Akai’s New Ring The Alarm Synth Plugin: A Tribute to Dub Sirens for Reggae Producers

Akai Professional has introduced its latest synth plugin, Ring The Alarm, now available for £24.99 on the Akai MPC store. This new plugin pays homage to the iconic dub siren sounds popularized by Jamaican dancehall music legends such as King Tubby and Lee “Scratch” Perry, offering producers a chance to capture the vibrant, rhythmic essence of reggae.

In collaboration with AIR Music Tech, Ring The Alarm features a user-friendly interface with an oscillator, various LFO shapes, and echo and feedback controls. Despite its simplicity, the plugin allows for significant sonic flexibility, including an envelope for automating LFO speed and easy adjustments to the LFO waveforms.

The plugin also includes tape echo and spring reverb effects, enabling producers to experiment and achieve rich, immersive soundscapes. Akai’s demonstration video showcases how effortlessly sounds can be manipulated using Ring The Alarm.

While some may view this plugin as specialized, it can deliver both smooth reggae tones and more avant-garde electronic sounds reminiscent of classic arcade games. This flexibility makes it an appealing addition to any music producer’s toolkit, especially those looking to bring the energy and character of dub sirens and reggae influences to their projects.

Ring The Alarm operates on Mac and Windows as VST2, VST3, and AU plugins, and can also function as a standalone plugin on MPC hardware. Whether you are channeling the spirit of reggae legends or crafting your unique beats, Ring The Alarm is set to add a touch of Jamaican flair to your music production : try here