KVR Readers' Choice Awards 2021: Top 5 nominations for 'Favorite Developer'

By KVR Audio on September 9th, 2021

The nominations for the 2021 KVR Readers' Choice Awards are in, as voted for by the KVR community. Voting is now open so make yourself heard here.

We present to you the top 5 nominations for 'Favorite Developer'.

During this phase KVR members can choose their preference from the shortlist in each category (or stick with their previous selection, or choose another if they prefer, who are we to judge?) Spread the word, tell your friends, tell your enemies, tell your mum, #kvrrcas. All categories are optional. Please note that Freeware and Donationware products should not be voted for in any categories except Favorite Free Virtual Instrument and Favorite Free Virtual Effect Processor. Everyone can change their nominations / votes at any time until the voting closes.

NOTE: If the product you wish to vote for isn't in the KVR Product Database yet please contact the developer and ask them to add it.
Who won last time? Find out at kvraudio.com/2020-kvr-rca-winners

KV331 Audio

KV331 Audio was founded in 2012 by a dedicated team of engineers, musicians, and sound designers with the sole purpose of providing high-quality virtual instruments for musicians globally. Its flagship soft synth, SynthMaster, has over 24,000 licensed users in over 110 countries and received numerous awards from prestigious music technology publications around the world; while walking away from MusicTech Magazine's 2016 Gear Of The Year awards as a Gold Award Winner in the 'Best Software Instrument/Sample Library' category, MusicRadar readers recently ranked it number one in their '50 best VST/AU plugin synths in the world today' survey.

Fabfilter

Beautiful sound. Fantastic workflow. These are the foundations of FabFilter. FabFilter create powerful audio plug-ins with superb sound quality and innovative interfaces.

At FabFilter, they make the best possible tools for music production and audio processing. To achieve this, they continually rethink and challenge industry standards: "we've never been afraid of reinventing the wheel". Considering every little detail, FabFilter tune their algorithms and interfaces until they sound perfect, look amazing and feel great to work with.

Above everything else, you need superb sound quality. That's why FabFilter put a lot of effort into developing unique audio processing algorithms, ranging from the famous resonating filters to transparent high-end EQ and dynamics processing.

Every FabFilter plug-in has an easy-to-use, well-designed interface aimed at providing unsurpassed workflow. FabFilter plug-ins focus on the task you're performing at that specific moment: they expose the features you need, when you need them. And because of special attention to design, you'll be delighted every time you open a FabFilter plug-in.

Steinberg

Steinberg offers the best tools for both aspiring and professional musicians, producers and engineers, being there for them throughout their journey in music and sound. Steinberg aim for a holistic approach to their product portfolio, that covers the entire workflow of music production. They deliver a complete service package around their products that sets them apart. Steinberg's purpose is to deliver the best products and services to those on a creative audio journey.

Steinberg stands for quality and great service for those interested in recording, composing and producing music. Choosing Steinberg for the best audio experience available, their customers know and value the consistent product and service delivery that is the foundation of the trust between them. It defines their shared future and vision. Steinberg's vision is for you to express your creativity with them.

u-he

Founded in 2001 by industrial designer and synthesizer fan Urs Heckmann as a one-man show, the Berlin-based audio software company u-he has since evolved into a tightly knit team of employees, active associates and 3rd-party contractors – with ambitious plans.

Known primarily for Zebra2 and Diva, u-he has released several other successful products over the years, and has contributed freeware plug-ins to popular music technology magazines. Despite their underlying complexity, u-he synths and effects are widely acclaimed for their ease of use.

The u-he team has been exploring new technologies for vastly improved analogue synth and delay emulation, as well as various "physical modelling" approaches to acoustic instruments and effects. All valuable groundwork for the Zebra3 project and other spin-off products - watch this space.

Especially well known for the Zebra2 and Diva software synthesizers, u-he has developed several other successful products over the last decade, and regularly contributes freeware to popular magazines (available as download or on cover discs).

Despite their underlying complexity, u-he synths and effects are widely acclaimed for their ease of use. This is often attributed to Urs Heckmann's background as industrial designer. Heckmann sees the seemingly unconventional decision to start an audio software company as a direct result of his equal love for industrial design and for synthesizers.

Most recently, u-he has been exploring concepts for analogue synthesizers, and the first results can be heard in the software synths ACE / Bazille (audio-rate modulation paths) as well as Diva, Presswerk and Satin (accurate simulation of electronic circuitry). Hive is u-he's first foray into the world of low CPU dance-oriented synths.

Native Instruments

Native Instruments is a leading manufacturer of software and hardware for computer-based audio production and DJing. The company's mission is to develop innovative, fully-integrated solutions for all musical styles and professions. The resulting products regularly push technological boundaries and open up new creative horizons for professionals and amateurs alike.