Dave Hidek
Gear Review
Pro-C 3 compressor plug-in
Mar 16, 2026
Since its release, the FabFilter Pro-C 2 has been one of the most used and beloved compressor plug-ins on the market. FabFilter’s latest update, the...
Gear Review
FabFilter: Pro-Q 4 Plug-In
Mar 15, 2025
Since its release in 2018, FabFilter’s Pro-Q 3 has become one of the most used, if not the most used, EQ plug-ins for professionals and...
Gear Review
PolyMAX Synth Plug-in
Nov 15, 2023
Universal Audio (UA) is one of the giants of the plug-in world, and their emulations of classic analog gear are among the most hallowed. With the...
Gear Review
Twin 3 Virtual Analog Synth
May 15, 2023
FabFilter’s Twin 3 is a sweeping update to their well-received virtual Twin 2 synth, originally released back in 2009. Fourteen years later, Twin 3...
Gear Review
Kurt Ballou Drums Sample Library
Mar 15, 2023
Kurt Ballou is known for making incredible records both as a producer/studio owner (God City) and as the guitarist for hardcore/punk...
Gear Review
Joe Chiccarelli Signature Plug-In
Jan 15, 2023
Following the successful launch of their Al Schmitt Signature plug-in , Leapwing Audio recently released a Joe Chiccarelli Signature...
Gear Review
DOPAMINE Enhancer Plug-In
Nov 15, 2022
Overloud Audio Tools’ DOPAMINE is a recreation of the renown Dolby 361 A-Type noise reduction module, and the slightly lesser known, but still...
Gear Review
ControlHub Mixing Plug-In
Sep 15, 2022
STL Tones is best known for their guitar amp modeling software, AmpHub, ToneHub, Tonality, and Libra, which bring signature amp models, pedals, and...
Gear Review
Crystalline Reverb Plug-In
Jul 15, 2022
BABY Audio is quickly developing a reputation for boiling plug-ins down to their essential components and reshaping them into concentrated, powerful...
Gear Review
Rum Room Simulator Plug-in
Mar 10, 2022
Rum (pronounced “room”) is an interesting effect from Klevgrand, a Swedish developer that’s been cranking out innovative plug-ins for the last...
Gear Review
TAIP Tape Emulation Plug-In
Mar 10, 2022
BABY Audio’s TAIP is a unique plug-in. Lately, we’ve been exposed to some fantastic tape machine plug-in emulations, but TAIP takes it one step...
Gear Review
Ecoplate Plug-In
Jan 15, 2022
HEAR360 has modeled the Ecoplate I, a well-known analog plate reverb designed by Jim Cunningham in the ‘80s. At the time, it was not uncommon for...
Gear Review
Timeless 3 Delay Plug-In
Nov 15, 2021
FabFilter has a reputation for taking common effects plug-ins, such as compression and EQ, then elevating them to new, mind-blowing levels of utility...
Gear Review
VocAlign Ultra Plug-In
Sep 10, 2021
The newest iteration of VocAlign, a timing and pitch control plug-in from the award-winning UK-based software developer Synchro Arts, comes in the...
Gear Review
B12A MkIII Preamp
Mar 15, 2021
In 2011 Black Lion audio released the B12A, their take on API’s well-known 312A preamp. Not marketed as a clone of the 312A, the B12A represented...
Gear Review
RC-20 Retro Color Plug-In
Mar 15, 2021
If you want to time warp your sounds or samples, XLN Audio’s RC-20 Retro Color plug-in is most likely the tool for you. I should clarify that it is...
Gear Review
B173 MKII Preamp
Jan 15, 2021
Four years ago, Black Lion Audio introduced the B173 , their single-channel take on a British-style preamp at a wallet-friendly price....
Gear Review
Spectre Enhancer Plug-In
Nov 15, 2020
Wavesfactory's Spectre is a unique take on a saturation plug-in, coupling powerful distortion profiles with the familiarity of a parametric EQ....
Gear Review
Saturn 2 Saturation and Distortion Plug-In
Sep 15, 2020
FabFilter’s Saturn was one of 2012’s most celebrated plug-ins, offering multi-band distortion and saturation, along with a sleek GUI, plus a powerful...
Gear Review
S1 control surface
May 20, 2020
I didn't know I needed the Avid S1 until I started using it. Most of my production work is done in Pro Tools. I utilize outboard gear via...
Gear Review
JZ Microphones: Vintage 67 Microphone
Sep 15, 2019
A little over a year ago I was finishing up a session when a producer I was working with handed me a mic and said, "Hey man, have you heard of...
Gear Review
Pro-Q 3
Jul 15, 2019
FabFilter's Pro-Q 3 is the best sounding, most powerful, most flexible EQ plug-in that I've ever used. If you're familiar with...
Gear Review
Orbit Series O2X Dual-Arm Orbital Boom System
May 15, 2019
If you've ever mic'd up a drum set, you are no doubt familiar with the struggle for floor space among various cymbal and mic stands – the...
Gear Review
MTP-66 Motown Tube Preamp
Jan 15, 2019
Acme Audio has been hitting home runs for the last few years with their Motown D.I. and Opticom XLA-series tube compressors , so...