Sony expand WH headphone line-up Sony have just announced the launch of three new pairs of headphones that span their premium, mid-range and entry-level line-ups.

Lemur Audio ESTER TUBE EqualizerESTER is a two-channel programme equalizer drawn from a hand-built vacuum tube unit — the kind of equalizer that never fixes a sound so much as it decides one. It has no analyser, no curve display and no surgical band, because the original had none: what it has is five broad, deeply musical sections, each with a rotary frequency selector over its own gain control. The two low sections are separate on purpose. LOW CUT and LOW BOOST are independent, and using them together in the same region — lifting the bottom while trimming just above it — is one of the classic moves this design is loved for. MID CUT starts wide and grows narrower the deeper you take it, so a small amount clears a whole region and a large amount tucks out one thing. HIGH BOOST carries its own bandwidth control (HF Q), and HIGH CUT tames the very top the way the hardware's output stage does. In front of all of it stands the part that makes it a valve equalizer rather than a set of filters: a tube stage, driven by the INPUT TRIM knob, that faithfully reproduces both tubes the original was historically built with — the 6072A it opens on, and the 6N1P. It stands in front of the equalizer, like a preamp, so the drive you set and the curve you shape never pull on each other. Push it and the sound gains density, harmonic weight and the gentle rounding a real valve gives you. Switch it off with SAT and ESTER is a clean, linear equalizer. And both channels are genuinely independent: LINK them for one dual-mono unit, unlink them to treat left and right separately, or switch the whole plug-in to M/S and equalize the centre and the sides apart from one another. At a glance Five EQ Sections LOW CUT, LOW BOOST, MID CUT, HIGH BOOST and HIGH CUT — per channel, each a frequency selector above its own gain control. Boost and Cut, Separately The low bands are independent, so you can lift and trim the same region at once — the move this design is famous for. Exact Recalls The frequencies land on the values engraved on the faceplate, so a setting you love comes back exactly — session after session, on every mix. Level Held While You Work AGCreads the curve you have built and compensates for it, so the loudness stays where it was and you hear the tone you changed rather than the level. Undo and redo sit beside it for the move you would rather take back. Two Tubes, One Valve Stage Both tubes the original was historically built with, 6072A and 6N1P, faithfully reproduced in front of the EQ — driven by one INPUT TRIM knob, with a lamp that shows it working. True Stereo & Mid/Side Two fully independent channels with their own VOLUME trim. LINK them, split them, or switch the whole unit to Mid/Side. YourColour The faceplate's hue is a continuous slider in the panel. Set it anywhere you like — it changes the look and nothing else, and it is saved with that instance in your project. Read More

SKR4CH is a FREE browser-based waveform designer for synths and samplers
SKR4CH is a free browser-based tool for designing single-cycle waveforms, wavetable frame sets, and sustained samples. This is a surprisingly capable waveform editor that runs directly in your browser. It’s pretty intuitive, and you can use it to build oscillator material for compatible synthesizers and samplers. It reminded me of the Waved Studio editor that we [...]
View post: SKR4CH is a FREE browser-based waveform designer for synths and samplers

Elektron reveal the Outbox 8 The Outbox 8 offers a convenient way for users to integrate hardware instruments, effects and mixers in their DAW-based setup, providing eight outputs that can be configured to carry audio or CV signals via a USB-C connection. 

Windows-G E-ChorusFX700 (VST3)E-ChorusFX700 is a Windows-only VST3 chorus plugin that can be used to add depth, width, and modulation movement to tracks and mixes. Features: * Two LFO Shapes: 1. Triangle: Because a triangle wave moves at a constant speed in both directions (up and down), it produces less obvious volume and pitch variations in the chorus sound. 2. Sine: Because a sine wave moves slowly at the peaks and troughs then accelerates through the middle, it produces more noticeable volume and pitch variations in the chorus sound. * Delay (0–50 ms): Sets the base delay time for the LFO modulation. Short delays (0.1–5 ms) create a sweeping, flanger-like effect due to comb filtering. Mid-range delays (6–12 ms) produce transparent, single-voice chorus. Longer delays (13–50 ms) produce highly spacious chorus with more noticeable doubling. * Depth (0–100%): Controls how far the modulation sweeps above and below the base delay time; this is the intensity of the modulation. Lower values create narrower sweeps, giving a subtle chorus effect, while higher values create wider sweeps, resulting in a more intense chorus effect. At 0%, there's no modulation, while at 100%, the modulation uses the full range of the delay time. * Rate (0–15 Hz): Controls the speed of the modulation. Lower rates create slow, gentle detuning, while higher rates create a faster, more vibrato-like effect. * Width (0–100%): Controls the stereo width by offsetting the phase relationship between the left and right channels. At 0%, the modulation pattern is mono (identical on both channels), creating a centered chorus. At 100%, the channels are fully out of phase, creating a wide stereo chorus. * Dry (0–100%): Controls the level of the dry, unprocessed signal. At 0%, the dry signal is completely removed, while at 100% it is at full level. * Wet (0–100%): Controls the level of the wet, processed signal. At 0%, the wet signal is completely removed, while at 100% it is at full level. * Wet HPF (10 Hz – 20 kHz): Applies a high-pass filter to the wet signal only. The filter becomes active only when the frequency is set above 10 Hz. It can be used to roll off low frequencies to focus the chorus effect on the mids and highs. * Wet LPF (20 Hz – 21 kHz): Applies a low-pass filter to the wet signal only. The filter becomes active only when the frequency is set below 21 kHz. It can be used to roll off high frequencies to create a darker chorus effect. * Output Gain (dB): Sets the final output level of the plugin from -30 dB to +30 dB to compensate for volume changes. * Visual Indicators: Display the selected LFO shape (Triangle or Sine) and the active status of the wet high-pass and low-pass filters. * GUI Bypass Button: A smooth bypass button for toggling the effect on or off without audio clicks. It is available for automation as "Bypass (Smooth)" in the plugin's parameter list. * High-DPI scaling support: The current GUI scale is shown as a percentage in the top-left corner of the plugin, and clicking it brings up the "UI Zoom" options for increasing the size of the plugin interface. As an alternative, provided your DAW/host doesn't intercept a right-click event on a plugin's window, right-clicking anywhere on the GUI brings up the same "UI Zoom" options. * Double-click sliders to reset them to their default values. Hold Ctrl while clicking and dragging for fine slider increments. * Arrow key support for sliders: click a slider to bring it into focus, then use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move it. * 12 Factory Presets: The plugin comes with 12 built-in presets that can be navigated via mouse click or the up/down arrow keys on the keyboard. You can grab it for FREE. Listen to the audio demos on the right or visit the Gumroad product page to hear what the plugin can do. Email Support: info.windowsg@gmail.com Read More

GIVEAWAY: Win Golden DSP Silkbrush Reverb (5 copies)
Golden DSP is giving five BPB readers a free copy of Silkbrush Reverb, a $59 ducking reverb plugin for macOS and Windows. To enter the giveaway, answer the question at the end of the article in the comments section. We will randomly select five comments and announce the winners on this page on September 25th. [...]
View post: GIVEAWAY: Win Golden DSP Silkbrush Reverb (5 copies)

Transformer Boost from Great Eastern FX Co. The Transformer Boost is a full-range boost pedal powered by a vintage General Electric 2N1175 germanium transistor, and is described by Great Eastern FX Co. as a ‘colour’ or ‘character’ boost pedal.

Rapid Flow release omniGRID Rapid Flow have just launched a new 16-track sequencer plug-in which they say has been designed for “total rhythmic expression, polymetric sequencing, and vintage hardware groove emulation”.

GIVEAWAY: Win Chimera cinematic presets for the FREE Vital synthesizer
We are giving away free copies of Chimera, a cinematic preset collection for the free Vital wavetable synthesizer. We previously featured Chimera during the Flame Sound Easter giveaway, and here is another chance to add it to your sound design toolkit for free. Chimera was created by HydraTek and released by Flame Sound. HydraTek is [...]
View post: GIVEAWAY: Win Chimera cinematic presets for the FREE Vital synthesizer

KVEIK 1.2 expands its block-based MIDI sequencer beyond drums
Swiss developer BITLANTIS has released KVEIK 1.2, a major update to its block-based MIDI step sequencer for macOS and Windows. KVEIK started as a drum sequencer, but version 1.2 adds a lot more melodic and harmonic functionality, so you can use it to sequence basses, synths, and other instruments from the same interface. Obviously, KVEIK [...]
View post: KVEIK 1.2 expands its block-based MIDI sequencer beyond drums

Jackboyman VocopawVocopaw is a free Windows VST3 analog-style vocoder in the EMS / Roland VP-330 tradition. Matching analysis and synthesis band banks (8, 16, or 24) extract the Modulator spectrum (sidechain voice bus, with fallback when silent) and imprint it onto a Carrier. Carrier sources include the main audio input, an internal saw oscillator, a pulse-width square, or a three-voice MIDI chord. Per-band envelopes with attack and release, Formant Shift in semitones, a Sibilance / unvoiced HF path, Mix, Output, and a live row of band meters. Bamboo-styled jackboyman UI with tall in/out meters and bypass. Stereo carrier + modulator buses, MIDI input for oscillator pitch. Free VST3 + standalone for Windows. Read More

Amplimood releases Gazer FX, a FREE shoegaze multi-effect plugin
Amplimood has launched with Gazer FX, its first release and a free multi-effect plugin for macOS and Windows. I love using simple multi-effects that let you get some interesting combos quickly without building a long chain. This one definitely fits my workflow; it’s very easy to use and is surprisingly good on synths. Gazer FX [...]
View post: Amplimood releases Gazer FX, a FREE shoegaze multi-effect plugin

Luftrum releases the Symbiotic Volume 2 preset collection for Omnisphere 3
From Luftrum comes the Symbiotic Volume 2 preset collection for Omnisphere 3. Symbiotic is a new collaborative series from Danish sound designer Luftrum (Søren). The series offers custom Omnisphere 3 presets crafted by Luftrum and guest artists (Omnisphere 3 required). Luftrum recently released Symbiotic Volume 1, a collaboration with Swedish artist Plughugger. Symbiotic Volume 2 [...]
View post: Luftrum releases the Symbiotic Volume 2 preset collection for Omnisphere 3

Positive Grid announce the Spark Pedal The Spark Pedal runs on Positive Grid's HD Tone Engine, comes loaded with 33 amp models and 43 effects, and offers access to more than 100,000 tones through Positive Grid’s online ToneCloud community.

Simply Bass Productions BassMuseBassMuse is a MIDI-effect plugin that writes a musical, in-the-pocket bass part under your chords — in the feel of legendary bassists — then plays it through any bass instrument you own, or drops it straight onto a MIDI track. BassMuse listens to the chords you type or play and generates a real bassline — driving, walking, syncopated or laid-back — modeled on the feel of the players who defined the instrument. It's a MIDI effect, not a sampled instrument: it produces the notes and hands them to whatever bass VSTi you already love, so you keep your tone and gain BassMuse's musicianship, locked to your host transport. Build a whole arrangement on the timeline — verse, chorus, bridge — each section with its own style, key, meter (including odd meters like 7/8) and feel. Capture chords from a MIDI clip, shape the part with a handful of musical controls, and undo or redo anything. When it sounds right, drag it out as MIDI and keep editing by hand. Every part is deterministic: the same song and seed always produce the same bassline, so your ideas are reproducible and your sessions recall exactly. Share styles, songs and bundles with other owners through the built-in community. • 18 bassist styles, each with its own feel — driving rock, walking jazz, Motown pocket, syncopated funk and more • Follows chords you type or play live; stays in key and lands chord tones on the downbeats • Full arranger: sections with per-section style/key/meter (incl. 5/8, 7/8, 9/8...), per-bar fills and mutes • Capture chords from any MIDI clip; drag the generated part out as MIDI • Undo/redo across the entire arrangement • Deterministic engine — same seed, same part, every time • Owner community: share and download styles, songs and bundles • Outputs MIDI, so it drives any bass instrument you own • VST3 (Windows & macOS) and Audio Unit (macOS). AAX (Pro Tools) coming soon. • Windows 10/11 (64-bit); macOS on Intel & Apple Silicon • MIDI-effect plugin (generates MIDI; no built-in sounds) • One-time purchase, no subscription — license for 3 machines. 30-day free trial. Read More