Sixth Month June: A Brilliant Juno-6 Emulation That Shows Its Age
By Jack Barton
Sixth Month June is a free Juno-6 emulation. It’s impressive for what it is, but its age makes it a buggy plugin by today’s standards.
TAL-U-NO-LX by TAL Software
By Jack Barton
The TAL-U-NO-LX is a stunning recreation of the Juno-60 synthesizer with some welcome upgrades. Learn all about this amazing software synth.
TAL-U-NO-62: This Free Juno-60 Emulation Still Holds Up
By Jack Barton
TAL-U-No-62 is a surprisingly faithful recreation of the classic Roland Juno-60. Learn all about this free plugin in our review.
The Original Sample Libraries Used in Ocarina of Time
By Jack Barton
It’s well-documented that Koji Kondo used sample libraries to make the Ocarina of Time soundtrack. Let’s take a look at those classic products.
Komplete 14 Standard vs. Ultimate vs. Collector’s Edition: Differences Explained
By Jack Barton
Komplete 14 comes in three premium bundles. Find out what’s the same and what’s different between Komplete 14 Standard vs Ultimate vs Collector’s Edition.
4 Yamaha DX7 VSTs for Glassy FM Glory
By Jack Barton
Looking for lush, FM synth sound? These Yamaha DX7 VST plugins will give you the thick, glassy tones that defined ‘80s music.
5 ComposerCloud Alternatives You’ll Actually Own
By Jack Barton
EastWest’s subscription service isn’t for everybody. Here are 5 ComposerCloud alternatives that you’ll actually own after paying for them.
4 Minimoog VSTs That Perfectly Replicate the Original
By Jack Barton
Moog's Model D is one of the most iconic synths ever. Now you can capture its magical sound with these faithful Minimoog VSTs and plugins.
UAD Minimoog: An Incredibly Faithful Recreation of the Original
By Jack Barton
The UAD Minimoog is a perfect digital recreation of the original Model D synthesizer. It looks, sounds, and feels like the actual hardware.
Recreate the Super Mario 64 Soundfont Using Original Sources
By Jack Barton
Love N64 music? Here are some of the original instruments and sample libraries Koji Kondo used to create the Super Mario 64 soundtrack.
Dexed: The Free Yamaha DX7 VST You Can Download Right Now
By Jack Barton
Dexed is a free Yamaha DX7 VST that faithfully captures the glassy FM sounds of the original. Check out what else it can do.
4 Kontakt String Libraries for Diverse, Cinematic Sound
By Jack Barton
There’s a butt-ton of Kontakt string libraries. Most of them sound the same. Here are some unique libraries for a diverse range of sounds.
6 Kontakt Libraries for Retro Game Music (Free & Paid)
By Jack Barton
Looking for nostalgic bleeps and bloops for your chiptune tracks? Here are some Kontakt libraries for making retro-style video game music.
How to Make 16-Bit Music (SNES & Genesis Chiptunes)
By Jack Barton
The SNES and Genesis had legendary music. This guide will help you learn how to make 16-bit music using both free and paid plugins.
8 Sample Library Companies To Check Out In 2024
By Jack Barton
Need some new virtual instruments for your digital collection? These are some of our favorite sample library companies you should buy from.
Byte Riot: Shockingly Great, Even For Non-Maschine Users
By Jack Barton
Byte Riot is a Native Instruments expansion brimming with delightful chiptune samples. Find out what we think about it in our review.
Komplete Now vs. Komplete 14: Which One Comes Out On Top?
By Jack Barton
Subscribe or buy? We go over the similarities and differences between Komplete Now and Komplete 14 Standard.
What Instruments Were Used in Banjo-Kazooie?
By Jack Barton
Want to recreate the whimsical sound of Banjo-Kazooie? Here are the original instruments Grant Kirkhope used to compose the Banjo soundtracks.
Tracking Down GoldenEye 007’s Original Music Samples
By Jack Barton
It finally happened! The original GoldenEye 007 game is now on Nintendo Switch and Xbox! And with the recent release, players are listening to the ...
Are Video Game Soundfonts Legal? Arguments For and Against
By Jack Barton
ROM-hacked sounds are a cool way to make authentic game music. But are soundfonts legal? We explore arguments for and against using them.
Exploring the Sounds of Digidesign’s Sample Cell Library
By Jack Barton
Digidesign’s Samplecell sounds were often used in Nintendo 64 games. Learn more about the library’s history and what games they appeared in.
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 ...
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.
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.
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.
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.
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 ...