Splice blog
New and noteworthy
What is microtonality in music? Definition and why it matters
Learn about what microtonality is, dive into its history, and explore how you can apply it in your own music.
Get a free introspective electric piano for Splice INSTRUMENT
Download our free electric piano preset for Splice INSTRUMENT—grab these presets during the drop window and they’re yours to keep forever.
How to make indie pop music: A production walkthrough with Lyncs
Expert producer, instrumentalist, and vocalist Lyncs walks through how to make an indie pop track from scratch.
How to humanize your MIDI drums
From manipulating velocity to adding ghost notes, learn about three key techniques that will help you humanize your MIDI drums.
How to make ambient music: Tools and techniques
Learn how to make ambient music that's immersive, expressive, and ever-evolving via our in-depth guide.
What are harmonics? Exploring the fabric of music
Explore what harmonics and overtones are, how they constitute the very fabric of music, and how you can apply an understanding of them to your tracks.
Creating tension, suspense, and release: Tips from a pro film composer
Learn how expert film composer Dave Kropf (Chopped, The Bachelor) uses cinematic effects to create tension, suspense, and release in his cues.
Analog vs. digital synthesizers: What’s the difference and which should you choose?
Learn about the strengths and limitations of analog vs. digital synthesizers, and when you'd want to reach for each.
Latest obsessions
Julian Bunetta (One Direction, Teddy Swims) gives an exclusive studio tour
Veteran hitmaker Julian Bunetta (One Direction, Teddy Swims) invited us to his Nashville home to give the Splice community an exclusive studio tour.
How to make music: Create your own music in 6 steps
Learn the ins-and-outs of how to make music in this complete guide to music production, from picking a DAW to composing, mixing, and mastering your work.
Watch KSHMR transform a rubber chicken into an epic arrangement
Watch KSHMR take his sampling skills to the test, flipping everything from his own sounds to a rubber chicken into a larger-than-life arrangement.
What is microtonality in music? Definition and why it matters
Learn about what microtonality is, dive into its history, and explore how you can apply it in your own music.
How to make indie pop music: A production walkthrough with Lyncs
Expert producer, instrumentalist, and vocalist Lyncs walks through how to make an indie pop track from scratch.
How to humanize your MIDI drums
From manipulating velocity to adding ghost notes, learn about three key techniques that will help you humanize your MIDI drums.
How to make ambient music: Tools and techniques
Learn how to make ambient music that's immersive, expressive, and ever-evolving via our in-depth guide.
What are harmonics? Exploring the fabric of music
Explore what harmonics and overtones are, how they constitute the very fabric of music, and how you can apply an understanding of them to your tracks.
Creating tension, suspense, and release: Tips from a pro film composer
Learn how expert film composer Dave Kropf (Chopped, The Bachelor) uses cinematic effects to create tension, suspense, and release in his cues.
Analog vs. digital synthesizers: What’s the difference and which should you choose?
Learn about the strengths and limitations of analog vs. digital synthesizers, and when you'd want to reach for each.
Tori Letzler and Steven Richard Davis showcase their film scoring setups
Expert composers Tori Letzler and Steven Richard Davis give us an exclusive tour of their two incredible home studios.
Get a free introspective electric piano for Splice INSTRUMENT
Download our free electric piano preset for Splice INSTRUMENT—grab these presets during the drop window and they’re yours to keep forever.
The 10 best free music production plugins for 2026 (instruments and effects)
From long-time classics to game-changing newcomers, we overview ten free plugins that have the potential to be your next music production toolkit staple in 2026.
Free Drops for Splice INSTRUMENT
Find the full list of current and past Free Drops for Splice INSTRUMENT—grab these presets during the drop window and they’re yours to keep forever.
Creating a lo-fi beat and post-rock track with Spitfire’s free orchestral sounds
Expert producer and educator TAETRO showcases the high-quality free instruments available in Spitfire Symphony Orchestra: Discover.
The 6 best reverb plugins for vocals with SIRMA (free presets included)
Expert artist, songwriter, and music producer SIRMA showcases six reverb plugins for vocals that have become staples in her toolkit.
11 sad chord progressions you need to know (free MIDI files included)
We analyze 11 sad chord progressions and some songs they're used in to identify what makes them so effective at tugging at our heartstrings.
The 8 levels of 808s (free sounds and MIDI files included)
We explore the 8 levels of 808s, spanning everything from basic sustains and glides to uncharted realms of 808 enlightenment.
7 free plugins and VSTs for making beats
Expert producer Isaac Duarte showcases seven free plugins and VSTs for making professional-sounding beats.
Gavin Brivik on scoring Faces of Death, sound design techniques, and collaboration
In this interview, award-winning composer Gavin Brivik discusses his creative process behind composing the score for Faces of Death.
What is an audio interface (and why would you need one)?
Learn about how an audio interface works, why you would need one as a musician, and which interfaces you should consider in 2026.
Home studio acoustic treatment: An in-depth DIY guide
Dive into DIY home studio acoustic treatment approaches that are viable within three different budgets: $0, $500, and $1,000.
Types of microphones: A guide to how they work and best use cases
Join us as we explore a few of the most common types of microphones, what makes them work, and what sets them apart.
Touring The Pharmacy Studios (Dr. Dre, Eminem) with TRINITY
Join us on an exclusive tour of The Pharmacy Studios, where Dr. Dre, Michael Jackson, Eminem, and countless others have recorded their hits.
What is phantom power (and when do you need it)?
Learn about what phantom power is, how it works, and when and why you need it when you're making music using microphones and other devices.
Vocal comping: The 4 steps for getting perfect vocals
Learn about what vocal comping is and explore key tips and tricks you can apply to get the best final results possible.
Audio cable types: A complete guide (with pictures)
Learn about common audio cable types spanning TS, TRS, XLR, MIDI, USB, and more, and how you can use them effectively when making music.
Julian Bunetta talks songwriting, One Direction, and the “Espresso” loop
GRAMMY-nominated songwriter Julian Bunetta (One Direction, Teddy Swims) discusses how he got started, the stories behind his biggest hits, and more.
Southside on his come-up, working with Future, and going on a duck hunt
Southside sat down with us to discuss his come-up, how hunting helps his mental health, working with Future, and much, much more.
KSHMR talks producing for Justin Bieber and Beyoncé, making sample packs, and more
Globally-acclaimed producer and artist KSHMR discusses his landmark collaborations, greatest learnings, new sample pack, and more.
Yaeji reflects on With A Hammer, healing trauma through music, and her favorite video games
Yaeji sat down with us to discuss her creative process behind With A Hammer, philosophical approach to performing live, favorite video games, and more.
Mike Shinoda on crafting Meteora, songwriting, and the art of vocal production
We sat down with Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park, Fort Minor) to discuss the creative process behind Meteora, how it informs his trajectory for the music he's releasing today, his advice for budding music creators, and more.
Oliver talks production tips, the “Espresso” sample, ’00s hip hop, and more
Oliver discusses his tips for producers, biggest sample placements, philosophy on music creation, and more.
Best mastering plugins for Pro Tools (free and paid)
We explore the best mastering plugins for Pro Tools, including powerful free options as well as industry-standard paid tools.
How loud should you master your music?
Learn about the most important factors that go into answering the age-old question of how loud you should master your music.
How to prepare your mix for mastering: 5 essential tips
From leaving headroom to best practices for exporting, here are five essential tips that will help you prepare your mix for mastering.
Exporting your song: The best settings for bouncing audio explained
Learn about sample rate, bit depth, dithering, and the various other parameters you might come across when exporting your song from the DAW.
What is dithering in audio? When to dither and how it works
Learn how dithering can help enhance the sound of your digital audio, despite the fact that it adds noise to the waveform.
What are inter-sample peaks and true peaks?
Learn about what inter-sample peaks / true peaks are, why and where they occur, and to what extent you should pay attention to them when creating music.
Make learning a habit with our top tips and tutorials on music production
We’ve compiled some of our most popular articles and videos across the realm of music creation to help you get back in that groove.
5 mastering myths you’ve believed this whole time
We discuss five common mastering myths you may have heard before, and shed light on the reality that lies behind each of them.
What is microtonality in music? Definition and why it matters
Learn about what microtonality is, dive into its history, and explore how you can apply it in your own music.
What is modulation in music?
Learn about the two different definitions and various creative use cases of modulation in music.
How to create vocal harmonies: A step-by-step guide
Explore the qualities that make a vocal harmony effective and learn how to write your own harmonies from scratch.
What are chord inversions? A music theory guide
Learn about what chord inversions are and explore ways to use them for better voice leading and more nuanced emotional impact.
Music modes: What they are and how to use them
Learn about what musical modes are, the seven common diatonic modes, and how you can use them to achieve new colors in your music.
What are parallel chords?
Discover how parallel chords can add depth, emotion, and harmonic interest to your music.
John Legend shares his go-to chord progressions
John Legend shares some of his favorite chord progressions that he instinctively reaches for when trying out the new sounds inside of Splice INSTRUMENT.
Circle of fifths explained: What it is and how to use it
Learn about what the circle of fifths is, why it's important, and two interesting ways you can use it in your own music.
Splice is now integrated with MCP: Artist-made sounds, wherever you create
Splice embraces extensibility by supporting MCP, which allows users to build new creative experiences with Splice Sounds.
Introducing the Splice Sounds Plugin (now in beta)
We’re excited to introduce the Splice Sounds Plugin, now available in public beta—bringing Splice’s entire sound library (and additional brand-new features) directly into any DAW.
Splice at The 2026 NAMM Show
Splice will be at the NAMM Show (January 20-24) in Anaheim, California to speak about the latest in AI innovation and music education across the industry.
Splice is now integrated in Ableton Live 12.3+
Splice is now integrated into Ableton Live—discover, audition, and drop in sounds from Splice without ever leaving the DAW.
Win VIP tickets and a meet & greet with John Legend on his Get Lifted anniversary tour
We’re excited to give music creators a one-of-a-kind chance to meet John Legend in person on his Get Lifted anniversary tour.
Introducing Splice INSTRUMENT: Our new flagship virtual instrument plugin
Explore Splice INSTRUMENT, our virtual instrument plugin that puts an ever-growing catalog of free and premium sounds at your fingertips.
From inspiration to expression: The next chapter of Splice tools
We're excited to share two new Beta releases that mark the next step in Splice' journey.
Win $1,000 and join our live beat battle with Southside in Los Angeles
Following the release of Southside’s new sample pack on Splice, we’re excited to announce a one-of-a-kind live beat battle with him as the judge.