As 2025 wraps up, the music production and audio technology landscape has seen a flurry of innovations and recognitions, from award-winning creative apps to new plugin releases and artist insights. This roundup captures key moments that defined the year for musicians and producers.
The apps ExoSphere and NoiseSpace were celebrated as top picks of the year, praised for enabling ambient soundscapes and experimental noise textures, highlighting a trend towards tools that foster creative exploration and meditation in music-making. Credit: Original author blog post.
Kiive Audio introduced the VX-Q plugin with a unique Variance Knob, offering stereo width enhancement without phase issues by emulating hardware differences, providing a novel solution for mixing engineers seeking clarity and spatial depth. Credit: Kiive Audio announcement.
David Guetta shared his enthusiasm for the Rhodes MK8 MIDI in a studio conversation, emphasizing its legacy and role in inspiring modern production workflows, underscoring the enduring appeal of classic instruments in contemporary music. Credit: Rhodes Piano feature.
Cherry Audio showcased the Mercury-8 synthesizer paired with the SoundForce SFC-8 MIDI controller, blending software emulation with tactile hardware control to enhance the experience of vintage synth sounds, reflecting a growing demand for hybrid setups. Credit: Cherry Audio demo.
A free ‘Cursed Christmas Pack’ sample pack was released by Caelum Audio, offering festive yet unconventional sounds for producers, demonstrating the community’s spirit of sharing and seasonal creativity in audio resources. Credit: Caelum Audio offer.
Overall, 2025’s highlights reveal a focus on blending innovation with tradition, from AI-driven tools to hardware revivals, empowering artists with more expressive and integrated solutions for music creation.
