A Guide to Free Plugins
From WikiRecording
Free Plugins
Here's a list of all of free computer-based DAW software plugins. Feel free to add any we've missed!
But first check out these sites for a further explination of Effects Plugins.
- Steinberg's VST plugin format
- Wikipedia's Article on VST Plugins
- Wikipedia's Article on Virtual Studio Technology
Contents |
Free VST Plugins
Recommended Plugins
Dynamic Plugins
SSL LMC-1
Solid State Logic, a manufacturer of high-end Mixing Consoles, has released a VST version of their Listen Mic Compressor, which become serendipitously popular in the '80s for use on drums. It also excels for guitars that are too bassy before compression.
W1 Limiter
W1 is an L1 limiter imitation, Windows VST and AudioUnit for the Mac. get it here
Reverb Plugins
GlaceVerb
GlaceVerb is a reverb plugin by DASAMPLE that is very different from the rest. It is famed for its creative, and simply awesome presets (64 to be exact). It's fun to use and you can't beat the price.
GlaceVerb is available at DASAMPLE's website
Classic Reverb
From the Classic line, Classic Reverb "...is a nice and smooth reverb that does a good job on almost any instrument" according to Kjaerhus Audio's website, who spawned the Classic Line of effects.
Classic Reverb is available at Kjaerhus Audio's Website
Black Water Reverb
Black Water Reverb is a simple free reverb developed by Jezar.
Black Water Reverb is available at HitSquad.com
Fun/other Effects
Paris EQ
The Paris VST EQ is a 4-band parametric stereo VST equaliser plugin utilising the same algorithm as the E-mu/Ensoniq Paris system. It offers the same musicality and quirkiness as the original including soft-limiting, grungy distortion ability, and resonant behaviour under certain conditions. (referenced from readme file) Available via hometracked.com here
Prosoniq Northpole
Great resonant filter, that can add cool effects to drums, and other instruments. a cool effect is automating the resonance and overloading the plugin causing it to turn a drum set into somewhat of a synth bass.
Available VST/RTAS for mac at here Available VST for PC at here
EAS Spectrum Analyzer
A free spectrum analysis plugin for VST/AU/RTAS
Available at Elemental Audio's website
Izotope Vinyl
A simple, fun, lo-fi vinyl simulator.
Available at Izotope.com
Ohmforce Frohmage
A free resonant lowpass filter effect with distortion. Also features MIDI control automation. Excellent tool for sonic mangling of audio! Available from the OhmForce website.
Free Packages
Pluggo
Pluggo is a plugin environment that can be installed on various DAW and allows you to purchase a package of plugins or download a wide selection of free plugins. while technically these are VST plugins pluggo is compatible with RTAS, so you can run them in Digidesign's Protools
Available at Cycling 74's website
Kjaerhus Audio VST package
Easy to understand basic, good quality plugins. Everything from Compression, delay and EQ. Windows only. get it here
Magnus' plugins
Ambience reverb, MJcompressor, Delay, and EQ. check these out here
Fish Fillet
Compression, de-esser, expander gate, these AU/VST plugins for Mac and PC. check them here
Free RTAS plugins
plugin site's
Don't Crac[k] has alot of free plugins, here is their RTAS page. here
Gersic.com maintains one of the largest databases of free audio plugins here.
Reverb
JK IRR
IR reverb's can produce amazing results, make sure to download some IR files so the plugin works properly in the readme file it gives a list of sites that host IR files. download it here
AU plugins
Sonic Birth
A software program that lets you design your own program but also includes a wide variety of free plugins Sonic Birth on Sourceforge
Addictive Drums
The Demo version of Addictive Drums is a fully functional software! You can load and save presets, get a taste of the Beats and Fills (Midi Library) and tweak away on the built in insert effects and reverbs etc. It includes some tasty presets that give you a good idea of what AD is capable off.
It is not time limited. Use it as much as you want whenever you want.
Limitations: Only 1 Kick, 1 snare, 1 Hihat and 1 Crash is provided. The real version ships with lots of different drums, cowbells and cymbals. A very limited "taste" of the rhythms in the AD Midi Library is provided. The real version has over 3000 Midi files.
