This free VST plugins roundup features a music production suite, vinyl simulator, multi-modulation effect, virtual acoustic drum instrument, and an SSL-style EQ.
Free VST Plugins
Each month we search the web for some of the music industry’s most essential freeware instrument and effect plugins. This list of free VST plugin downloads offers five modern tools for your arsenal. No need to spend a dime or waste time trawling the internet.
1. Native Instruments | KOMPLETE START
KOMPLETE START is a music production suite that offers a selection of instruments, effects, utilities, loops, and samples. This free bundle includes seven synthesizers, nine sampler instruments, and two effects. It also comes with KOMPLETE KONTROL, KONTAKT 6 PLAYER, and REAKTOR 6 PLAYER to play all the instruments. In addition, you get over 2,000 studio-quality sounds!
2. iZotope | Vinyl
Vinyl simulates the dust, scratches, crackling, warp, and mechanical noise of record players. It’s a great lo-fi plugin for music production! Vinyl also lets you control each nostalgic element independently, giving you all the vintage turntable sounds you love.
3. Imaginando | DLYM
DLYM is a free ‘Delay Modulator’ plugin that produces flanger and chorus style effects. This versatile modulation tool is capable of creating anything from subtle flanging and phasing effects to extreme choruses and out-of-tune effects. It also sports an elegant user interface that makes it easy to control.
4. Steven Slate Drums | SSD5 FREE
SSD5 FREE is the freeware version of Steven Slate Drums flagship SSD5 virtual acoustic drum plugin. While SSD5 FREE is a lightweight version of SSD5, it still packs a punch. The main limitation is that it only comes with a single sampled acoustic drum kit. Other than that, SSD5 FREE is virtually identical to the full version of SSD5. It rocks all the same features to craft slammin’ acoustic drums!
5. Variety of Sound | BootEQ mkII
BootEQ is an SSL-style equalizer and pre-amp simulator. It features four parametric EQ bands, musical sounding EQ curves, and modeled pre-amp simulation. BoostEQ is a great EQ plugin for adding classic EQ coloration to tracks or full mixes.