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
Bass Vst for Beginners: A Complete Guide
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.
Chorus Plugin: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Not all chorus plugins sound the same. Discover how to evaluate sound quality, understand rate/depth/feedback controls, and choose between hardware emulations and digital designs.
Foley Samples for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Foley samples—recordings of everyday sounds—transform bare soundtracks into immersive experiences. This beginner's guide walks you through finding, timing, and using foley to bring your projects to li...
The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Suite
A mastering suite is the final step in creating commercially competitive audio. Understand the tools, acoustic treatment, and workflow that transform mixed tracks into release-ready masters.
Everything You Need to Know About Royalty Free Sound Samples
Royalty-free samples are professionally recorded audio you can use in commercial projects without ongoing fees. Discover how to choose libraries, understand licensing, and integrate samples into your...
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.
Romantic Piano Vst for Beginners: A Complete Guide
New to romantic piano VSTs? Create emotionally moving music with simple presets, dynamics, and sustain pedal control. This beginner guide removes the complexity.
Piano Vst: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Overwhelmed by piano VST choices? Learn which features matter, how to evaluate sound quality honestly, and which price tier suits your workflow.
Everything You Need to Know About Keyscape Spectrasonics Torrent
Spectrasonics Keyscape is a landmark virtual instrument collection featuring over 40 world-class keyboard instruments—acoustic pianos, electric keyboards, and vintage synthesizers. Explore its capabil...
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.
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...
Sample Rate: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Confused about sample rate? This practical guide helps you choose between 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, and 96 kHz based on your specific production needs, budget, and goals.
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.
Choir Vst for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A choir VST lets you add realistic vocal harmonies without recording real singers. Perfect for beginners—learn how to choose one and start using it today.
The Complete Guide to Pioneer Mixing Console
Pioneer mixing consoles power clubs worldwide. Discover the features, models and maintenance tips that make Pioneer the industry standard for professional DJs.
Valhalla Plugins: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A practical buyer's guide to Valhalla plugins: flat pricing, format compatibility, and matching the right reverb or delay to the job at hand.
How to String Musical Instruments List
Choosing the right strings significantly affects your instrument's tone and playability. This guide explores string materials, types and maintenance for all string instruments.
Common Kontakt Mistakes to Avoid
I've made every one of these Kontakt mistakes myself, usually at 1am. Here are the ones I see most often, and the fixes that actually stick.
Common Uad Mistakes to Avoid
The errors that trip up most UAD users, from Native versus DSP mix-ups to over-chaining vintage emulations, and how to dodge each one.
Common Fabfilter Mistakes to Avoid
None of these are stupid mistakes — they're easy traps built into how genuinely capable this stuff is. Here's how to avoid them.
Sample Library: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing a sample library depends on genre, format, and actual value. This guide covers essential specs, price tiers, common mistakes, and how to match libraries to your production workflow.
Fabfilter Filter for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A calm, step-by-step start with a FabFilter filter plug-in: what cutoff and resonance actually do, and your first hands-on session.
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.
