In the modern world of music production, mixing and mastering, VST plugins are essential tools. They help producers expand their sonic palette and improve the quality of their mixes. While many premium VST plugins are available, there are also numerous free options with professional-grade features and sound quality. For beginners, the variety of choices can be overwhelming, but it is possible to produce great music at a low cost. To help you get started, here are some of our favorite free VST plugins that every music producer should have in their toolkit.
1. Virtual Instruments
Vital is a powerful and versatile wavetable synthesizer that rivals many premium plugins. It offers an intuitive interface, advanced modulation capabilities, and high-quality sound. You get 75 presets and 25 wavetables with the Basic, free plan. Vital is surely one of the most powerful free virtual synthesizers you can get.
Link: https://vital.audio/
Spitfire Audio LABS contains a vast library of free and premium (LABS+) instruments and sounds. New, redesigned plugin now lets you preview and download all sounds from inside of the plugin UI within your DAW. There are many free packs available for download including the following categories: Brass, Vocals, Drums, Experimental, Guitar, Percussion, Piano & Keys, Strings, Synths and Woodwinds.
Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover is an amazing tool that gives you access to 33 orchestral instruments. The difference between free and paid plans is mostly in the number of available instruments and articulations.
2. Mixing/FX Plugins
Plugins from Tokyo Dawn Records. There are 5 different plugins that you can download from the Tokyo Dawn website. These are some really amazing tools including a spectrum analyzer, a compressor, a bus compressor, an EQ and a dynamic EQ.
Valhalla DSP’s Valhalla Space Modulator, Valhalla Freq Echo and Valhalla Super Massive are a great choice for some creative spatial effects in your music.
Link: https://valhalladsp.com/
Melda Production MFreeFXBundle is a large collection of 37 free plugins including many useful mixing tools and effects. It is surely one of the biggest free plugin packs available out there.
Kilohearts Essentials is another collection of 33 plugins available for free. Simplistic and clean UI design makes them really intuitive and easy to use. This bundle also includes some really nice effects.
Analog Obsession - If you have a passion for analog gear, this recommendation is for you. Analog Obsession provides a range of high-quality analog gear simulations, delivering the warmth and character of vintage equipment right into your digital workspace.
Summary
Remember that depending on the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) you are using, there is always a choice of multiple different stock plugins that you can utilize. Each DAW typically comes with a suite of built-in effects and instruments that are designed to cover a broad range of music production needs. These stock plugins are often more than sufficient for producing professional-quality music and can serve as a solid foundation for any project. While expensive third-party tools and plugins may often help you achieve your desired results more quickly or offer specialized features, it’s essential to understand that they are not a necessity for creating high-quality music.
Ultimately, it is your ears that are the most important tool in your arsenal. Developing a keen sense of listening and the ability to make informed decisions based on what you hear is crucial for any music producer. Expensive plugins can enhance your workflow and provide additional options, but the skill and creativity you bring to the table are what truly make the difference. Practice critical listening, learn the nuances of your plugins, and focus on honing your production techniques. By doing so, you can achieve impressive results, regardless of the tools you use.
