Harley Benton Acoustics, KOMA Monoplex, Free Compressor & Reverse Reverb Secrets!

LATEST IN MUSIC SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE

Harley Benton's New Acoustic Line

Harley Benton expands its Custom Line Series with eight new acoustic guitar models designed for beginners. These instruments come in Grand Auditorium and Orchestra body shapes, offering options with solid Canadian Sitka spruce tops and Sonokeling rosewood backs/sides, with some even featuring all-solid construction. Grand Auditorium models also include a Fishman preamp system, all at competitive price points.

EDComp: Simple Compressor Plugin

Analog Obsession introduces EDComp, a free, user-friendly compressor plugin. It features a fixed threshold and a single 'Amount' knob to adjust the compression ratio. With fixed attack and release times, the plugin offers 'Clean' and 'ED mode' options, the latter being optimized for vocals. EDComp also includes mix control for parallel processing and an output level knob, supporting macOS and Windows in VST, AU, and AAX formats.

SynthMaster 3.3 Delivers Key Updates

KV331 Audio released SynthMaster 3.3 on May 17, introducing significant enhancements and bug fixes. The update brings back the popular SynthMaster 2.x Green Skin, adds multi-monitor support with floating windows, and enables DAW tempo BPM sample triggering via SFZ specification. Users can also now generate random wavetables and benefit from NKS support for older factory presets, improving integration with Komplete Kontrol and Maschine.

KOMA Monoplex Sequencer Now Available

KOMA has officially launched the Monoplex sequencer, a compact yet powerful addition to their lineup. As a sibling to the larger Komplex, it offers extensive CV control over nearly all sequencer parameters. This deep modulation capability empowers users to generate intricate and dynamically evolving musical patterns, providing significant creative potential for electronic music production.

Laney Unveils Supertop Amp Head

Laney introduces the Supertop, a new 120-watt, twin-channel amp head within its Foundry Series. This all-analogue head integrates LAIR IR technology with selectable cabinet captures and features built-in effects, including tremolo, chorus, and reverb derived from their Black Country Customs pedals. It boasts a shared 3-band EQ, Global Tone control, Bright/Dark switch, and a footswitchable boost that effectively adds a third channel. Connectivity includes XLR and headphone outputs, an effects loop, and an aux-in, with matching cabinets also available.

DEALS

• The Divine Vocal Lullabies by KV Balakrishnan & Black Octopus Sound is available with a 70% discount, but this offer ends today.

• Plugin Boutique offers the comprehensive IK Multimedia Total VI MAX bundle, featuring acoustic, electronic, and orchestral virtual instruments, for just $49.99 (87% off) until June 15.

• Expand your sound library with the NI Massive Preset Bundle, featuring 49 packs of presets for Native Instruments Massive as part of a special birthday sale.

• Enhance your audio with the Biverb – Dual Reverb plugin from United Plugins, currently available with a saving of $52.

• The Fire Pop Producer Bundle from Epic Stock Media offers 16 sound packs for $40, ideal for pop music production.

• Get the Drum Essentials bundle from WFZ Samples, featuring 10 essential drum sound packs for just $30.

• Fiedler Audio celebrates its new OBAM plug-in format with an Intro Sale offering up to 50% discount throughout June 2025.

• Antares Audio Technologies' Spring Sale offers 50% off perpetual licenses for premier vocal cleanup software and other studio upgrade deals.

• PreSonus is offering 30% off new licenses and upgrades for Studio One Pro throughout June 2025.

• The new SSL 4K B Compressor by Solid State Logic is now available for its first-ever promotional sale.

• AudioDeluxe's "Deal of the Summer" features the Universal Audio Summer Mix Tape Bundle (10 plugins for $99) alongside discounts on UVI HX-20, Sonarworks, Melodyne, PreSonus Studio One, and SSL 4K B.

• Tone Empire's La Crème audio plugin, featuring NM2 Neural Technology, is available for a limited time at $29, down from $99.

DEMOS, REVIEWS & TUTORIALS

• A new video tutorial demonstrates how to trigger videos in sync with an Ableton Live set, leveraging the TDableton extension for TouchDesigner. This guide offers a practical approach for integrating visual elements with audio performances.

• Achieve perfectly leveled vocals effortlessly with the Vocal Rider plugin. This tutorial demonstrates a quick, efficient method, requiring only three clicks to optimize vocal levels for any audio project.

• Delve into the world of analog synthesizers and musical heritage through an unscripted studio session with two artists. This deep dive video explores their creative process and the unique sounds these classic instruments produce, all over coffee.

• Untreated production spaces frequently compromise audio mixes; however, understanding studio acoustics and soundproofing basics can dramatically improve your sound. This guide offers fundamental techniques to optimize your recording and mixing environment.

• Uncover the distinctive methods Oliver, renowned for collaborations with Kim Petras and Chromeo, employs to forge his signature drum loops. This insight offers valuable production tips for aspiring and established music creators alike.

• Learn advanced vocal mixing strategies from renowned engineer Preston 'Prizzie' Reid, known for his work with artists like Usher and Ye. This in-depth tutorial focuses on utilizing the Silk Vocal plugin to achieve professional-grade vocal sounds.

• Universal Audio engineers James Santiago and Dr. Dave Berners reveal their meticulous process for capturing authentic tube amp tones in UAFX pedals. They explain going 'beyond the schematic' to bring world-class sounds to a compact format, as detailed in this deep dive into UAFX Amp Emulators.

• Discover the secrets to crafting the perfect reverse reverb effect for your audio productions. A new comprehensive guide details the techniques and steps involved in mastering this popular sound design tool, enhancing various music genres.

FREE

ROLI highlights seven free MPE soft synths, compatible with Seaboards and Piano Ms, designed to elevate expressive music creation. These versatile instruments, from modern classics to futuristic workstations, come with video demos and direct download links in a new blog article.

Darkpalace Studio has released Tiny Caterpillar, a free stereo enhancer plugin for macOS, Windows, and Linux. This tool adds stereo width without compromising mono compatibility, utilizing up to 24 modes with opposing-gain bell filters. It is available in VST3, AU, LV2, and CLAP formats.

DamyFX introduces HellsBass, a new free rock/metal-inspired bass amp simulator designed for Windows users. This release expands DamyFX's collection of free VST3 plugins, focusing on guitar-based audio tools.

Lese has launched Codec v2.0, a free lo-fi plugin for macOS and Windows. This updated version simulates lossy audio compression artifacts and introduces new glitch features, including Packet Disorder, Noise, and Crunch, building on the original's capabilities.