100+ Free Effect VST Plugins

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The Best free effect vst plugins!

This article should keep you busy for a while! I’ve compiled a list of the best free effect vst plugins available. Below, there’s a table of contents, a description of each effect plugin, a link to download, and, where possible, video and audio examples.

There are more free music production tools, Ableton Packs, and free plugins on the Free Stuff page. Or you might also like:

The Best Paid Effect Plugins
List of Free Drum Machine Plugins
100+ Free Effect VST Plugins
Free Reverb VST Plugins
Best Free Synth VST Plugins

Related: The Best Effect Plugins

Acon Digital Multiply

Acon Digital Multiply is a free chorus plugin with a slight difference. Each of the simulated voices are processed using a phase randomising filter to remove comb filter effects.

Multiply can simulate 6 voices with modulation of both loudness and pitch. You will also be able to create modulated and diffuse echo effects with the pre-delay section.

Available for Windows & Mac.

Free Plugin Download HERE

Acustica Tan

Acustica Tan is a VCA analog compressor emulation. You will find the usual compressor parameters, attack, release, etc. You will also find the “ShMod” parameter which is the compressors shape control for the Attack. This allows you to control the attack shape and behaviour for an audio source.

Features

• Threshold: from -64 dB to +0 dB.
• Ratio: from 2, 4 and 8.
• Attack: from 0.1 ms to 30 ms.
• Release: from 0.1 sec. to 1.6 sec.
• SHMod (adjustable attack shape): from 0 to 4.
• Gain: from 0 dB to 24 dB.
• Dry/Wet (parallel compressor): from 0 to 100%.

Mac & Windows 64 / 32 bit.
Free Plugin Download HERE 

Related: Best Compressor Plugins

Adam Monroe Tremelo

Adam Monroe Tremelo was intially desgined to compliment a upcoming Wurtlizer sample library that would mimic the Wurtlizer 200a’s Vibrato. The stand alone plugin provides a very straight forward, no nonense Tremelo unit. Also features a stereo panner. There is also a small amount of information about the C++ engineering process.

Available for Mac & Windows.

Free Plugin Download HERE. 

ADHD Audio Tools Levelling Tool

ADHD Audio Tools tube levelling amplifier is a classic compressor. ADHD say it is ideal for vocals and perfect for giving character on any track. If you are tired of transparent compression this compressor will add a bit of vintage flavour to your sounds.

Available for Windows.

Free Plugin Download HERE

Alex Hilton A1 Trigger Gate

A1 TriggerGate is a free gate sequencer for stuttering and gating effects. It features a pattern sequencer that allows you to choose between different “step” settings of “No Step”, “Short Step”, “Long Step” and “StepLink” – these can all be programmed and combined with the integrated FX. Fx features are Lowpass filter, Drive/Distortion and Echo/Delay. Also features a randomise function.

Available for Mac & Windows.

Free Plugin Download HERE

Aegean Music Doppler Dome

Doppler Dome is a Doppler effect plugin that allows you to adjust the amount of pitch, panning and volume of sound source as it moves along an editable path past the listener. Check out the video below if you’re not familiar with the doppler effect:

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Mac & Windows)

Auburn Couture Free

Auburn Sound’s Couture gives you a control over the transient and dynamics of your channels. Couture allows you to shape the transients of your audio and also add saturation. 

Available for Windows & Mac.

Free Plugin Download HERE

Auburn Graillon Free

Auburn Sound’s Graillon is a “Vocal Live Changer”. It’s great fun for vocal manipulation! You can modulate vocals using the ‘Pitch Tracking Modulation’ function. This creates choruses, throat sounds, the type of speakers, octaves and voice enrichement. The ‘Pitch Shifter’ clearly transposes your vocal tracks and he ‘Pitch Correction’ function allows you to create robotoic sounds and other vocal effects. Check ou the video below:

Available for Windows & Mac.

Free Plugin Download HERE

Audio Damage Fuzz Plus 3

Based on a vintage fuzz pedal FuzzPlus 3 creates a digital model of a vintage distortion pedal’s circuitry. Features a resonant low pass filter modeled on the MS20 analog synthesiser. You can also feed back the output into the input to get what audio damage call ‘Self feedback control’. 

Available for Windows & Mac.

Free Plugin Download HERE
Alternative Download

Audio Damage Rough Rider 3

Rough Rider is a bit of a legend, with over half a million downloads it’s one of the the most popular free plugins for dynamics processing. Rough rider 3 features the same sonic aresnal as previous editions but with an external sidechain input.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST/VST3 plugin for Windows & macOS)

Beatskillz MAX1

Beatskillz MAX1 is an automatic, ‘intelligent’ compressor. If you’re new to compression, or still learning this might be a useful reference for you.

Features

• Variable release time and ratio settings
• Accurate L/R input metering
• Gain reduction metering
• Presets for different material types

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST/VST3 plugin for Windows & macOS)

Bee-Happy 550

Madbee Audio is an emulation of an American Vintage EQ. The API style EQ is straight forward & easy to use. If you are interested in designing audio plugin effects MadBee’s website also provides technical detail on this creation. Great stuff!

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST/VST3 plugin for Windows & macOS)

Flux BitterSweet v3

BitterSweet v3 is a simple to use transient designer. Based around one knob, you dial in “Sweet” to reduce the transients or “Bitter” to magnify them. This makes it very good start for those new to dynamic processing.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST/VST3 plugin for Windows & macOS)

Black Rooster VHL-3C

VHL – 3C is a vintage high/low pass filter. It contains authentic circuit emulation based around two constant K-filters (a sought after prcoessor from the early 1950s).
VHL allows you to remove rumble, hum or harsh frequencies from your audio.

Available for Mac & Windows.

Free Plugin Download HERE

Blue Cat’s Chorus

Blue Cat’s Chorus has been designed to simulate several voices with variable delay between them. This approach provides the typical effects you can create with Bluecat’s Chorus. The free plugin also allows you to create deep pitch modulation or ‘crazy bubbling effects”. You also have a ‘Spread’ function to proved control over stereo widending. 

Available for Windows & Mac.

Free Plugin Download HERE

Blue Cat’s Flanger

Blue Cat’s Flanger is a very verstaile flanger, you can get metallic and harsh or soft and smooth filtering effects. The stereo version also allows you to push your flanging effect into the stero field via the “spread” knob.

Features

• Vintage flanger effect.
• Stereo spread control.
• Sine or triangle LFO shapes.
• In or out of phase feedforward and feedback paths

Available for Windows & Mac.

Free Plugin Download HERE

Blue Cat’s Triple EQ

Blue Cat’s Triple EQ is a 3 band semi parametric equalizer which can be used like a single filter with a custom shape. The three filters are linked together so that if you change the center bandwith or frequency, the parameters of all three filters are modified together.

Features

• True WYSIWYG 3 bands semi-parametric equalizer / shapeable filter.
• Dual Mode: independent left and right or mid and side channels control.
• Multiple channels linking modes.
• +-40 dB range for each band.
• Automatic gain compensation.
• No latency.
• Real time display of the frequency response with precise measurement and zooming capabilities.
• On-graph filter shape control

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Blue Cat’s Phaser

Blue Cat Phaser is a phaser plugin modelled on vintage analog phaser circuits. Comes with 32 phasing stagings ranging from subtle to mental. There is a also a ‘spread’ feature which allows you to creat really deep widening stereo phasing effects.

Features

• Multi-stage analog-style phaser effect.
• Up to 32 phasing stages.
• Stereo spread control.
• Sine or triangle LFO shapes.
• In or out of phase feedforward and feedback paths.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Bob Perry Gate

Bob Perry Gate is the free plugin version of the Bob Perry Gate Pro. If you want a basic, decent sounding gate this plugin will do the trick. Slap it on your drums, guitars & vocals to bring your noise level down or automate it and get creative.

Features

• Three distinct algorithms
• Optional Real Sidechaining
• Easy-to-use Graphical User Interface
• Gain Reduction Metering
• Numeric Data Input
• Windows and Mac OS X support
• 32-bit and 64-bit versions, universal binaries for OS X
• Retina Display support on OS X
• comes bundled with demo versions of Gate Pro, ATC, Ducker, 
• Ducker Pro, 
• Crossfader

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Creative Intent Temper

Creative Intent Temper is a free distortion plugin that uses phase distortion to provide you digital distortions and rich saturation. Features a variable saturation curve which can add ‘edge’ and ‘warmth’ to your sound, a resonant lowpass filter and feedback path to drive the tone of your distortion.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Cable Guys Pancake 2

As well as an excellent pun, Pancake 2 is an excellent sound design tool. Cable guys are marketing this as a wacky, customisable, over the top stereo panner. It lets you construct your own modulation curves and beat sync its LFO section to your DAW. It also allows MIDI triggering. If you are looking for a crazy panning modulator then consider adding this to your studio.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

E-phonic Tape Delay

e-phonic Tape Delay is a free tape delay plugin which gives you that nice modulation wobble of tape delay machines. 
(You may have to look in the archive section of the site)

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Eareckon FR-COMP 87

FR Comp 87 is part of Eareckon’s free 87 series plugins. FR Comp 87 is a digital emulation of an anlogue compressor plugin. It is also features an intergrated 0dB brickwall limiter. The other free plugins follow below.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Eareckon FR-EQUA 87

FR EQUA 87 is a 1 band parametric EQ plugin which is free as part of Eareckon’s free 87 series plugins. 

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Eareckon FR-GATE 87

FR GATE 87 is a free gate plugin as part of Eareckon’s free 87 series plugins. 

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Eareckon FR-LIMIT 87

FR LIMIT 87 is a free brickwall limiter plugin which is part of Eareckon’s free 87 series plugins. 

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Eugene Yakshin Ribs 1.2

Ribs is a granular instrument fx plugin that can be played as a synth or used to glitch, scratch and create textures as an FX. This has some beautful mangling abilities! I love it, you can really twist your audio and still keep it musically interesting. There are 32 buffers which hold your audio and are triggered by MIDI. This allows you to play or sequence your FX! It is a very in depth plugin and offers those who are patient enough to learn a great sound pallette. Tutorial video below.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Fine Cut Bodies La Petite Excite

La Petite Excite is a free exciter plugin. Featuring a very basic setup this little chap will add harmonic excitation to the low & high end of your audio signal. 
It’s also worth investigation Fine Cut Bodies website as there is some great sound design, audio coding and Max/ MSP content on there.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Glitchmachines Hysteresis

Hysteresis by Glitch Machines and effects processor design for electronic muscians and sound designers who want to contort and mutate their audio.

There are also three free sample packs for you to download and use alongside Glitchmachine’s plugins. 

Features

• Feedback-Based Delay
• Stutter Effect
• Lowpass Filter
• Modulation FX
• 100+ Factory Presets

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Glitchmachines Fracture

Fracture is another Glitchmachines freebie. Similar to Hysteresis (see above) this plugin is aimed at electronic musicians and sound designers lloking to add glitch effects and abstract textures to their productions.

Features

• Buffer, Delay & Filter FX
• 3 Flexible LFOs
• Effects Chain Configuration
• 110 Factory Presets

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Hofa System Basic

If you are after an all in one plugin suite HOFA SYSTEM basic might be for you? System basic is the freeware version of the paid HOFA system. It features 29 plugins with EQ, dynamics and effects.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Hotto Spring Reverb

Hotto spring Reverb is a free spring reverb that emulates its reverb from 3 physically modelled springs.  You can use all three springs or select individually.

You’re going to need Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to run this which you can download here.

Features

• Supported Sample Rates: 44.1kHz up to 192kHz.
• Computing Precision: 64Bit internal / 32Bit Plug-In.
• Audio Channels: Mono (uses the left channel of stereo tracks).
• Mix between clean and reverb signal with dry/wet.
• Individual selection and combination of the reverb springs.
• T60 reverberation time control.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Ignite Amps PTeq – X

Ignite Amps PTeq-X has been developed to have the characteristics of three famous vintage equalisers by Pultec in one plugin. The first strip emulates the MEQ-5 , the second the EQP-1A and the third strip a hi / lo pass filter.

The plugin has a lot of applications and could be used on a single channel, personally I like using on a mixbuss or for mastering. 

Features

• Three different equalization modules with perfectly analog curve response even at highest frequencies
• Ignite Amps 3rd generation triode stage analog modeling for 4 different tube types
• Additional selectable frequencies for the PEQ1A model, compared to the original design
• Refined filters frequency precision for the MQ5 and HL3C models, compared to the original design
• Switchable equalizers and tube stage modeling for better CPU usage management
• Switchable linear phase oversampling for aliasing reduction
• Global input / output level controls
• Mono / Stereo processing support
• Double precision (64-bit) floating point processing
• Fully automatable controls
• Ignite Amps proprietary preset management system with bank file import/export functions

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

iZotope Vinyl

iZotope Vinyl is a great plugin for adding lo-fi, vintage characteristics to any music production. Vinyl will add scracthes, warping, mechanical noise and dust to your audio signal.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

iZotope Vocal Doubler

iZotope Vocal Doubler is will help you to enhace your vocal tracks by adding richness and depth with a natural doubling effect. Quick and easy to use.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Klanghelm DC1A

Klanghelm was developed with the aim of a compressor that could deliver faithful, gentle, smooth leveling and heavy pumping all from an input and output knob. 

Also features negative compression, parallel compression, individual channel compression, peak and RMS compression and a high pass filter to reduce pumping on heavy bass content.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Klanghelm IVGI

Klanghelm IVGI is a very subtle saturation plugin that can go from very soft harmonic enhancement to dense and distortion effects. One of the best free saturator plugins available!

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Klanghelm MJUC Jr.

Following on from Klanghelm’s DC1A the Klanghelm MJUC Jr. is another compressor design with just two-knobs. It’s a variable mu (mu means gain) with a lot of vibe. It simulates a very deep lively soundstage which is capable of heavy pumping effects as well as smooth leveling.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Native Instruments Komplete Start

If you are just starting music production go get this pack, Native Instruments Komplete Start is one of the best free plugin bundles I’ve seen. It’s so good that i’m almost annoyed! I paid a good amount of money for some of these products a few years ago!! Komplete Start comes stacked with a massive library of free VST synths, sampled instruments and effects. You’ll get:

7 Free Synths

TRK -01 Bass – Heavy Bass Synth
Mikro Prism – Modal Synthesis madness
Lazerbass – Monosynth
Carbon 2 – Amazing free soft synth
Space Drone – Great sound generator for pads and sound design
Newscool – Weird & unpredictable sequencer / sound generator
Blocks Base – Free modular synth plugin!! This is huge.

9 Free Sampled Instruments

Play Series Selection – Hybrid Instruments Analog dreams, Ethereal earth, Hybrid Keys
Kinetic Treats – Sampled children’s toys
Expansions Selection – 1500 free loops and samples
World – 6 world instruments including flutes, reed and plucked instruments.
Band – 13 Rock & Pop instruments: basses, acoustic drum kits, e-pianos, e-guitars and more.
Synth – Synth Pads, drum kits & leads.
Vintage – 13 instruments covering the sounds of the vintage analog synthesisers and keyboards.
Urban Beats – 5 Instruments consisting of drum loop production kits, single loop tracks, individual slices and more drum loops.

2 Free Effects

Supercharger – Tube compressor
Guitar rig player – an amp with 17 cabinet emulations and 13 effects

Also Free

Komplete Kontrol – House, twiddle, play all your NI products within this one plugin.
Kontakt 6 Player – Kontakt is Native Instruments flagship sampler, here you get the player to allow you to run all Kontakt instruments from NI and other creators.
Reaktor 6 Player – Reaktor is a monster! I love it, this will give you an entry platform to run synths for native instruments and other creators.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Ikjb Luftikus

lkjb Luftikus is an adaptation of an analog EQ modelled on the popular Maag EQ4. It features half-octave bands and additional high frequency boost. It features deeper cuts than the hardware version and also supprts a keep-gain mode to avoid overall gain changes. 

This was made with the JUCE framework, so if you’re interested in making audio plugins you can get access to the source code on github

Features

• Hardware-modeled EQ.
• 10, 40, 160 & 640 Hz bands.
• 2.5 kHz shelf.
• optional boost-only shelf at 2.5, 5, 10, 20 or 40 kHz.
• Mastering and analog modes.
• “Keep-Gain” option to avoid drastic overall gain changes when EQing.
• Output trim to adjust gain.
• Improved design to allow deeper cuts.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

LVC Audio ClipShifter

LVC Audio ClipShifter is a waveshaping plugin that works like a clipping-style limiter. ClipShifter can add the character of clipping distortion to help warm your mixes or it can add distortion to your drum or bass signals. The clipping can be adjusted between hard brickwall clipping to a softer saturation with compression.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MFreeFXBundle

If you’ve not heard of Melda before, now is the time for an introduction. Melda have made available a great free plugin bundle which is well worth getting. The MFREE FX BUNDLE contains 37 free effects for your studio. I’ve covered some of the best effects in the bundle seperately below, the descriptions also have individual download links.

The bundle pack contains:

Free Bundle Plugin Download HERE

Melda MAutopan

MAutopan is an auto panner with an “adjustable shape” oscillator that allows you to create custom synchronized panning. This lets you add some natural wideness or delve into some chaotic sound design.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MAutoPitch

Melda MAutoPitch is a pitch correction plugin for monophonic instruments or vocals. MAutoPitch also allows you to create stereo expansion, formant shifting and weird voice effects.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MBandPass

Melda MBandPass is a filter plugin featuring high and low pass filters that have slopes up to 120dB/octave. It features two modulators which can be triggered by an LFO, MIDI notes, incoming pitches or react to input levels.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MBitFun

Like Distortion? Melda MBitFun will give you it. BitFun is a useful versatile distortion plugin that allows you to set the bits per sample of your audio signal. You can then access each bit to apply further audio manipulation.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MComb

Melda MComb is multi-comb filter plugin. Using the two modulators it can become a go to processor for comb effects. The modulators allow sync to an LFO, input pitch, input levels and MIDI notes.     

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MCompressor

Melda MCompressor is a compressor plugin with an unusual feature; adjustable compression shape. Being able to adjust the shape of your compression allows you to create some interesting sound effects and upsampling.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MConvolution EZ

It’s not often you find a good convolution reverb plugin, Melda MConvolutionEZ is and it’s free! It’s easy to use and comes with lots of impulse responses of halls, plates, rooms. You can also morph between 4 presets to find a blend you’re happy with.  

In case you don’t know, convolution reverb is a process of modelling realistic spaces from samples. This means you can recreate the reverb of well known spaces such as Abbey Road Studio A, effects units, or spaces you have been in and recorded yourself.

If you’re after more reverbs check out 28 of the Best Free Reverb Plugins

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MEqualizer

Melda MEqualizer is an easy to use 6-band equalizer. It features 7 filter types per band, tube saturation, harmonics control and a simulated vintage tone. It also has a clear visual display with a spectrum analyser and sonogram. If your not happy with your DAW EQ give this one a try.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MFlanger

Melda MFlanger is an analog style flanger that features tube-style saturation, and an oscillator that you can vary the shape of. This lets you create some rather cool custom modulation for your productions and sound design.  

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MFreqShifter

Melda MFreqShifter is a frequency shifter plugin with a slight difference, unlike pitch shifters the frequency shifter doesn’t keep the harmonic relationships of the source material. This allows it to span the range of audio mangling to gentle stereo expansion. I quite like using this very subtly on drums.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MPhaser

Melda MPhaser is a phaser effect that will add a bit of character to you productions. It features an adjustable oscillator shape, up to 100 filters and built in saturation.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MRing Modulator

Melda MRing Modulator is a ring modulator plugin with a basic settings plus some more ‘advanced’ features such as adjustable phase difference, editable waveforms and harmonics.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MSaturator

Melda MSaturator is a tube emulated saturation effect that could also double up as a distortion effect. Give it a whirl if you’re tired of your DAW’s default saturator.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MTremolo

Melda MTremolo is a basic Tremolo that has a few handy extra features. Again, Melda let you adjust the shape of the waveforms and harmonics which allows for some whacky custom sound design. The plugin can also handle eight channels of surround sound as well as auto sync to your DAW.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MVibrato

Melda MVibrato gives you the basic vibrato effect with the extra features of being able to adjust the shape of the vibrato. Also supportseight channels of surround sound.  

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MWaveFolder

I first came across a wave folder effect in the modular synth world. Melda MWaveFolder takes that analog inspired distortion and has created a plugin that will allow complete sound smashing or mild harmonic enchancement of your audio signal.  

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Melda MWaveShaper

Melda MWaveShaper allows you to shape your own wave forms to add to your audio signals. This can add subtle texture or drastic changes to your audio signal. The beauty with this plugin is that you can custom build your waveshapes so that you’re not limited to any built in presets.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Metric Halo MH Thump

Metric Halo MH Thump is a bass drums best friend. Thump is subharmonic synthesiser plugin that lets you add extra low end to your kicks, subs, toms or any other audio source. It builds an octave lower support that helps you beef up and thicken your signal.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

MDSP Smart Elecontronix Livecut Beat Chopper

MDSP Smart Elecontronix Livecut Beat Chopper is sample chopper and live  beat slicer designed specifically for the Jungle and Drum & Bass heads. It’s a little different that your average beat slicer as the slices (cuts) are organized into blocks which then form a phrase. This means each phrase can then be ended with a fill or roll. This methodology helps gives that early jungle / drum and bass flava.

Livecut is based on the Breakbeat Cutting Library by Nick Collins on the Supercollider Platform.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Musical Entropy Spaceship Delay

Musical Entropy Spaceship Delay is a decent sounding delay plugin that emulates some of the well known modern and vintage delays. You could use it as your go to delay, or get creative with your sound design via the freeze section. This section allows you to loop the audio signal and apply some high delay values.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

PechenegFX Tremolo

PechenegFX Tremolo is very similar to the Melda Tremolo plugin in that you can adjust the shape of the modulation curve. You can also sync the frequency to your DAW for rhythmic tremolos.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Plugin Alliance Brainworx bx_subfilter

Plugin Alliance Brainworx bx_subfilter is a great utility plugin for working on your track’s low end. It’s a simple design that will help you add punch, remove the muddiness and control your low-end.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Plugin Alliance Brainworx bx_cleansweep

Plugin Alliance Brainworx bx_cleansweep is a very useful utility plugin for mixing. It provides you high and low frequency filters to begin cleaning up your signal for mixdown. The filters are modelled on high end analog gear using filter curves to avoid digital filtering problems such as aliasing.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Plugin Alliance Elysia Niveau Filter

Plugin Alliance Elysia Niveau Filter is another great EQ plugin that can help you clean up and balance your mixes. The Niveau works by changing the proportions between high and low frequencies on your tracks.  

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Plugin Alliance SPL Free Ranger

Plugin Alliance SPL Free Ranger is modelled on the SPL hardware graphic EQ. It features 4 boost/cut points at 16kHz, 1.8kHz, 150Hz and 40Hz. This is a great addition to your mix buss.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

https://youtu.be/FW2cMdbdrr4

Puremagnetik Driftmaker

Puremagnetik Driftmaker is a delay disintegration plugin that gives your audio a faded, worn out character. The delay recalls certain parts of the incoming audio and applies analog deterioration to it. The amount Driftmaker recalls from memory can be adjusted via the parse section and chop section.

The aesthetic was an attempt at capturing the character of Works for Tape and Piano on the Puremagnetik Tape Label. If you’re a fan of Hainbach/ Amulet’s tape loops/ ambient music check it out. 

Shattered Glass Audio SGA1566

Shattered Glass Audio SGA1566 is an emulation of a single channel vintage tube mic preamplifier. SGA1566 can be used as a saturation compressor, to add ‘dirt’ with tube overdrive or add analog warmth to your signal.

Features

• Authentic analog sound through real-time high-performance circuit simulation.
• Two-band active Baxandall EQ that can be placed either before or after the preamp.
• Up to 4x oversampling.
• Mono or stereo processing mode.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Shattered Glass Code Red Free

Shattered Glass Code Red  emulates the EQ, preamp circuit of the 60s all tube console used by the Beatles at Abbey Road. If you’re after warmth and a punchy character run your audio through this chap.

Features

• Bass boost.
• Original Classic and Pop EQs
• Wet/Dry mixing (i.e. parallel processing).
• Impulse response cab emulation.
• Four processing modes: Mono, Mid-Sides, Stereo, and Linked Stereo.
• 4x oversampling.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Softube Saturation Knob

Not got the money to splash out on Softube plugins? Get Softube Saturation to whet your appetite. This freebie is a simple one knob saturation plugin for adding analog warmth and colouration. You get three different saturation settings which allow you to prioritise the frequency bands you want to saturate. Well worth getting.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Spleeter by Deezer

Spleeter is the remix tool we’ve all been waiting for! It can separate parts of a track and allow you to extract them individually as stems. Yes, you can now take the vocal out of any track you want!
Spleeter’s algorithm allows you make acapella stems, drum parts, bass stems of any track you want!

Currently available at github as open source code. If you want a simple alternative try Moises (an online version).

Free Plugin Download HERE

Flux Stereo Tool v3

Flux Stereo Tool v3 is a stereo imaging and analysis tool for accurately monitoring and controlling your stereo output. It features a phase correlation meter, PPM meters for inputs/ outputs.  A great utility plugin for correcting stereo issues on your mix.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

T-RackS 5 Custom Shop

T-RackS 5 Custom Shop is a platform that houses a load of mixing and mastering plugins. The platform is designed so you can pay for the plugins you want to use / download. However, Ik Multimedia have provided a few free to get you started. These include a basic metering section, classic EQ module, a 6 band parametric mastering EQ.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

TAL Chorus LX

TAL Chorus LX is a simple little plugin emulation of Roland Juno-60 synthesizer’s chorus effect. This plugin will give you the texture of the warmth and analog tone of legendary chorus.

TAL also do an amazing Reverb which featured in the 28 of the Best Free Reverb Plugins post.

Features

Characteristics of the Juno-60 chorus.

2 different modes.

Dry/Wet control.

Volume knob.

Only stereo channels supported.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

TAL Filter II

TAL Filter II is quite the filter plugin. As well as the usual filter types (LP, HP, BP, N) you get volume and panorama modulation that can be synced to your DAW. TAL suggests you try modulating your percussion using the panorama effect to create weirder rhythms and give your drum tracks a little more ‘stereo room’.
It’s also possible to saturate and distort the signal using the TAL Filter II.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

TAL Vocoder

TAL Vocoder is an emulation of vintage vocoders from the 80s. It models analog components with digital algorithms to provide a vocoder with 11 frequency bands. Each of these bands features an envelope follower. The vocoder is optimized for voice processing with a few algorithms included to help with vocal intelligibility.

Features

• 11 band vocoder engine.
• Internal carrier synth (pulse, saw, sub osc, noise, mono, poly, portamento, sync mode, tune).
• Possiblity to route an external carrier signal.
• Harmonic control (adds more harmonics to any carrier signal)
• “Ess” enhancer for a clean understandable voice, also with a carrier that hasnt much high frequencies.
• Clip LED, glows if the input signal will be clipped.
• Panic button stopps hanging notes within the synth.
• Documentation shows different routing possiblities.
• Low CPU usage.
• Side-Chain input.
• Works only on Stereo Channels at the moment!

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

TDR Kotelnikov

TDR Kotelnikov is a ‘proudly digital’ dynamics processor plugin that combines musical flexibility with dynamic range control. It’s a natural sounding compresser that doesn’t try to emulate any analog gear.

Features

• 64bit multi-rate processing structure for highest accuracy
• “Delta” oversampled signal path (bit transparent at 0dB gain reduction)
• Super fast, yet natural sounding compression
• “Crest factor” based control scheme offering independent release controls for peak and RMS events
• Flexible sidechain highpass filter
• Advanced stereo linking options optimized for the stereo bus
• Delta preview mode previews the difference between compressed and original signal
• Latency compensated, click free bypass (i.e. processing never interrupted)
• User interface rescaling (100%, 125%, 150%)

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

TDR Nova

TDR Nova is a very high quality parallel dynamic equalizer that can handle dynamic EQ, parametric EQ and multiband compression. You can slap this plugin on your master bus, drums or vocals to help deal with most EQ and compression engineering needs. Well worth checking out.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

TDR Proximity

Based on several psychoacoustic models TDR Proximity allows you to manipulate the distance of your sound source. Each of the models can be combined to give you a tool that controls the proximity of the sound source.

Features

• Distance signal delay by speed of sound
• Distance gain loss
• Absorption of high-frequencies in air
• Stereo width manipulation
• Proximity effect of virtual microphone
• Distance based early reflections

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

TDR Slick EQ

TDR Slick EQ is another mixing/ mastering tool from TDR. Slick EQ is a 3 (and a half) band EQ with 4 distinct EQ modes, each with their own curve and characteristics. Two features which stand out are the ‘auto gain’ feature which adjusts for changes in loudness and the 4 output stages with different saturation models. 

Features

• Intuitive, yet flexible semi parametric EQ layout
• Modern user interface with outstanding usability and ergonomics
• Carefully designed 64bit “delta” multi-rate structure
• Three EQ bands with additional 18dB/Oct high-pass filter
• Four distinct EQ models: “American”, “British”, “German” and “Soviet” with optional non-linearity
• Five output stages: “Linear”, “Silky”, “Mellow”, “Deep” and “Toasted”
• Advanced saturation algorithms by VoS (“Stateful saturation”)
• Highly effective and musically pleasing loudness compensated auto gain control
• Stereo and sum/difference processing options
• Tool-bar with undo/redo, A/B, advanced preset management and more

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Thomas Mundt Loudmax

Thomas Mundt Loudmax is a free brickwall Loudness Maximizer plugin with a transparent sound. The limiter is designed to be as transparent as possible so that maintain the original character of your source material, even when using high compression settings.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Tritik Krush

Tritik Krush is a digital / analog emulated bit crusher. Krush utilizes the crisp harshness of digital combined with its analog modeled filters and drive stage to give you a unique bitcrushing plugin. Check out the video below which gives you a flavour of the complete destruction or subtle warmth that this plugin offers

Free Plugin Download HERE (32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Valhalla FreqEcho

One of my favourite gear descriptions comes from Valhalla who describe the FreqEcho as ‘Bode-Style Frequency Shifter + Analog Echo Emulation = Skull Melting Chaos’. You should check it out on that description alone! This is a great sound design plugin as well as having musical application (useful for any dub or psychedelic genres).

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Vladg Molot Compressor

Vladg Molot Compressor is a very colourful analog style compressor plugin. This baby isn’t transparent at all and will add saturation, distortion to your signal. If you’re looking for a colorful compressor though, that might be just what you want!?
(Yes, you can change the GUI language to English)

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Voxengo Tempo Delay

Voxengo Tempo Delay is a stereo delay plugin with filter and tremolo sections. Also capable of ping pong delay and filter delays that can all be synced to the tempo of your DAW.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Voxengo Overtone GEQ

Voxengo Overtone GEQ is a tube-style 7-band harmonic graphic EQ that uses 7 harmonic enhancement  models for each band.  That means you can add it to your mixbuss or master to quickly get EQ adjustments with complex harmonic colouration to your sound.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Voxengo Tube Amp

Voxengo Tube Amp is a simple tube style distortion plugin. Tube Amp is based on the asymmetric tube triode overdrive that can be found in single tube mic preamp boxes. It’ll give you a nice warm overdrive or fuzzy distortion. Also features a -6dB/ oct lowpass filter built into the plugin’s tube model and switchable output saturation.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

George Yohng W1 Limiter

Have you ever wanted to get free Waves plugins? You’re in luck, George Yohng W1 Limiter is a digitally identical clone of the Waves L1 limiter.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Wave Arts Tube Saturator Vintage

Wave Arts Tube Saturator Vintage is a highly accurate real time tube amp plugin. It’s actually a re-release of the Tube saturator plugin that uses circuit simulation to create analog sounding signal processing. The circuit consists of a Baxandall type three band EQ that feeds into two 12AX7 triode preamp stages, this gives you the nice tonal and distortion characteristics you’d get from real tube amp saturation.
(High CPU guzzler)

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Xenakios PaulXStretch

Xenakios PaulXStretch is a time stretching plugin that became popular with the Youtube craze of “slowed down 800%” viral videos. (It made Justin Bieber finally palatable as an ambient re-work). If you like making ambient soundscapes or atmospherics this plugin will help you create some great ethereal textures.
(Needs a work around for Mac OSX Catalina)

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Xfer 8BitShaper

The next four plugins are free offerings from Xfer. They have good pedigree when it comes to making plugins (they’re the architects of Serum). 8BitShaper is Xfer’s freeware waveshaping plugin and bit crusher with pre and post filtering. Perfect for creatively face mashing anything.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Xfer DeltaModulator

DeltaModulator is another bitcrusher plugin from Xfer. The difference with Delta modulator is that it uses delta modulation in its downsampling process. As this was a technique used in the Nintendo NES’s sampling channel it will give you a flavour of the console’s character.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Xfer Dimension Expander

Xfer Dimension Expander is a spatial expander plugin that splits the incoming signal into four parts, phase reverses two signals and then delays them. This helps to give your track greater stereo spread and thicken your sound.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Xfer OTT

Xfer OTT is a simple but aggressive multiband upwards/downwards compressor plugin. You can put this on your mixbuss or master to help give your tracks more ‘pump’. Popular with dubstep and EDM producers.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Xfer DJMFilter

Xfer DJM Filter is a simple DJM-900 filter emulation. It’s a dual lowpass / highpass filter module. Good sounding filter plus it’s very handy utility if you want the same knob functionality as the DJM-900 within your DAW.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

kiloHearts Snap Heap

Snap Heap is a framework for hosting multiple effects. It’s been designed to make managing your effects chain a little easier. Snap Heap is based around 4 routable lanes of modular ‘snapin’ effects. You can drag and drop effects into each lane. Why do this over using your DAW? Well, Snap heap makes it easier to switch between serial and parallel signal chains and create easier, more in depth modulation routing.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

Variety Of Sound FerricTDS

Variety Of Sound Ferric TDS  is an emulation plugin of some high end reel to reel tape recorders. It was inspired by that lovely compression, saturation and dynamic shaping that tape can give your audio signal. As such Ferric TDS simulates reel to reel by giving you control over the Dynamics, Saturation and Limiting.

(Download is a bundle including other effects)

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

IO FX Bundle

IO FX bundle is a set of six effects plugins. You get a parametric multifilter, stereo phaser, multi-level adjuster, multi-level auto pan, ring modulator, and pitch shifter. The plugins are unique because they are driven by a GUI envelope that can run from 1 nanosecond to several hours! The envelopes can be looped or one shot, BPM synced, and all have different curve types applied to each envelope segment. This makes long, drawn-out automation and sound design a treat.

Free Plugin Download HERE
(32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin for Windows)

If you want more free VST plugins, samples & free Ableton Packs check out the Free Stuff page. The following articles feature free plugins & Ableton Packs:

List of the Best Free Synth VSTs
200+ Free Packs for Ableton
28 of the Best Free Reverb Plugins
List of Free Drum Machine Plugins