Author: prosoundpicks
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Youlean Loudness Meter Review: Free Loudness Monitoring for Mixing & Mastering
Youlean Loudness Meter is a free plugin designed to measure the loudness of your tracks with precision. It has become a go-to tool for mixing and mastering engineers who need to ensure their music hits target loudness standards for streaming, broadcast, or film. Despite being free, it competes with premium meters thanks to its accuracy,…
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LABS by Spitfire Audio Review: Free World-Class Sample Instruments
LABS by Spitfire Audio is one of the most impressive free plugin platforms available today. Known for its high-quality sampled instruments and constantly expanding library, LABS gives producers access to professional-grade sounds without spending a dime. From lush strings and cinematic pianos to experimental textures and unique percussion, LABS has become a staple for film…
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Ozone Imager Review: Free Stereo Width Plugin for Mixing & Mastering
Ozone Imager is a free stereo imaging plugin from iZotope, designed to give producers precise control over the width of their tracks and mixes. Known for its clean interface and powerful widening algorithms, it’s a favorite for creating depth and space without sacrificing mono compatibility. Despite being free, Ozone Imager includes features pulled straight from…
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How to Treat a Room for Better Studio Sound
You can own the best monitors in the world — but if your room sounds bad, your mixes will too. Room acoustics are just as important as your gear. Bare walls and untreated corners create reflections, standing waves, and low-end build-up that make it almost impossible to mix accurately. The good news? You don’t need…
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Studio Must-Haves: The Cables & Accessories That Keep Your Setup Running
When you think of a dream studio, you probably picture glowing monitors, a slick interface, and that shiny new microphone. But here’s the truth: none of it works without the unglamorous heroes — your cables and accessories. Bad cables buzz. Cheap stands tip over. Missing adapters stop a session dead. These little details make the…
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SoundGym Review: Ear Training for Producers & Mix Engineers
SoundGym is an online ear-training platform built for producers, engineers, and musicians who want sharper critical listening skills. Using interactive audio games, it helps you identify frequencies, EQ changes, compression, and stereo placement — skills that directly impact mixing and mastering. By gamifying ear training, SoundGym turns listening practice into a daily habit instead of…
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Melodics Review (2025): Turn Practice Into a Game for Pads, Keys & Drums
Melodics is practice software designed to make repetitive skill-building fun. Supporting MIDI keyboards, pad controllers, and electronic drums, it uses guided lessons and instant feedback to help musicians develop rhythm, timing, and finger dexterity. By turning practice into a game, Melodics motivates you to stick with consistent training — one of the hardest parts of…
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Best Times of Year for Music Gear Deals (2025): Guitars, Synths, Studio Gear & More
Music gear is expensive — from studio monitors and audio interfaces to guitars, synths, and microphones, the costs add up fast. The good news? Just like plugins, you almost never have to pay full price. Retailers follow predictable sales cycles, and with the right timing, you can save hundreds (or even thousands) on essential gear.…
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Best Times of Year for Plugin Deals (2025): Black Friday, Summer Sales & More
Producers love plugins — but nobody loves paying full price. The good news? You almost never need to. Plugin developers run predictable sales cycles, and if you time things right, you can save 50–90% on software that shapes the sound of modern music. This isn’t just about saving money. It’s about buying smarter: knowing when…
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Valhalla Supermassive Review: Free Reverb & Delay for Huge Soundscapes
When it comes to creating massive, otherworldly reverbs and delays, few plugins live up to their name like Valhalla Supermassive. Released as a free plugin from Valhalla DSP, Supermassive has quickly become a favorite for producers who want epic ambiences, lush echoes, and evolving soundscapes without spending a dime. Instead of traditional short room or…