant frequencies on tracks and mixes. It’s relatively light on resources and just seems to get the job done with fairly minimal tweaking. However, if you want to delve in and target certain sections of the spectrum, then you have several methods for only affecting the problem frequencies. It’s a powerful tool for beginners and pros alike that can be used alongside traditional EQ techniques to create smoother-sounding mixes. You can also pick it up on sale for the ridiculous price of $35 — bargain!
In my review of Waves Curves Equator, I noted how I can “quickly dial in improvements that benefit individual tracks, or a whole mix when used more sparingly. When it comes to very fine-tuned resonance suppression, I would probably still reach for Soothe2 as it can be more precise– as mentioned, there are better plugins for reducing mix clashes. But for general mix duties, Curves Equator is a superb choice.”
— Alex Holmes
It might as well be FabFilter Pro-Q 4
FabFilter Pro-Q 4
[products ids=”4eyvfiGJ6x54QcgMbgwAro”]
No matter what you’re doing with your DAW, the chances are that you have an EQ plugin on every channel. Even if you don’t perform surgery with the dynamic and spectral functionality with every instance of the plugin, FabFilter’s Pro-Q 4 is still an invaluable workhorse — and a gift that keeps on giving.
Simply by using the different character modes (Clean, Subtle, and Warm) with Gain-Q Interaction active, you start to get more musical results on busses or individual tracks, and improve your EQ skills while you do it. Then, when you want to go deeper, the spectral mode is perfect for taming the highs on overheads while keeping everything intact.
In my review of FabFilter Pro-Q 4, I said, “While other tools like Soothe2 and Gullfoss each apply their brand of magic to correcting unwanted resonances, Pro-Q 4 is not easily replaceable, given its versatility and depth of features. Pro-Q 4 will be loved equally by pro mixing and mastering engineers as it is by today’s generation of beat-makers and independent music producers.”
— Stefan Wyeth
The formidable T-RackS 6 Mastering Console
Credit: IK Multimedia
[products ids=”2f6QPCBs5pDITUuUKW7kE5″]
It’s not often you review a plugin that immediately becomes a cornerstone of your creative process, but IK Multimedia’s T-RackS Mastering Console is easily my most-used tool this year. It’s got a slick UI, presents for a variety of mixing styles, and high-end features for finalising and releasing music. Whether you’re actually mastering a track or just want to make sure a demo sounds as convincing as possible, the T-RackS Mastering console can add some ready-made magic to any mix.
Mastering Console pulls off what seemingly every plugin developer is trying to do right now — it takes parts of production that were mysterious and expensive, and opens them up for everyone.
Like I said in my review of IK Multimedia’s plugin bundle Total Studio 5, the tremendous power of T-RackS 6 almost makes up for the cost of the entire Total Studio bundle on its own.
— Clovis McEvoy
Arturia Pigments 6 — maybe the only synth you’ll ever need
Envelope Follower. Image: Press
[products ids=”7kMaRjcJoujGYrm9QullCb”]
I have an endless and deep fascination with sound synthesis in all its forms, and so have always been a big fan of Pigments’ semi-modular approach and hugely varied voice.
Here’s an instrument that can mimic a Minimoog, an MS-20, a Jupiter 8, and myriad other classic synths. It can be a mash-up of the best features of such classic synths, or it can be something entirely new and original. As the icing on the cake, Arturia’s sublime UI and UX design makes Pigments pretty much the best-looking plugin synth on the market, and also one of the easiest to use. What’s not to love?
I said in my Pigmnets 6 review that “it is an analogue monster, a digital dream, a sampling powerhouse, and now a physical modelling marvel.” Plus, its chameleon-like ability to be so many different types of synth means it could be the only synth you will ever need.
— Adam Crute
Output Co-Producer — an AI-powered plugin that actually promises to assist you
Output Co-Producer. Image: Output
[products ids=”781v3wnlxfTPwT6lSRwmva”]
Output’s Co-Producer feels like it takes the best of developments in cutting-edge tech while avoiding the rest. Working as a plug-in, it listens to your track and provides instant access to a vast and ever-expanding library of project-appropriate loops made by real humans – no AI-generated music here. Preview and drag and drop them into your DAW directly inside a project. Easy.
I haven’t reviewed Co-Producer for MusicTech yet but, having used it a lot already, it solves my problem of choice overload — who wants to navigate through thousands of loops over and over? And since all the content is royalty-free free you are completely covered. The library adds new content regularly, so you can stay inspired.
In short, using a form of AI that encourages your creativity rather than replacing it, Co-Producer shows how technology can support music-makers in a positive way.
— Hollin Jones
Want more gear buying assistance? Check out our buyer’s guides.
 
 
The post MusicTech’s favourite plugins of 2025 — so far appeared first on MusicTech.

Solana futures open interest hits $7.4B amid ETF speculation: Is $200 SOL next?SOL’s futures open interest hits a 2-year high above $7.4 billion, but neutral funding and declining DEX activity cast doubt on a breakout to $200.

Recording Industry Golf & Poker Tournament (RIGT) Partners with Altadena MusiciansParticipants from last year’s 2024 Recording Industry Golf Tournament.Like golf? Like poker? Read on."Excitement has been building for the upcoming 2025 Recording Industry Golf & Poker Tournament (RIGT), which will be held Monday, June 23, 2025, at Sand Canyon Country Club in Santa Clarita, CA, and event organizer Karen Dunn of KMD Productions, LLC, has announced a special new partner for this year’s Recording Industry Golf & Poker Tournament (RIGT): Altadena Musicians and its Instrumental Giving initiative," a statement released on Thursday reads. "Founded by acclaimed composer and musician Brandon Jay in partnership with the Creative Visions Foundation [a 501(c)(3) nonprofit], Altadena Musicians is an artist-led recovery effort that brings music back to life for those impacted by natural disasters, especially young and emerging artists, by putting instruments, gear, and vital resources back into their hands. Launched in response to the devastating California wildfires, including the Eaton fire that destroyed Jay’s home, studio, and nearly all of his family’s instruments, the initiative connects fire-impacted musicians with donors, retailers, and manufacturers through a streamlined gear replacement system modeled after a wedding registry. From guitars and keyboards to turntables and record collections, Altadena Musicians is committed to helping musicians of all ages and genres rebuild their creative lives.""This year’s RIGT will also serve as an official instrument drive drop-off to support the Instrumental Giving campaign," they continue. "Attendees are encouraged to bring instruments, gear, or records to donate and join the growing community of industry supporters helping to reignite creativity, one instrument at a time. Visit altadenamusicians.org for more information, to donate, or to apply for the registry."“Many members of the southern California music community were devasted by the wildfires earlier this year, and they lost precious gear and instruments. Partnering with Altadena Musicians is a small way for us to help the community heal and get back into the swing of making the music we love,” stated Dunn.More about the RIGT:"Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the event will see its shotgun start at 12:00 noon PDT and the Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament beginning at 2:00 p.m. Slots are available for players (golf, poker or both), sponsors and volunteers.""Since 2015, the RIGT has served as a fun retreat for L.A. recording industry veterans, but the past few years have also been attracting plenty of audio students and younger, emerging members of the community. In store, expect a chance at $1 million, a $10k hole-in-one prize, a $5000 putting contest, fun photo/social media content opportunities, and the 'Infamous Traveling Tequila Carts.' And returning is the Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament – always a popular highlight of the day’s festivities!""Sponsors include Audio Engineering Society, AKG, Apogee, ASG (Advanced Systems Group), Clyne Media, JBL, Lonely Feather Studios, Lurssen Mastering, PDI (Progressive Designs Inc.), the Recording Studio Insurance Program, SSL (Solid Stage Logic), studioespresso and Ultimate Ears Pro. There is still time left to sign up as a sponsor."Visit here to lock in your involvement, or contact Dunn directly at 925-708-0307 for more information. Golfers can sign up as complete foursomes, as pairs, or singles (who will be matched up into foursomes). A special reduced rate is also available for students.Visit https://birdease.com/2025RIGT for more information, or call Karen Dunn at 925-708-0307.The post Recording Industry Golf & Poker Tournament (RIGT) Partners with Altadena Musicians first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

After a string of successes, early-stage fund Felicis raises fresh $900MLately, Felicis, like most VCs, has been all over AI. Its portfolio now includes, for example, Browser Use, Poolside, Runway, and Supabase.

Spitfire Audio Jupiter by Trevor HornJupiter by Trevor Horn Jupiter by Trevor Horn is a unique virtual instrument from Spitfire Audio, offering a comprehensive collection of sounds meticulously crafted and curated by the legendary pop producer Trevor Horn himself. This plugin is designed to encapsulate the iconic production style and otherworldly sonic elements that defined Horn's groundbreaking work with artists like Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Yes, Seal, and Grace Jones. It's more than just a sample library; it's a deep dive into the sonic DNA of pop innovation, blending vintage warmth with futuristic digital textures. Powered by Spitfire Audio's eDNA engine and housed within their dedicated "Solar" plugin, Jupiter goes beyond static samples. It provides a rich palette of drums, basses, synthesizers, a pristine Bösendorfer grand piano, and a unique FX library, all imbued with Horn's signature touch. The eDNA interface within Solar allows for extensive sound manipulation, offering "warps" that range from period-specific gated reverbs and tape saturation to bit-crushing and vintage modulation effects. This empowers producers not only to recreate the classic sounds of the 80s and 90s but also to reinvent them, pushing creative boundaries for modern synth-wave and electro-pop productions. Whether you're looking for the punchy drums that defined an era, the lush synths from his personal archives, or the bright, pop-infused piano sound recorded in his own studio, Jupiter provides an authentic and inspiring sonic toolkit. Features: Curated Sound Library: A comprehensive collection of drums, basses, synths, piano, and FX, all crafted and curated by Trevor Horn. Trevor Horn's Private Sample Archive: Exclusive access to Horn's personal drum machine samples, featuring vintage tones and tape-saturated percussion. Curated Synth Presets: A diverse range of synth textures from Horn's archives and Spitfire Audio's sound design team, including warm analog pads, futuristic digital leads, string clusters, harmonic stabs, and galactic plucks. Bösendorfer Grand Piano: A meticulously recorded Bösendorfer grand piano from Trevor Horn's studio, offering a bright, pristine, and unmistakably pop sound. FX Library for Iconic Transitions: A selection of stingers and transitions like shimmering sparkles, cassette hits, dub blips, and harmonic chimes for cinematic flair and seamless song section transitions. Powered by Solar Plugin (eDNA Engine): Housed in Spitfire Audio's dedicated Solar plugin, utilizing the advanced eDNA technology for deep sound manipulation and layering. Five Instrument Categories: Dedicated sections for Drums, FX, Bass, Synths, and Piano. Five "Warp" Modes: CORE: The original recorded sound. REFLECT: Period reverbs with genre-defining gates. ALIAS: Alters the bit depth and clock-rate of sounds. CALIBRATE: Applies saturated and uncalibrated tape effects. DIMENSION: Processes sounds through vintage modulation equipment. 300 Presets: A wide array of expertly designed presets to jumpstart your productions. 208 Individual Sounds: Provides raw source material for custom sound design. Dual-Layered Interface: The Solar plugin allows for blending and molding two sounds together, offering extensive possibilities for unique sound creation. Designed for Pop Innovation: Tailored for producers inspired by Trevor Horn's groundbreaking techniques in synth-wave, electro-pop, and general pop music production. https://youtu.be/Dq4iDj_s_0k Read More

The Billionth Repository On GitHub is Really ShittyWhat’s the GitHub repository you have created that you think is of most note? Which one do you think of as your magnum opus, the one that you will be remembered by? Was it the CAD files and schematics of a device for ending world hunger, or perhaps it was software designed to end poverty? Spare a thought for [AasishPokhrel] then, for his latest repository is one that he’ll be remembered by for all the wrong reasons. The poor guy created a repository with a scatalogical name, no doubt to store random things, but had the misfortune to inadvertently create the billionth repository on GitHub.
At the time of writing, the repository sadly contains no commits. But he seems to have won an unexpectedly valuable piece of Internet real estate judging by the attention it’s received, and if we were him we’d be scrambling to fill it with whatever wisdom we wanted the world to see. A peek at his other repos suggests he’s busy learning JavaScript, and we wish him luck in that endeavor.
We think everyone will at some time or another have let loose some code into the wild perhaps with a comment they later regret, or a silly name that later comes back to haunt them. We know we have. So enjoy a giggle at his expense, but don’t give him a hard time. After all, this much entertainment should be rewarded.

Jonathan Dickins talks Adele’s record breaking Munich stadium residency and more in SXSW London interviewSeptember Management founder Jonathan Dickins participated in a rare on-stage interview at SXSW London on Friday (June 6).
Source

Grammys announce new Award Categories, sets Key DatesThe Grammys announce new Award categories, dates and deadlines for the 68th GRAMMY Awards. 2026 winners will be announced live at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb.. Continue reading
The post Grammys announce new Award Categories, sets Key Dates appeared first on Hypebot.

Arturia unveil Mix Drums The latest plug-in to join Arturia’s line-up has been designed to provide a quick and intuitive way to craft impactful drum sounds without the complexity of using multiple processors.

Arturia’s Mix DRUMS plugin increases the “impact and perceptual loudness” of your drumsArturia has launched Mix DRUMS, a new plugin designed to increase the impact and perceptual loudness of your drums, while preserving peak levels.
The plugin streamlines complex drum processing workflows and was developed with mixing engineer Emre Ramazanoglu. With over 25 years of experience, Ramazanoglu has worked with artists like Lily Allen, Brian Eno, David Holmes, and more.

READ MORE: Arturia’s V Collection 11 Intro review: A shocking price tag on a fantastic bundle

According to Arturia, Mix DRUMS can lift any drum bus, live kit, loop, or layered one-shot. It has an input ceiling system to keep peaks safe, a parallel processing engine, and 40 “mix-ready” presets.
The input ceiling analyses the average peak of your drum bus and applies optimal gain staging for high-impact without clipping. With its dual-band processing, you can split your signal into low (kick and toms) and mid/high (snare, hats, and toms) bands for targeted treatment, with each path providing distortion, dynamics, and tonal shaping tailored to its role in the kit.
Additionally, tucked away in the EQ section is a “noise” feature, including vinyl crackle, tape hiss, and other electronic textures that can be placed pre- or post-processing. Check out the video below for more:
“This plugin recreates and actually improves upon one particular workflow I use when creating characterful drum sounds in a mix, or for increasing the impact of delivered stereo drum loops without raising peak level,” Ramazanoglu comments.
“I wanted an all-in-one solution to achieve the retro-inspired but full-range and weighty drum sounds that I get hired to deliver – as well as everything from fully creative transformational processes to very subtle drum bus enhancements.. We’ve developed a phase-coherent processor that allows the user to instantly dial in a huge variety of tones.”
To find out more, head over Arturia.
The post Arturia’s Mix DRUMS plugin increases the “impact and perceptual loudness” of your drums appeared first on MusicTech.

Free Music Industry Newsletters You Should Be ReadingWant to stay ahead in the fast-moving music industry without spending hours scrolling? This roundup of the best free music industry newsletters - which we're proud to say includes Hypebot - will keep you informed, inspired, and one step ahead.
The post Free Music Industry Newsletters You Should Be Reading appeared first on Hypebot.

RIAA CEO calls Midjourney a “bad actor” and backs Disney and Universal’s lawsuit against the AI image generatorMitch Glazier, chairman and CEO of The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), has released a statement supporting a lawsuit against the AI company Midjourney.
Midjourney was launched publicly in February 2022, and utilises AI technology to generate images from text prompts. It is run by the Midjourney independent research lab, which – according to its website – explores “new mediums of thought” and expands “the imaginative powers of the human species”.

READ MORE: Spotify executive says “there is no dilution of the royalty pool by AI music”

The lawsuit was filed on 11 June by Disney and Universal, and alleges that Midjourney has stolen “countless” copyrighted works to train its AI image generator (as reported by Billboard). It also claims that Midjourney allows users to create images that “blatantly incorporate and copy Disney’s and Universal’s famous characters”.
Glazier calls the company a “bad actor”, and has described the lawsuit as a “critical stand” for responsible innovation. His official statement, which has been shared with MusicTech, reads, “There is a clear path forward through partnerships that both further AI innovation and foster human artistry. Unfortunately, some bad actors – like Midjourney – see only a zero-sum, winner-take-all game.
“These short-sighted AI companies are stealing human-created works to generate machine-created, virtually identical products for their own commercial gain. That is not only a violation of black letter Copyright law but also manifestly unfair. This action by Disney and Universal represents a critical stand for human creativity and responsible innovation.”
At the time of writing, Midjourney is yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit.
In other AI news, producer Timbaland has recently (and controversially) launched his own AI entertainment company called Stage Zero. Upon unveiling its first artist, named TaTa, Timbaland said, “I’m not just producing tracks anymore. I’m producing systems, stories, and stars from scratch.”
MusicTech has reached out to Midjourney for comment.
The post RIAA CEO calls Midjourney a “bad actor” and backs Disney and Universal’s lawsuit against the AI image generator appeared first on MusicTech.

Sony expand access to 360 Virtual Mixing Environment 360VME, which until now has been available exclusively to professional facilities, is capable of recreating the acoustic field of a multi-speaker immersive studio over headphones, allowing users to produce immersive audio mixes in any location. 

Get Shoeless Drive 2.0 by WaveMind for FREE
WaveMind just released an update to their overdrive plugin, Shoeless Drive, in collaboration with YouTuber Rensington. The effect is in its 2.0 version, offering improved features and bug fixes, and might be a versatile drive unit for guitarists. Check out a demo here: The layout is relatively simple, and the heart of the plugin is [...]
View post: Get Shoeless Drive 2.0 by WaveMind for FREE

“You could pick up Casios, old Yamahas, cheap toy things for between $30 and $100. There’ll be something in there”: Mark Pritchard on why using cheap synths can spur creativityOver the last 30 years of making music, Mark Pritchard has acquired a wide array of synths, including an Arp Odyssey and a Mini Moog. But when he was making Tall Tales, his collaborative album with Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke and revered visual artist Jonathan Zawada, he produced with machines far beyond what he had in his collection.
On the one hand, when Pritchard wanted to venture into the esoteric realm, he visited MESS, Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio, which houses incredibly rare and expensive synthesizers. Members of MESS can pay a fee to try them out in allotted sessions. While he was there, Pritchard got his hands on the Korg PS 3100, Roland CR-78 drum machine, and a Triadex Muse among others.

READ MORE: PMT placed into administration, all stores closed with immediate effect

“You get a chance to play on these synthesizers that are really hard to keep working, let alone afford,” Pritchard says in a new interview with MusicTech.
However, despite Pritchard’s skill, he also went the other direction, using some of the cheapest synths available to contribute sounds to the album.
“You could pick up Casios, old Yamahas, cheap toy things for between $30 and $100. There’ll be something in there. There’ll be a sound. There’ll be a source,” Pritchard says. “It’s good to limit yourself to something [and think] ‘I’m going to make something out of this today’. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but it’s fun to try things out.”
It took Pritchard, Yorke, and Zawada several years to complete Tall Tales. They started it during the pandemic, and it was released on May 9, 2025. Throughout that time, all three members had immense freedom to create as they pleased. They were never once in the room together, and they built collaborative ideas by adding new bits to a Miro board as they worked. So, no one was questioning what kind of machines Pritchard used. As long as they liked how it sounded, they were happy.
Read the full interview via MusicTech. Listen to Tall Tales below:

The post “You could pick up Casios, old Yamahas, cheap toy things for between $30 and $100. There’ll be something in there”: Mark Pritchard on why using cheap synths can spur creativity appeared first on MusicTech.