Autor: Producer Gang

Ivory is a web-based AI transcription tool designed for composers, arrangers, and pianists who want to turn piano performances into usable digital files without spending hours writing everything out by hand. The basic idea is that you upload a piano recording and Ivory converts it into editable MIDI and readable sheet music. Ivory supports MP3, WAV, MP4, and MIDI files up to 15MB, and the output can be exported as MIDI, MusicXML, or PDF, depending on whether you want to continue working in a DAW or move over to notation software. However, what I find more interesting about Ivory than…

Solid State Logic’s SSL Native X-Comp stereo compressor is now available for just $14.99, down from $99, in an 84% off deal exclusively available at Plugin Boutique.  The deal expires on March 31, 2026.  SSLNative X-Comp is a 64-bit-only release for macOS (AU, VST2, VST3, AAX Native) and Windows (VST2, VST3, AAX Native).  SSL describes X-Comp as a versatile compressor that delivers mastering-grade fidelity with an analogue feel.  The plugin can be used for anything from subtle dynamic control when mastering to brickwall crushing when you want to go ham.  SSL states that X-Comp can also reproduce the sounds of…

Developer Subhankardas has released Nebula De-Esser, a free de-esser plugin for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Nebula De-Esser is a replacement, of sorts, for the previous Subhankardas release, De-Esser NXT. If you tried (or wanted to try) De-Esser NXT, you are aware that it presented a few potential setbacks for some users. The first is that users had to compile the plugin from source code, and the second is that it’s exclusive to Windows 11. Therefore, you should be pleased to hear that Nebula De-Esser addressed both of those issues. Nebula De-Esser is a cross-platform plugin available in 64-bit CLAP format…

Audio Damage has released Evil Otto, a free OTT-style multiband compressor for desktop. The iOS version is a separate $2.99 purchase in the App Store. To download the desktop version, you just need to join the Audio Damage mailing list (or log in if you are already a member), and you will receive a download link. We have seen quite a few OTT-inspired plugins in the last couple of years, including 8TT by Discrete Signals and Cramit by Sixth Sample, both of which are solid takes on the original OTT concept by Xfer Records. Evil Otto is another one worth…

TurboAlexis, the Alesis MidiVerb/MidiFex emulation for Windows and Linux, is the latest free release by the developer ArtV. It’s funny how things come around in our community; we were looking at an Alesis MidiVerb emulation just days ago (MDV-II), and now we have another one to discuss. TurboAlexis by ArtV is a free plugin emulating the Alesis MidiVerb and MidiFex. TurboAlexis is available as a VST3 plugin for Windows and Linux. Don’t worry if you’re on macOS; you can download MDV II by Temecula DSP if you want some retro Alesis reverb. ArtV doesn’t just focus on the MidiVerb II;…

UVI’s Sparkverb algorithmic reverb is available for free on KVR Audio for a limited time. The plugin normally costs €79, and the giveaway runs until April 12th. Unsurprisingly, to claim your copy, you need a free KVR account. I made my first steps in the world of music production there, so if you ask me, it’s definitely one of the better places to have an account yet. If you already have one, just log in and fill out the entry form. Entering your phone number is optional. Licenses are issued manually, so allow up to 48 hours after entry to…

INTERSECT is a free, open-source sample slicer plugin for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It has been steadily improving over the past several releases. BPB reader bmovie suggested I give it another try in our community section (thank you!), and I have to say I am impressed with how polished it has become. If you need a solid sample slicer in your plugin collection, this one is worth checking out. I do not use sample slicers as much as I used to, so I did not put INTERSECT through a heavy test. But loading it up and chopping through a loop…

Loud Isn’t What You Think “Not everything that is louder is better. But everything that sounds better often feels louder.” Most producers chase loudness the wrong way. They turn things up. Add limiters. Push the master. And the result? Still quiet. Just more distorted. The truth is simple: Loudness is not volume. It’s perception. Quick Summary 👉 A mix sounds quiet when energy isn’t balanced — especially in the midrange. Proper loudness comes from arrangement, frequency balance, compression, limiting, and controlled low end, not just turning things up. 🎧 1. The Midrange Is the Loudness Your ears don’t…

MPE Emulator by Attila Magyar is a plugin that provides your ordinary MIDI controllers with new polyphonic expression capabilities and a lot of room for customization! It’s completely free and works on macOS, Windows, and Linux. If you’re a REAPER user, there’s also a lightweight MPE Emulator Lite (JS) download available. MPE Emulator takes single-channel raw MIDI data and turns it polyphonic before reaching your synthesizer plugin, opening up a vast potential for musical expressiveness by giving each note its own modulation. I’ll take the liberty of quoting the developer: “single channel aftertouch (channel pressure), pitch bend, or any MIDI…

Audio Plugin Deals is offering the Guitar Series Direct SG by Sound Props for free for a limited time. This Kontakt-powered guitar library normally costs $115, so it is worth a look if you need a playable electric guitar instrument and already own the full version of Kontakt. Guitar Series Direct SG is based on a double-cutaway electric guitar with two humbuckers and a 3-way pickup selector. What I liked is that the idea here is not a heavily processed guitar tone. Instead, Sound Props recorded it as a direct signal, so you get a cleaner starting point that you…