From College Friendship to Revolutionary Instrument: The Story of Dog Paw Music In the realm of music technology, where innovation often feels like the domain of massive corporations, two friends from college have taken a bold leap to redefine how music is played. Bill Bartke-Croughan and Trevor Hoffman, the creative minds behind Dog Paw, have … Read more
Sunset: The Festival delivered an eclectic mix of genres and artists, creating a vibrant atmosphere that resonated with attendees, Daniel Benavides reports.
Baby Audio’s Humanoid offers a fun and inviting premise. While many vocal modification plugins aim to refine, enhance, or subtly tweak vocals while keeping them as natural and transparent as possible, BABY Audio’s Humanoid, however, takes a completely different approach. Designed for robotic chaos, this plugin isn’t about subtlety—it’s about pushing vocals as far into … Read more
Gary Clark Jr delivered an electrifying performance at the Aztec Theater on 02/28. Check out our review below! Gary Clark Jr. is back! His latest studio album, JPEG RAW, soared into the Billboard Top 10, marking his third consecutive album to do so. This follows the success of This Land (2019), which earned him Grammys … Read more
Review of Lauren Mayberry’s debut solo performance at the Scoot Inn on 02/26/25 Scottish singer-songwriter Lauren Mayberry, best known as the magnetic frontwoman of Chvrches, proved she is just as commanding on her own during her solo debut performance in Austin, TX on Thursday night. Taking the stage at the Scoot Inn, Lauren Mayberry delivered … Read more
Introduction – F9 TRAX House Nation V1.5 When it comes to the vibrant world of EDM, nothing resonates with me quite like House music. My love for this genre was sparked in the early ’90s when I stumbled upon Todd Terry‘s electrifying remix of Everything But The Girl‘s “Missing.” Perhaps I can thank my brother … Read more
Wisconsin-based metalcore powerhouse ARCHERS has dropped their latest single, “Never Enough,” a hard-hitting track produced by Matt Good and released via SBG Records. The single, accompanied by an official music video premiered by Revolver Magazine, is available now on all major streaming platforms. ARCHERS has been steadily gaining traction in the metalcore world, thanks to … Read more
Olly Alexander, the multi-talented singer, songwriter, actor, and activist, has officially stepped into a new chapter of his career with the release of Polari, his first album released under his own name, Olly Alexander. From Years & Years to Olly Alexander: An Evolution Out now worldwide, the album marks a bold and deeply personal statement … Read more
If you’re into DJing, whether as a hobby or professionally, DJ.Studio 3.0 is one of those tools that makes it feel like it was made to make your life easier. It’s packed with features that cover everything from automatic mixing to creative mashups, and it’s designed to work for DJs of all skill levels. Whether … Read more
Music communities around the web have been buzzing with the announcement of Scaler 3, the latest iteration of Plugin Boutique’s acclaimed music theory plugin. With promises of a completely redesigned interface, a new timeline layout, and hundreds of new phrases, basslines, and more (rebranded as “Motions”), it is poised to be a game-changer just like … Read more
As a lifelong fan of Peter Gabriel, I’ve always been captivated by his fearless creativity. Gabriel’s ability to blend unconventional sounds with emotional depth has made him one of my biggest influences since childhood. So, when I discovered that, according to their website, Peter Gabriel himself had endorsed Infiltrator 2, and his team uses it in … Read more
SKY Keys – First Impressions As someone who’s always chasing after the next great virtual instrument, I am always excited whenever I encounter a passionate new plugin developer launching their first creation to the masses. In many cases, it’s a glimpse at early genius and a chance to see greatness from the ground level before … Read more
When it comes to melody generation, Melody Sauce 2 by Evabeat offers a shortcut for those moments when writer’s block strikes or the perfect top-line melody feels just out of reach. One of the easiest melody generation plugins on the market, Melody Sauce is a perfect writer’s box companion for beginners and experienced musicians. Melody … Read more
Kael Alden’s first foray into Kontakt instruments, Vibe Rewind, doesn’t just flirt with the 80s—it unapologetically plants itself in the decade’s neon-drenched heart and stays there. From its slick design to its lush sound palette, this instrument feels like a love letter to a time when synthesizers ruled the airwaves and every movie had a … Read more
Spawn by Sauceware x Lemonade is a unique entry into this space, offering AI-powered sound design that blends user inputs with an ethical approach to artificial intelligence. Easily one of our favorite plugins we’ve tested yet, Spawn has several standout features worth considering, particularly for producers working within or inspired by Trap music. Read on … Read more
TRONIC by Sampleson isn’t your typical drum machine—in fact, it’s not even a drum machine at all. It’s a generative analog-modeled drum synthesizer that leans into the experimental, offering a unique way to create drum patterns with just a click. Designed for producers who enjoy tweaking knobs and embracing unpredictability, TRONIC is as quirky as … Read more
Editor’s Note: While our disclaimer at the top of the page is added by default on all software reviews, we wish to clarify that we are not receiving commissions from Mixed In Key in exchange for linking to or reviewing Captain Plugins Epic. If you’re like me, your social media feed is probably full of … Read more
Editor’s Note: While our disclaimer at the top of the page is added by default on all software reviews, we wish to clarify that we are not receiving commissions from Mixed In Key in exchange for linking to or reviewing their products. When I first got the opportunity to review Mixed In Key 11, thanks to … Read more
In the ever-evolving world of music production tools, Dubler 2 by Vochlea stands out as a revolutionary concept: software that instantly turns your voice into MIDI. Whether you sing, hum, or beatbox, Dubler 2 translates your input into MIDI notes and drum triggers in real-time, opening new possibilities for producers, songwriters, and performers alike. Having … Read more
AltWire’s Derek Oswald speaks with new Linkin Park frontrunner Emily Armstrong and frequent AltWire guest Mike Shinoda about how From Zero came to be.