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Issue 94

Starting out and need some in-the-box software to get your ideas happening? A seasoned producer looking for some freaky new sounds? Or just after free stuff?

Regardless, who doesn’t like free stuff?!

PLUGINS

iZotope

iZotope

iZotope offer some cool effects, Vinyl and Vocal Doubler, and mix tools handy for real mixing not just mucking around. All for nothing, of course.

Full Bucket Music

Full Bucket Music

70s and 80s analogue recreations and one of the best virtual modular synths on the internet, all available for little more than a donation.

Ignite Amps

Ignite Amps

This custom guitar amp builder offers their products in full circuit emulations in minimum latency C++. You can get clean/dirty channel heads, bass heads, stompboxes and even a very exacting-looking Pultec EQ simulation.

Saturation Knob

Saturation Knob

Softube’s one-knob saturation solution sounds REALLY nice, and can put nice edge, warmth or all out mangle any track. We’ve found it especially good for gritting up strings in busy arrangements.

u-he

u-he

u-he mean business when it comes to virtual analogue and make the most faithful recreations of the real thing around. They’ve also got some nice lite versions and quirky stuff going free, using the same great tech.

CamelCrusher

The whole internet seems to rave about this module, so why should we? It’s got a great little filter, saturation section, and the potential to flat-out obliterate signals if thats what you’re into.

Komplete Start

Komplete Start

You might’ve have seen them a million and three times in your search for free plugs, but don’t dismiss NI’s free offerings. There’s some great things to start you out if here you’re lacking samples, sounds and basic processing.

Spitfire Audio Labs

Spitfire Audio Labs

Spitfire – wow. Who knew the most high-profile scoring sounds companies offered free stuff? Labs will net you free soundscapes and experimental sample libraries from artists and pros, new ones coming out regularly once you sign up.

Imaginando DLYM

Imaginando DLYM

A nicely polished chorus and flanger processor from the makers of the one of the best soft synths out there.

Splice

You would have found this on Google anyway, but here it is again. Many, many great plug-ins in this line-up, probably including many listed here (confirming Splice’s expert choice of free plugs, of course)!

Plugin Alliance

Plugin Alliance

Sign up to this impressive online plug-in marketplace and get 6 very useful plugins, including 2 EQs, a LP/HP filter, a very nice sounding sub enhancement tool and an amp sim, all by veteran devs Brainworx.

Magic Dice

Baby Audio Magic Dice

Verb/delay/modulation from Baby’s Spaced Out plugin, all contained in a random generated, one button interface. Get rollin’!

Newfangled Pendulate

Newfangled Pendulate

This new synth going free relies on a new oscillator design, based on a double pendulum, allowing a rapid swing from order to chaos, sine to S&H. Check it out on Eventide’s site.

FreeAMP

FreeAMP

Full fat ReAMP by Klevgrand shrunk down to this fun-size, three-knob, analogue saturation MACHINE!

DAWs

Cakewalk by Bandlab

Cakewalk by Bandlab

If you’ve been living under an Ableton Live Suite-shaped rock (like we’ve clearly been), you won’t have heard that Cakewalk’s Sonar, after being discontinued in 2017, has been relaunched as Cakewalk by Bandlab, and is FREE! It has to be the best free DAW out there, especially now that Reaper ain’t going for nothing no more.

Pro Tools First

Pro Tools First

A little less limited than most free versions of the big DAWs, Pro Tools First comes with some pretty sweet plug-ins, a powerful little synth, and 16 rather than the usual 8 tracks. Worth a try if you think you’ll be more of a Tool than someone with Reason. (Sorry, got a bit Fruity.)

SAMPLES

Cymatics

Popular free sample bundles, the pack being led by a 3.5 GB collection released to celebrate 100K followers on Soundcloud. Celebratory = generous we’ve found.

KVR Audio

KVR continues to deliver a multitude of free and paid goods. Lots of content to be had for nothing here.

123creative

This website may not look the prettiest, but it’s pretty great for freebies. Get your fill of free samples and loops for EDM production or almost anything else on this page.

606 Clones

Sample Science offer a pack of 606 clone samples; Acid Lab Drumatix, the Cyclone Analogic TT-606, and the Behringer RD-6. Other free packs available too

READ ONLINE NOW
Online
Issue 94