6 MUST-HAVE Audio Plugins of October 2026 (+ Giveaway!)

In this best-of video series, I’m showcasing the most powerful and versatile plug-ins of the month. This episode focuses on the standout releases of October 2026. I’m putting six of the best new plugins to the test with quick voiceover overviews and raw A/B audio comparisons. 🎁 GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Thanks to the team at Styx Audio, I’m giving away TWO full licenses of the brand-new Satori Channel Strip! To enter: Watch the video. Leave a comment below (e.g. telling me which plugin caught your ear). Winners will be notified directly via a reply to their comment in two weeks. Make sure to keep your notifications on! *This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by YouTube. By entering, participants release YouTube from any liability. FEATURED PLUGINS: Mastering The Mix – CARBON Q A workflow-boosting EQ that makes session-wide mixing and frequency-balancing incredibly intuitive and fun. Website: https://www.masteringthemix.com/ Universal Audio – FATSO An analog mojo box native in UAD Spark, designed to tame harsh digital highs and fatten up your drums and bass. Website: https://www.uaudio.com/ Mixland – Grey Matter An analog bitcrusher and circuit-bent saturation tool that delivers everything from smooth character to extreme destruction. Website: https://mixland.io/ Pulsar Modular – R862 SKYWAVE A high-power 1930s broadcast station emulation delivering lush vintage tube character and depth. Website: https://www.pulsarmodular.com/ Acustica Audio – FINN A modern, versatile channel strip featuring authentic analog preamps for true hardware depth and weight. Website: https://www.acustica-audio.com/ Styx Audio – Satori Channel Strip (+ Giveaway) An exceptional channel strip featuring 9 analog saturation modes, double-stage compression, and parallel mix controls. Website: https://www.audioloom.com/styx-audio/... 🛒 Get the plugins at Plugin Boutique: I may earn a commission from purchases made through this link, at no extra cost to you. https://www.pluginboutique.com/catego... Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Giveaway Teaser 0:36 Mastering The Mix – CARBON Q 1:25 Universal Audio – FATSO 2:06 Mixland – Grey Matter 2:42 Pulsar Modular – R862 SKYWAVE 3:26 Acustica Audio – FINN 3:58 Styx Audio – Satori Channel Strip 4:51 Giveaway Details & Outro If you enjoyed this video, please like and subscribe to Colorful Tones Studio for more audio plugin reviews, shootouts, and mixing deep dives! #AudioPlugins #MixingAndMastering #PluginReview