Autor: Producer Gang
Edu Prado Sounds has made their Hapi Drum available for free download as a Christmas gift, and you can run the virtual instrument on the free Kontakt Player. Native Instruments’ free Kontakt Player is a sampler for macOS and Windows, available in VST3, AU, and AAX formats. The Hapi Drum (also known as a steel tongue drum) plugin has two types of mallets, a sequencer, and loops. To get your free copy of Hapi Drum, hit ‘Add to Cart’ on the product page, then ‘Check Out’ on the next page, then enter an email address and shipping information (not sure…
Fracture Sounds is back with the next addition to the free Blueprint series, Dream Zither. Even though these Blueprint instruments are free, I feel like a salesman because I go on about how good they are so often. But if you haven’t tried them yet, please do, they are epic. Dream Zither is free to download and compatible with the free Kontakt Player. I have to admit, as much as I love Fracture Sounds, I wasn’t as excited about Dream Zither as I have been with other instruments. The Zither sound is beautiful in the right context, and it’s a…
Why Big Improvements Rarely Come From Big Moves Most mixes don’t fail because of dozens of mistakes. They fail because of one unresolved problem. It might be: a vocal that’s slightly too quiet a bass masking the kick too much reverb on the wrong element a harsh frequency pulling attention a rhythm that never quite locks Fix that one thing — and suddenly the entire mix feels different. Quick Summary 👉 Great mixes often improve dramatically by fixing one core issue. Identify the element stealing focus or clarity,…
Image Image Credit Steve Jennings / Contributor via Getty Images Image Alt Ella Mai performs on Day 1 of the 2023 Sol Blume Festival at Discovery Park on August 19, 2023 in Sacramento, California Image Size landscape-medium Key Takeaways: Ella Mai’s catalog blends classic R&B with modern production, showcasing her vocal versatility across eras. Songs like “Trip,” “DFMU,” and “Tell Her” reveal her emotional storytelling and vocal control. Collaborations with artists like Meek Mill, Usher, and Roddy Ricch reveal her range beyond solo records. When Ella Mai first skyrocketed into the mainstream with 2017’s “Boo’d Up,” she showed immediate promise.…
Acustica Audio has released STONE, a free tone-shaping channel strip plugin for macOS and Windows. STONE is an Acqua plugin inspired by rare British broadcast and studio hardware from the 1960s and 1970s, and it’s permanently free with no limitations or demo mode. If you’ve followed Acustica Audio for a while, you’ll know that, coming from them, “free” isn’t always a stripped-down experience, and STONE definitely fits that pattern. That said, I’ve always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Acustica Audio’s Acqua plugins. On one hand, they sound fantastic and often feel closer to real hardware than most…
Embertone has released E.L.V.E.S., a free virtual choir instrument for Kontakt, available for a limited time during the holiday season. E.L.V.E.S. stands for “Embertone Lyrical Voice Elevation System, although the name very much serves the purpose of being an acronym for elves. This is a playful holiday sample library designed to sound like a tiny choir of elves singing in unison. The overall tone is slightly tongue-in-cheek, but it still delivers usable sounds if you’re working on Christmas-themed music or festive cues. The choir has a pitched-up and somewhat cartoonish character that we’ve all heard in countless Christmas movie soundtracks.…
Plugin Boutique is currently offering the ROYAL 2 virtual bass guitar plugin by UJAM for just $9, down from the regular $119 price tag. That’s a massive 92% discount, available until January 4th (and you also get a free gift with your purchase). ROYAL 2 is part of UJAM’s Virtual Bassist series. It shares the same idea as their other bassist and drummer instruments, giving you a session-ready bassist in your DAW. It’s instantly playable and surprisingly flexible while maintaining a simple, beginner-friendly workflow. If you’ve used other UJAM instruments before, you already know what to expect. The sound is…
Image Image Credit Nic Antaya / Contributor via Getty Images Image Alt Big Sean, left, poses with Tom Gores, owner of the Detroit Pistons, before the game between the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs at Little Caesars Arena on March 25, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan Image Size landscape-medium Key Takeaways: Big Sean has taken on a larger creative leadership role with the Detroit Pistons. His responsibilities now include global fan engagement, cultural partnerships and community initiatives. The Creatives Across Continents program will spotlight Detroit-inspired art and design in a 2026 retail drop. Big Sean is the Detroit Pistons’ new…
Image Image Credit Emma McIntyre / Staff Via Getty Images Image Alt Bad Bunny performs on stage during the “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” world tour at Estadio GNP Seguros on Dec. 11, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico Image Size landscape-medium Key Takeaways: The surprise reunion in Mexico City marked the first time Bad Bunny and J Balvin performed together in four years. The duo performed hits from their 2019 album OASIS, including “LA CANCIÓN” and “QUE PRETENDES.” Both artists praised each other’s impact on Latin music. Two Latin music titans just closed out 2025 with a powerful sign of unity.…
Image Image Credit Rebecca Sapp / Stringer via Getty Images Image Alt Kehlani performs at An Evening With Kehlani at Grammy Museum L.A. Live on Dec. 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California Image Size landscape-medium Key Takeaways: Kehlani delivered a stripped-down “A COLORS SHOW” performance of “Folded” with guitar and strings. The “COLORS” version of “Folded” is now available on streaming alongside other alternate takes. “Folded” is up for two 2026 Grammy Awards and will be featured on Kehlani’s next album. While Kehlani’s latest single, “Out The Window,” is still holding strong, she knows her fans are nowhere near done…