Add effects, synths, samplers and processors to your DAW with plugins and virtual instruments for any studio setup.
- 119 topics
- 378 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
The Best Vital Synths for the Money
Chorus Plugin for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Chorus sounds mysterious but it's simple: it creates a subtle duplicated effect that adds width to your recordings. This beginner's guide walks you through using chorus confidently on your first track...
Plugin Alliance Multiband Compressor: A Complete Guide
Multiband compressor plugins divide audio into separate frequency bands, allowing surgical mixing without affecting unwanted frequencies. This guide explains how to use multiband compression for profe...
Everything You Need to Know About Vst Instruments Guitar
A guitar VST brings virtual guitar sounds into your DAW. Discover how to use them, top options, and why they're essential for modern music production.
The Complete Guide to Keyscape
Keyscape delivers studio-quality keyboard sounds through meticulous sampling and expressive control, making it essential software for composers and producers.
Construction Kits for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Construction kits are pre-built collections of loops and samples that work perfectly together. They're the fastest way for beginners to make professional-sounding tracks without deep production knowle...
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.
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...
Multiband Compressor Plugin: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A buying guide for multiband compressor plugins. Understand band count, crossover flexibility, and how to choose the right plugin for your mixing tasks.
The Ultimate Guide to Delay Plugin
A delay plugin is one of the most versatile effects in music production, creating rhythmic repeats and spatial depth. Master the essential controls and learn practical applications.
Omnisphere Plugin: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Should you buy Omnisphere? This guide evaluates its capabilities, premium pricing, sound design potential, alternatives, and helps determine whether it justifies cost for your production workflow.
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.
Serato Sample: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Serato Sample brings intuitive sampler capabilities to your DAW or Serato DJ setup. This buying guide covers practical workflows, integration with your setup, and comparison to alternative samplers to...
Toontrack Ezdrummer: A Complete Buyer's Guide
An informed buyer's guide comparing Toontrack EZdrummer versions and editions, evaluating expansion strategies, pricing tiers, and long-term investment considerations for producers.
Kontakt Library: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A Kontakt library is the difference between adequate string sounds and playing instruments that could pass for real. This guide focuses on choosing between options for your needs.
Strings Vst for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A strings VST lets you add professional orchestral violins, violas, and cellos without hiring musicians. Start here if you're new to string plugins.
The Complete Guide to Midi Guitar
MIDI guitar converts your playing into MIDI data, letting you trigger virtual instruments and integrate your guitar with digital music production. Explore hardware and software options.
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.
The Complete Guide to Roland 808 Machine
The Roland 808 machine defined hip-hop, electronic music, and pop production. Discover why this legendary drum machine remains essential to modern music.
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
Silent Drum Kits: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Shopping for silent drum kits doesn't have to overwhelm you. This buyer's guide shows you exactly what specs matter, which price tier suits your needs, and the pitfalls 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.
Metering Plugin: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Professional mixing demands objective measurement alongside subjective listening. This guide helps you identify the metering plugin that reveals problems your speakers might hide.
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.
