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Techivation M-Compressor 2

Techivation M-Compressor 2 Review: Does Spectral Compression Improve Mixing & Mastering?

July 13, 2026 | Mixing and mastering

Spectral processing has evolved from a niche mastering technique into a practical mixing tool. As modern productions become denser, conventional broadband compression often struggles to control localized frequency buildup without affecting the rest of the signal. That’s why spectral compressors are gaining attention—not as replacements for traditional dynamics processors, but as a more targeted way […]

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TimeLine MX

Strymon TimeLine MX Review: Is the $679 Stereo Delay Worth It in 2026?

July 13, 2026 | Mixing and mastering

The Strymon TimeLine MX enters a very different market than the original TimeLine did more than a decade ago. High-end delay is no longer defined by the quality of a single algorithm. Engineers now compare routing flexibility, stereo architecture, MIDI implementation, hybrid studio integration, and how efficiently a processor fits into modern audio production, mixing, […]

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Handcrafted Mallets

Handcrafted Mallets Review: Hybrid Kontakt Library for Cinematic Composers

July 12, 2026 | Uncategorised

The Kontakt market has no shortage of marimba and vibraphone libraries. Most focus on capturing an acoustic instrument as accurately as possible. Handcrafted Mallets takes a different approach, combining detailed multisampling with a dedicated synthesis engine that turns traditional mallet recordings into a broader composition and sound design tool. The question is whether that hybrid […]

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StepStrum

StepStrum Review: MIDI Strumming Plugin for Realistic Guitar Programming

July 11, 2026 | Mixing and mastering

Realistic virtual guitars are no longer limited by sample quality. Today’s premium libraries capture detailed articulations, round robins, and dynamic layers with impressive accuracy. The weak point is usually the MIDI performance driving them. Rigid chord timing, identical downstrokes, static velocity, and repetitive phrasing still make many programmed guitar parts sound artificial, regardless of the […]

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Ninja AB

Ninja AB Review: The Reference Plugin That Speeds Up Mixing & Mastering

July 11, 2026 | Mixing and mastering

Reference tracks have become an essential part of modern mixing and mastering, but the workflow around them is often inefficient. Engineers still switch between media players, browser windows, metering software, and DAW sessions just to compare a mix against commercial releases. Every interruption breaks concentration and makes critical listening less objective. Ninja AB is designed […]

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CHAINSAW SUITE

Chainsaw Suite Review: Modular Guitar Plugin with NAM & Parallel Processing

July 10, 2026 | Mixing and mastering

Avalanche Tones has released Chainsaw Suite, a modular guitar plugin for metalcore, djent, thall, and other low-tuned heavy styles. Rather than locking the user into a fixed amp-and-cab signal path, it provides 20 movable processing modules, up to 10 module slots per chain, two parallel signal lanes, and support for two Neural Amp Modeler captures […]

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Harrison Mixbus 12

Harrison Mixbus 12 Review: Features, Pro, Sound & Verdict

July 10, 2026 | Uncategorised

Harrison Mixbus 12 is built around a question most DAWs leave to the user: how much of the mixing system should already exist before the session opens? Instead of starting with a largely neutral mixer and relying on plugin chains to define its character, Mixbus puts channel processing, bus routing, saturation, and master-section controls into […]

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OBSIDIAN Neural Local Edition Beta

OBSIDIAN Neural Local Edition Review: Offline AI Music Plugin

July 9, 2026 | Mixing and mastering

OBSIDIAN Neural Local Edition tackles a practical problem with generative audio: most AI tools still sit outside the production workflow. They generate a file, then leave the producer to download it, import it into a DAW, find the usable sections, and turn the result into something that can actually be arranged or performed. InnerMost47 takes […]

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Heritage Audio TUBESTRIP

Heritage Audio TUBESTRIP Review: Signal Path, Workflow and Value

July 9, 2026 | Mixing and mastering

The Heritage Audio TUBESTRIP is built for engineers willing to commit tone and dynamics before a signal reaches the DAW. Unlike a plugin that can be bypassed, automated, or recalled instantly, a premium analog channel strip changes the recording itself. The real question is not how many processors fit inside the chassis, but whether the […]

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