Samplr for Touchbar: Turn your MacBook Pro Touchbar into a sampler – for free!

Don't know what to do with your MacBook Pro's Touchbar? Turn it into a sampler with Samplr for Touchbar! This nifty app is surprisingly capable, and it's free!

The new Balthazar Cabaret 13 combo may be small in stature, but is huge in tone

The new Cabaret 13 is boutique builder Balthazar Audio Systems' smallest combo to date. The 13 Watt amplifier comes loaded with a Celestion G10, and has built-in tremolo and reverb.

Misha Mansoor and Horizon Devices launch Flux Echo reverb and delay pedal

Misha Mansoor's Horizon Devices has an intriguing new reverb/delay, the Flux Echo - after two years in development we expect this will be one to watch!

IMPLEXUS: Waveshaping analogue desktop synthesizer that throbs with visual feedback

Coming to Kickstarter soon is the impressive-looking Implexus from Majella Audio that takes waveshaping and folding through an analogue signal path of East and West Coast-inspired synthesis.

First Look: IK Multimedia AmpliTube Joe Satriani guitar tone suite

IK Multimedia's AmpliTube Joe Satriani tone suite officially launches! We took the new bundle through its paces - has IK successfully modelled Satch's legendary guitar sounds?

TC Electronic introduces Midas Heritage 3000 plug-ins and controllers

TC Electronic has released the PEQ 3000 and DYN 3000 EQ and compressor plug-ins inspired by the Midas Heritage 3000 console plus optional hardware controllers. Will these be landing on your desk soon?

Could the new Electro-Harmonix Cntl Knob Static Expression Pedal replace your expression pedal?

The new Cntl Knob from Electro-Harmonix allows you to store two positions of a traditional expression pedal as presets in a tiny little box that will easily fit on a crowded pedalboard.

Blackstar Debut 10E and 15E: Practise amps with echoes of the past

Blackstar launches a new set of low-wattage practise amps, the Debut series, aimed at beginners to electric guitar... Hang on, have we seen these amps before somewhere?

Lunar Lander is a modular synth-style virtual effects pedal (and you can win an NFR)

Lunar Lander is a 3-in-1 effects plug-in that combines analog delay, Lexicon-style reverbs and tube saturation from a modular softsynth's FX section. You can even win an NFR!

Is Glou-Glou Steak the most insane distortion box ever?

The Glou-Glou Steak is an amazing 100% analogue dual/parallel distortion/fuzz with onboard filters, modulation and its own LFO. This beast can do classic rock to full-on insanity and back again!

Reloop sPodcaster Go: EUR 60 USB mic for budget-friendly recordings

The choice at the lower-priced end of the USB mic market has a new contender: Reloop's sPodcaster Go. But can a respectable USB condenser mic really be had for EUR 60?

Modal Skulpt V2.0 Firmware brings MPE support and more

Modal's compact 4-voice Skulpt virtual-analogue synthesizer gets a firmware upgrade that brings MPE support, Sustain/Arp Latch mode, Global Tuning Setting and MIDI-In Offset.

PreSonus Studio One 5 arrives with heaps of new features

PreSonus has announced Studio One 5! The new version of the DAW comes with many new features, including redesigned effects, score view and a cool live performance mode.

Symphonic AI: Orchestra controlled by animated intelligence

Sample Logic's Symphonic AI is an ambitious orchestral instrument built with 13GB of multi-samples animated by a proprietary quad-core audio engine and messed about with randomness.

Diezel VHX amp and profiling detection: Peter Diezel speaks out

Online forums exploded today when a feature in Diezel's VHX amp head caused a bit of a stir. We talked to company founder Peter Diezel, who gave us the lowdown on the technology in question.

Dean adds two new models to its Icon Select lineup

These two new models in the Dean Icon Select series come with all the ingredients necessary to make a good quality instrument, while still managing to keep costs down.

Initial Audio IA-LA1 compressor: How much colouration would you like?

Initial Audio has released the IA-LA1 compressor. It's not an LA-2A clone, but it does borrow some ideas. And here's a nifty feature: you can dial in the amount of colouration.

Analog synthesizer on a chip – Coolaudio introduces the V3397

Semiconductor manufacturers Coolaudio has designed an "analog synth on-a-chip" based on the CEM3396 called the V3397 and it will open the door to some very compact polyphonic synthesizers.

The Brainworx Rockergain 100 plugin: An Orange Rockerverb for your DAW

Based on the Orange Rockerverb valve head, the all new Brainworx Rockergain 100 plugin gets you high-gain tones without the need for hearing protection.

Neural DSP Archetype Cory Wong plug-in: Get your funk on!

Neural DSP takes its Archetype series in a refreshing new direction, modelling the clean, tight funk tones of Vulfpeck guitarist Cory Wong, including his favourite amps, cab IRs and effects.

Blackhole Cases THREE: 60HP portable Eurorack modular case designed with Afrorack

Blackhole Cases has a special edition portable Eurorack case called THREE they are releasing in collaboration with Afrorack and you can win one by donating to Afrorack's educational program.

Best Sample Packs This Week: 80s cassette sounds, colorful Clavinets and a dubstep collection

Some awesome sample packs this week: more of SampleScience' Vaporwaves series, Clavinets run through guitar amps, a free chillstep pack and some of the best dubstep samples available. Bring it on!

Korneff Audio Pawn Shop Comp 2.0 lets you swap tubes, transformers and more

Ever wanted to experiment with different tubes, transformers and transistors in a compressor? Pawn Shop Comp 2.0 by Korneff Audio lets you do just that. The plug-in has just received a major update.

ADAM Audio gives away free plug-ins, extends warranty to five years

Do you own monitor speakers or headphones by ADAM Audio? You could be eligible for free plug-ins and an extended five-year warranty! Check out the details here.