Author: Tomislav Zlatic

These are the best drum synth VST plugins for music production and sound design. I’ve curated a selection of my favorite drum synths that cater to a wide range of genres and needs. Before continuing, explain why you would want to use a drum synthesizer. Instead of relying on drum samples, a drum synthesizer lets you create your drum sounds from scratch. So, even if you don’t have a huge drum sample library, you can use one of the plugins listed below to synthesize a perfect kick or your ideal snare. The main advantage of using a drum synth instead…

Piano VST plugins evolved from simple, sample-based piano instruments to complex plugins that combine synthesis, physical modeling, and sampling. There are a lot of piano plugins on the market, so it can be time-consuming to choose the best one. I tested every great piano plugin out there and picked the best of the best to help you find your next digital piano. The article includes VSTs as well as sample-based piano libraries for Kontakt. You can also read my article about synthesizer VST plugins to expand your virtual instrument collection further. Best piano VST plugins in 2024 These are the…

Synth VST plugins have come a long way over the past decade, and now more than ever, they offer an incredible range of possibilities for sound synthesis. As a sound designer and music producer with over 20 years of experience, synthesizers are my go-to tool. I tested numerous VST instruments and selected 21 of the best synth plugins for music production and sound design. Your taste in music will largely define the right soft synth for you. You can indulge in nostalgia for classic analog synth emulations or venture into more uncharted territories with modern waveform-manipulating synths.  However, the true…

For years, researchers and sleep experts alike have been looking into the connection between rain sounds and their positive effects on our sleep duration and quality. From its effortlessly soothing white noise effect to its ability to promote relaxation and reduce our stress and anxiety levels, the science behind this natural sleep aid is just as fascinating as it is multi-faceted. I use different sleep sounds as a part of my bedtime routine. I already wrote about the best sleep sounds, including white noise, brown noise, and rain sounds. I also enjoy recording rain sounds and using those recordings as…

SFX (short for sound effects) enhances the audio experience of videos and movies. If you want to improve your video projects, let me teach you what SFX is and how to use it effectively. It might be tempting to assume that video is an entirely visual medium, where sound is an optional add-on, something nice to have but hardly essential. In reality, any good film is built on its sounds. If you look at this article’s cover image, you’ll probably imagine a gritty explosion sound effect, even though you can’t hear it. But you’ve heard it hundreds of times in…

If you want to create custom audio effects and virtual instruments, you should learn how to make VST plugins. Developing VST plugins takes time and a lot of effort, but doing so means that the possibilities of your work are limited only by your imagination. You could even turn it into a career! In this article, we’ll describe the process of making a VST plugin from start to finish. Of course, you will need to learn coding and DSP, but this article will point you in the right direction. We will cover: What are VST plugins The basics of VST…

You may have heard of brown noise online: it’s white noise’s newer and better cousin! Like any trend, there are a lot of claims made about what brown noise can do (as well as some criticisms, of course). I regularly use brown noise as one of my favorite sounds for sleep. In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about brown noise, such as: What exactly is brown noise, and does it actually work? Some excellent examples of brown noise How brown noise differs from white noise and pink noise The benefits that brown noise brings How…

I’m a light sleeper, so I tried numerous techniques to help me fall asleep faster. One that works best for me is playing soothing sleep sounds. Here are the ten best sounds for sleep from my personal experience. So, do you ever find yourself lying in bed, totally exhausted, but find that sleep just isn’t coming? It can feel like your brain is racing a million miles an hour and cannot switch into ‘sleep mode.’ The best sounds to help you sleep More and more people are turning to sleep sounds to help them make the transition to dreamland, but…

If you are using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAWs) for the first time, you are probably wondering how to install VST plugins. But before we get to that, let’s quickly explain what a VST plugin is. A Virtual Studio Technology plugin, or VST, is software that can be “plugged into” existing DAW programs. This gives you access to extra sounds, effects, and features not found in the original software. VSTs allow you to create practically any sound you can think of and are a great way of leveling up your music production abilities. In this article, we’ll explain how to…

If you’re starting out as a music producer or sound designer, you are probably wondering: What are VST plugins? In the last few decades, VST plugins and DAWs completely transformed how we record, edit, and produce music. A quick introduction to VST plugins and DAWs Much of this recent music production evolution can be attributed to the development of DAWs or Digital Audio Workstations. A DAW allows users to create entire musical compositions in a digital space without requiring the extensive recording gear and studio equipment that was needed to achieve the same results years earlier. Thanks to these software…