Frugal Producer Vol. 2: Plug-ins for your DAW February 19, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digital home recording studios, plugins (plug-ins), Project Studio , trackbackDamon just posted some great links, so I will post some more. These are my top 5 favorite free plug-ins. More to come in the future, but these are all really awesome. Download them and give them a try.
This is the grand-daddy of lo-fi. Its a free plug-in that simulates your sound going through a record player. Its has LOTS of controls (including what year the record player was made). Everything from “subtle analog feel” to “smashed and distorted dusty old record” can be achieved with this plug-in. Available for RTAS/AudioSuite/HTDM, VST, MAS, Audio Unit, DirectX. Literally no DAW should be without this plug-in.
What?! “SSL” and “free” can be put into the same sentence? Yes, its true. SSL offers a free download (VST and AU) of its listen mic compressor plug-in. This is an aggressive compressor, but its great on a lot of things. Try it on the second track of your parallel drum compression, or really squish your guitars to make them huge. This is another plug-in everyone should have.
If you need more accurate metering or spectral analysis in your DAW, this FREE plug-in is awesome. It comes in VST, AU, or RTAS, so anyone should be able to get it working. If you don’t already have a plug-in that does analysis like this, I would highly recommend you download this and insert on the end of your mix busses. Its really nice to “see” your spectrum (and maybe give you insight into getting your mixes to translate well).
If you know who Steve Massey is, you know these plug-ins must sound good. These are available in RTAS format only (aka Pro Tools). You can download any of these plug-ins for free (they don’t beep or glitch the audio either!). However, they have some limitations on their functions until you buy the full versions (which, by the way, are very inexpensive). As far as the sound of the plug-ins go, you will be hard pressed to find any that sound better, at any price range. I’ve personally used the mastering limiter, the CT4 compressor (awesome!), and the vt3 EQ and I love all of them.
A unique free reverb plug-in from PSPaudioware. It has the ability to go from a more traditional reverb sound to a very bright “affected” reverb sound. Although not perfect for your “everyday” reverb, in the right situation, this can be the perfect effect for a track. Its great to have in your arsenal (and to try out on different sources)
If you have suggestions for more plug-ins that I should list in future posts, email me. Or, just post them in the comments here, and share the love with everyone.
C
The Studio Files
Comments»
ALL are awesome plugins. I’m a big fan of ‘em. Especially Massey. <3
Yeah, no doubt. I think the Massey plug-ins are some that literally anyone with Pro Tools should have (has he ever released non-RTAS versions?)
They sound sooooo good.
And they are cheap.
Nope; strictly RTAS all the way. He WAS developing AU versions but that project was terminated as of a few days ago.
will izotope vinyl work with Logic Pro 8? The website only mentioned ProTools…