Computer Music

« Hear the first ever recor... | Weblog | Plug-ins Hit the Headline... »

Monday June 23, 2008

The Best Free Plug-ins Ever!

The Computer Music Specials team have spent months on a search-and-test mission to hunt down the best freeware out there right now. The result is this bang-up-to-date collection of stunning synths and samplers, cutting-edge effects, amazing amp sims and emulations, essential sequencers and utilities and more! There are even two exclusive synth versions you won’t find anywhere else, courtesy of Krakli Software and HG Fortune.

Inside the magazine all the software is catalogued for your easy reference, with essential guides and step-by-step tutorials to get you up and running fast. And for newcomers to desktop music production, there’s a beginner’s guide showing how to create a complete track from start to finish using the free software supplied on the disc.

If you haven’t used freeware in the past you’ll be surprised - a lot of this stuff is every bit as good as expensive commercial-ware. And CM have made it easy for you by sorting out the best offerings from the thousands of applications available to download. All the hard work of searching and testing has been done for you, so you can get straight down to making music!

CM Special vol. 30: The best free plug-ins ever! On sale now in the UK from selected WH Smith, Borders and good independent newsagents.
Online from http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/store/displaystore.asp?sid=551
Overseas availability coming soon - watch this space.

Posted by Andrea Robinson
Monday June 23, 2008

Software | Permalink | Comments [20]

Trackback URL:

« Hear the first ever recor... | Weblog | Plug-ins Hit the Headline... »

Comments:

Woo! Another must have for music enthusiasts everywhere! You'll never hear someone say there's such a thing as too much free stuff! Thanks for another great special, CM!

Posted by Cameron (127.0.0.1) on June 25, 2008 at 08:49 PM BST #

CM 127 (page 16) said this special would be out June 18 in the UK. 9 days later and WH Simths still do not have it!
What's going on?

Posted by Steve (127.0.0.1) on June 27, 2008 at 12:40 PM BST #

I live stateside and i NEED this. also, are these plugs vst or audio units? im a mac user....

Posted by blackplague (127.0.0.1) on June 27, 2008 at 05:30 PM BST
Website: http://myspace.com/blackplaguemusic #

28th June and i cant find it in shops so i assume its not been published yet

Posted by baz (127.0.0.1) on June 28, 2008 at 09:28 PM BST #

It *is* out there in the shops in the UK - only the larger WH Smiths stock it, plus some Borders and independents.
If all else fails you can get it from the online shop here:
http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/store/displaystore.asp?sid=551

North America onsale date is in approximately three weeks' time - stockists are Borders, Barnes & Noble and Chapters.

There are both VST (PC and Mac) and AU plug-ins featured, although there are more PC applications, simply because there is a lot more freeware out there for PC.

Posted by 127.0.0.1 on June 29, 2008 at 10:38 PM BST #

OK, given up with retail, wasting more in petrol than the mag costs !! so i ordered online.

Posted by baz willrun (127.0.0.1) on July 01, 2008 at 09:00 AM BST #

Yep, it's near impossible to get Computer Music specials locally (Chester). The last NET special appeared in the Wrexham WH Smiths about a month after the publish date, but none of the other WH Smiths in the area stocked it.

CM, ever thought about going eco-friendly and providing a downloadable version of your specials?

Posted by dTMSr (127.0.0.1) on July 02, 2008 at 10:58 AM BST #

I'm in the U.S. and I have a subscription. Does my subscription include special issues like this?

Posted by John Crocker (127.0.0.1) on July 05, 2008 at 06:56 PM BST #

I have too much stuff period! lol :) "Free" isn't helping me get much better, but I'm certainly not complaining!

Posted by Compusician (127.0.0.1) on July 06, 2008 at 04:23 AM BST
Website: http://www.SundayisFunday.com #

John, sadly our subscriptions in the U.S. do NOT cover these specials, although I have asked IMS to consider having the option to do so.

Posted by Michael Burns (127.0.0.1) on July 06, 2008 at 07:13 PM BST #

Free = for me

Posted by Biz (127.0.0.1) on July 21, 2008 at 06:00 PM BST
Website: http://www.myspace.com/itzbizness #

From the first page
"We've chosen software that's bith Mac and PC compatible so every reader can have a go..."

and then

Drums
1) PC
2) PC
3) PC
4) PC

It would have been nice for you to put in a blurb that "there just isn't good free drum software for the Mac" or something like "there aren't really any good options, but you can try..." Really, anything other than having an entire category (and an important one) with no options would have been a better choice.

Posted by Brian Broom (127.0.0.1) on July 29, 2008 at 01:01 AM BST #

I'm a UK subscriber too but UK subs don't include special issues either. Been checking in Borders in Glasgow for this for a few weeks, finally spotted a single copy...without its DVD- somebody had that for free. Don't suppose there's any chance of listing the web addresses to get these "free" plug-ins on the musicradar.com site?

Posted by Stephen Murphy (127.0.0.1) on August 03, 2008 at 09:35 PM BST #

Hi i just found out about this fantastic issue and i fear i'm a little late to still catch it in the shops.

Is there anywhere i can pick this up online?

Cheers

Tom

Posted by Tom Dewis (127.0.0.1) on September 22, 2008 at 12:55 PM BST #

Tom, I got my copy from www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk but the site says they've sold out now.

Posted by dTMSr (127.0.0.1) on September 25, 2008 at 09:54 AM BST #

Hey! I'm just missing here at least list w that sw, i've lend my cm w cd to my friend, but he simple left it somewhere. I think it will help and save money of ur readers but probable decrease ur profit, if u'll post the list here.
GIVE US PLUGIIIIIIINS!!!

Posted by Stanec (127.0.0.1) on October 07, 2008 at 11:48 AM BST #

Is this compilation still available?

Lansing, Michigan, USA

Posted by J (127.0.0.1) on November 25, 2008 at 03:17 PM GMT #

Hi all,

Does anyone know what's on that CM '100 best ever plug-ins' list? Just the names of th plug-ins.

I missed the issue (in NL) however I'm very interested in what was on.
And also...who's updating it?
I can imagine now (Jan 09) some new plug-ins have arrived...

best regards

frank

Posted by frank hamers (127.0.0.1) on January 08, 2009 at 09:31 AM GMT #

So someone is making money from free plugins?

Posted by David (127.0.0.1) on January 21, 2009 at 06:05 PM GMT #

"It would have been nice for you to put in a blurb that "there just isn't good free drum software for the Mac" or something like "there aren't really any good options, but you can try..." Really, anything other than having an entire category (and an important one) with no options would have been a better choice." http://www.3gp-converter.net

Posted by Meal L (127.0.0.1) on May 21, 2009 at 07:45 AM BST
Website: http://www.3gp-converter.net #

Categories

Latest Issue

News Feeds

Links

The Best Free Plug-ins Ever!

Calendar