Melody. Say what you will about making killer beats, laying down a driving bass, or finding a lush synth pad. Melody is most songs’ “make it or break it” moment. It will either bring the song to new levels or ruin the tune, with shades of grey in between. So, you need to make a…
Sometimes, you don’t need a lush reverb, a fancy compressor, or a realistic-sounding saturation. What you need is a metering plugin, DI enhancer, or audio reverser. Welcome to the world of utility VST plugins. Today’s utility plugins are certainly sexier than yesterday’s, but their ethos remains. Utility tools exist to help you achieve better mixes…
As a techno producer, you will require an array of standard virtual effects and instruments. But perhaps most important of all is synthesizers. Most producers are chasing that warm, analog sound. But thanks to the latest and greatest in virtual analog synthesizers, you can do most of your recording “in the box” and create stellar…
Whether you’re on a budget, or can’t justify dropping a few hundred dollars on a premium VST plugin right now, wouldn’t it be nice if there were convenient financing options that would allow you access to top-shelf plugins? Well, there is. And it’s called rent to own. With rent to own, you can make small…
The kick has often been called one of the most crucial sounds in your mix. Getting it right is paramount to just about everything else because the feel of the song will be heavily impacted by how the kick sounds and feels in the mix. If you thought that it was merely a matter of…
Whether you’re working on your own worship music, or you’ve been tasked with producing worship, you need the right tools to get the job done. From the studio to the stage, the right tools make all the difference. If you’re trying to find the best VST plugins for worship music, look no further. In this…
Wavetable synthesizers are all the rage right now, and there’s no denying their versatility or sound quality. They are used very heavily in today’s music, from electronic genres all the way over to rock and more. What are the best wavetable synths? Well, this depends a lot on who you ask. Either way, though, we’ve…
An upright bass (or double bass) is a favorite in traditional, classical, jazz, and sometimes even modern genres. The upright bass is the largest, and lowest pitched of all stringed instruments in an orchestral situation, and just as its name would imply, it’s perfect for holding down the deep low end in a mix. Its…
The sound of a choir is practically a staple in TV, film, and video game scores. But the dirty secret is that many composers leverage pre-built choir libraries and sound designed elements as building blocks for their scores, as opposed to hiring an entire choir and booking an expensive hall to fulfill on the demands…
When it comes to electric pianos, the Wurlitzer is simply unforgettable. A versatile instrument, the Wurli could give you soft and dreamy or barky and crunchy. The latter was favored by many because it made the keyboard cut right through the mix. Whether you’re a Wurlitzer nut or a producer in need of another tool,…