The Best Vst Audio Plugins
- The Best Free Vst Audio Effects Plugins
- The Best Vst Audio Plugins Free
- The Best Vst Audio Plugins Download
- The Best Vst Audio Plugins 2019
- The Best Vst Audio Plugins Downloads
XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2 VST plugin one of the best drum machine VST plugins for rock and blues genre. If you are searching for a plugin that could deliver the original drum machine feel then Addictive drums 2 is can be the first choice for you. With the sleek drum style GUI, it will sound just like an original drum machine. Synth-based VST plugins can help you get sounds that are similar to the ones created by instruments as well as the environment. A piano is a large instrument that you possibly cannot lug around wherever you go. Therefore, VST plugins make for great alternatives that give you the right sound quality coupled with convenience. Reverb VST Plugins Reverb VST plugins are digital tools used to create reflections or mimic the space where an instrument plays. You may be wondering how this works. Well, the plugins compute ideal delay, level, and response frequency and algorithmically generate echoes, ideally simulating certain natural settings. One of the most widely-used free plugins out there, Xfer Records’ OTT is a powerful multi-band upwards / downwards compressor. Just a small dose of the plugin can help glue tracks together or bring individual sounds forward in the mix. Go to 3:20 of the video to learn more about OTT and hear it in action. Download Xfer Records’ OTT here.
At BeginnerGuitarHQ, we aim to help you learn to become a great guitarist. When recording and producing your own music, you’re pretty likely to encounter VST (Virtual Studio Technology) both in terms of creating instrumental sounds and timbres, as well as applying effects and manipulation to real, recorded instruments.
In this important guide, I’ll talk you through 15 of the best VSTs available to you.
If you’re looking to uncover some cool VSTs, then look no further…
Contents
- 1 First Things First
First Things First
A VST is Virtual Studio Technology, an audio plug-in software which integrates software synthesisers and effects in DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). This means you can have instruments (such as samplers and MIDI) created within your DAW, some of which can be incredibly accurate and of high quality. You can create the sound and performance of an instrument without having to play the instrument. They’re a useful tool for anyone’s home studio.
Similarly, you can use VSTs to create effects that can be used to change the sound of live instruments you have recorded, or even the sound of the VST instruments you’re using. It’s important to understand that these plug-ins are all of very different quality, so I’ll talk you through some great and readily available VSTs. I’ll alternate between high quality VST’s available from external sources, and VSTs you can find that come with Logic Pro X for free.
Amp Designer
If you’ve got access to Logic Pro X, its likely you’ll be pretty familiar with Amp Designer. It’s a free plugin that comes built-in to Logic Pro X and offers a range of amp simulation sounds. It looks pretty basic and has the typical Logic layout, but with a little practice, you can really use it to your advantage.
Logic Pro X Screenshot Of Amp Designer
There are a few amp simulation sounds already built in, and let’s be honest, they aren’t brilliant. There are a few overdrive settings that give off pretty good results and can allow your DI’d guitar (or any other instrument if you’re feeling creative) to sound cool enough, but going manual is your best bet with this VST.
Of course, your natural response to creating a sure-fire success in your sound is to crank the overdrive to full; if you’re going full-metal, then this works a charm in Amp Designer. Similarly, an almost-clean sound will work well through here, especially if you’re just looking to give your dry signal a little treble boost or a bit more presence.
To get an edgier sound that falls somewhere in-between, a few tips to make the most of this VST include using some external effects before using this VST. If you go straight in there try and model using this, you may be a little disappointed- it’s free after all. You should also take advantage of the customisation options in this VST, such as the mic positioning (this is a great way to get a room sound that you might not have access to when recording) or play around with the types of speaker you can have the signal run through.
Trial and error is the way to go with this VST, as it can give you some really cool sounds when you layer things right and don’t rely on it as your only source of tone. Also, as with most VSTs, don’t use its effects settings. Make sure your reverb and tremolo etc. come from dedicated sources.
Xfer Serum
It may look a bit daunting from its huge frame and the detailed waveforms that sit at various positions around the screen while you have it open, but Xfer Serum is one of the most powerful and customisable wavetable synths you can access. It is so flexible that I reckon you can replicate basically any sound you wanted with the right knowhow.
The level of detail is incredible, and even though it looks like a lot, each section of design is actually quite easy to follow. You have the option to add sub-bass and noise to any sound, and not just add them, but customise their appearance. For example, the pitch, pan and phase. The oscillators have a visual appearance, with each one able to be positioned, detuned, phased and various other things, and your filters have much more detail than many of the default plug-ins.
Of course, at the bottom, you can design the entire sound of your synth, with envelopes and LFOs that can be changed through twisting knobs or editing a very easy to understand chart that positions everything exactly where you need. There are some good effects present and the ability to go into even more detail if you understand how (I don’t). This is one of those situations in which the digital option is better than basically every real-life synth you could get your hands on.
Bösendorfer Grand Piano
The Bösendorfer Grand Piano is actually a specific sound found within the Logic piano sounds VST, so it isn’t actually a VST in itself. However, I’ve pointed it out because I find it to be so much better than all of the other piano sounds available built into Logic. Of course, if you’re willing to spend, then you can get VSTs that basically sound 100% real, but for free, this sound is great.
Logic Pro X Screenshot Of Bosendorfer Piano
If you’re playing in through a MIDI keyboard, then you can get a surprisingly convincing sound from this setting. Add a little external reverb and make some good EQ choices and you’ll be on your way to a great sound. I’d be hesitant to suggest you use this setting to record a piece of solo jazz piano as it leaves it a little too exposed, but as a piece of accompaniment in hip-hop, for example, you can’t go wrong.
Sylenth 1
Sylenth claim to be able to match the quality of hardware synths in their software. It’s a big claim, but honestly, it might be a fair one. It isn’t exactly new, but has been receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews for over 10 years, so it is a trusted piece of kit in the world of audio production. Considering its advanced sound, the price tag is justified.
The sounds found within are all exceptional, with the pre-sets all giving a wide range of styles and timbres to use across a variety of genres. They’re rich in tone, and I suppose it is their dedication to be as high quality as hardware that gives them their characteristic warmth. They also feature some high quality emulations, such as of the MiniMoog and the TB-303 which don’t quite hold up to their real life counterparts but still hold relatively fair ground.
It’s so easy to use that despite its impressive ability to edit and manipulate sounds, it’ll be picked up in a heartbeat. You can go into detail with its envelopes, LFO manipulation and edit all the oscillators with ease. One of its most standout features, though, is its built in effects, which are actually really good. You don’t need to worry so much about pairing this with good VST effects, as there are dedicated effects that match the timbres perfectly already built in.
TAL-Reverb-III
The third version of the TAL-Reverb effects plugin has made sure to build on the missteps of previous versions and has created an incredibly dense and realistic plate reverb that can transform the sound of any other instrument.
It has a few pre-sets, but this reverb VST is much better used as a self-edited piece of software that you can learn to tame and employ for you own needs. Plate reverb is all it does, which means you’re getting a dedicated type of reverb, into a which a huge amount of effort has gone into making it as realistic as possible.
It works well, allowing you to get a detailed and realistic sound despite simple controls. You can edit room size, pre-delay, width and EQ the wet signal yourself. This means you can avoid pointless features that barely change the sound and instead focus on getting a cool sound that is simple to replicate each time you might need it.
Vintage Electric Piano
This is my personal favourite Logic VST as it houses the Classic Electric Piano sound as well as a few other brilliant jazzy keyboards. The Classic Electric Piano is absolutely as good a sound as any analogue keyboard and will have you well on your way to sounding just like Chick Corea in no time. There are a few other nice pre-sets as well, with the Bright Suitcase giving a unique sound and the Wurlitzer Modern taking an experimental route with a classic keyboard.
Logic Pro X Screenshot Of Vintage Electric Piano
You can edit your sound to exactly what you need through a genuinely nice looking, intuitive interface reminiscent of the 70s period from which this sound emerged. There is a simple EQ setting (which I don’t really recommend- you have access to much more detailed EQ elsewhere in Logic), a simple but effective overdrive setting, optional chorus, phaser and tremolo effects which are actually really good as they’re specific to this sound rather than a general effect that could be used on anything, as well as the ability to go into detail.
These details are where this VST really shines. You can make subtle pitch changes that will increase/decrease pitch by any number of cents, you can change how much notes can bend, as well as adjust the levels of bell and damper noise, and the balance of voices in the sound. This is the sort of easy to change details that every VST should have, as it allows you to create a truly unique sound worthy of professional recording.
Big Fish Vintage Strings
Synthesised strings are almost universally terrible, so focusing your search to samples is a wise move when trying to get a good string sound. Big Fish Vintage Strings is a collection of string sounds that truly transport us back to the golden era, replicating classic sounds of the 60s and 70s.
You’re treated to various very accurate and realistic patches that work perfectly in a classic soul/funk setting, with various levels of engagement based on your own skill level. You can, of course, arrange your own strings using your own skill and articulation choices. This gives you freedom, but also leave you at the mercy of your own arrangement and ability to play in good string parts.
You can also use assisted patches to generate harmony automatically. This means the programme will generate something that is bound to sound nice, simply because they know exactly how to make their programme sound as good as it can. This is a huge bonus to those just starting out, as it’ll give you some realistic and brilliant sounds with basically no work.
Waves GTR 3
Considering BeginnerGuitarHQ is first and foremost a guitar-based site, I thought I should draw your attention to the GTR 3 Plugin. It is a particularly high end, well-established amp emulator with the ability to be used in even the most professional of recording scenarios.
Waves GTR 3 has 19 amp models and 26 effects built into it, and even has a dedicated DI box that can be used to fit the plugin as much as possible (though it’s not necessary). There are even bass amp options. You can use the effects pedals as a signal chain just like you would in real life, which allows you to choose which wet signal effects which other wet signals. This means you have an incredible range of customisation on your tone which would be very expensive if all purchased as hardware.
As you may expect, you can edit the pre-sets to your own choosing, with the option to automate certain things such as dynamic, overdrive level and even real-time wah instead of the auto-wah that basically determines the amount of modulation based on how loud you play each note.
Alchemy
Alchemy is the classic Logic VST. It is a monster of a synth, with the ability to go into really complex detail that you really might not understand until you become a professional producer. The list of pre-sets is basically endless, using the browse function to bring up a setting by name, or use an advanced filter to find the type of sound you’re after.
Logic Pro X Screenshot Of Alchemy
For example, the Ambient Guitar Landscape, Evolving Currents and Music Vox can be found by name. As soon as you learn some of the names of your favourite sounds, you’ll know exactly where to find what you’re after; these three are up there with my favourites. If you don’t know the names, but you know the sort of sound you want, you can use a more advanced tool to locate them. This will split the sounds by category, subcategory and timbre, filtering out irrelevant sounds until you land on the one you’re after.
Then we can go further, and start to forge unique and original sounds. Clicking on the ‘advanced’ tab brings up a synthesiser you can customise all day long. It all looks a big daunting, but a user-friendly layout makes most of it quite easy to understand. You can bring in your own modulation settings and instruct them on exactly how to act, you can filter to various degrees, completely change the LFO of your entire sound and even use some particularly advanced production wizardry to incorporate arpeggiation, effects and different performance styles. Underneath all that, there are also some more general, wide-ranging things you can change at the touch of a button.
Toontrack EZDrummer
EZDrummer is known for its ability to craft realistic sounding drums when you don’t have access or the ability to record a real drum kit. For an amateur producer, recording a real kit is a challenge, so this VST is certainly worth the investment if you’re looking for professional sounding drums that only sound fake if you’re paying a ridiculous level of attention to the fills.
The best thing about EZDrummer is the visualisation of a drum kit that sits in front of you. You can add/take away cymbals and toms as you please, so whether looking for a tiny jazz kit or a huge metal beast, you can find something for you. As it’s a sampler, the sounds are all real and accurate to how they’d sound if you were playing a real kit; it’s a bit like someone has perfectly recorded a drum kit for you if you can’t do it yourself.
The sound quality is fantastic and the ability to play these samples in through a MIDI drum kit (if you have one) means you can create a near-perfect drum kit sound. There are pre-sets from Yamaha, Gretsch and Tama (and many more) which means you can even go right down to the specific sound you’re looking for. There are percussion options too, with cowbells and tambourines ready for use (though I always think a tambourine is one of the instruments you really need to record live to get a realistic sound).
The ‘EZ’ bit of the name is exactly that, and this VST offers a user-friendly experience which is so obvious in its methods that pretty much anyone could understand exactly how to get and change any sound they need. It’ll set you back a bit of money, but it’s definitely worth it to upgrade from the limited drum kit options Logic starts with.
Studio Strings
I’ll have to start the discussion of this particular VST by pointing out that there are much better string sounds available. The Big Fish Vintage Strings spoken about above are leagues ahead, for example, but there are certain times at which this free, very simple VST will do the job.
Logic Pro X Screenshot Of Studio Strings
In terms of creating/using the sounds offered, there isn’t much to offer in this simple plugin. You can change the articulation to be built around sustain or staccato etc. (I have some tips about that in a minute), while you’re able to change a few details like cutoff, resonance and attack, but beyond that, you’ll be relying on pre-sets and external effects to create the specific tone you’re looking for.
My tips when using this one: when you’re looking for some long, held pedal notes, it can work great. Hold a single long note with the sustain setting and you’ll get an accurate sound that can be pushed further by reverb and vibrato. Buried in a texture you’ll have no idea it isn’t real. Do not use the sustain setting when playing blocky string orchestral chords or lead lines, the VST isn’t very intuitive when it comes to changing notes and things won’t sound natural at all. If you need to change notes with your strings, make sure it’s a staccato melody line. That way, you don’t have to worry about the noticeable lack of ability to switch smoothly between notes.
Sonivox Wobble
The idea behind the Sonivox Wobble VST was to create a generator of dubstep sounds. As you might expect from that, it came out in the early 2010s. I don’t think it’s the most intuitive and brilliant VST of all time due to its limited editing options, but in a world lacking in software specifically for dubstep creators, it’s a powerful tool.
There are more than 200 pre-sets that allow for a brilliant sound to be generated, and each of these can be used as part of a pattern generator, meaning you don’t have to rely on playing in MIDI for the entire duration of a repetitive piece. Speaking of MIDI, you don’t typically associate dubstep to the playing in of music, but this piece of software is quite good at allowing some crazy, modern sounds to be just as cool when played directly in as when they’re generated.
Obviously, leads and basses are the most common here (just as they are in the genre) but once you get used to the software, you’ll be able to find some good middle ground filler.
Retro Synth
This one does exactly what it says on the tin. It creates Retro Synth sounds. In the Logic instrument selector, you’ll see the tab for ‘classic synths’; almost all of those pre-sets come from this VST. It looks the part, with a Moog inspired décor transporting you to the late 60s and the time of experimental music and prog.
Logic Pro X Screenshot Of Retro Synth
The pre-sets are great, especially when you’re looking to replicate some settings that might not even be physically possible to find these days. Obviously, no VST is going to be capable of replicating the hollow, retro sound of an analogue synth being played through a rumbling speaker cabinet, but this one gives it its best shot.
You have the ability to manipulate the sound exactly as you desire, with the ‘analog’ setting in the top left allowing you to choose waveforms to combine and the mix between the two sounds, while down below, you can edit the LFO to your hearts-desire. There are fine tuning elements as well, meaning you can make the setting you create stand out in the mix, while there are even a few effects options, though they aren’t the best.
FabFilter Pro C2
I’ve never really thought the need for hardware compressors or a particularly fancy compressor was a particularly important thing for a producer. They just compress the sound, right? Well, yeah, sort of. The FabFilter Pro C2 takes everything further, allowing you to not only get a distinctly nicer compression sound than those built into Logic, but it shows you everything in such a user-friendly way, that you actually start to understand what is happening to your sound.
Other than the 8 built-in compressor types, you can edit the impact of your compressor to various degrees. It depends on whether you’re just looking for a way of evening volume or you want creative changes. For example, the side chain triggering is a God-send for those crafting a heavy electronic drop.
The interface is primarily built on visuals and charts, which show exactly which element of the compressor is doing what and to what degree, as well as giving a visual representation of just how this is changing the sound. This is helpful, but also is a great tool in learning. Not only does it show what is happening, but by understanding what’s happening on a deeper level, you can start to use this knowledge to inform how you use compressors in the future.
Spectrasonics Omnisphere
I’m not sure to what degree the Omnisphere is regarded as a VST or an instrument, but maybe its both. The digital element of this product is a powerful collection of sounds (14,000 to be precise) that can be arpeggiated, edited and have effects thrown all over them. This alone means you can produce an exciting work through this VST.
However, it is the hardware element that really takes the Omnisphere to the next level. A huge orb with various shapes of button allows you to control whichever samples you programme to whichever button. This means that when you get used to where everything is, you’ll have control over a unique device that’ll allow you to perform a magically unique work.
Obviously, it’ll set you back a lot of money, but if you have the money and time to learn something very new, then this is a piece of kit that every produce should get a hold of at least once.
In Conclusion…
In this list, I’ve tried to point you towards free plugins and ones included for free in DAWs. There are various, arguably more advanced, VSTs which can cost a lot of money. However, if you’re open to spending the extra money, you can get some amazing replications of classic analogue effects, or some string sounds that sound like you have a live violinist in the room. Just remember that you don’t need to break the bank to get some cool virtual sounds.
You may face several scenarios while mixing and mastering which may include the use of an equalizer, having a transparent display to analyze what you are adding or subtracting with the EQ, multiple EQ bands, and proper CPU usage is what to look for in an EQ. But with that said every piece of software and hardware alike creates and outputs a slightly different sound meaning they all have unique timbres and uses. Alongside that, there are some rather expensive plugins we may see online, which aren’t out of our reaches but we don’t know what we need until we need it right? Well, this is why its best to try some free EQ’s first to see what it is you like within an EQ and what it maybe you are looking for. We become ever so comfortable with our stock plugins, they do the simple tasks for us (sometimes), they don’t run our computer into the ground, and they for sure are pretty basic. Well, this is the issue most people come to, they want a better EQ, or they want a change of visuals. EQ History – ‘The first EQ was first used by John Volkman working at RCA in the 1920s” More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: Colour EQ is a 64-bit EQ plugin that offers 5 ”super parametric” bands to manipulate the frequency range. This is exceedingly handy when wanting to use more than one band in one instance; the intuitive gain knobs on the five bands allow for perfect mixing of these bands when mixing and mastering. Using the two different types of curves, Colour EQ offers a warm sound that you just wouldn’t get from your stock EQ. Having a bright visual display helps you to craft and mould your bands to preference. A great way to use this plugin is when you are not getting enough warmth in your low, mid/mids, Colour EQ will add a great sense of warmth throughout the selected bands. Another cool way to use this plugin is to use two different setups with two different curve types; you can use modified versions of the EQ for selected times in your mixdowns to add the feeling of a change in energy in a breakdown or drop. Colour EQ is a great tool to have in your arsenal for mixing and mastering, plus you may find many uses in your day-to-day production. Compatibility: Windows VST (32/64 bit), Windows/Mac RTAS, and Mac VST/AU format (Intel, OSX 10.5 and higher) More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: With a sleek, minimalistic design Free Ranger is a powerful EQ. With a mid-band (150Hz – 7kHz), fixed high (10kHz), low shelf (80Hz) SPL have kept things very simple so anyone can EQ with ease. Free Ranger gives the feel of the world-renowned API 560 EQ but offers this all for free! Free Ranger is a bodybuilder for your sounds while mixing and a gentle touch when mastering, this plugin makes EQing fun, quick and easy. You may find yourself using the four different EQ settings and incorporate them into your mixdowns. Using them to create different feels and vibes can give your masters that final touch you’ve been looking for. This is a must-have! Compatibility: macOS 10.9 through 10.15, Windows 7-10 More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: Simplicity is key with EQ work in the mix or master, and this plugin keeps that in mind through and through. With a very easy to use GUI STEQ 2 has a powerful but simple way of delivering a small form factor EQ to your DAW. This EQ gives off old school retro vibe, precise, clean, and adds a lot of detail to the mid-range. STEQ 2 is excellent for tonal rebalancing due to the broadness of the three bands creating a pure blend between the frequency ranges. Using this to add punch to claps and snares is also a good use. But be careful when adding to full bus groups. This EQ from Analog Obsession is an excellent tool to keep at your disposal when thinking about doing some tasks during your mix, or why not change up those stock plugins for free. Compatibility WiN, OSX AU VST, VST3 More Info & Download Specifications: Great for: Features & When To Use: Nova is a parallel dynamic EQ; each band has a dedicated, dynamic section giving the user full flexibility. Giving the option to drag and move bands in the visual GUI individually or group, this provides a natural form factor way to get results. Using the multiband compression built into Nova your be able to manipulate your EQ even further, this will be displayed in the visual GUI with real-time feedback of the compression process. (subtly decrease the threshold to hear the difference) In mix and mastering, you can use Nova to visually see where you may have audio issues to fix and makes it very easy to apply these changes with the drag and change feature. The dynamic EQ is a handy tool to have in practice when mixing down full compositions – use it to bring down or up frequencies only when they reach a specific volume. Nova is a heavyweight EQ with a lot under the hood all for free! Compatibility: Win XP SP2 or above, Mac OS X 10.7 or above. More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: ReaEQ may look basic, but under the hood, there is a lot to offer. Being able to have as many bands as you wish is a massive bonus, you also have the ability to change all of these bands to one of the following (shelves, bands, LPF, HPF, notch, bandpass, allpass). With a stripped-back GUI, it keeps you focused on the task at hand, not over complicating things but giving you the power of an audio god at your fingertips. With a tremendous real-time visual display, this gives you the eyes and ear focus that you need when EQ in the mix. Phasing is a big issue when mixing, ReaEQ gives you a ‘Show Phase’ button which will show you in your display what frequencies are being affected by the band. When mastering you may wish to keep all bands in one EQ patch, with ReaEQ you can do this. Stripped back and powerful ReaEQ is a favorite among many producers across a wide range of genres. Compatibility: WIN 32, WIN 64 More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: The Triple EQ is a three-band semi-parametric equaliser. With a simple and easy to read visual display of the frequencies in real-time, you will have a clear display of the EQ in front of your eyes. Alongside the huge +/- 40 dB range, Triple EQ has a bandwidth of .01 to 5 Octaves! An exciting feature with Triple EQ is that you can link two bands together using the ‘Link Channels’ feature. This will allow you to use them in unison; combine this with the automaton support to create quick and easy modulation. This is a great way to change an EQ while in the mix with complex automation. Using the linking feature to create movement and progression within your mixdowns makes Triple EQ a threat. Fully customisable shapes make this a different tool when deep in the mix or master, you will find many uses for the dynamic bands you can create—having dynamic bands that you are able to manipulate helps when visually your EQ and how it may affect the whole frequency range. Check this one out for a small form factor powerful EQ! Compatibility: Windows 7 to 10, Mac OS 10.7 or newer. More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: We have another FREE plugin from Analog Obsession! This time is bringing you Merica an emulation of the API 550A console equaliser. A simple three-band EQ delivers a lot of power to your mixes and masters. Selectively choose which frequency your band boosts or cuts with the option to the right of the knobs. All bands kept simple and easy to get to grips with. Meica also has a nifty and very much needed output knob, there will be no issues with clipping in the digital domain when mastering with this plugin. A larger than appearing sound Merica is an excellent EQ plugin to use when in the mixdowns and masters. Given that the EQ it emulates is an industry-standard plugin this small form, powerful, easy to use, and was coded by one man! Merica is a must grab for all audio creatives looking to upgrade their stock EQ plugins. Compatibility: VST Win, VST3 Win, VST Mac, VST3 Mac, AU Mac More Info & Download Specifications: Pitcher fl studio vst free. Features & When To Use: TinyQ is a small form factor EQ. Giving the user a stripped-back interface TinyQ offers a solution to a simple job. Having too many settings can become overwhelming; TinyQ does what it says on the tin and doesn’t make your job any harder. Keeping things simple when mixing down whole groups is essential – finding yourself using CPU heavy EQ, or a stock plugin just might not cut it for you. TinyEQ is excellent for doing those necessary but straightforward EQ tasks! With the recent addition of built-in frequency analyzer, it makes EQ even easier when getting stuck into your mixes or masters. Create awesome sounding band curves. Great emphasis on keeping things simple goes a long way with TinyQ; the team has made a great EQ that does everything it needs to in one small package. With four bands plus high pass/low pass filters, you won’t be looking any further for your day to day EQ needs. Compatibility: Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.7 or later (both 64 bit) More Info & Download Features & When To Use: SonEQ has 3 bands, low (20 Hz – 100 Hz), mid (150 Hz – 4 kHz), high (6 kHz – 15 kHz). Combined with a high pass and low pass filter, plus a ‘Mid-high Q’ this means when it’s on your band its narrow and when deactivated will cause it to be wider. This indicated by the red light. Giving the user a lot of ways to EQ but keeping things user-friendly is what SonEQ does best. Having the volume meter is very hand when mixing with any EQ, it gives the visual display of when things are getting a bit heated for your output. SonEQ also gives you the full control of your input and output levels. This comes in handy when you are mixing your tracks with heavy effects, causing the overall levels to become louder than 0.0dB; this is where adjusting both the input and output parameters will solve the issue. With this plugin being free for all to use we don’t see any reason why this shouldn’t be ready to deploy at the click of a finger, whether it’s beefing up the mix with the built-in bass boost preamp staging or adding a touch of colour to the highs this plugin has you covered. Compatibility: Mac OSX 10.6 or newer – Windows XP or newer More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: PTEq-X is a digital emulation of three famous vintage EQ. Equipped with three EQ modules comprised of mid-range (2kHZ – 7 kHz), low-frequency (20Hz – 150Hz), high-frequency (3kHz – 16kHz). Using the mid-range module, you can use the low, mid parameter (top left) to effect the lower mid frequencies. Alternatively use the high mid setting (top right) to cause-effect to these frequencies. Moving down the EQ, we have our second module, which is PEQ1A EQ (Low & High). This comes with a bunch of parameters to mould your EQ patches perfectly to your source. Finally, this is all topped off with the HL3C module; this is a low-cut accompanied by a high-cut. You can also use the ‘Oversampling’ feature to reduce aliasing. Use the “Tube” switch to apply or deactivate the tube amp. Using the input and output levels will give you the ability to control any nasty peaks brought in or out of the EQ. PTEq-X is a combination of some of the best analogue EQ’s to exist, plus its FREE!! We recommend this one for a great addition to your EQ arsenal. Compatibility: Windows 7 – 10 32 and 64 bit. OS X 10.7 64 bit More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: Pushtec 5+1A is a versatile mid-range program EQ that has mixing and mastering at its heart. This plugin offers six bands, all offering a fantastic sounding boost through all parameters. A vast selection of plugins makes it easy for users to start with something super effective and tweak to their liking. “B/W” stands for bandwidth, this allows you to tweak the selected band and adjust to your preference. A friendly and straightforward GUI keeps this EQ a smaller form factor but with a lot of power. Being designed for mixing and mastering be assured that this plugin delivers best when applied to a whole group or a master channel. Giving instant sparkle to a mix or a very much needed bass boost this FREE plugin has you covered! Compatibility: Win 7 or higher only More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: QRange is a very straight forward, user friendly, and effective EQ for mixing and mastering. Giving the user an intuitive click and drag feature makes EQ work easy and more controllable. With a choice of twelve bands, there is excellent room for doing additive plus subtractive EQ all in one plugin patch. Each band has. Selection of up to five different types (peak, low-shelf, high-shelf, low cut, and high cut). Built into the frequency spectrum, you have the power to change it to pre or post. ‘Pre’ will let you see what the frequency range looks likes before the EQ is applied, whereas ‘Post’ will allow you to see it after the EQ has taken effect. Offering the ability to users to save and load their own presets makes it easy to bring back some of your favourite patches while working on a mix or master. It has to be said lkjb QRange is a must-have FREE EQ plugin. Compatibility: Win 7 or higher, macOS 10.7 or higher More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: TDR’s Slick EQ provides a recognizable analogue sound. Using three bands that bring together four different EQ models. Both low and high bands are coupled with a cut and bell feature allowing for comfortable band changing. Auto gain estimates the gain change caused by the current EQ settings; this makes it great to compare your EQ setting during the mix. There is also an ‘EQ Sat’ button; this will activate the saturator which is very intelligently paired to your EQ bands. This will add harmonics when boosting and remain passive when cutting. Being able to save your favourite EQ settings for a later mix or master can be done within the plugin. Coupled with a undo/redo button you never miss that sweet spot for your bands, alternatively set up two different EQs with the A/B switch. Slick EQ gives a very stripped back interface meaning you don’t get caught up with the visuals when doing equalising, providing a focus on what your hearing. This EQ shouldn’t be overlooked, with great coding, algorithms, settings, and excellent sounding types SlickEQ delivers more than you would expect from a FREE plugin. Compatibility: Win 32 bit VST2, VST3, Win 64bit VST2, VST3, AAX More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: Manda Audio brings us 7Q. 7Q is an emulation of the beloved ‘Classic EQ’ which became discontinued, the team came together and brought the community back a redesigned version. 7Q takes off all the fancy parts and gives you the bare basics; this is what gives this a place on our list. With 7Q giving you the ability to apply your EQ to the left or right or both channels, you can independently EQ both sides of the stereo field. Each band can be additive or subtractive. Keeping easy to use format is what this plugin does best; it doesn’t over-complicate the task at hand but assists your needs along the way wether mix or master. Low memory and CPU usage make it easy to have multiple instances in your projects without having your computer meltdown. 7Q is a nifty EQ that is awesome for giving your sounds a little crisp boost before running into your other plugins within the chain. Compatibility: Win VST 32/64 bit, AAX 32/64 bit More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: EQ1A is a FREE analog-style EQ with a clever algorithm giving you minimal phase coloration. This plugin has initially been paid to use the plugin, but the developers have decided to give it to us all for FREE! EQ1A allows you to use broad bands to shape your sounds or outputs in a clean, crisp and phase-corrected way. Being able to save you presets within the plugin makes it very easy to pull back that EQ you made on the last mix. 4-band parametric equalizer with an additional HP filter with variable resonance gives a wide range of settings to play with while keeping everything simple and user friendly. EQ1A does what it says on the tin for FREE! Using this within mixing or mastering may help you when wanting to add a hefty highpass or when looking to give some warmth to your mid ranges. It has to be said with a great look, and low CPU usage EQ1A is an excellent addition to your plugins. Compatibility: Win, Mac More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: Voxengo is notorious for doing some excellent free plugins. This addition is the Marvel GEQ, which is a fifteen band linear phase EQ. There is a routing tab that allows you to affect the signals mid/sides independently. (orange slides) Also giving full independence to the mid/side output level, becoming very useful when mixing and mastering. Bypass feature makes it simple to hear what your EQ is doing to your sound source. Alternatively, decide between two EQ setups with the A/B mode. For quick EQ drawing, you can hold ‘Ctrl or Cmd’ and click across the EQ drawing in your fader settings with the click of a mouse. Having a stripped back form factor with enough controls to complement your mixing tasks this plugin has to be our list today. Compatibility: VST Win, VST3 Win, VST Mac, VST3 Mac, AU Mac More Info & Download Specifications: Features & When To Use: BASIQ is a three-band EQ. It keeps in mind that EQ work for mixing and mastering doesn’t have to be a headache or over complicated. BASIQ is a design similar to the classic ‘Baxandall Equalizer’ which is knowns for its natural-sounding shelves and HiFi quality responses. Adding a smooth, gradual shimmer or warmth instead of a surgical sharpness is what BASIQ does best. Use on groups or a master chain to subtly but significantly add character with the turn of a knob. With some added presets you be able to get a quick change in tone with the click of a button. The small form factor makes this BASIQ a powerful tool to be used within the mix or master. Compatibility: Win, Mac, VST, AU, 64 bit With all of that said, grabbing all 17 plugins wouldn’t do you any harm, but we want to break down our top 3 picks! In our top spot, we have Colour EQ by DDMF. This plugin brings so many features that you would expect from pay to use plugins but all for FREE! Another fresh point is that the curves you can create with this cannot be done on other EQ plugins, giving Colour EQ a versatile approach. Low-CPU – Usage Customisable GUI – Great warm sound – 5 Bands Coming in second is Nova by TDR. Parametric, dynamic EQ, and multiband compression are all built into an excellent looking FREE plugin. Nova has a built-in dynamic EQ parameter when mixing, and mastering using a dynamic EQ is crucial sometimes. Having this all in one plugin for free is hugely commendable to the team who developed this plugin! Parametric equalization – Dynamic equalization – Frequency selective compression – Multi-band compression – Wideband compression And finally, our last top pick is ‘Triple’ by Blue Cat. This awesome plugin has so many features you just wouldn’t expect a FREE plugin to have. With a fresh interface and drag and click feature to make EQing even more natural Triple is a powerful EQ. Semi-parametric EQ – +/- 40dB Range per band – MIDI control and automation support – Real-time display Today we have covered a lot of great FREE EQs for mixing and mastering. Amazingly, we have developers putting out all of these plugins for producers/sound engineers to level out the playing field. As we have all seen these ‘not to name’ brands releasing rather expensive EQs that we just can’t fork out for, but with the way, music has progressed today in the digital domain it has become much more accessible for creatives to share their ideas and effects for free. With that said, they all have their benefits and downsides, but with them all being free, there is no reason you can’t pick them up and use these in your mixes or masters today!
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