Add effects, synths, samplers and processors to your DAW with plugins and virtual instruments for any studio setup.
- 119 topics
- 176 articles
- Music Software & DAWs
Inside Plugins & Virtual Instruments
All 119 topicsThe 12 most-searched of 119 topics. The full index is at the foot of the page.
Serum
Serum is a leading wavetable synth for UK producers, used for basses, leads, pads and advanced sound design.
Childrens Drum Kits
Children's drum kits help young players learn rhythm comfortably with smaller, beginner-friendly setups.
Instruments Strings
Virtual string instruments and libraries for detailed arrangements, cinematic writing and expressive production.
Spitfire Audio
Spitfire Audio offers cinematic sample libraries for orchestral writing, scoring and richly detailed music production.
Drum and Rhythm Machine
Find drum and rhythm machines for beat making, songwriting and live performance with fast, hands-on control.
Vital
Explore a powerful wavetable synth with clear sound design tools, deep modulation and versatile modern tones.
Sample
Samples are the building blocks of modern production, used for beats, hooks, textures and creative arranging in any genr...
3 topics
Fabfilter
FabFilter delivers high-end EQ, compression and mastering plugins with precise control and clear workflow.
1 topic
Soundtoys
Soundtoys plug-ins add analogue-style colour, movement and creative effects for distinctive mixes and sound design.
Plugin Types
Explore the main kinds of music software plug-ins, from effects and instruments to mixing, mastering and creative tools.
Autotune
Pitch correction and vocal effect software for polished, modern music production.
1 topic
Izotope
Professional mixing, mastering and repair software for cleaner, faster and more polished productions.
Articles on Plugins & Virtual Instruments
All news
Native Instruments Komplete: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing between Komplete Standard, Ultimate and Collector's Edition can be confusing. Here is a clear comparison to help you decide.
The Best Vocal Samples for the Money
Native Instruments Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Kontakt, Reaktor, Massive, Komplete, Maschine, Traktor: here's what actually sits inside the Native Instruments ecosystem, and how it fits together.
Omnisphere: A Complete Buyer's Guide
An honest buyer's guide: who Omnisphere actually suits, the system requirements to check first, and what you're really paying for.
Soundtoys: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying the wrong bit of this range, or more of it than you need, is an easy way to waste a budget. Here's how to actually decide.
Spitfire Audio Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Spitfire Audio has quietly reshaped what a bedroom composer can get from a laptop — here's how its libraries actually work.
A Guide to Plugin Alliance
The name behind half the plug-in sale banners you've seen, explained: what it makes, who owns it now, and whether it's worth your money.
Common Arturia V Collection Mistakes to Avoid
Most frustrations with the Arturia V Collection come from a handful of avoidable mistakes — here's what they are and how to fix them.
Valhalla Reverb Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Valhalla Reverb isn't one plugin but a family of them — here's how the whole range works and what sets each one apart.
A Guide to Valhalla Plugins
The full rundown of Valhalla DSP's reverb, delay and modulation plugins, from VintageVerb to the free Supermassive, and what sets them apart.
Virtual Preamp Collection for Beginners: A Complete Guide
No assumed knowledge required: what this plugin actually does, the two tones explained simply, and a gentle first session to try.
Everything You Need to Know About Virtual Instruments
Virtual instruments put everything from sampled orchestras to vintage synthesisers inside your laptop. This guide explains how they work, what the different types do, and what actually matters when ch...
Common Plugin Boutique Mistakes to Avoid
Most people who've bought a few plugins have made at least one of these mistakes. Here's the full rundown of what catches people out, and how to sidestep each one.
The Best Uad Audio Plugins for the Money
There's no single best UAD plugin. Here's the smartest order to buy in, by what you're actually recording and mixing.
The Best Virtual Instruments for the Money
The best virtual instruments don't have to cost a fortune — the free tier is genuinely excellent. Here's where each price bracket actually delivers, and where the law of diminishing returns kicks in.
Arturia V Collection Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Arturia V Collection brings decades of classic hardware synthesisers and keyboards into software — here's what's inside and how it all works.
Common Vocal Samples Mistakes to Avoid
The Best Spitfire Audios for the Money
There's no single best library — here's where the value genuinely sits, from free experimentation to full orchestral scale.
Autotune: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Free, bundled or a dedicated standalone plugin? Here's how to work out which autotune purchase actually fits how you record.
The Best Serums for the Money
Instead of one overall winner, here is a tier-by-tier breakdown of where Serum sits against the other wavetable-style synths, so you can pick what actually suits your budget.
Serum: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Skip the history lesson — here is what actually matters before you hand over money for Serum: what you get, what to check, and where to buy it properly.
The Ultimate Guide to Serum Presets
Serum presets store every parameter of a sound patch for Xfer Serum — one of the most-used synths in electronic music. Understanding what presets contain and how they differ is the starting point for...
Vst Plugins for Beginners: A Complete Guide
What they are, how to install them, what's worth starting with for free, and how to begin making sense of synthesis and effects processing.
How to Set Up and Use Plugin Types
Bought a new plugin and not sure what to do with it? Here's the proper, no-nonsense walkthrough of getting it installed, scanned and working.
Plugins and virtual instruments for every studio
Plugins & Virtual Instruments cover the tools you load inside a DAW to shape, enhance and perform music. This category includes effects, synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, amp simulators and mixing processors.
Expand your sound palette
Plugins and virtual instruments let you add new tones, textures and processing power without changing your main software. They are essential for mixing, sound design, beat-making, composing and building realistic or experimental instrument parts.
Compatible with modern production workflows
Most plugins and virtual instruments are designed to work across popular DAWs, making them a practical upgrade for home studios and professional setups alike. For UK musicians, they are one of the easiest ways to customise a production environment.
