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 OT: These are few of my favorite (free) things... [message #75196] |
Mon, 30 October 2006 21:38  |
Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
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Senior Member |
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While we all have certain sets of paid-for plugins that we
like, it�s also nice that in the open-source VST world there
are a good amount of freeware tools, as well. Below is a list
of freebie vst plugins that I have found to be most useful.
These are certainly not all of the free ones I�ve tried� some I
eliminated from the list because they were crap, and some
because they were poorly written (i.e: caused lockups,
crashing, glitches, etc.) or were too damn CPU-intensive on ANY
setting to be useful or practical. These are certainly also not
all the free ones out there� nowhere close, in fact! There are
a lot of wild, bizarre ones that I suppose some of you doing
certain styles of music would find useful (like maybe
electronica or things in that vein), but are not really useful
for me � hence you�ll find that this list consists of mainly
common tools that I�ve found to be:
a.) highly useable, with user-friendly interfaces & controls
b.) sound damn good, or at least sound damn good for a
specific purpose or two, and...
c.) are well-written, to the extent that they don�t suck
undue CPU power for no good reason
Keep in mind, you may like some stuff I don�t and vice-versa �
we all have different ears, but in any event I can guarantee
that none of these suck, so that�s a good place to start!
To keep it organized, I�ve sorted them for you by
classification/category. ALL direct download links are for the
Windows vst versions (and specifically XP or later versions,
where specified) � some apps may have other versions, which is
why I also supplied the product pages where applicable.
Off we go!
***Comps/Limiters/Other Dynamics***:
BuzMaxi:
Pretty damn good transparent brickwall limiter/volume
maximizer. Has �smooth� and �aggressive� settings. Stick it on
your 2-buss, baby! This is version 3 of BuzMaxi; if you can
find a copy of version 2 somewhere, I actually like that one a
little bit better, but this one doesn�t suck.
Product Page: http://www.x-buz.com/BuzMaxi3.html
Download: http://www5c.biglobe.ne.jp/%7Ebuzzroom/files/BuzMaxi3_130.zi p
GeneComp & GranComp:
Also from x-buz; GeneComp is a linear compressor, GranComp is a
harder-knee compressor. Both come in singleband & multiband
versions. I find that the presets are also pretty useful as a
starting point for various stuff. Try out GranComp on Kik,
Snare, Rock guitars & bass. Try the multiband GranComp on kick
& set each band real hard & then duck down the level on the
middle quite a bit, raise up the top for some �smack�
(experiment with the band split frequencies to find what works
best for your kick tone), and you may find you don�t even need
to EQ the kick at all! Grancomp is literally my most-used
compressor now on individual tracks. Do it! lol
Product Page: http://www.x-buz.com/BuzCompFree.html
Download: http://www5c.biglobe.ne.jp/%7Ebuzzroom/files/buzcompfree_v12 .zip
Classic Compressor:
From Kjaerhus � who has a whole series of �Classic� products
for free � I don�t find many of them all that killer, but this
one�s nice on Drums/Overheads, sometimes Bass, and sometimes BG
vox.
Product Page: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-compressor.php
Download: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/archives/classic_compressor_v11 7.zip
BrainDoc Compressor:
A very simple to use, yet very cool compressor � works
especially great on kik, snare & toms ( on toms & kick will get
VERY �in your face� if you�re not careful). Doesn't take up
much CPU power, either. Note: DON�T USE the �auto� setting on
output, it�s insanity � don�t even know why he put that option
in there.
Product Page: http://www.braindoc.de/english/vstEn.html
Download: http://www.braindoc.de/vst/Compressor_v1.0.1.zip
Ruby Tube:
A somewhat hard-nosed limiter that can also introduce some tube-
ish distortion� I�ve found it can sound good on bass (both
electric bass & synth bass stuff) & toms� kick - maybe, depends
on what you like. Seems better on low-end-ish stuff overall.
Product Page: http://www.silverspike.com/?Products:RubyTube
Download: http://www.silverspike.com/Download/RubyTube.zip
DigitalFishPhones Spitfish:
The VERY BEST stand-alone plugin de-esser available, IMO
(although I find the de-esser in Voxengo�s Voxformer to be
better, but that�s a paid product & is part of a processing
unit with other features). The product page & download links
give you the entire �Fish Fillet�s� package, which includes
some other plugins, as well. Toss the other ones,
keep �Spitfish� (OK, keep the other ones if you like �em, too).
Product Page: http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.php?item=2&subItem =5
Download: http://www.digitalfishphones.com/binaries/the_fish_fillets_v 1_1.zip
***Delays/Reverbs***:
Classic Delay:
Another Kjaerhus plugin� and a pretty damn good stereo delay!
Can be set to tempo sync, or manual; has analog emulations, and
a really clean/pronounced digital delay sound. Good one!
Product Page: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-delay.php
Download: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/archives/classic_delay_v103.zip
BrainDoc Stereo Delay:
A very wash-y delay sound� clean, but responds more like an
analog delay � has some modulation & cross-channel feedback
capabilities as well. A very rich / lush delay sound.
Product Page: http://www.braindoc.de/english/vstEn.html
Download: http://www.braindoc.de/vst/StereoDelay.zip
PSP PianoVerb:
A pretty good-sounding, artifact-heavy (but in a good way)
reverb� sort of a spring-y sound in a way, and has a
tuning/detuning function, as well� haven�t found a damn thing
BESIDES piano that it sounds good on, but it does sound really
good on that sometimes!
Product Page: http://www.pspaudioware.com/indexjp.html
Download: http://www.pspaudioware.com/download/full/PSPpv.exe
Gvst GDelay:
Need a very simple, highly controllable mono delay? This is it.
This one definitely seems to have some artifacts going on, so
I�d recommend it for things like slapbacks or �old-skool� type
stuff.
Product Page: http://www.gvst.co.uk/gdelay.htm
Download: http://www.gvst.co.uk/dlgvst/GDelay.zip
RoomMachine 844:
A really good room simulator� works equally well as an insert
in a submix (like for a drum submix wherein you want to place
the drums in a room) or as a send-return-type of effect using
fully-wet settings on the output. Controls are very useful, and
has early-reflection variance capabilities using the �distance�
control (distance from the source to the simulated mics), and a
stereo spread selector on each side (L&R) independently.
Product Page: http://www.silverspike.com/?Products:RoomMachine_844
Download: http://www.silverspike.com/Download/RoomMachine844.zip
***EQ�s/Spectral***:
Voxengo EssEQ:
The EQ segment of vst plugins is really lacking in useful, high-
quality, musical EQ�s, IMO; and while this is certainly not
what I�d consider a candidate as a primary EQ, this one is
definitely useable if you: a.) run out of EQ bands for
something & you still need a little tweak somewhere, or b.)
just want to add a little air on an individual track � the high
end band on this is actually pretty nice for that!
Product Page: http://www.voxengo.com/product/esseq/
Download: http://www.voxengo.com/files/VoxengoEssEQ_14_WinVST_setup.zi p
Classic EQ:
Yet another Kjaerhus app� this one is not super versatile in
terms of EQ-ing, but it�s got some coloration options you might
find useful. It�ll get dirty if you start boosting lots when
you�ve got the coloration controls selected, but it can be very
clean, too, without them. Can also be used without EQ as a
slight coloration/saturation effect on a mix buss (submix
group, really � don�t think I�d use it on a full 2-buss).
Product Page: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-eq.php
Download: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/archives/classic_eq_v104.zip
***Chorus/Modulation***:
Classic Chorus:
Frankly, I haven�t come across too many good freebie modulation
plugs� most of �em seem to be geared towards �bizarre� instead
of �damn clear & clean�, but this is another decent one from
Kjaerhus that sounds pretty good, and is also fairly versatile.
Product Page: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-chorus.php
Download: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/archives/classic_chorus_v128.zi p
BrainDoc ShifterBank:
Pretty interesting pitch shifter with up to 8 voices� VERY CPU-
intensive on settings with the higher #'s of voices, but can
give you some kinda cool flanging/doubling/chorusey EFX on even
the lower voice-count settings. Watch your blend between dry &
wet� pay attention to finding the right balance on this one.
Product Page: http://www.braindoc.de/english/vstEn.html
Download: http://www.braindoc.de/vst/ShifterBank_v1.0.0.zip
***Other***:
BrainDoc Channel Tool:
This is a very simple tool that basically allows you to set
levels/phase/etc on a single channel. Handy if you've got
something that you've automated volume on, and it's a little
hot or a little soft overall, but you don't want to rewrite all
the automation moves; OR if you're in a Native app & you've got
that overstuffed mix buss thing happening - just insert this on
all your audio tracks & bring all of 'em down by the same
degree (like we discussed in another thread):
Product Page: http://www.braindoc.de/english/vstEn.html
Download: http://www.braindoc.de/vst/ChannelTool.zip
Gvst GFader:
An even simpler version (level ONLY) of the Braindoc-type tool
mentioned above� de-stuff your Native mix buss fast & easy
without having to rewrite automation moves:
Product Page: http://www.gvst.co.uk/gfader.htm
Download: http://www.gvst.co.uk/dlgvst/GFader.zip
Voxengo Audio Delay:
OK, this is NOT a delay chain effect, it allows you to delay
the sound by a fixed number of milliseconds or sub-increments
thereof. I found this useful when tracking a kit of e-pads &
live cymbals combined�I wanted to create a more realistic space
for the e-pads, so I sent those to an aux buss, inserted this
on that submix, and delayed the audio by like 3-4 milliseconds
(like about the same delay you�d get from overheads vs. the
direct mics), and the blend of the two worked out great!
Probably you could find some other uses for it as well.
Product Page: http://www.voxengo.com/product/audiodelay/
Download: http://www.voxengo.com/files/VoxengoAudioDelay_12_WinVST_set up.zip
Voxengo SPAN:
Spectrum Analyzer � versatile one� don�t leave too many of
these plugged in across various channels, though; it�s not
super CPU-intensive on it�s own, but several of �em at a time
will suck down a lot of your available cycles.
Product Page: http://www.voxengo.com/product/SPAN/
Download: http://www.voxengo.com/files/VoxengoSPAN_18_WinVST_setup.zip
Voxengo r8Brain:
The free version of this app � works with multiple bitrates &
sample rates. A must-have, IMO. It�s a stand-alone utility, not
a plugin. Can also do batch conversions!
Product Page: http://www.voxengo.com/product/r8brain/
Download: http://www.voxengo.com/files/Voxengor8brain_19_WinGUI_setup. exe
Simulanalog G-Suite:
A guitar processing pack that has some emulations of Marshall &
Fender amps & a handful of stomp pedals� I would not recommend
this as a primary guitar track thang, but I found it useful
recently when recording a split signal of a direct guitar
combined with an amped signal (yes, it went on the direct
channel LOL!).
Product Page: http://www.simulanalog.org/guitarsuite.htm
Download: http://www.simulanalog.org/GSuite.zip
***Also posting another item in this thread with the Word Document ATTACHED****
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