::|CONTENTS
- Instruments
- Effects
- See also
The purpose of this page is to draw up a list of free VST, to use in allgear/wildchip format for example. Everything listed here should be FREE / shareware available to donload online.
Compatibility
Most DAWs (Digital Audio Workstation, n00b!) like Ableton Live, Cubase, Fruity Loops, LMMS, Reaper or Renoise support VST plugins out-of-the box. They can be instruments or effects. Even OpenMPT supports VST plugins as instruments, and their parameters can be automated via
parameter control events.
Be careful, some DAWs (i.e. Ableton Live) require 64-bit VST, unless you use a 32 bit bridge -- some (i.e. LMMS) don't even support it natively, leading to VeSTige being vital to its line-up of plugins to get much out of it. VSTs marked with (x64) are 64-bit only plugins, while ones that don't have 32-bit variants.
Instruments
Console emulation
NES (2a03):
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magical 8bits (x64): this VST emulates pulse, triangle and noise instruments of the 2a03 chipset, with all the duty cycles, vibrato, portamento or envelopes you need.
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Famisynth II (vst3, x64): NES vst
SNES (SPC700):
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C700 (x64): C700 emulates the SNES's built-in software sampler. It can also record to .spc files playable on real SNES hardware: see the
C700 VST article for more on this.
Mega Drive (YM2612 and SN76489):
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GENNY (x64): GENNY is a Virtual Instrument that emulates the Sega Genesis'/Megadrive's YM2612 and SN76489 chips. It allows you to create Sega Genesis style FM music in your favorite DAW, and it will allow you to use almost the full capabilities of the two chips.
Atari ST (AY-3-8910/YM2149):
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ymVST - Simulates a single channel of the AY-3, so multiples are needed for full effect. Interface is based off of
MusicMon.
Acoustic instruments
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Spitfire LABS (x64): A plugin that supports multiple quality instruments available for free.
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EWHarp 2 (x64): A sample based harp instrument.
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Sonatina Tuba (x64): A decent tuba, with a staccato mode.
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Marimbaphonic (x64): A marimba VST.
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NST Choir (x64): Sample based choir, split into multiple VSTs.
Synthesizers
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Charlatan: A super simple subtractive synth with two oscillators per note plus the ability to add stereo separated detuned copies of the signal.
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Odin 2 (x64): Powerful synthesizer with 24-voice polyphony.
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sforzando (x64): Soundfont player with built in effects! Now you can load all of your SNES soundfonts into your DAW! Also includes the Tablewarp2 synth by
madbrain
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Surge: Open-source hybrid synth with oscillators, frequency modulation, and effects.
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Vital (x64): Spectral waveform synthesizer with multiple purchase tiers. Basic (25 waveforms, 75 presets) is free.
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Sinc Vereor (x64): Synth with wavemorphing and wavefolding, vintage-inspired chorus, and multimode gate.
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Virt Vereor (x64): Synth with esoteric sound algorithms, multimode gate, and vintage-inspired chorus
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Helm (x64): Helm is a free, cross-platform, polyphonic synthesizer with a powerful modulation system.
Hardware Synth Emulations / Inspired by Hardware:
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Dexed (x64): FM synthesizer emulating the Yamaha DX7, compatible with the
vast library of DX7 patches.
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PG-8X 2.0 (x64):Analog subtractive synth, a pretty faithful emulation of the Roland JX8P. Patch-compatible with original hardware.
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OB-Xd (x64): Analog subtractive synth, nice expanded emulation of the Oberheim OB-X, capable of very lush and expansive analog sounds. Note: This plugin is fully free to download and use— the purchase option is for commercial applications and includes an AAX version.
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Synth1 (64b): Simple but powerful synthesizer with preset management, LFOs, chorus, equalizer, 2 oscillators, etc. Modeled on the Clavia Nord Lead 2.
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Nils‘ K1v (x64): Kawai K1 Emulation, crunchy, vector PCM synthesis with distinctive waveforms. Includes complete library of official voice cards. Patch-compatible with original hardware.
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Digits (x64): Phase Distortion synth inspired by the Casio CZ series, goes beyond their capabilities though– can produce very gritty, digital sounds, massive, detuned unison leads and pads + a wide range of traditional and experimental sounds, very usable and easy to edit.
Effects
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Krush (x64): Bitcrushing and downsampling, useful to distort sound and giving them a DPCM feel for example.
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FreeClip (x64): Limiter, soft clipper. Useful in a mastering chain.
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Valhalla Super Massive (x64): Best for Massive reverbs, harmonic echoes, space sounds.
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Ozone image (x64): Stereo enhancement.
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ReaPlugs VST FX Suite (x64): Want to use some of the comprehensive FX plug-ins that REAPER provides? You can download ReaPlugs, a package of FX that includes many of the plug-ins that come with REAPER, for free and for any DAW!
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Airwindows (x64): Handsewn bespoke plugins by Chris! "These plugins come in Mac AU, and Mac, Windows and Linux VST. They are state of the art sound, have no DRM, and have totally minimal generic interface so you focus on your sounds."
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Analog Obsession (x64): Bringing the classic sound of analog hardware into your DAW (for free)!
See also
<<List all related lyceum articles mentioned above. This helps keeping linked documents traceable>>
allgear (format)
mptm (format)
renoise (format)
List of DAWs
