Zero-G Ethnic: The Sounds Behind Zelda & Other Classic Media
By Jack Barton
These world instrument sounds have shown up in Zelda, Mario, and other games. Learn a little more about Zero-G’s Ethnic Flavours pack.
How to Make Commodore 64 Music
By Jack Barton
The Commodore 64 has an iconic sound that stands out from other 8-bit devices. And if you’re a media composer or just a chiptune fan, ...
How to Make 8-Bit Music (With Free & Paid Plugins)
By Jack Barton
8-bit music is the definitive sound of retro gaming, and has seen a resurgence in the indie game scene. Whether you’re an aspiring game composer ...
The Best Chiptune Software for 8-Bit & 16-Bit Music [2024]
By Jack Barton
Thanks to a wealth of chiptune software, there’s never been a better or easier time to write 8-bit and 16-bit music. Whether you’re writing for ...
5 Simple Ways to Reduce Proximity Effect
By Jack Barton
The proximity effect in audio is a phenomenon that comes up a lot in audio production. It’s mostly a problem with vocalists like singers, podcasters, ...
4 Amazing USB Microphones for Studio-Quality Voice-Overs
By Jack Barton
Your production can ride or die on the quality of your voice-over. Even with terrible video resolution or crappy background music, most people will be ...
SNESVerb Review: The Secret Sauce to 16-Bit Music
By Jack Barton
There’s something magical about SNES music. Part of it was the faux reverb effect that many soundtracks used. And with a plugin like SNESVerb, you ...
Dynamic Microphones for Podcasting That Sound Awesome
By Jack Barton
Clean audio is the key to a good podcast. Here are the best dynamic microphones for podcasting, streaming, and YouTube.
Dynamic Microphones: What Are They, and How Do They Work?
By Jack Barton
Dynamic microphones are the workhorses of the microphone world. Learn more about what they are and how they work.
PS1 Reverb: Free Impulse Responses for Retro Gaming Reverb
By Jack Barton
Reverb is one of the secret ingredients that makes certain retro game music shine. And now, fans of the original PlayStation can use its digital ...
The Stock Convolution Reverb Plugin in Every Major DAW
By Jack Barton
Most major DAWs come with a stock convolution reverb plugin, but the names aren’t always obvious. Here’s a list of every one.
RYMCast: Why Chiptune Composers Need This VGM Player
By Jack Barton
There are loads of chiptune plugins and software applications out there. Most of them are virtual instruments. But RYMCast is different. Yes, it’s a VGM ...
DefleMask Tracker: An All-in-One Chiptune Solution
By Jack Barton
Aside from using original hardware, trackers are arguably the most authentic way to write chiptune music today. Over the years, DefleMask Tracker established itself as ...
SocaLabs Commodore 64 SID: It’s Free, but Super Buggy
By Jack Barton
Over the years, dozens of plugin developers have tried to emulate and sample the Commodore 64’s SID chip. Many have succeeded with incredible results. Others ...
8-bit VST Plugins for Retro Chiptunes in 2024 (Free & Paid)
By Jack Barton
We’ve sorted out the best 8-bit VST plugins. These virtual instruments faithfully recreate the sounds from the '80s game consoles.
Kontakt vs. Komplete 14: Which One Do You Get?
By Jack Barton
If you’re new to Native Instruments, you might be a bit confused about their products. Here’s a brief explanation of Kontakt vs. Komplete 14.
Komplete Kontrol vs Kontakt: What’s the Difference?
By Jack Barton
On the surface, Komplete Kontrol and Kontakt are pretty much the same. Find out what’s different and figure out which one is best for you.
Commodore 64 Sessions Deluxe: Free C64 Sounds for Kontakt
By Jack Barton
Level up with this free Kontakt instrument from Rhythmic Robot. Commodore 64 Sessions Deluxe delivers the chiptune goodness you’ll love.
How to Install 3rd-Party Kontakt Instruments
By Jack Barton
We give you step-by-step instructions on how to install 3rd-party instruments for both Kontakt Player and the full version of Kontakt.
5 String Libraries That Don’t Require Kontakt
By Jack Barton
Not everyone's a fan of Kontakt. Thankfully, other options exist for orchestral sounds. Here are 5 string libraries that don’t require Kontakt.
Cakewalk Z3TA+ 2: The Abandoned Classic Software Synth
By Jack Barton
Longtime Cakewalk fans may be familiar with Z3TA+ 2, the “Ultimate Waveshaping Synth”. It was one of the first virtual instruments I ever bought, and ...
Cakewalk Announces Sonar Revival & New Cakewalk Next DAW
By Jack Barton
Cakewalk just announced two new flagship products: Cakewalk Next and the newly revived Sonar. Learn about each one and how it affects users.
The Official WinGROOVE Plugin You Don’t Know About
By Jack Barton
For many people, WinGROOVE was the definitive General MIDI sound of the mid-90s. Some of you reading this will want to re-experience those magical samples ...
Furia Staccato Strings: Epic Music Made Easy (Review)
By Jack Barton
As a composer, you probably write a lot of action music for movies, trailers, and video games. But many string sample libraries are bloated — ...
Sonic Images: An Abandoned Classic Sample Library
By Jack Barton
Lately, I’ve been hunting down the instruments and samples used in my favorite video game soundtracks. One sample library that’s come up a few times ...
Roland Sound Canvas SC-88: The Gold Standard for General MIDI
By Jack Barton
When you think of General MIDI and General Standard, you probably think of Sound Canvas. Very few General sound modules have achieved the legendary status ...
Exploring the Voice Spectral Sample Library by Best Service
By Jack Barton
Voice Spectral is a collection of over 1000 vocal hooks and phrases. Learn more about it's history and what games they appeared in.
How to Activate Z3TA+ 2 In 2024
By Jack Barton
Z3TA+ 2 is a classic virtual synth that was discontinued in 2017. Even if you’ve managed to redownload the software, it’ll be stuck in demo ...
9 VST Plugin Companies for Premium Mixing, Mastering & Effects
By Jack Barton
There's no shortage of VST plugin companies out there. We've put together this list of our favorite brands to help you find a starting point.
ProRak LS840 Review: An Incredible Studio Desk for the Price
By Jack Barton
That cheap desk you got from Walmart or Amazon isn’t going to cut it anymore. You need an affordable workstation that accommodates all your studio ...
Super Audio Cart: Is This Chiptune Software Worth It?
By Jack Barton
Super Audio Cart is the definitive collection of retro game samples. It's a must-have for any working composer. See why in our review.
3 Vocal Microphones Under $200 for Any Occasion
By Jack Barton
There are plenty of cheap vocal microphones around. Not all of them are great, and you need something affordable without sacrificing sound quality and performance. ...
Nintendo VST Review: The Best (Free) Chiptune Plugin Ever
By Jack Barton
Looking for a cheap way to write 8-bit music? There are loads of free apps and plugins out there. But by far, Nintendo VST by ...
VSTSID Review: The Free Commodore 64 VST
By Jack Barton
VSTSID is a free plugin that mimics the iconic sound of the Commodore 64's SID chip. But is it worth your time? Find out in our review.
How To Fix Playback Stopping & Rewinding Issues In Cakewalk
By Jack Barton
In Cakewalk, stopping playback can keep you where you’re at, or rewind you back to when you started. Find out how to toggle between the two settings.
Ugritone Koji: 16-bit Chiptunes Made Simple (Review)
By Jack Barton
Disclaimer: Prior to writing this review, I provided demos for the official Koji store page. However, I did pay full price for the instrument. This ...
5 Free Orchestral VSTs You Can Download Right Now
By Jack Barton
Orchestral plugins are notoriously expensive. Those price tags can be discouraging, especially if you’re a beginner or just low on funds. But thankfully, there are ...
How to Build a Cheap Home Studio Under $200
By Jack Barton
You don't need to spend tons of money to get a great music setup. Here's how you can build a cheap home studio for under $200.