Free Audio Plugins — Curated Drive Listing
Direct links, organized by category, with hands-on notes.
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Amp Modelers / Channel Strips
Amps, preamps, and strip-style effects.
Ace
This sounds like a little old yellow practice amp I used to have. I love the sound of this one. Edit I have found that this amp modeler is excellent for vocal applications. You can get a very good vocal distortion with this; I've used it on many track vox. Edit Three years in and I still love this amp sim. Edit I have used this on harmonica a few times now and it is amazing. If you are looking for a growly, angry-goose honking harmonica then this is the amp for you. Superb.
Audiority L12X
This is a superb model of a vintage 1980's Marshall solid state amplifier. If you are looking for that signature full, smooth Marshall distortion tone, then this plugin is perfect. Simple controls, just like the original amp head. I have only just started using it, but I know it will become one of my staples for guitar tone. Edit Yes, indeed! I use this quite frequently now, especially when doubling guitar tracks and blending this with other amp models.
BC Free Amp
I love this one, and have used it on almost every recording I've done so far. 3 different fully modeled amps, they sound amazing. Edit This has been, and continues to be, one of my two workhorse amp modelers. The other one being the L12X above.
BOD
This is a model of a Sans-Amp bass DI. Sounds exactly like it.
LeCto
This guitar amp plugin is...distinct. I'll be honest, I do not really like the way this thing sounds. Maybe it is just not what I think of when I think guitar tones, but I find it to be brittle and tinny, with little character in the low-mid and lows. It might be useful as a specialty effect, perhaps on an instrument other than guitar. I'll come back and add more comments if I ever use it. Edit I have learned that there is an associated cabinet simulator that is meant to be used with this. Apparently it sounds nice when you set up a cabinet model for the preamp, though I have not yet tried it myself. I'll try to investigate if I have time.
AmpLion Free
This plugin is friggin awesome. There are 3 full featured amp models that all sound great. BUT, the thing that makes this one especially cool is you can change the mic placement on the cabinets. It does mono or stereo micing too. It really gives you a ton of control for DI guitars.
Ignite Emmisary
This has 3 amp models that all sound great. They are very modern sounding; like 80's and 90's rock amp sounds. They can be huge though, if you need a giant distortion sound try this one. It's like super-hot valves going insane.
Amplifikation Lite
This is a nice simulated guitar amp with three channels and optional cab emulation. It sounds quite good so far, sounds unique enough that it is worth keeping along side the other plugins on this list. It is not trying to sound "like" some famous amp, it is its own sound so far as I can tell, and it does sound good.
Amped Roots
This one sounds great. Wide range of usable clean and distorted amp tones. It appears to try to model a Marshall JCM 800 or 900, but doesn't officially say so. If you want that sound, this one works well. Edit apparently the free license expires. I no longer use this.
IVGI
I had a problem trying to get this one installed and working properly. I will add notes when I get this working and try it out. I do know that I love Analog Obsessions' plugins, so it is probably going to be good.
ATONE
Another new channel strip modeler from Analog Obsessions. It is supposed to have some unique vintage analog gear models combined; input, eq, and compressor. I'll report back when I've used it. Edit This is a really good channel strip model. Like all of Analog Obsessions' plugins, it adds a lot of audible character. The preamp quality is good and warm. The compressor is not transparent, but it is quite musical if used right, and the EQ options work well to regain clarity after the modeled preamp. A nice easy tool for a good vintage sound, if that's what you are looking for. Edit I have used this now on acoustic guitar, vocals, and harmonica, and it is a great choice for one-box vintage tones. Edit Adding bass and drums to the other instruments that this sounds excellent on. Edit Recently I have encountered a small glitch. Sometimes adding this plugin to my track will cause it to crash the audio unit. Saving and reopening worked just fine again though every time, and it might just be my computer.
MythPre
This channel strip is simple and straight-forward. Input gain, output gain, and a selector switch for various types of input including mic, line, DI, and others. Easy to use and super clean sounding with lots of gain. Another great tool from Analog Obsessions.
PreBOX
This is not a guitar amp modeler, but a tube preamp modeler. I friggin LOVE this thing. There are 11 different tubes modeled, and there is input and output gain, plus HPF and LPF. Can be used to saturate anything at any point in an effects chain, or just distort vocals or whatever. Adds warmth to DI too. Love it. Edit I have come to rely on and use this one heavily. It is just too versatile; every tube model sounds amazing. If you are recording direct with anything, you should consider this tool in the signal chain at some point. Edit Yes, I cannot recommend this stronly enough. It is amazing. Edit There is a new verion of this. I had to re-install some things and grabbed the newer version of this. It looks slightly different but functions VERY differently. The new one has an "auto gain" switch that will automatically adjust gain on the pre-amp side, but still let you dial the output gain. I do not like this as it makes it harder to use the various tubes' saturation qualities. I since deleted the new one and found the older version on the website "plugins for free". I personally recommend the older version, but both are great.
Eminence Channel Strip
A fully realized model of an Eminence channel strip with everything that comes with it, EQ, gains, etc. I have yet to really explore this. More notes to come. Edit I just updated the download link, and it appears that there is more there now too. Additional notes to come, as it looks like Acustica has other great stuff to check out. Edit Now you have to make an account, and get thier installer, but it looks like its worth it as there are lots of free plugins to grab.
Valvola
This plugin models about a dozen different vacuum tubes. You can select the tube type, and the amount to which it is driven. It is simple and perfect. You can string them together in a channel to reproduce any combination of power and output tubes, so you can make any number of real or imaginary amp models from this. It really is an amazing plugin for clean amplification, or adding warmth, or adding full on overdrive. Amazing. Make the free account and download it for free.
PREDD
Another modeled vintage tube mic preamp with full features.
Frank CS
A beautiful channel strip model. The Frank is like "Frankenstein" as in this is a combination of models from various famous analog mixers and components. It is all put together into a complete input channel with eq', compressors, you name it. An awesome plugin to get for free! Edit The more I use this the more I love it. If I had only one channel stip model to use forever, it might be this one. A great range of tonal and dynamic control in one easy box and it sounds great.
Compressors
Dynamics control — single-band & multiband.
FRONTIER
This compressor is awesome. It can be transparent, or it can pump. Easy to control this one as well. Also can be used as a leveling amp. Edit I personally lean toward using this one as a leveling amp, as the controls are somewhat limited.
LALA Leveling Amplifier
This is a model of a Teletronix LA-2A optical limiter. I use this all over the place, instruments, vocals, and even main mix bus. It is super transparent, you can use it anywhere. Edit I have stopped using this because I was getting a glitch. Sometimes when adding this plugin to a track, it caused a super loud transient pop and buzz in my audio channel, which would slam my headphones and my ears. It was only every once in a while, but honestly I didn't want to risk it. I now use the YALA plugin listed down below for limiting.
MJUCjr
My goodness, this is an amazing free version of a modeled tube compressor. It sounds perfect. If you want tube compression sound, this is it. Edit I just want to add that I still use this somewhere on every project for more than two years now. It dials in a transparent and warm dynamic control with lots of tube output if you need it. A real workhorse tube compressor for me.Edit Make that three years...still going strong.
RoughRider3
I use this compressor in every mix. It can be subtle, and it can PUMP super hard. I love this thing. Makes drums and bass pop like crazy if you want, or it can be practically invisible. HPF on it too. Edit this is my go-to compressor for making drums pump and pop hard. It can be dialed up so aggressively that it can really smash anthing you throw at it. A very musical compressor.
SUPERCHARGER
A killer tube compressor model from Native Instruments. You'll need the NI account, but this is a very good sounding tube compressor with simple controls. Its like a one-knob "make it sound good" kind of box. Can control loud vocals easily with this.
TDR Molotok
A highly musical compressor with lots of available gain boost and a very good HPF. I use this all over the place; guitars, bass, vocals mainly. Edit I personally have stopped using this, but my initial comments stand, a really excellent compressor with an easy interface.
Buster
BUSTERse is a classic console compressor with extra filter and transient sidechain options to dominate whole signal. Another awesome compressor from Analog Obsession. **Edit: I've been using this across the mix bus and it is extremely good for final mix compression; it can really squash things together and even out a mix if you need it to. Excellent plugin. Edit I have used this on every mix now for at least the last year. It is a great mix bus compressor. Be careful, it is quite responsive and can really slam a mix down.
Dynasaur
This is a great multiband compressor. It has 5 bands, low, low mid, mid, high mid, high. Each band has fully adjustable parameters (attack, release, threshold, gain boost/reduce, frequency center and witdth too). It has a hugely variable range of gain reduction. There are meters for each band too, but I would suggest using your ears on this one as it is a really powerful compressor.
Dirty LA
A not-really-a-model of an LA-2A optical compressor. It also has a knob that let's you add "dirt", which is a sort of overdriven effect if you want it. It can also be switched to limiter mode. It works well as a compressor/limiter and can be pretty transparent. I don't recommend the "dirt" though. Add to taste.
Comper
A unique plugin that has 2 compressors in series with one another, both able to be switched between modeling modes: FET, VCA, and Optical. I just got this and havent used it yet, but I will update this entry soon. Edit I am now in love with this plugin. Chaining compressors is something I already do, so having 2 in series in a single plugin is great just for that. The unique thing about this is that the three modes can all be activated simultaneously, or in pairs too. The output is the average of the signals. So, you could have the first comp be the average of the FET and OPTO, then the second VCA and OPTO, or all three, etc. Hugely powerful and very transparent for controlling something like a bass track that goes back/forth between fingerstyle and slap/pop. Lots of dynamic control. Edit. Get this. It is such a powerful tool for dynamics control. I now use it on every recording. If you do any chaining of compression/expansion, having the two blendable modelers in series just simplifies things, while giving you so many options for the way the two of them stack. Just an amazing tool for free.
DC1A3
I haven't used this yet. Notes to come after I do.
dBComp
A leveling amp/maximizer that is supposed to be optimized for drum and vocal applications. It is from Analog Obsession, and I love all of their other plugins that I've tried. I will definitely be trying this out immediately and will add notes. Edit this is an excellent tool from Analog Obsession. I have now tried it on drums and vocals and the leveling, when set properly, is controlled and transparent. This is great and definitely worth having in your arsenal of leveling amps/compressors.
YALA
YALA is a model of a Vari-Mu tube leveling amplifier. This is another one from Analog Obsession, whose plugins are all excellent. I will be trying this out immediately and will add notes. Edit I have used this now on a dozen projects and it is an excellent hard limiting amplifier. I have used it on vocals, bass, vst instruments; it does the job and is actually really transparent even with very low threshold. A very good tool for dynamics control. Edit Yes, used at the end of a compression chain, this is the "none shall pass"; just a really good hard leveler.
Reverbs
Algorithmic, plate, spring, and atmospheric verbs.
TAL-Reverb-2
From what I can tell this models a plate reverb and it sounds amazing. This can sound huge and full, or subtle and close. I use this all over the place. I use it on my digital drums all the time to give them some life. Vocals too, this can sound like a huge space. Edit I rely heavily on this plugin for reverb that sounds "real". The controls are so powerful that you can create a convincing sound field from anything like a bathroom to a stadium. If I had to pick only one reverb to use forever, it would be this one. Edit 3.5 years on this is still my go-to reverb.
TAL-Reverb-4
This reverb models a modulated vintage reverb sound. It is very nice and very natural sounding from small to large reverb sounds.
Room041
This is another amazing free plugin from Analog Obsession. This can produce beautiful lush reverb sounds that can sound like either plate or room reverbs. It is unique in that it has a preamp drive knob, which most reverbs do not have. Also HPF, and post-reverb EQs. Very nice for free. Edit Yes, I love this reverb now. It works very well for modeling a "hard wall" space. You can easily make something sound like it is in a large tiled bathroom, or like a parking garage or something. Very unique with the built in eq. too.
Ocean Plate
I just downloaded this and I will add comments as soon as possible.Edit There are a wide range of controls; all the paramaters you would expect for reverb control. There are also many excellent presets you can use as starting points. A very nice grab for free if you have extra drive space for another reverb option.
Devilspring
Excellent multi-cab modeled spring reverb.
OrilRiver
I just downloaded this and will add notes soon. It is an algorythmic stereo reverb with a ton of control, so I'm looking forward to seeing what it can do. Edit This reverb has more control knobs than I've seen on a reverb. You have full control of so many parameters that you can mimic just about any acoustic space you want. Give it a shot if you are looking to really hone in on a particular reverb sound.
Valhalla Supermassive
I'm putting this in reverb, but it is principally a delay. But it is so widely and variously adjustable that is does both things amazingly well. It can make the most beautiful, musical delays, echoes. reverberations, you name it. Edit Beware how sensitive the "mix" and "feedback" controls are with this tool. I have found it often difficult to get echoes to diminish quickly enough in a mix unless those settings are quite low. The presets are all dialed up quite aggressively for long-lasting delays that can clutter things up. Just my two cents here.