Free VSTs / Plugins
VST (Virtual Studio Technology)
Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology (VST) is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use Digital Signal Processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software. Thousands of plugins exist, both commercial and freeware, and VST is supported by a large number of audio applications.
Glitch
Glitch features a pattern-based effects sequencer that takes the incoming audio, breaks it down into user-defined slices, and then applies different effects to each slice. The sounds it generates range from quite subtle to extremely bizarre, depending on how much you tweak the controls. Effects can either be programmed by hand to create specific desired patterns; chosen pseudo-randomly based on each effect’s probability level, with a user-defined seed value that optionally allows the same sequence of “random” effects to be chosen each time; or combined into a mixture of both methods to suite your own tastes.
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Download GlitchNoiseMaker
TAL-NoiseMaker is an improved version of TAL-Elek7ro and has a completely new synth engine and a lot of improvements in sound and usability. The synth also includes a small effect section with a reverb, chorus and a simple bit crusher effect. A display shows the knob and slider values. This allows more control over the synth. A ringmodulator and a syncable triangle are also part of this synth. TAL-NoiseMaker includes new filter types as the self resonating 6dB low pass and a notch filter. Its improved amplitude ADSR is very suitable for slow pads as for really fast envelopes. 128 factory presets included, 80 made by Frank "Xenox" Neumann / Particular - Sound.
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Green Oak Crystal
Rather than just offering subtractive synthesis, Crystal goes the extra mile by incorporating FM, granular synthesis, sample playback and even SoundFonts. And thanks to its wave sequencing functionality, it excels at producing complex and evolving textural sounds. Being semi-modular and capable of FM, granular and wavetable-like morphs it's capable of complex lead and pad sounds and some awesome soundscapes.
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Ichiro Toda Synth1
Its interface doesn’t give you much of a clue, but Synth1 is actually based on Clavia’s Nord Lead 2 hardware, and it remains one of the best free virtual analogue instruments you can lay your hands on. There are two oscillators, the first of which has an FM knob, and these can be ring modulated and hard-synced. Other features include unison detune (great for supersaw-style sounds), an arpeggiator and effects. Oh, and despite its juicy sound, Synth1 is impressively light on CPU usage.
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UltimateSoundBank UVI Workstation
UVI Workstation is ostensibly designed as the player for UltimateSoundBank’s sound libraries, but the fact that it comes with a range of presets and supports WAV, REX and Apple Loops files means that it’s worth looking at even if you don’t plan on buying any expansion packs. Sporting sophisticated editing features, effects and an arpeggiator, this is an excellent sample playback device.
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Magnus Jonsson Ambience
It’s been around a while, but it’s testament to Ambience’s quality that when people ask for a good quality free reverb, this is still the plug-in that frequently gets recommended. This, unsurprisingly, is because Ambience sounds pretty fine, and there’s a good selection of presets, too. You’ve got plenty of control, and a useful Hold feature. Give it a go.
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Native Instruments Kore 2 Player/Kontakt 4 Player
As you’re probably aware, Native Instruments makes some of the finest commercial plug-ins on the market, but these two products give you a free taster of what the company is all about. Kore 2 Player can host the many Kore 2 instruments that are available, but also comes with 150 (400MB) instrument and effect patches to get you started. Kontakt 4 Player does the same for Kontakt 4 libraries, but can be filled up for free with the Kontakt 4 Factory Selection, which contains 50 instruments.
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Voxengo Span
It’s been around a while, but it’s testament to Ambience’s quality that when people ask for a good quality free reverb, this is still the plug-in that frequently gets recommended. This, unsurprisingly, is because Ambience sounds pretty fine, and there’s a good selection of presets, too. You’ve got plenty of control, and a useful Hold feature. Give it a go.
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Independence Free
2GB worth of sounds come included, making this expandable instrument pretty weighty right off the bat. You can import up to 25 of your own audio files, too, and processing tools include timestretching and pitch shifting. There’s even support for third party VST plug-ins.
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NUSofting daHornet
It’s based on the Electronic Dream Plant Wasp, a cult hardware favourite, and offers warm and squelchy filters, unusual envelopes and an authentic analogue sound. Although it certainly falls into the ‘quirky’ category, there’s more to daHornet than first meets the eye, which explains why it continues to create a buzz.
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SimulAnalog Guitar Suite
If you want to learn a lesson about not judging a book by its cover, check this guitar amp/effect collection out. The interfaces may be pretty much non-existent, but the sound’s impressive - good enough, even, to help you emulate the guitar tone of one Jimi Hendrix. The Guitar Suite actually began life as an academic research project, and features two amps and five stompboxes. It might just turn out to be all the virtual rig you need.
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Togu Audio Line TAL effects
Highlights include the vocoder, dub delay and bitcrusher, while the line also includes a reverb, flanger, phaser and filter.
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