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If you are curious to explore tape’s creative potential but are not yet willing to fork out the cash for a paid-for product, German software developer e-instruments is hoping to give you a taste of its “evocative warmth and warped textures” free of charge.

e-instruments has just released Slower Fragment, a virtual instrument that’s designed to capture the unique sound of analogue tape when it’s been slowed down to half speed. By recording sounds to tape and reducing the playback speed, we can shift the pitch down an octave and introduce a colourful and expressive lo-fi tone.

Here’s the Official Walkthrough:

In developing Slower Fragment, e-instruments has recorded a number of sound sources through four different tape machines, ranging from the Studer A812 – a top-end master recorder that you’d find in a professional studio – to a Tascam Portastudio 424, Uher 4400 and even a Sony M650v handheld dictaphone.

Slower Fragment features a selection of six presets covering pianos, synths, strings and flutes, and three macro controls can be used to tweak delay, reverb, modulation and more, depending on the preset selected.

This new free instrument delivers instant inspiration straight out of the box. Slower Fragment is built on the acclaimed Slower instrument, Slower, a paid-for plugin features 230 presets built from 65 sound sources, along with expanded modulation and effects capabilities. Slower is priced at €149.

Head over to e-instruments website to download the free plugin and find out more.

Korg has introduced Collection 6, a major update to its software synth suite for Mac + Windows, featuring new virtual takes on the Trinity, PS-3300 and SGX-2.

Korg Collection is a suite of software synthesizers, featuring virtual takes on a variety of the company’s classic gear, including the MS-20, Polysix and Mono/Poly, ARP ODYSSEY and ARP 2600.

Here’s what’s new in Korg Collection 6:

• TRINITY – Released in 1995, this synthesizer defined KORG in the 1990s. Its silver body, TouchView GUI (the first synth with touchscreen operation), and large-scale PCM sound set new standards for synthesizers of its time.
• PS-3300 – Produced for only about five years, from 1977 to 1981, with less than 50 units ever made, this fully polyphonic analog synthesizer remains one of the rarest and most revered instruments in music history. Its massive sound engine, comparable to 144 MS-20s, has been modeled and enhanced with expanded functionality.
• SGX-2 – The premium piano sound engine from KRONOS and NAUTILUS. It captures the tones of some of the world’s finest concert grand pianos, recorded in full-stereo, loopless samples for every single key.

Korg Collection 6 Demo:

Korg Collection 6 is available now with an intro price of $299 through November 10th, 2025 (normally $399).

GForce Software has introduced MAP, a new software synthesizer for Mac + Windows that’s inspired ’70s modular synths from Serge, Buchla and others, but with a modern interface and software capabilities.

At its core, MAP features three powerful oscillators, a dual-filter architecture, and a deep modulation system with MPE support.

“MAP isn’t about presets, it’s about exploration,” said Sam, Product Designer at GForce Software. “We wanted to create an instrument that feels alive under your fingertips, where every movement opens a new path.”

GForce Map Walkthrough:

Features:

• Inspired by West Coast Experimentalism of the 1970s
• Triple Oscillator Configuration with FM and Waveshaping
• Dual Filters: Multimode + 5-Band Resonant EQ
• Intuitive and powerful modulation system with MPE support
• Generative polyphonic arpeggiator for evolving XY Pad-based exploration
• MPE Support for expressive control
• Custom Effects: Delay, Reverb & Color Processing
• Over 300 Presets and Fully Scalable UI

GForce MAP Audio Demos:

GForce Software MAP is available now, with an intro price of £49.99 (normally £99.99). A demo version is also available.