Music production can be an expensive hobby or profession, but thankfully there are plenty of free plugins available to help you create professional-quality music without breaking the bank. In this post we will explore some of the basic but very useful free plugins for music production.
Sound libraries/virtual instruments:
Spitfire LABS
Spitfire LABS is a collection of high-quality virtual instruments and sound libraries created by British company Spitfire Audio. These plugins are completely free and offer a wide variety of sounds from pianos and strings to guitar and drums. The instruments are sampled from real-life instruments and are meticulously crafted to offer realistic and organic sound.
Upright piano
This upright piano is a plugin by 99Sounds. It is based on samples recorded by Rudi Fiasco. With it you can make your piano recordings sound realistic but also lo-fi. Is also has a built-in filter, reverb and tremolo effects to play with.
Picture: https://99sounds.org/vst-plugins/
EQ:
TDR Nova
TDR Nova is a dynamic equalizer plugin by Tokyo Dawn Records. it offers an intuitive interface and range of features that make it a powerful tool for shaping the frequency response in your tracks. It also has a built-in spectral analyzer, which can help you identify problem areas in your mix.
Picture: https://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-nova/
TDR VOS SlickEQ
This plugin is a great mixing and mastering EQ. It is flexible and easy to use, and it is a plugin with a great sound and multiple tools you can experiment with.
Picture:https://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-vos-slickeq/
Compressors:
Klanghelm DC1A
Klanghelm DC1A is a simple and intuitive compressor plugin that can be used to control dynamics of your audio. Although it looks very simple with just few knobs, you might be suprised how much you can do with it.
Picture: https://klanghelm.com/contents/products/DC1A.php
OTT (by Xfer Records)
OTT is a free multiband compressor plugin created by Xfer Records. It’s a popular tool for adding presence and warmth to vocals, synths and drums. It is incredibly easy to use and offers a range of presets that can help you get the sound you want quickly. It also offers a visual display of the frequency response, which can help you better understand the dynamics of your track.
Reverb:
Valhalla Supermassive
Valhalla Supermassive is a reverb plugin that has plenty of presets to play with. Also Valhalla’s Space modulator and FreqEcho are definitely worth checking out.
Picture: https://valhalladsp.com/shop/reverb/valhalla-supermassive/
OrilRiver
This reverb plugin was created by Denis Tihanov. It offers a range of high-quality reverbs, including hall plate and room. This plugin also offers a range of features that allow you to customize the reverb, including predelay, decay and damping, It’a great tool for adding depth and dimension to your tracks.
Picture: https://www.kvraudio.com/product/orilriver-by-denis-tihanov
RO-GOLD
This reverb plugin emulates the EMT 140 plate reverb. It works amazingly well on vocals because it makes it sound warm and vitage, which helps to add depth and shine especially to your vocals, but also for other instruments.
Picture: https://blackroosteraudio.com/en/landing/ro-gold
Delay:
Valhalla Freq Echo
Freq Echo is a unique delay effect by Valhalla. It can be used to create interesting and complex echoes.
Picture: https://valhalladsp.com/shop/delay/valhalla-freq-echo/
In conclusion, these are just a tip of an iceberg of the many free plugins available for music production. They offer a range of features that can help you streamline your workflow, add character to your sounds, and shape the frequency response of your tracks. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced producer, these plugins are great place to start.
