Welcome to this week's edition of the Sonic Odyssey Week in Review — our recurring Monday morning series rounding up the most exciting music production news, plugin releases, industry trends, and curated highlights from around the web and right here at Sonic Odyssey. This week’s roundup features everything from FabFilter’s shiny new Pro-Q 4 (we’re already plotting mix sessions around it) to Rhodes' latest stage piano, plus a legal curveball on AI-generated music. And yes — Toontrack dropped a new EZkeys MIDI pack, and we’re absolutely losing our minds over it. If you're into great gear, weird plugins, or just need a hit of sonic inspiration, you're in the right place.
🔥 Top Picks
- Avalon VT-737sp Gold Edition — We’ve already got the classic silver in our rack, and now we’re wondering if we need to sell a kidney for the gold version.
- FabFilter Pro-Q 4 is here, and yes, we’re already queuing up sessions around it.
- Toontrack's new EZkeys MIDI pack dropped and we're losing our prog nerd minds over it.
- AI-generated music ruled public domain?! Yep, that happened.
🎧 Reviews & Roundups
This week delivered some great new plugin reviews and synth spotlights. If you're shopping for something fresh or just love staying up to date, don’t miss:
- iZotope Cascadia Review – iZotope’s new take on modular effects delivers deeply customizable multiband sound design capabilities.
- PSP Audioware Wobbler Review – A unique plugin inspired by vintage tape modulations, offering lush and unpredictable movement.
- FabFilter Pro-Q 4 Review – The latest iteration of this industry-standard EQ adds even more surgical control and features. Pro-Q has been our go-to EQ for years, and we can’t wait to dive into this new version and see what magic it brings to our mixes.
- MOK Waverazor Software Synth Review – A futuristic synth that slices waveforms for aggressive, edgy sounds.
- Roland V-Stage 88 & 76 Review – Roland’s versatile new stage keyboards offer pro performance with classic and modern sounds.
- GForce Software IconDrum Review – An inspiring plugin bringing vintage drum machine vibes into your DAW.
- 5 Innovative Synth Plugins Daring to Be Different – These synths break the mold with experimental workflows and sonic possibilities.
- German Synth History & Roundup – A deep dive into the rich history of German synthesizers, from pioneering analog classics to modern boutique creations. If you’re into envelope-pushing instruments with a story behind them, this one’s a must-read.
📈 Industry News & Highlights
It’s been a big news week with notable product releases and artist statements:
- Steve Lukather Clarifies Role on New Van Halen Album – The Toto guitarist shuts down rumors about his involvement with the upcoming VH release.
- Valve System VA645 Plug-In Announced – A new analog-style saturation plugin inspired by valve circuitry.
- Orange Gate Akira Tube Plugin (Free!) – Get analog tube character for free with this new Akira plugin.
- Levine’s Machines Drum Machine Released – A drum machine inspired by classic grooveboxes with modern control.
- Petrichor Granular Delay Plugin (Free for a limited time) – Grab this creative granular delay plugin while it’s free.
- Rhodes Stage 61 Unveiled – The iconic brand returns with a compact 61-key electric piano.
- Moog Announces Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D – A special edition Minimoog honoring Rush’s legendary bassist. The Prog Gods are showing us a lot of love this week — and we are so here for it.
- Steinberg Releases Nuendo 14 – Steinberg’s flagship post-production DAW gets a major upgrade.
- Universal Audio Launches Apollo E-Series – New audio interfaces bring more power and refined analog modeling.
- Avalon VT-737sp Studio Gear Update – A refreshed look at one of the most iconic channel strips in studio history. We’ve already got one in our studio—and now we’re wondering if selling a kidney might cover the cost of the gold edition.
- UJAM and Bob Moog Foundation Collaborate on Vox Humana Synth – A tribute to classic synth textures and the legacy of Bob Moog.
- Toontrack Releases Prog Rock Organ EZkeys MIDI Pack – Add progressive rock organ flavors to your productions with this new MIDI pack. As lifelong Toontrack fans—and total suckers for the EZKeys organ—we couldn’t mash the order button fast enough. This one’s going straight into our writing sessions.
🧠 Trends to Watch
AI continues to disrupt and redefine the audio industry. This week, we’re seeing:
- The Industry's Fight Against Artificial Streaming – Labels and platforms are taking aim at bot-driven streaming abuse.
- How Indie Labels Can Win the AI Race – Strategies for indie artists to thrive in the AI era.
- No More Headphones? New Tech Beams Music to Your Ears – Emerging tech promises a headphone-free future with directional audio.
- AI-Generated Works Declared Public Domain – A legal ruling with major implications for copyright and AI-created music.
🎤 From Sonic Odyssey
We published four new articles this week to help you level up your productions and save money on great tools:
- 5 Free VST Plugins That Sound Like Paid Ones – These free plugins punch way above their weight.
- How To Get a Professional Mix at Home: 10 Pro Tips – Essential advice for achieving polished mixes without a studio budget.
- Best Audio Interfaces Under $300 — Which One is Right for You? – A detailed comparison of budget-friendly, high-quality audio interfaces.
If you haven't already, bookmark our Best Plugin Deals page to catch regular updates.
Stay creative, stay curious, and we’ll see you next week for more insights from the world of music production.
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— The Sonic Odyssey Team
