Zebralette 3 is Here, Essential Mixing Tutorials, and BA-1 Synth at half price!

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LATEST IN MUSIC SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE

Zebralette 3 Officially Released

u-he has officially launched Zebralette 3, a free software synthesizer, after an extensive beta period. This major update introduces significant improvements and new features, serving as a precursor to the anticipated Zebra 3. It is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, supporting VST3, AU, AAX, and CLAP plugin formats.

Neutone Unveils New Ableton Live Devices

Neutone has released new Max for Live devices for Ableton Live, offering plug-and-play solutions for music production. These include neu.grains, a neural mosaicing device, and neu.vochord, a vocoder with an automatic pitch following oscillator and algorithmic chord generator. Neutone is offering neu.vochord for free for a limited time, with neu.grains also on an introductory sale.

MeldaProduction Introduces MMicSim and MTrackAlign

MeldaProduction has updated its plugin suite to version 17.07, featuring the new MMicSim, a scientific microphone simulation plugin. This update also marks the official release of MTrackAlign, which has now exited its beta phase. MMicSim is highlighted as a sophisticated simulation tool, extending beyond basic EQ matching.

Auto-Tune Pro: Pop Vocal Staple

Antares Auto-Tune Pro remains an indispensable tool for modern pop vocals, known for both its signature tuning effect and subtle, musical pitch correction. It significantly shapes contemporary productions, with features like the integrated Harmony Player for quick four-part harmony creation and real-time control over pitch, vibrato, and formant.

Evoke: Redesigning Vocals for Future Pop

Minimal Audio Evoke utilizes advanced resynthesis technology to completely redesign vocals, moving beyond traditional effects. This plugin offers a spectrum from subtle tonal changes to drastic transformations, ideal for crafting hyper-modern pop vocals, unique textures, vocal chops, or atmospheric additions, providing a powerful solution for innovative vocal sound design.

DEALS

• Softube offers its Icons: The Compressor Collection at half price, now $149, for Subscriber Club members this weekend only.

• Plugin Boutique is featuring a 50% discount on Baby Audio's BA-1 synthesizer, a modern re-imagination of a classic 1982 analog synth, during its Holiday Sale.

• Get the Synchro Arts Vocal Production Bundle, including RePitch 2 Standard and VocAlign Pro for professional vocal editing, at a $100 discount until early January 2026.

• Enhance your audio setup with significant savings on popular ADAM Audio monitors and headphones during a limited-time sale.

• This is your last chance to save on Focusrite Scarlett 16i16 and 18i16 audio interfaces, offering flexible, expandable, and studio-quality sound for recording.

• The KNOCK drum processor plugin by Plugins That Knock, known for DECAP's signature sound, is on sale for $69 USD at Plugin Boutique for a limited time.

DEMOS, REVIEWS & TUTORIALS

• Embark on a sound synthesis journey with six legendary Roland Cloud instruments, including the JUNO-60 and JUPITER-8. This tutorial covers their shared architecture, guiding users through Oscillators, Filters, Amplifiers, LFOs, and Arpeggiators to craft diverse sounds.

• Eventide now provides comprehensive educational resources for mastering immersive audio techniques. These valuable materials include expert-led videos featuring Reid Stefan, who demonstrates enhancing Atmos mixes, and Alex Solano, offering an in-depth exploration of the MicroPitch Immersive plug-in.

• A concise video, under six minutes, features Luke Dimond debunking five pervasive mixing myths that often impede audio clarity and punch. This essential guide challenges common advice, even from paid courses, helping engineers refine their mixes by avoiding detrimental practices.

• To imbue music with a more organic, human feel, producers increasingly employ "unquantizing," a technique that deliberately introduces subtle timing imperfections. This method helps tracks distinguish themselves from the often-mechanically perfect output of AI music production tools, offering a distinct, expressive quality.

• Mastering.com offers a free three-day masterclass exploring iconic channel strips, the fundamental tools for professional music production. This course delves into their features, sonic impact across genres, and effective use in both analogue and digital formats; RSVP for free to learn more.

• Distortion, through harmonics, saturation, and clipping, serves as a powerful tool in audio production, adding color, texture, and definition. Understanding the nuances between even and odd harmonics, various saturation types, and the impact of soft versus hard clipping allows for precise sound sculpting across instruments and the mix bus.

FREE

Kushview introduces reTuner, a free, open-source pitch shifting plugin for Windows, Mac, and Linux, designed for high-quality conversion between tuning standards like A440 and A432.

Apatite has launched Magic Mellotron, a free soundset for Xfer Records' Serum 2 synthesizer, offering 20 unique presets created from classic Mellotron samples.

Somerville Sounds introduces "Christmas Percussion", a free sample pack rich in sleigh bell sounds, ideal for adding festive elements to holiday music productions.

iZotope is providing its advanced audio analysis plugin, Insight 2, as a free download until December 31, 2025. This tool assists sound engineers and music producers in precisely analyzing and balancing mixes for professional results.