Beat English
Ausgabe 12/2024

55 Synth Plugins reviewed – Which ones do you really need?

Synths are simply indispensable! With the flood of new releases, however, it can be difficult to keep track and find the perfect plug-in for your sound. But don‘t worry, we‘ll do the work for you! On 22 pages, we evaluate the latest instruments, show them in use case workshops and provide audio demos so that you know exactly which synth is right for you. Of course, there are evergreens and freeware gems that no setup should be without. And as a bonus, there are over 10,000 presets to download so you can get started right away!

Sound upgrade for your synths: Over 10.000 presets for free!

Massive, Serum, Diva, Spire, Omnisphere... the list of powerful synths is endless. In the magazine downloads you will find the ultimate sound collection with countless presets for the best synths of today and material for your tracks of tomorrow. We present „the best of the best” of them here, including ensembles for Reaktor. Enjoy browsing!

No-Brainer! Reason free for three months: Modular DAW with SSL console

A full-blown DAW for three months for free! Earler, Reason was known specifically for its rack look with cable clips, but the app has long since advanced to a full-blown DAW that even has a SSL console ahead of Cubase and Pro Tools. And if you don‘t want to switch your sequencer, you can use Reason as a VST3 plug-in with over 15 synths, 29 rack effects, arpeggiator, sequencer, LFOs and many other tools, all of which can be combined in any way you like. Awesome!

Cinematic, analogue, brutal: Arturia PolyBrute 12 in review

The new Arturia flagship PolyBrute 12 not only has twice as many voices as the older PolyBrute, but also a new keyboard with full-touch MPE technology. Together with the 3-D Morphèe pad and the ribbon controller with wooden surface, very expressive playing is possible. Find out what else you can expect from this analogue battleship in this month's detailed test.

Test: Ableton Move – Push 3 compact to go

Ableton Move is a compact Groovebox featuring a sampling function that is compatible with Ableton Live and can also be used as a controller for the popular DAW. In other words, it is a slimmed-down version of Push 3 Standalone in a much more pocket and wallet-friendly format.

74 harp chords, synthetic strings and hellish brass: Fractured Symphony for Zampler & MPCs

The dramaturgy of strings, power of horns, and unique style of Asian plucks fulfill their purpose in the movies and classical music, but also Techno, Trap, Pop, and other genres use orchestral instruments a lot. Reason enough to hand over your personal ensemble that blurs the boundaries between synthetic and real sounds: „Fractured Symphony“ delivers 74 dark harp chords, synthesized strings, and hellish brass sounds that will instantly enrich your productions with intense ambience, magic moments, and horrifying tension.