iZotope Ozone, Nectar, Neutron and RX are some of the most powerful tools for mixing and mastering – and they’re now available for less than half the regular price! Other software deals this week include discounts on Universal Audio UAD bundles, Arturia, Cherry Audio, and Softube.

Up to 55% off iZotope Ozone, Neutron & more

iZotope’s powerful tools for mixing, mastering, and audio restoration belong in any producer’s toolkit! Ozone has been the benchmark for software-based mastering for ages, and Ozone 11 takes it to a whole new level with loads of AI-based tools that make quick work of tedious mastering tasks. Nectar 4 is your one stop shop for vocal production with 12 powerful modules. Neutron 4 is one of the most comprehensive mixing suites available, with eight smart plugins for sculpting your mixes. And last but not least, iZotope RX 10 contains everything you need to restore old recordings or clean up noisy voiceover tracks.

Now’s a perfect time to add these capable tools to your arsenal! iZotope software is up to 55% off* at Thomann until February 29.

iZotope Ozone 11 Standard

Available for $89 at

• More from iZotope

Up to 50% off Universal Audio Plugins

Universal Audio’s high-quality plugins need no introduction! From meticulous emulations of the finest outboard gear to powerful synths for creative production sessions, the manufacturer’s line-up of UAD plugins has got you covered. And since most Universal Audio plugins now run natively on Mac and Windows computers, you don’t need UAD hardware anymore to benefit from these essential tools. If you’re just getting into UAD plugins, bundles like the Essentials Edition, Producer Edition, or Studio Edition are a great and affordable way to start.

Universal Audio UAD plugin bundles are up to 50% off* at Thomann until February 29.

Universal Audio UAD Essentials Edition Native

Available for $148 at

• More from Universal Audio

Half off Arturia Analog Lab Pro, FX Collection 4 & more!

Here’s another awesome software deal from Arturia and Plugin Boutique. For the platform’s 12th anniversary, they’ve slashed the prices of Arturia Analog Lab Pro, FX Collection 4, and Pigments 5 by no less than 50%*. Analog Lab Pro is a massive collection of sounds from Arturia’s famous software synths and vintage emulations. FX Collection 4 gets you all the developer’s effect plugins for a great price. And Pigments 5 is probably one of the most powerful software synths currently available. Don’t miss these offers from Arturia and Plugin Boutique!

Arturia Analog Lab Pro, FX Collection 4, and Pigments 5 are 50% off* at Plugin Boutique until February 20.

Arturia Analog Lab Pro

Available for $99 at

• More from Arturia

Cherry Audio Rackmode Signal Processors: Rare Vintage FX for your DAW

If you’re into creative sound design, you’re going to love Cherry Audio’s pristine emulation of the classic Moog Rackmode Signal Processors. This rare series of studio effects includes two vocoders, a phaser, a ring modulator, a string filter, a frequency shifter, and a couple of EQs. All of them are modeled after the historic hardware effects that were used by the likes of Wendy Carlos, Tangerine Dream, Genesis, Jan Hammer, and Giorgio Moroder.

The Cherry Audio Rackmode Signal Processors bundle is 70% off* at Thomann until March 1.

Cherry Audio Rackmode Signal Processors

Available for $35 at

• More from Cherry Audio

Softube February Sale: Up to 70% off!

Softube’s February Sale is a perfect opportunity to add some of the Swedish manufacturer’s high-quality effect plugins and software synths to your collection. Choose from emulations of classic outboard gear like the Drawmer 1973 multi-band compressor, pristine mastering processors like the Weiss series, and vintage synth favorites like the Model 84 (Juno), Model 80 (Prophet-5), and Model 72 (Minimoog).

Softube plugins are up to 70% off* at Plugin Boutique until February 29.

Model 84 Polyphonic Synthesizer

Available for $79 at

• More from Softube

Note: This post about iZotope and other software deals contains affiliate links and/or widgets. When you buy a product via our affiliate partner, we receive a small commission that helps support what we do. Don’t worry, you pay the same price. Thanks for your support!

*Percentage discount will vary based on your territory and conversion rates on the day of purchase. Displayed percentage discounts are used for guidance only.

The post Software Deals: Massive Discounts on iZotope, UAD, Arturia, and more! appeared first on gearnews.com.

The iZotope VEA or Voice Enhancement Assistant will help improve the quality of recorded speech for your podcasts and YouTube video content.

Using iZotope’s professional technology from the RX, Ozone, and Nectar plug-ins, VEA becomes a simple and effective three-knob solution for improving your speech quality and intelligibility.

With the content creator market in its current boom, having professional audio quality is more important than ever. While not everyone has the budget or skill set to work with premium vocal processing hardware, VEA provides an accessible option for all.

iZotope VEA: The Vocal Enhancement Assistant

The VEA interface is centred around three controls: Clean, Shape, and Boost. From the left, the Clean control introduces noise-reduction processing into the signal path. So many of us record in potentially noisy environments, so this is certainly a useful tool.

Next, in the center, we have the Shape control which gives you more polished and consistent speech. We’ve all wondered how they get that magically punchy and pristine broadcast vocal sound, so this gives you a quick and effective foot in the door.

Finally, the Boost control on the right is like an instant “voice of god”. This adds weight and presence to voice recordings, giving them a more formidable overall character. It might not grant you Rick Rubin’s voice, but your content will surely come across with more authority.

The VEA workflow is extremely straightforward. Simply run the audio through the AU, VST, or AAX plug-in on your speech channel within your DAW, and let the AI analysis tool work its magic.

Want to model the voice production of your favourite podcast or creator? No problem. With the free AudioLens plug-in, you can quickly create a profile for VEA to work from.

Pricing and availability:

VEA is currently available from Thomann.

iZotope VEA

Available for $26.50 at

More about iZotope VEA:

• Official product page
• More from iZotope

*Note: This article contains affiliate links that help us fund our site. Don’t worry: the price for you always stays the same! If you buy something through these links, we will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!

The post iZotope VEA: A Speech plugin with technology from RX, Ozone, and Nectar appeared first on gearnews.com.

After Black Friday comes the holiday season, and many software manufacturers are celebrating with massive sales! Save on Antares Auto-Tune, iZotope RX 10, Native Instruments Komplete 14, and many other essential effects and software instruments!

Save 50% on Antares Auto-Tune

Auto-Tune needs no introduction – the granddaddy of all pitch correction plugins belongs in any producer’s arsenal! If you don’t have it yet, you’ll be happy to hear that you can now get the entire Antares Auto-Tune series for half the price! Besides the classic pitch correction plugins like the flagship Auto-Tune Pro X or the more affordable Auto-Tune Artist, this offer also includes the Auto-Tune EFX+, Auto-Tune Harmony Engine, and Antares Choir effect plugins. Various subscription plans are also on sale. It’s the perfect opportunity to add this essential tool to your collection!

Antares plugins are 50% off* at Thomann until December 12.

Antares Auto-Tune Pro X Download

Customer rating:

(3)

Available for 459.00 € at

• More from Antares

iZotope RX 10 Holiday Sale

iZotope RX 10 is without a doubt one of the most powerful solutions for repairing degraded audio material. From noise, click, and hum reduction to de-clipping and dealing with issues like wind noise, RX 10 makes short work of all sorts of audio problems. It can even rebalance a mix after mixdown, or reduce excessive reverb or ambient noise in dialogue recordings. An AI-based repair assistant automatically detects problems and suggests a remedy. For anything from restoring old recordings to fixing crippled audio tracks recorded on location, RX 10 is the right tool for the task.

iZotope RX 10 Elements, Standard, and Advanced are up to 75% off* at Plugin Boutique until December 13. Various upgrades and crossgrades are also on sale.

iZotope RX 10 Elements

Available for $39 at

• More from iZotope

Native Instruments Cyber Season Sale

Native Instruments is also having a massive Cyber Season Sale. If you don’t have NI Komplete 14 yet, now is the perfect time to add this essential collection of software instruments and effects to your collection or upgrade to a higher tier. NI Guitar Rig Pro 7 (read our review here) delivers the biggest collection of amp, speaker and effects models to date. And the unique Native Instruments Saturation Bundle with four different plugins for all your overdrive, distortion, and saturation needs is also on sale.

Native Instruments plugins and bundles are 50% off* at Thomann until January 15, 2024.

Native Instruments Komplete 14 Standard Download

Customer rating:

(7)

Available for 599.00 € at

• More from Native Instruments

Universal Audio UAD Holiday Sale

Universal Audio’s UAD plugins are among the best emulations of classic studio hardware – and they’re now on sale with savings of up to 87%! For just $49, the UAD Essentials Edition covers all your bases with 11 “must-have” plugins like the LA-2A Leveler Collection, Pultec Passive EQ Collection, and Century Tube Channel Strip. Many individual plugins such as the Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb, API Vision Channel Strip, or Galaxy Tape Echo are also on sale. And if you’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to splurge on UA’s excellent software instruments like the Moog Minimoog, PolyMAX Synth, or Waterfall B3 Organ, now is the perfect time!

Universal Audio plugins and bundles are on sale at Plugin Boutique until December 31 with savings of up to 87%*.

UAD Essentials Edition

Available for $49 at

• More from Universal Audio

50% off Applied Acoustics Systems Software Instruments

Applied Acoustics Systems is known for great-sounding software instruments like the physical-modeling-based Lounge Lizard electric piano, Multiphonics CV-2 virtual modular synth, and Ultra-Analog VA-3 synthesizer. The innovative Chromaphone 3 synth ventures off the beaten path with acoustic object modeling and various resonator models for unique and captivating sounds. And String Studio VS-3 is a physical-modeling-based string synthesizer. There’s something for everyone – and now you can get these excellent software instruments for half the regular price!

AAS plugins are 50% off* at Thomann until January 31, 2024.

Applied Acoustic Systems Ultra-Analog VA-3

Available for $81 at

• More from Applied Acoustics Systems

*Percentage discount will vary based on your territory and conversion rates on the day of purchase. Displayed percentage discounts are used for guidance only.

The post Software Deals: Massive Discounts on Antares, iZotope, NI, UA, and more appeared first on gearnews.com.

Regarding equalizer VSTs, there’s no plug-in as popular as Fabfilter Pro-Q 3. But there might be a few reasons you are looking for Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives. Perhaps you are looking for a cheap, maybe even free alternative? Or is there something annoying in its workflow or its user interface? Let’s take a look.

Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 – The most popular EQ

Hardly any other VST plug-in has developed such dominance as Fabfilter Pro-Q 3. Since its release in 2018, the equalizer has taken the mixing and production world by storm—crystal-clear sound, advanced workflow, and features that hardly any EQ could match five years ago.

Today’s EQ plug-ins have achieved the perfect balance of function and usability

Other than EQs with more analog warmth or those targeted explicitly at mastering, Pro-Q 3 has been at the top of the year-end lists almost every year since then. But apart from the price (169 euros if there is no sale), there are also a few other criteria when looking for Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives. But to get started, we recommend downloading the full 30-day trial version from Fabfilter.

And if you don’t want to think about Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives after that, you can get the original at Plugin Boutique (affiliate).

Fabfilter Pro-Q 3

Available for a deal at

• More on the manufacturer at Gearnews
• Product page

What do Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives have to offer?

Up to 24 EQ bands are possible per plug-in instance, and each band can work dynamically and in mid/side instead of stereo if desired. For each band, you can choose between Bell, Notch, High/Low Shelf, High/Low Cut, Band Pass, Tilt Shelf, and Flat Tilt. In addition, filter slopes of up to 96 decibels per octave are possible.

There is also a global AutoGain function that automatically adjusts the output signal level when Pro-Q 3 increases the overall level. Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 can also be used in surround setups (up to 7.1.2). Its EQ Match feature is also extremely handy. Here, the VST takes the frequency response of another signal via side-chain and applies it to the track it’s loaded on.

As it can sound “phase-y” when heavily EQ-ing the mix, the VST also offers a linear phase mode. Anyone using Pro-Q 3 in a live or recording situation will be delighted with the Zero Latency mode. Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives must offer all of this and much more!

Three-body Technology Kirchhoff EQ – the most similar one of the Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives

If you look around a little in forums and other magazines, one plug-in, in particular, is mentioned more than any other VST as the most similar one of the Fabfilter Pro-Q3 alternatives: Three-Body Tech Kirchhoff EQ. But the plug-in offers even more in some respects: more bands (32 instead of 24), more filter types (15 instead of 9), plus 32 emulations of various vintage EQs (including Neve and SSL).

And at a very competitive price (149 euros when there is no sale) that undercuts the Pro-Q 3. In addition, each dynamic band can compress downwards but also expand upwards. In comparison, Kirchhoff EQ can only do 2x oversampling, whereas Pro-Q3 offers five quality levels in linear phase mode.

• More about the manufacturer at Gearnews
• Product page

SSL Native X-EQ 2 – SSL sound and Pro-Q 3 workflow

When SSL announced Native X-EQ 2 a couple of years back, many compared it to Pro-Q 3. In comparison, the VST can handle just as many bands (24), but it offers more band types (17 instead of 9), and it is less CPU-intensive. However, it should also be mentioned that the VST does not yet offer any dynamic EQ.

The price of 299 euros is also relatively high. However, if you’re still tricked after the 30-day demo and can’t afford it, you should keep your eyes open for frequent SSL sales. Here, you may get the plugin at a significantly lower price.

SSL Native X-EQ 2 Download

Customer rating:

(7)

Available for 299.00 € at

• More about the manufacturer at Gearnews
• Product page

Sonnox Claro – The most versatile of the Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives

Like the EQ from SSL, Sonnox Claro is not a dynamic EQ – but the VST offers some very innovative features that Pro-Q 3 doesn’t even come close to. This makes it one of the most versatile Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives. The VST offers not one but three workflows – one for quick adjustments, one for details, and one for the final mixdown.

In the smallest iteration, the Producer workflow, you only get a small window with three knobs – Low, Mid, and High. This lets you make quick corrections and adjustments without getting lost in the details. In tweak mode, you can further go into detail with 26 bands, emulations of Neve and SSL EQs, mid/side and much more.

In the mixing workflow, Claro recognizes all instances loaded in a DAW project. That makes it super easy to detect and adjust frequency overlaps via attenuations in the respective cases. What’s more, the VST is currently (November 2023) still heavily reduced – 76 percent!

Sonnox Claro

Available for a deal at

• More about the manufacturer at Gearnews
• Product page

Tonebooster’s EQ 4 – 29 euros for an excellent dynamic EQ!

Much of EQ 4 is reminiscent of Pro-Q 3 – the colorful curves, surround support (up to 16 channels), and AutoGain. In addition, up to 16 bands per instance are possible (24 with Pro-Q 3) with 30 different filter types. And all this for just 29 euros!

Like Fabfilter, Toneboosters also offers its EQ for iOS. Then, there is also an AI-supported assistant similar to iZotope Neutron 4 (see below). It analyzes the input signal and makes suggestions. There is also a demo version for testing purposes without any time limitations! However, you can’t save any setting in EQ 4 in the demo – it’s still one of the best and cheapest Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives!

• More about the manufacturer at Gearnews
• Product page

TDR Nova (and GE) – Free Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternative

Without TDR Nova and its big brother, TDR Nova GE, no list of the best Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives would be complete. The former is entirely free – for a dynamic EQ with four bands and a workflow that’s not far removed from the original, that’s awesome!

The paid GE version offera six instead of four bands, upward and downward compression and expansion per band, and “Smart Operation”. This tool helps to automatically detect resonances (similar to Soothe 2) and other problematic frequency ranges.

TDR Nova (GE)

Available for a deal at

• More about the manufacturer at Gearnews
• Product page

Conclusion

This list is just the tip of the iceberg of Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives. If you’ve read this far and no alternative suited you, you might also want to check out Infinity EQ from Slate. It offers a similar look and similar workflow, with presets from mixing greats like Mike Dean (Drake, Kanye West).

There is also a dynamic EQ from iZotope hidden in the Neutron 4 mixing bundle. Here, you get various other mixing tools and a sophisticated AI assistant that makes suggestions for EQ and compressor settings.

iZotope Neutron 4 Download

Customer rating:

(2)

Available for 249.00 € at

*This post contains affiliate links and/or widgets. When you buy a product via our affiliate partner, we receive a small commission that helps support what we do. Don’t worry, you pay the same price. Thanks for your support!

The post Equalizer shootout: The best Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 alternatives appeared first on gearnews.com.

IK Multimedia is currently offering an amazing deal on the powerful Syntronic 2 MAX collection – 34 iconic vintage synths at your fingertips! Other excellent software deals are coming from PreSonus, iZotope, Native Instruments, and Sonnox. And be sure to check out the freebie of the week!

Over 85% off IK Multimedia Syntronik 2 MAX

Syntronik 2 MAX

Here’s a fantastic deal for all lovers of vintage synths! Syntronik 2 MAX from IK Multimedia is like having a room full of legendary synths at your fingertips – 34 of them, to be precise. All instruments were meticulously sampled with multiple round-robins of single oscillators, oscillator combinations, and more. These high-quality samples are then processed through a hybrid synth architecture with several filter types, extended envelopes, a programmable modulation matrix, dynamic arpeggiators, and more. If you thought sampled vintage synths were in any way inferior to the virtual-analog variety, prepare to be blown away!

IK Multimedia Syntronik 2 MAX is now on sale for just $35. That’s over 85% off the regular price* – an absolute steal!

IK Multimedia Syntronik 2 MAX

Available for $35 at

• More from IK Multimedia

Save nearly 30% on PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional

PreSonus Studio One 6.5

PreSonus Studio One was recently updated to version 6.5 – the most powerful version of the DAW to date. Studio One 6.5 not only introduces comprehensive Dolby Atmos and spatial audio capabilities, but also boasts a new Multi-Tap Surround Delay plugin. Moreover, there are significant updates to the score notation engine, as well as ARA support on the Project Page. Studio One 6.5 is also one of the first DAWs to support the new DAWproject exchange format developed in conjunction with Bitwig.

PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional is now on sale for $285 – that’s nearly 30% off the regular price*!

PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional

Available for $285 at

• More from PreSonus

iZotope RX 10 Standard: AI-driven Audio Restoration

RX 10

iZotope RX has been the benchmark for audio restoration for years. Got some old recordings that you need to salvage? Need to get rid of annoying hum, rumble, or noise in your audio tracks? RX 10 makes short work of repairing a multitude of audio problems. It can even rescue dialogue recordings with too much reverb – perfect for post-production and podcasting. The latest version includes a powerful Repair Assistant plugin that uses AI to automatically identify any issues that may be present in the material. It then suggests a repair chain to tackle the problem. iZotope RX can be a real life-saver – and it’s now on sale!

Get iZotope RX 10 Standard for just $175 until November 10 – more than 55% off the regular price*.

iZotope RX 10 Standard

Available for $175 at

• More from iZotope

Native Instruments Komplete 14 Select: More than 55,000 Sounds

Komplete 14 Select

Getting your hands on over 15,000 sounds from the powerful Native Instruments Komplete bundle has never been more affordable! NI Komplete 14 Select is an essential producer’s toolkit that includes everything from synths to drums to high-quality effects. In addition to the Monark, Massive, and Reaktor Prism synths and the free Reaktor 6 Player, the bundle comes with a host of sampled instruments, drums, effect plugins, and expansions.

Native Instruments Komplete 14 Select is currently on sale for just $88 – more than 55% off the regular price*!

Native Instruments Komplete 14 Select

Available for $88 at

• More from Native Instruments

Sonnox Essential Bundle Native

Sonnox Essential Bundle

The Sonnox Essential Bundle includes four of the developer’s most highly-regarded mixing and mastering plugins. Sonnox Oxford EQ and Oxford Dynamics need no introduction; both of them have become true studio standards for a reason! Furthermore, the Sonnox Essential Bundle comes with the versatile and highly customizable Oxford Reverb plugin, as well as the natural-sounding SuprEsser de-esser. It’s by far the most affordable way to add these essentials to your collection – especially at the current sale price!

The Sonnox Essential Bundle Native is on sale until December 1 for $333, which is more than 55% off the regular price*.

Sonnox Essential Bundle Native

Available for $333 at

• More from Sonnox

Freebie of the Week: Soundtoys Little Plate Reverb

Little Plate

Craving some tasty plate reverb? Soundtoys is currently giving away the Little Plate reverb plugin for free (a $99 value)! They began by emulating the iconic EMT 140 plate reverb that has graced countless hit records. But they didn’t stop there: With additional features like an infinite decay time, a built-in low-pass filter, and a Space Modulator for slight modulations to of the reverb tail, Little Plate Reverb offers plenty of flexibility despite its simple controls. You don’t want to miss this freebie – grab it while it lasts!

• Get Little Plate Reverb here
• More from Soundtoys

Videos about IK Multimedia Syntronik 2 MAX and other Software Deals

*Percentage discount will vary based on your territory and conversion rates on the day of purchase. Displayed percentage discounts are used for guidance only.

The post Software Deals: Bargains from IK Multimedia, iZotope, NI & more! appeared first on gearnews.com.

Native Instruments has released the EQ from iZotope Ozone 11 as a free plugin! In addition to this awesome mastering EQ, this week’s collection of the best free plugins brings you a new free intro version of Arturia’s Analog Lab software, as well as some tasty retro drums from Bedroom Producers Blog.

Native Instruments iZotope Ozone 11 EQ

Ozone 11 EQ

Major commercial developers like Native Instruments are rare guests in our freeware section. But when NI releases the equalizer from the iZotope Ozone 11 mastering suite as a free plugin, that warrants an exception! The Ozone 11 EQ is a powerful mastering equalizer that has helped shape countless hit records. In addition to several frequency bands with flexible curves, it offers a transient/sustain mode to shape the impact of your tracks, as well as mid/side processing for controlling the stereo image. Free EQs are plentiful, but this is one that surely deserves a spot in your plugin folder. Thanks NI!

Ozone 11 EQ is available for macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats.

• Get Ozone 11 EQ here
• More from Native Instruments
• More from iZotope

Arturia Analog Lab Play

Analog Lab Play

Another big one! Arturia has just released a free version of its Analog Lab software. Analog Lab Play includes a library of 100 sounds from Arturia’s acclaimed software synths. From the sounds of beloved vintage synths like the Yamaha DX7, Roland Jupiter-8, and Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 to authentic emulations of classic electromechanical instruments like the Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and Clavinet to sounds from Arturia’s awesome Pigments synth – it’s all there. While you don’t get full control over all parameters, the easy-to-use interface lets you tweak the sounds using a streamlined set of controls. Analog Lab Play is an excellent introduction to the world of Arturia’s software instruments.

Analog Lab Play is available for macOS and Windows in VST, AU, and AAX formats. It also runs as a standalone application.

• Get Analog Lab Play here
• More from Arturia

Bedroom Producers Blog BPB Cassette Drums

BPB Cassette Drums

BPB Cassette Drums from Bedroom Producers Blog is a free ROMpler that contains the sounds of several classic drum machines, including the Roland TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, and MFB-522. However, instead of simply sampling the sounds of these classics for the umpteenth time, they ran them through an old tape deck and a 4-track cassette recorder at various gain levels. For each machine, you can choose from Clean, Warm, and Hot presets for various levels of saturation and distortion. Those are some seriously characterful drums! With 14 channels with individual controls and outputs, BPB Cassette Drums allows you to fully customize the kits. There’s even a range of built-in effects like vinyl and tape simulations, distortion, delay, and reverb.

BPB Cassette Drums is available for macOS and Windows in VST, VST3, and AU formats.

• Get BPB Cassette Drums here
• More from Bedroom Producers Blog

Looking for more free plugins like Ozone 11 EQ, Analog Lab Play, and Cassette Drums? Check out our huge archive!

Videos about Ozone 11 EQ, Analog Lab Play and BPB Cassette Drums

The post Ozone 11 EQ, Analog Lab Play, BPB Cassette Drums: Free Plugins of the Week appeared first on gearnews.com.

Summer tends to be a rather slow time for news – especially in terms of studio gear. After all, who wants to spend the nicest days of the year locked up in a windowless studio when everyone else is out and about? Nevertheless, the summer of 2023 was an exciting time for studio gear nuts! Here are our picks for the best studio gear and software of summer 2023 – from microphones to speakers to exquisite outboard gear.

Best Studio Gear of Summer 2023: Shure SM7dB

The Classic Reimagined: Meet the Shure SM7dB

When Shure announced the SM7dB in September, I was surprised that the manufacturer hadn’t thought of this before. With its famously direct and upfront sound, the legendary SM7B has enjoyed an amazing career in broadcasting and music production and if you picture a radio studio in your mind, there’s a high probability that the mic looks like this dynamic classic from Shure. While its sonic qualities have always been beyond dispute, the one thing that could be a bit tricky was its notoriously low output level. And when podcasting and streaming became a thing and the SM7B was increasingly used outside of professional studios, this became a problem, as many inexpensive audio interfaces struggle to provide the amount of (clean) gain this dynamic mic requires. For many years, orders of the Shure SM7B likely also included an in-line preamp such as a Cloudlifter.

Enter the new Shure SM7dB. This new variant of the classic is identical to the tried-and-true SM7B in almost all regards, which is probably why Shure decided not to call it the SM7C. However, in what can only be called an incredibly smart move on Shure’s part, they’ve built a switchable preamp right into the microphone, thereby eliminating the need for an external solution. You can choose from +18 or +28 dB of gain, which should be enough for even the weakest of mic inputs. Granted, this means that the SM7dB requires phantom power, but – unlike sufficiently beefy preamps – that’s something that’s now widely available even on cheap audio interfaces. With its built-in preamp, the Shure SM7dB is the SM7 for today’s varied production environments. Turn the preamp off, and you’ve got an SM7B in its purest form. Brilliant.

EDITOR’S NOTE – we’ve recently discovered that Shure licensed the Cloudlifter circuit from Cloud Microphones for the onboard preamp featured in the SM7db. Smart move Shure!

The Shure SM7dB is available at Thomann*.

No customer rating available yet

Available for 0.00 € at

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Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S Mk3: Poly Aftertouch & more

Komplete Kontrol S MK3 Series

The previous generations of the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S series already offered unrivaled control capabilities for the manufacturer’s own Komplete bundle and a growing list of NKS-compatible plugins from other developers. But the new Mk3 series is on a whole new level. Besides the shiny new hardware with sleek unibody enclosures and all-metal controls, the biggest news is that all three sizes (49 or 61 semi-weighted keys or an 88-key hammer-action keybed) now support polyphonic aftertouch. Paired with the incredibly useful Lightguide with an LED for every key, this opens up a new world of performance possibilities.

But that’s not all. Native Instruments has also replaced the predecessor’s dual screens with a new high-resolution widescreen color display that not only displays the actual names of the parameters you’re editing, but also shows the appropriate controls (for example, a toggle switch looks like a switch rather than a generic dial). Moreover, you can choose from Performance or Edit modes for quick tweaking or in-depth sound design. And because everything is nicely illuminated and color-coded, including the Lightguide, wheels, data encoder, and ribbon controller, the parameter mappings are always visible at first glance. This is what a keyboard controller for modern production environments should look like.

The Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S MK3 series is available at Thomann*.

No customer rating available yet

Available for 0.00 € at

No customer rating available yet

Available for 0.00 € at

No customer rating available yet

Available for 0.00 € at

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iZotope Ozone 11 Advanced: AI-assisted Mastering

Ozone 11 Advanced’s Master Assistant page

If there’s one piece of software that’s synonymous with the democratization of music production, it must be iZotope Ozone. Originally launched in 2001, Ozone was the software equivalent to the TC Electronic Finalizer rackmount unit, providing musicians and amateur producers with an easy-to-use tool for delivering radio-ready masters without spending a fortune at a mastering studio. More than 20 years later, Ozone is still going strong. And it goes without saying that Ozone 11, which came out in September 2023, offers more features than ever before.

With a range of AI-assisted mastering tools, Ozone 11 makes it easier than ever to deliver a great-sounding master. With a click of a button, the Master Assistant analyzes your mix and suggests a setting that you can use as a starting point for your own adjustments. You can even have Ozone analyze your favorite reference tracks and use them as a guideline. A new Clarity module optimizes the spectral balance of your master, and there’s a new upward compress feature for the Maximizer. Moreover, Ozone 11 introduces a bunch of new features geared towards working with stems. It’s amazing how far we’ve come since the software’s humble beginnings in 2001!

iZotope Ozone 11 is available at Thomann*.

No customer rating available yet

Available for 0.00 € at

No customer rating available yet

Available for 0.00 € at

No customer rating available yet

Available for 0.00 € at

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Rupert Neve Designs Newton Channel: Best Studio Outboard Gear of Summer 2023

The RND Newton Channel is here!

The new Newton Channel from Rupert Neve Designs is a more affordable alternative to the acclaimed Shelford Channel – without sacrificing any of the character you’d expect from RND. Named after Rupert Neve’s birthplace of Newton Abbot, England, the Newton channel combines a microphone preamp, 3-band EQ, and compressor in a streamlined, intuitive package. You can activate or deactivate each section individually.

The preamp delivers up to 72 dB of gain with a ±6 dB trim control for fine adjustments. In addition to phantom power and a phase invert button, there’s a sweepable high-pass filter. While it’s obviously primarily designed for microphones, the Newton Channel also handles line levels.

The EQ stage offers high and low shelving bands with stepped potentiometers, up to 12 dB of boost/cut, and two frequencies each to choose from (60/150 Hz and 8/16 kHz). In addition, there’s a semi-parametric mid band that reaches from 220 Hz to 7 kHz.

Finally, the built-in compressor represents the latest iteration of the RND VCA compressor with streamlined controls for quick results. With just three knobs for threshold, release, and make-up gain, it’s not the world’s most surgical compressor, but perfectly suited for quick and effortless dynamic control during tracking. The compressor can be inserted pre or post EQ.

The Rupert Neve Designs Newton Channel is available at Thomann*.

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PreSonus Eris: Three new monitor series for any application

Meet the new PreSonus Eris Essential, Studio, and Pro Monitors

PreSonus recently unveiled a complete makeover of its Eris range of studio monitors. And with three series to choose from for a wide range of applications, the new PreSonus Eris Essential, Studio, and Pro monitors surely deserve a spot on our list of the most exciting studio gear of summer 2023.

Eris Essential

To start with, the Eris Essential range is designed for home studios, content creation, and multimedia. With features like wireless Bluetooth connectivity and built-in headphone outputs, these affordable monitors are a perfect addition to any multimedia workstation or podcasting studio. You can choose from three different sizes and there’s even an 8-inch subwoofer for extended bass response if required.

Get the PreSonus Eris Essential series at Thomann*.

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Eris Studio

If you want to step it up a notch without spending a fortune, check out the new Eris Studio series. These active monitors come in 4”, 5” and 8” sizes and feature silk-dome tweeters with custom-tuned EBM waveguides for an improved high-frequency response. Woven-composite woofers deliver tight and clear bass. The rear panel offers plenty of adjustability for adapting the monitors to your room. In addition to continuously variable high and mid EQs and a switchable low-cut filter, there’s an Acoustic Space switch to counteract the boundary effect that occurs when the speakers are placed close to a wall.

The PreSonus Eris Studio series is available at Thomann*.

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Eris Pro

Finally, the new PreSonus Eris Pro 6 and Eris Pro 8 are geared towards more professional mixing and surround applications. They feature a coaxial design for a consistent acoustic center and precise stereo imaging. With 1.25-inch ultra-low mass silk dome tweeters located in the center of 6.5-inch or 8-inch woven-composite woofers, these monitors offer a wide sweet spot and symmetrical dispersion patterns.

The series also includes the Eris Pro Sub 10 subwoofer for extending the bass response all the way down to 20 Hz. Thanks to its light and rigid cone, this subwoofer provides a tight and responsive sub-bass that complements the Eris Pro 6 and Eris Pro 8 nicely. A continuously variable low-pass filter allows you to adjust the crossover point to match your main monitors’ response.

The PreSonus Eris Pro series is available at Thomann*.

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Videos about the Best Studio Gear of Summer 2023

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The post Best Studio Gear and Software of Summer 2023 appeared first on gearnews.com.

Apple just released macOS Sonoma on September 26, 2023. Earlier this year, at WWDC 2023 they already presented all the new features. Now macOS 14 is here. And it is free, like always. But be careful if you’re considering the update. Because there are still many pro audio companies whose products are not yet compatible. Let’s find out more. 

Originally published on Gearnews.de by Marcus Schmahl. Translation by Julian Schmauch. 

macOS Sonoma 14 on my MacBook Pro M1

Being the die-hard Apple user that I am, I couldn’t wait either and installed Apple’s new macOS Sonoma on my 13″ MacBook Pro M1 (16 GB RAM). After that was done, this change meant that I also had bring all of my VST plugins and DAW software up to date. Because I wasn’t sure if everything would work, I did a Time Machine backup before the process in case any problems would arise. And so should you!

Usually, these updates don’t break much and I have never had to revert an update – nevertheless, security first! Installation took only 20 minutes. After that, the Macbook rebooted and there it was, the new moving start screen with the fields of the famed wine region Sonoma.

First start with macOS Sonoma

After a a bit of setup (the file system had to be indexed, as it happens after every major update), I was able to use the MacBook Pro as usual and started adding the new widgets to my desktop. This will be a handy thing for everyday use. But how the new widgets might affect performance remains to be seen.

Next I opened Ableton Live 11 Suite. The app loaded up just fine, as did all the other apps I had installed. I didn’t notice any difference. Everything went fast and smoothly. Ableton scanned all the newly updated plugins just fine. So let’s see how they load up in the DAW!

Which of my VSTs work in macOS Sonoma?

My favorite plugins from Softube, Fabfilter, Universal Audio, Arturia, Native Instruments, U-He, and others all ran flawlessly. I didn’t detect any graphical glitches or audio problems. Everything runs exactly as I was used to with Ventura (macOS 13). I ran a stress test with lots of nasty and power-hungry plugins and a detailed arrangement with with lots of clips that pushed the Mac to its limits.

No problem for my MacBook Pro with macOS Sonoma installed. Perfect! Of course, we still have to wait for long-term results, because often new errors occur with filled file caches. By the way, even all iLok-protected plugins ran flawlessly – and so does the iLok app (this was not the case with Ventura).

By the way, my MacBook Pro also loaded and ran my everyday app. Stuff like iA Writer (for writing my articles for GEARNEWS), Rambox (for my chat and community profiles), all Apple’s own apps (Safari, Calendar, Messages, Mail (with Spamsieve), Music, Photos), Spotify, Photoshop 2024 and Google Chrome (Meet) worked like clockwork and without any noticeable difference. From my point of view, you definitely try macOS Sonoma for the new update.

Widgets everywhere and a new look

In addition to bug fixes and performance optimizations, there are several new features in macOS Sonoma. In this update, the focus was on “power” and “performance”. But there are also some interesting workflow improvements on board. Sonoma makes the environment of our everyday work life more “beautiful”.

Therefore, the new version gives us a completely redesigned screensaver with impressive landscape videos. And to improve your workflow, you can now freely place widgets as you’ve come to know from iOS and iPadOS on your desktop. That’s right. If you have an app installed on your iPhone or iPad that offers widgets, like a note app or Spotify for example, you can now place these widgets on your macOS Sonoma – as soon as the iDevice is near your Mac.

And just like in iOS, you can transform complete websites in to their own dedicated web apps and also place them on Sonoma’s desktop.

What else is new?

The News app has received a makeover by Apple. In addition, autocorrect now more accurately replaces your misspelled words and even gives suggestions to complete entire sentences. Furthermore, Apple is changing how it handles PDFs. It now helps you by auto-filling in your data, and PDFs can now be imported into the Notes app.

You can now also create your own stickers and send them to your friends. The lock screen also received an overhaul. It now features widgets for different clocks and other infos as you might be familiar with from iOS. Additionally, Safari now includes different user profiles under Sonoma.

Which Macs are compatible with macOS Sonoma?

Those who own a current Mac with an Apple Silicon (i.e. M1 processor) CPU will benefit the most from the new operating system. But older Macs are also supported – up to a point. Apple has listed these Macs to be compatible with macOS Sonoma:

• iMac 2019 or newer
• MacBook Air 2018 or newer
• Mac Pro 2019 or newer
• iMac Pro 2017 or newer
• MacBook Pro 2018 or newer
• Mac Studio 2022 or newer
• Mac mini 2018 or newer

Compatibility list with audio hardware and software for Sonoma

Beta testers of the new macOS reported no to very few issues with plugins and DAWs from well-known manufacturers. Unfortunately, as always, there are still no official statements from most developers. So like every year, with every new macOS, be careful! Compatibility problems with third-party hardware and software in the audio area are just too common.

But be very careful if you want to connect older hardware. Check on your hardware’s manufacturer site whether the current drivers are compatible with macOS Sonoma.

But we’ll keep you updated, of course. Below we made a compatibility list of software, plug-ins, and hardware that we have tested and officially know to be compatible with macOS Sonoma. As we move further into Sonoma times, we will continually update it. So, check this article regularly (the list is updated as of September 27, 2023).

Which DAWs, VSTs, and hardware devices are compatible with macOS Sonoma?

Manufacturer	Hardware/Software	Does it run?
Ableton	Live 11.3.11	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
AKAI Professional	Both	Not yet compatible.
Antares Tech	VSTs	Not yet compatible.
Apogee	Both	Not yet compatible.
Apple	Logic Pro	Officially compatible!
Apple	Garageband	Officially compatible!
Arturia	Both	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
AudioThing	VSTs	Not yet compatible.
AVID	Pro Tools	Not yet compatible.
Bitwig	Studio	Not yet compatible.
Cableguys	Shaperbox 3	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Celemony	Melodyne	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Cherry Audio	Voltage Modular	Not yet compatible.
D16	VSTs	Not yet compatible.
Elektron	Both	Not yet compatible.
Eventide	VSTs	Not yet compatible.
Fabfilter	VSTs	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Focusrite	Hardware	Not yet compatible.
iLok	VSTs	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Image-Line	FL Studio	Not yet compatible.
iZotope	Software	Not yet compatible.
Metric Halo	Both	Officially compatible!
Moog	AUv3 Plug-ins	Not yet compatible.
Motu	Both	Not yet compatible.
Native Instruments	Both	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Novation	Hardware	Not yet compatible.
Pioneer DJ	Rekordbox	Not yet compatible.
Plugin Alliance	VSTs	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Presonus	Hardware	Not yet compatible.
Reason Studios	Reason	Not yet compatible.
Reverb Foundry	Tai Chi	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Rogue Amoeba	Loopback 2	Officially compatible!
Roland	Both	Not yet compatible.
Slate Digital	VSTs	Not yet compatible.
Softube	Both	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Solid State Logic	Both	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Sonarworks	Software	Not yet compatible.
Sonnox	Plugins	Not yet compatible.
Soundtheory	Plugins	Not yet compatible.
Soundtoys	VST	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Synchro Arts	VSTs	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Steinberg	Both	Not yet compatible.
U-He	VSTs	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
Universal Audio	Both	UAD Spark runs flawlessly, but official comfirmation is still out.
Valhalla DSP	VSTs	Officially compatible!
Xfer Records	VSTs	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.
zplane	VSTs	Runs flawlessly, but no official comfirmation yet.

What has your experience been with macOS Sonoma? Have you run into any kind of technical issues? Let us know your experience in the comments!

More info about the manufacturer and the new operating system

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In this week’s software deals: Get the amazing Pigments synth from Arturia for half the price, grab the brand-new iZotope Music Production Suite 6 for cheap, save a whopping 75% on the renowned Sonnox Oxford Limiter plugin, and more!

50% off Arturia Pigments 4

Pigments 4

Arturia Pigments 4 is without a doubt one of the most powerful and versatile software synths out there, and now you can grab it for half the regular price! With four different sound engines, a vast array of filters and effects, advanced sequencers and arpeggiators, flexible routing, and plenty of modulation, Pigments 4 is capable of pretty much any sound known to man – and then some!

Arturia Pigments 4 is currently on sale at Plugin Boutique* for just $99 instead of $199.

Arturia Pigments 4

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75% off Sonnox Oxford Limiter V4

Oxford Limiter v4

There’s a reason the Sonnox Oxford Limiter plugin has been a mixing and mastering favorite for many years! The true peak limiter is known for its exceptional clarity, transparency, and detailed transient handling – all while maximizing the perceived loudness of your tracks. With precise control over the attack, release, and variable soft-knee, Oxford Limiter V4 is a dynamics tool that belongs in any engineer’s arsenal.

It goes without saying that this level of detail normally comes at a price. But now you’ve got the chance to grab Sonnox Oxford Limiter V4 at Plugin Boutique* for just $66 – that’s 75% off the regular price!

Sonnox Oxford Limiter V4

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Save on the brand-new iZotope Music Production Suite 6

Music Production Suite 6

Following the release of Ozone 11, iZotope has just updated its quintessential music production bundle. In addition to Ozone 11 Advanced and the Neutron 4 mixing suite, the Music Production Suite 6 includes a whole bunch of other useful tools and plugins for music making. Shape your vocals with Nectar 4 Advanced and VocalSynth 2, repair degraded audio with RX 10 Standard, and record guitar like never before with Guitar Rig 7 Pro – to name just a few.

Now, you could go out and purchase everything separately for well in excess of four grand. Or you could get iZotope Music Production Suite 6 now for just $419 from Thomann*.

iZotope Music Production Suite 6

Available for $419.00 at

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Zynaptiq Master Bundle: The new way of mastering

Master Bundle

Zynaptiq’s Master Bundle includes three of the company’s acclaimed AI-based mastering plugins. Sort out frequency issues effortlessly with Unfilter, add clarity and density with Intensity, and give your drums an extra helping of punch even after mixing with Unmix:Drums. These plugins can do things previously considered impossible – and now you can get all three of them at a special price!

The Zynaptiq Master Bundle is on sale at Plugin Boutique* until October 1 for $329 instead of $589.

Zynaptiq Master Bundle

Available for $329.00 at

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Synchro Arts RePitch Elements

Synchro Arts RePitch Elements is a streamlined, easy-to-use pitch correction plugin from the makers of the acclaimed VocAlign and Revoice Pro solutions. RePitch Elements quickly corrects the pitch of an entire vocal performance, or you can zoom in and edit the pitch, timing, and vibrato in great detail. With built-in scale detection, fast macro commands, and even ARA2 support for compatible DAWs, RePitch Elements has everything you’d expect from a professional pitch correction tool.

RePitch Elements is on sale at Thomann* until September 29.

Synchro Arts RePitch Elements

Available for $40.00 at

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Videos about Arturia and other Software Deals

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The post Software Deals: Bargains from Arturia, iZotope, Sonnox & more appeared first on gearnews.com.