Plugins/softwares for recreating that FM radio sound?

[Halma]

I found this thread on the SOS Forum pretty informative. Because when I think about FM broadcast sound then multiband compression is the first thing that comes to my mind.

https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... hp?t=37829

[jakke]

You'd need at least the Reason Rack plugin (separate or included with the Reason DAW) which comes in VST3 and Audio Unit versions. Audacity in turn can load VST3 and Audio Unit plugins.

Then you can purchase this Radiation Rack Extension, install and load the Rack plugin in Audacity, and finally load a Radiation instance in the Rack plugin instance. Then you should be able to process audio with Radiation using the Rack plugin.

Exactly this.

Also of note, Radiation comes with presets that utilize Allpasser, a free Rack Extension that introduces phase rotation to smear the transients and to make the waveform more symmetric for compression and limiting, which is also a part of the radio sound like mentioned earlier in the thread.

[dakotaz]

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with how music sounds on FM radio stations and would like to know what plugins/softwares (that work with Mac) can help me recreate that sound or similar? I know stereo tool exists but I’m a college student who currently does not have a lot of money like that to purchase a license.

Any recommendations (free and paid) would be greatly appreciated!

Just to be clear, you're talking about the processing they do for broadcast, or the actual 'artefacts' of FM radio transmission itself?

I believe it’s the processing they do that I’m trying to imitate.

[osiris]

You won't get that unless someone emus the Orban. That'ss what a lot of stations (in the US) used.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orban_(audio_processing)

[dakotaz]

Shameless plug: The radio voice is the result of compression with phase rotation, which smears transients/peaks a bit in order to allow for stronger compression rations. Our Presswerk compressor has feature called Dual Phase Rotation ("DPR") that does this exactly for this purpose.

Screenshot 2026-05-14 at 10.33.50.png

This is cool! Is the DPR all I would need to replicate a sound similar to FM radio or would I have to pair it with a preset/tweak the settings a bit?

[Urs]

You can try the demo. The user guide has a pretty good explanation about DPR. I haven't seen a preset for this specific purpose though, and I'm out of town, so can't easily try myself...

[edhombre]

Also of note, Radiation comes with presets that utilize Allpasser, a free Rack Extension that introduces phase rotation to smear the transients and to make the waveform more symmetric for compression and limiting, which is also a part of the radio sound like mentioned earlier in the thread.

Not sure if it's the "correct" kind of phase rotation but the free SonEQ has an all pass filter in it that I find very musical. Engage drive and engage wow. Use it a lot on tuned percussion or plucks to control the transient. Airwindows Phasenudge allows you more control over the amount of all pass filter and can be useful as well...