About Sound Tech Insider
Sound Tech Insider is an independent publication that helps you choose the right music software, AI audio tools and creator services. Every verdict comes from someone who uses these tools for real work: sound designer, audio engineer and composer Dan Lopes.
Tested by Dan Lopes Founder & Editor — Sound Tech Insider Sound designer, audio engineer and composer. Dan tries the music software, AI tools and services on Sound Tech Insider in real projects. More about Dan
What we cover
- AI & Audio: AI music generators, stem separation, voice AI and text-to-speech, ChatGPT and other AI tools in a music workflow, and the ethics and licensing questions around them.
- Music Business: distribution, royalties, publishing and promotion for independent artists.
- Music Technology: DAWs, plugins, virtual instruments and the software side of a home studio.
We don’t review hardware or write gear buying guides.
Who it’s for
Independent music makers deciding which tools and services to use: producers, musicians and home-studio creators. Also creators who need audio without being audio people, such as YouTubers, podcasters and game developers, when they’re choosing AI music, royalty-free music or voice tools.
How we judge tools
We test tools in real production work and listen critically to what they make. Verdicts can be yes, no or “it depends”, and every review lists the tool’s limitations. Where a tool makes sound, the review includes the audio. The details are in our editorial standards.
On AI, we’re practical and critical: enthusiastic when a tool genuinely helps you make music, sceptical when it tries to replace the human side of creativity.
How the site is funded
Some links on the site are affiliate links, and occasionally a company sponsors a piece, which is always labelled. Neither changes a verdict. The disclosure page lists how this works.
Get in touch
Questions, corrections or a tool you’d like us to test: see Contact. New reviews and price changes go out in The Insider, our free newsletter.