Character Over Perfection
“Beauty with character ages better than perfection.”
— Karl Lagerfeld
Many audio plugins are designed to make things cleaner.
Cleaner EQ.
Cleaner compression.
Cleaner sound.
AudioThing often goes in the opposite direction.
Their plugins are about:
- Character
- Texture
- Imperfection
- Vibe
If you’re trying to make everything sound pristine…
AudioThing might not be for you.
But if you’re trying to make music feel alive…
You should definitely take a look.
Quick Summary
👉 AudioThing creates creative audio effects and virtual instruments focused on character, vintage hardware emulation, texture, and sound design. Their plugins are especially popular among producers working in Dub Techno, Ambient, Lo-Fi, Experimental, and Electronic music.
AudioThing is a boutique plugin developer based in Italy.
They create:
- Audio effects
- Virtual instruments
- Creative sound design tools
- Vintage hardware emulations
Unlike some companies that focus on massive plugin suites…
AudioThing often creates highly focused tools that do one thing extremely well.
AudioThing plugins feel more like musical instruments than utility tools.
The Dub Techno Secret Weapon
If AudioThing only made one plugin…
This would probably be the one I’d recommend.
What It Is
Outer Space emulates the legendary:
Roland RE-201 Space Echo
One of the most important delay units ever created.
Used by:
- Dub producers
- Reggae engineers
- Ambient artists
- Electronic musicians
Why It’s Great
You get:
- Tape delay
- Spring reverb
- Saturation
- Feedback
- Modulation
All in one plugin.
Perfect For
- Dub Techno
- Dub
- Ambient
- Techno
- Experimental music
If Dub Techno had a mascot plugin, it might be Outer Space.
Springs – Vintage Spring Reverb
Before digital reverbs existed…
There were springs.
Actual springs.
Inside metal boxes.
What It Sounds Like
- Metallic
- Splashy
- Warm
- Characterful
Why Producers Love It
Modern reverbs often sound perfect.
Spring reverbs sound interesting.
Perfect for:
- Dub
- Surf guitar
- Vintage vocals
- Synths
Springs adds personality that digital perfection often removes.
Speakers – Lo-Fi Through Real Speakers
One of the easiest ways to create character is through speaker simulation.
What It Does
Simulates:
- Radios
- Televisions
- Phones
- Small speakers
- Vintage playback systems
Why It’s Useful
Many sounds are too perfect.
Speakers helps create:
- Lo-Fi textures
- Vintage sounds
- Unique frequency responses
Perfect for:
- Sound design
- Sampling
- Lo-Fi production
- Film audio
Reels – Tape Machine Magic
Tape remains one of the most loved sounds in music production.
What Reels Adds
- Saturation
- Compression
- Noise
- Wow
- Flutter
Why Producers Use Tape
Tape naturally smooths harsh digital recordings.
It can make tracks feel:
- Older
- Warmer
- More cohesive
Perfect for:
- Synths
- Drum buses
- Mix buses
- Ambient music
Reels is less about accuracy and more about emotion.
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Type A – The Secret Weapon
This plugin has become something of a cult favorite.
What It Emulates
A vintage noise reduction system.
Originally designed to reduce tape noise.
What Producers Discovered
When used creatively…
It adds:
- Presence
- Excitement
- Air
- Detail
Many engineers use it almost like an enhancer.
Perfect for:
- Vocals
- Mix bus processing
- Mastering
- Synths
Type A is one of those plugins that sounds expensive.
Dub Filter – Built For Dub
Some plugins tell you exactly what they are.
Dub Filter is one of them.
What It Does
Combines:
- Filters
- Delay
- Modulation
- Saturation
Into one creative tool.
Why It’s Great
Instead of building a chain of five plugins…
You can create classic dub effects inside one interface.
Perfect for:
- Dub Techno
- Reggae
- House
- Techno
- Live performance
One knob turn can become an entire transition.
Vinyl Strip – Lo-Fi In A Box
If you want old records…
This is a fun place to start.
What It Adds
- Vinyl noise
- Dust
- Crackle
- Saturation
- Compression
- Filtering
Why Producers Love It
Vinyl Strip quickly transforms sterile digital recordings into something that feels aged and lived-in.
Perfect for:
- Lo-Fi
- Hip-Hop
- Downtempo
- House
- Ambient music
Dub Techno is built on texture.
It’s not just about notes.
It’s about atmosphere.
It’s about:
- Tape delay
- Spring reverb
- Saturation
- Noise
- Imperfection
Many of AudioThing’s plugins focus directly on these ingredients.
A typical Dub Techno chain might include:
- Reels
- Outer Space
- Springs
- Dub Filter
All working together to create evolving textures.
Dub Techno isn’t about making sounds cleaner. It’s about making them deeper.
Companies like:
- Waves
- UAD
- FabFilter
- iZotope
Often focus on solving technical problems.
AudioThing focuses on creative possibilities.
One approach asks:
“How can we make this cleaner?”
The other asks:
“How can we make this more interesting?”
Both are useful.
But they’re very different goals.
Beginner
Easy to use.
Instant results.
Intermediate
Excellent for learning about analog color.
Electronic Musician
Creative gold.
Sound Designer
- Speakers
- Reels
- Outer Space
Endless experimentation.
Dub Techno Producer
- Outer Space
- Springs
- Dub Filter
- Reels
This is the dream team.
Q: What is AudioThing known for?
A: Creative effects, vintage emulations, sound design tools, and character-focused plugins.
Q: What is the most popular AudioThing plugin?
A: Outer Space is one of their most popular and highly regarded plugins.
Q: Is AudioThing good for Dub Techno?
A: Absolutely. Outer Space, Springs, Dub Filter, and Reels are especially useful for Dub Techno production.
Q: Are AudioThing plugins CPU intensive?
A: Most are relatively lightweight and efficient.
Q: Are AudioThing plugins good for beginners?
A: Yes. Many are simple to use and encourage experimentation.
The best plugins don’t always solve problems.
Sometimes they create possibilities.
AudioThing understands this.
Their plugins aren’t just tools.
They’re personality machines.
Tape echoes.
Spring reverbs.
Dusty records.
Broken speakers.
Vintage hardware.
Beautiful imperfections.
AudioThing reminds us that great music isn’t always about fidelity.
Sometimes it’s about character.
And if you’re making Dub Techno, Ambient, Lo-Fi, or experimental electronic music…
Character is often the entire point.
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⭐️ Download my Free Magic Reverb settings Guide ⭐️
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Also read:
How to Start Your Own Online Business Teaching Music
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