

With switchable feedforward and feedback topologies, we found it easy to get highly responsive behaviour perfect for snappy drums and punchy vocals or achieve a more vintage glue effect perfect for mixes and sub-mixes. The 50 Series VCA really captures this wonderfully flexible unit. Performance and verdictĥ0 Series includes two API-style compressors based on two classic units – the 525 FET and a favourite of ours, the 2500 VCA. Lindell 50 Series is included in both the Mega and Mix & Master bundles. Meanwhile, Musician offers the amps, instruments and effects in a smaller, focused pack, and Essentials is a budget option with 40 plugins. If you’re not interested in amps and instruments then Mix & Master could be a better option. Mega Bundle is the premium option, includes all plugins (currently 126) and the inclusion of all new plugins as they are released. There’s a discount for paying a year upfront, but whichever way you pay, each completed subscription year earns you a use-once voucher, which we think is a major sweetener. Plugin Alliance launched its subscription scheme a couple of years ago and it’s developed over time so that there are now four options aimed at different monthly price points – Mega Bundle ($24.99), Mix & Master ($19.99), Musician ($14.99) and Essential ($10). But thankfully many, including Plugin Alliance, have no minimum tie in period so signing up isn’t necessarily a major commitment. Offerings vary considerably and if you have multiple subscriptions the monthly costs stack up. The subscription has quickly become a major force throughout the audio plugin and soundware ecosystem, with early adopters including many of the key players, such as Slate Digital and Plugin Alliance. Subscriptions at Plugin Alliance include a loyalty voucher for every full year you stay (Image credit: Plugin Alliance)
