VST THREAD 2.0

[Steve]

I've spent a lot of time snagging the useful posts in the land of yore..

Here you go:

FREE VST'S

The Ultimate List of Free VST plugins (http://www.sadglad.com/freevstplugins6.html)
Audiomastermind's DB of Free VST's (http://www.audiomastermind.com/browse-free_vst_plugins-5886988-1.html)
VST 4 FREE (http://www.vst4free.com/plugins/getfilehtml/getfilehtml.php?lng=en&id=29)
VST Planet (http://www.vstplanet.com/index.htm)
Free Audio Plugins (http://www.freeaudioplugins.com/)


There's literally 1000's of VST's here.
Feel free to add some, but PROVIDE LINKS and WHAT THEY DO please. http://forums.unaudio.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Or, just make your own VSTs, if you are on WinXP/Vista:
http://www.synthmaker.co.uk/

[Steve]

For those on Mac, there is this guy.
He is free and pretty damn neat as it's open source.
http://sonicbirth.sourceforge.net/

[Steve]

...

http://www.pspaudioware.com/

PSP Audioware -> Nitro
VST filter from hell.... check it out http://forums.unaudio.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
i loved it so much that i bought it after only using it for an hour or so. delicious.

[Steve]

Anyone try Audio Damage's "Vapor" yet?
http://www.audiodamage.com/effects/p....php?pid=AD017 (http://www.audiodamage.com/effects/product.php?pid=AD017)
It's a chorus VST.

30 bucks... looks fairly simple. I'm a big fan of their plugs..

[Steve]

...
Like that 8-bit sound? Try Basic64 on for size...
http://www.delamancha.co.uk/basic.htm

[Steve]

ACID SYNTH VST's


d16's Phoscyon
It's a TB-303 emulator that I love. 'bout 100 bucks, and worth every penny, imo. Here's a demo. http://www.d16.pl/pub/demo/PhoscyonVST-demo-1.6.0.exe

Krakli's FL3A
FREE FREE FREE! (The ugliest interface EVER.. but it's straightforward and FREE.) Sounds pretty good, imo.
Download: http://www.krakli.co.uk/zips/Flea3.zip

[Steve]

Also... if you're baffled by Absynth 3, here's the tutorial DVD in flash form. (viewable online)
http://imastering.xm.com/ABS/

Complete walkthru of all of the features.
Even for old pros.. it's a nice refresher.

[Steve]

FREE Side Chain Compressor:

Slim Slow Slider's Side Chain Compressor
http://static.kvraudio.com/i/b/sidechaincompressor.gif
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1315.html
Quote:
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset ;"> Originally Posted by Specs
Stereo and mono modes.
For stereo:

Input ch1: Signal input L
Input ch2: Signal input R
Input ch3: Key input L
Input ch4: Key input R

For mono:

Input ch1: Signal input
Input ch2: Key input

Other controls: ratio, attack, hold, release, knee, gain and key volume.
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
If you don't know what sidechaining is, the bass/kicks in your mixes probably sound muddy and take up TONS of headroom that you could be using for other beeps, ticks, thwacks, whomps and bleeps!

I like this one too.. but it's not free: http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2874.html

[Steve]

...

This one is free:

http://www.gersic.com/plugins/plugimages/1195839800.jpg
Automated Breaking Science
http://www.gersic.com/plugins/index.php?daPlug=1715

---
Two new ones from Sugarbytes (http://www.sugar-bytes.de/), Artillery is awesome if you can play a keyboard worth a shit. They are pretty pricey tho.

http://www.sugar-bytes.de/images/Artillery2/screenshot.gif
Artillery 2

http://www.sugar-bytes.de/content/products/Effectrix/screenshots/screenshot.gif
Effectrix

[Steve]

...

i was just turned onto the zebra 2 at the last FREMUG meeting. not free. cost is $200, but this thing is DEEP. i still have yet to shell out the clams...but it won't be very long! it is AU and VST. sadly no RTAS which is one reason i have not gone all the way. the demo freaks out every 10 min, otherwise it its fully functional.
http://www.u-he.com/zebra/images/ZebShotsSmallSynth.png
http://www.u-he.com/zebra/

[Steve]

Transistor: DRUM LOOP KILLAH! (http://www.clear-complex.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=57)

Fookin sick. It's got a fun interface to rip your drums to shreds.
$129... totally worth skipping meals to buy.

Abstract:
Transistor is a slicer/sampler plug-in to create fills from drumparts or to recreate loops or entire mixes and apply various effects to modulate the sound. Transistor got 7 effects with 9 controllers with each 4 patterns and each 4 subpatterns. All done in sync with the host and in realtime. You got total control on which MIDI-note to assign to trigger a subpattern. You can hold notes for returning later for each effect separately. Transistor is very inspirational in the studio and great for live performance. You will get complex results with clear controls.

http://www.clear-complex.com/images/thumb_transistor.jpg
[Full view] (http://www.clear-complex.com/images/main_transistor.jpg)
Features:


16 step sequencer for modulating effects
7 effects with a total of 9* controls
Each control has 4 patterns with each 4 subpatterns with
seperate startpositions and lengths
Each subpattern is triggered by a MIDI-note you choose
Automatable global controls for modulating the pattern


Effects:


Realtime slicer/sampler
Level
Pan
Distortion
Lowpass filter (seperate control for cutoff and resonance*)
Highpass filter (seperate control for cutoff and resonance*)
Reversing


Transistor is available only as an effect VST plug-in on the Windows platform and the VST host should support routing MIDI information to audio effect plug-ins.

[Steve]

...

VST's that make it into the production of my tracks just about everytime are...

Novation V-Station
reFX - Vanguard
Lin Plug - Albino
VAZ - 2010
Audio Realism - Bassline

[Steve]

...


Crystal is a cool free synth capable of creating a mind-bogglingly wide array of sounds:
http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/

[Steve]

Ewun samples (diving reece) are pretty easy.formulaic to achieve.

2-3 detuned (fine tune +3 or -3 cents) saw waves
Add a HEAVY "warmer"/tube plug
add modulated (sweeping) 1 pole phaser
EQ it for the note you played (middle c is simpler for sampling)
---I like to use a visualizer to find the sweet spot at this point
Sample it
place the sample in kontakt/sampler/simpler
add a "warmer" (gentler this time)
sweeping band pass eq to "double the 'dive'"
eq to taste..
warmer
master eq using a visualizer
sample

should be enough to play via sampler and save cpu with a few more fx to get what you want out of it.

when finalizing.. be sure to double it as a sample and lp eq one/ hp eq another to have more functionality. Programmed LFO's are your friend at this point.

Chorus works for the higher eq. Haven't found a formula for lo eq range yet. bet it's simply a big knee on the area of eq you want.

[Steve]

Audio Damage: Dr. Device
http://www.audiodamage.com/effects/p....php?pid=AD014 (http://www.audiodamage.com/effects/product.php?pid=AD014)
http://www.synthtopia.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/dr-device.jpg

Dr. Device is two (two! two!) hi-octane analog-style effects in one. First in the chain is a multi-mode filter, featuring our own private reserve 4-pole lowpass, along with 5 other tasty musical modes. Then, your audio takes a trip through our true-stereo analog delay. Couple these effects with a two-node XYZ pad, motion recording, and kinetics (you have to see it to believe it) and you've got an effect well-suited for both live performance and studio tweaking.

There is a video overview of Dr. Device on Vimeo, which you can watch here (http://www.vimeo.com/1603454?pg=embed&sec=1603454).

Dr. Device is available as a VST effect for Windows, and as an AudioUnit/VST effect bundle for OSX Universal Binary. Note that you must have OSX 10.3.9 or greater to use the Macintosh version of this plugin.

http://www.audiodamage.com/images/tags/features.gif
» Multi-mode filter (4PLP, 3PLP, 2PLP, 4PHP, 2PHP, and 4PBP modes). The 4PLP self-oscillates at high resonance without audio input, allowing Dr. Device to be used as a theremin-type instrument.

» "Tube" style soft saturation and bit reduction.

» Stereo bucket-brigade-style delay, with two filtering modes and tempo-synced time.

» 2-node XYZ control pad, hardwired for control from popular hardware XYZ pads.

» Sophisticated motion recording and kinetics control over the XYZ pad



Demo vid:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DHs7W6gasjA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DHs7W6gasjA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Not too shabby for fifty bucks. http://forums.unaudio.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Steve]

AUDIO DAMAGE: DUBSTATION(1.5)
http://www.audiodamage.com/effects/p....php?pid=AD006

http://www.audiodamage.com/images/products/screenshot/dub15_ss.jpg


Quote:
The DubStation plug-in is modeled on the "bucket-brigade" style of vintage delay units, and has all the mojo that made those boxes great. Accurate down to the warm sound of the feedback loop and the low-fidelity character of the originals, DubStation is just what the (witch) doctor ordered.

DubStation is available as a VST effect for Windows, and as an AU/VST Universal Binary for OSX. Note that you must have OSX 10.4.1 or greater to use the DubStation PPC version or 10.4.4u or greater to use the DubStation Intel version.



* 4ms to 2000ms delay time.
* Accurate delay model that changes the pitch of the signal when the time is changed.
* Sync-to-host capable.
* Full MIDI learn mode, for MIDI CC control of every control (VST only; handled by host in AU version).
* Loop and reverse features.
* Low-cut and high-cut filters controllable for extra dubby feedback.

[Steve]

...

ECHOMANIA by The Interruptor (http://www.interruptor.ch) is pretty rad too.

http://forums.unaudio.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2455&d=1231111165

Name: screenshot.jpg Views: 74 Size: 78.7 KB

[Steve]

OhmForce: Predatohm
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/575.html

http://static.kvraudio.com/i/b/predatohm.jpg
Predatohm is an effect plug-in that has been fully designed from a simple fact : sometimes you need to make BIG, PHAT, WILD and WARM sounds.

* First " user-friendly " multiband compressor/expandor ever.
* Choose your weapon : Multiband distortion, with many distortion schemes available.
* Warm, bright sound with the guitar feedback generator.
* Quick and efficient sound shaping provided by the tone setting.
* Make it wide with the Stereo Expander.
* Optional High Quality rendering.
* Integrated preset morphing solution.
* MIDI Automation : control your Predatohm via MIDI. (this feature is only available on Expert and Propack).

I "tried" the old (ugly skin) version, and this one looks more intuitive... and sounds better.

Multiband distortion kicks ass.

[Steve]

For those who really dig rich, buttery synth replicas, Arturia just released their full catalog in one package. It aint cheap, but if you're a working producer... it's a very nice, practical package to own.

Quote:
Prophet V

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/assets/images/products/10year_suite/synth/Synths_0006_Prophet-VS.gif
The Prophet V combines the warmth of the legendary Prophet 5 with the unique Vector synthesis textures of the digital Prophet VS: the first and the last synthesizers created by Sequential Circuits™.

Using the Prophet V will come as second nature to the connoisseurs; the only thing you will miss by not having the hardware versions is the heavy workout from transporting them into the studio or onto the stage.

ARP 2600 V

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/assets/images/products/10year_suite/synth/Synths_0005_ARP.gif

ARP 2600 V has been heard in numerous popular tunes from Herbie Hancock or Genesis. Polyphony and four revolutionary tracking generators enable new sound design possibilities.

Together with the additional effects and the sequencer of the original ARP, the ARP 2600 V is an exciting new virtual synthesizer.

Moog Modular V

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/assets/images/products/10year_suite/synth/Synths_0004_MMV.gif

Because of its modular structure, the Moog Modular V offers virtually endless sonic possibilities.

This recreation can lead you to analog nirvana, producing haunting wispy lines, lush pads, burning unison leads, thunderous basses, and more.

The Moog Modular was used by such artists and bands as Tangerine Dream, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Wendy Carlos.

Minimoog V

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/assets/images/products/10year_suite/synth/Synths_0007_Minimoog.gif

The ever-present Minimoog has been making its phat presence felt for over three decades. Artists and bands like Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Keith Emerson, Jean-Michel Jarre and Klaus Schulze used the synthesizer.

The Minimoog V generates the typical legendary sound which is excellent for basses and leads.

CS-80V

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/assets/images/products/10year_suite/synth/Synths_0009_CS80.gif

CS-80 V is the reproduction of the legendary Yamaha® CS-80, which was considered by many as the "ultimate polyphonic synthesizer".

Popularized in the late 70’s and early 80’s by a number of pop groups and artists including Electric Light Orchestra, Toto, Vangelis, Stevie Wonder and many others, it offers richness of sound coupled with performance power.

Jupiter-8V

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/assets/images/products/10year_suite/synth/Synths_0003_Jup8.gif

With the Jupiter-8V, Arturia brings back Roland’s flagship synthesizer from the early eighties. On top of the original features, the synth comes with an advanced step sequencer, a new line of dynamic effects and a new modulation source combining LFO’s called Galaxy.
The Jupiter-8V is renowned for its deep evolving pads and atmospheres while creating a punchy bass sequence that’s as easy as it gets.

Brass

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/assets/images/products/10year_suite/synth/Synths_0002_BRASS.gif

BRASS is the recreation of 3 acoustic instruments: a saxophone, a trumpet, a trombone. BRASS allows you to play these instruments just like professional performers would do, with the same control, flexibility and expression.

Based on physical modelling technology developed by IRCAM, the famous Paris based institute, BRASS is highly innovative while easy to use.


Analog Factory

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/assets/images/products/10year_suite/synth/Synths_0001_AnalogFactory.gif

Analog Factory brings you 3500 legendary synthesizer sounds that have shaped modern music production.

From classic phat lead lines to crystalline digital pads, this virtual instrument provides the contemporary musician with a broad, versatile and instantly striking sonic palette. Based on TAE®, Arturia’s award winning proprieritary technology for analog emulation, Analog Factory is a real synthesizer which also allows you to build and save your own sounds.
Personally, I'd rather use samples for brass.. as I've found NOTHING that can emulate it properly... but I'm using the CS80, minimoog and analog factory quite often.

[Steve]

http://www.rndigitallabs.com/Bundles/Master_Bundle.html

Quote:
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset ;"> D4 (Dynam-izer 2.0)

http://www.rndigitallabs.com/Images/products/D4/d4_gui_175.jpg (http://www.rndigitallabs.com/Plug-ins/D4/D4.html) The Swiss Army knife of dynamic audio processing. D4 breaks up audio levels into "processing zones" so you can control different levels exactly as needed.
It can be a Compressor, Expander, Compander, Leveler, De-esser, Ducker, Dyn. Restoration and everything in between.
But unlike the famous Swiss multifunction tool, D4 can use its arsenal simultaneously.

DETAILER

http://www.rndigitallabs.com/Images/products/Detailer/detailer_2_gui_175.jpg (http://www.rndigitallabs.com/Plug-ins/Detailer/detailer.html) The Detailer is a stereo mastering tool or final mix plug-in for the master fader. It represents a new method of increasing the perception of detail while still allowing increased loudness in the final mix. It is a combination of three band limiter and dynamic widening psycho acoustic processing. Roger Nichols has fine tuned the process to produce the most effective results with the least amount of adjustments.
FINIS 3

http://www.rndigitallabs.com/Images/products/Finis3/finis_3_gui_175.jpg (http://www.rndigitallabs.com/Plug-ins/Finis3/finis3.html) The Finis 3 is a 3-band peak limiter that is a new approach for multi band peak limiting due to RNDigital Labs’s superb FIR filter technology providing an excellent separation of three bands without phase shift on the crossover frequencies. The Finis 3 does consist of 3 independent peak limiters operating separately on each of the bands as well as one central peak limiter controlling the sum of all bands. The Finis 3 is based on RNDigital Labs’s excellent Finis Brick-Wall Peak Limiter and FIR Filter Band-Splitting Technology.
FIREQ

http://www.rndigitallabs.com/Images/products/Fireq/fireq_gui_175.jpg (http://www.rndigitallabs.com/Plug-ins/Fireq/FIREQ.html) FIREQ builds a complex FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filter to your specifications. See the results of your EQ with the built-in spectrum analyzer. FIREQ will not color your audio with the introduction of non-linear phase shift. </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
It's a fucking beast... and really does the trick if you're a visual person when it comes to audio... (if that makes sense.)

[zeno]

FREE Side Chain Compressor:

Slim Slow Slider's Side Chain Compressor
http://static.kvraudio.com/i/b/sidechaincompressor.gif
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1315.html


I use this guy regularly

[Steve]

I use this guy regularly
Works great if you're going to use it sparingly.. otherwise it's WAY overdone.

[DMinus]

sick resurrection. better than jesus second coming.

[DMinus]

Arturia collection looks bad-ass - but i'm still on a holy grail quest to collect the ACTUAL mint units of all of the above. ;)

i'll call you in ten years.

[BeatFreq]

fun free synth:
http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/

[Math You]

http://web.aanet.com.au/stk/blittr.jpg

Pretty much anything from arcDev Noise Industries (http://www.arcanedevice.com/), but blittr happens to be badass.

[DJ Hero]

Here's a couple invaluable to my production....

Waves Diamong Bundle (for compressors, EQ's, and reverbs primarily)

Quad Fromahge

Sylenth1

Massive

Sonitus Effects Stand Alone Bundle

[Sureshot]

Can people if they can prefix there post with either: MAC // PC (if they only work on one or the other) :D ;)

[Quin]

I really like this to give me a real time read out of the waveforms...


http://bram.smartelectronix.com/plugins.php?id=4

[dj vanish]

http://kunz.corrupt.ch/?Products

Pics of my Free Audio Unit favs

http://kunz.corrupt.ch/images/thumb_tal-elek7ro.jpg
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/?Products

http://kunz.corrupt.ch/images/thumb_TAL-Bitcrusher.jpg
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/?Products

http://kunz.corrupt.ch/images/thumb_U-No-62.jpg
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/?Products

http://kunz.corrupt.ch/images/thumb_tal-bassline.jpg
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/?Products

http://kunz.corrupt.ch/images/thumb_tal-tube.jpg
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/?Products

[DMinus]

all the TAL stuff, word. i like their TAL-DUB delay unit. simple, like a guitar delay pedal almost

[dj vanish]

all the TAL stuff, word. i like their TAL-DUB delay unit. simple, like a guitar delay pedal almost

The warmth of the Tube Compressor is awesome too.

[RanThrive]

Got massive and Rob Papen Albino free, they are pretty bad ass plugins. I also have a few others.

I also found Karma FX plugin to have a really nice Filter, Deelay, equalizer, and so on. Much better than what most producing programs come with.
Just google it,this one is free.

[Wreck]

I've always had trouble editing the frequency of ableton's sounds ACCURATELY, aka, monitored and referenced frequencies.

Therefore, I've been looking for a reliable, free plug in to view the frequency of sounds.

[Wreck]

NCH has pretty good stuff, they aren't plug ins though...but they get the job done.

[infuzion]

Or, just make your own VSTs, if you are on WinXP/Vista:

http://www.synthmaker.co.uk/

I've been using SM since beta, contributed to the WIKI, bug reporting, development, etc (I'm even listed on the "About" screen), & I'd have to say SM is good for learning how audio works, or for something in FruitLoops/FL Studio, but not good for making even semi-pro VSTs, due to it's buggy & CPU-hungry nature, & lack of MIDI timing for sequencers. Some VSTs you make will have no problems in some hosts, but Reaper has issues with SM, new Cubase can't use SM at all (incompatible VST versions), & some SM VST exports crash randomly. The creator program also will crash every few hours. Personally, I still consider SM in beta-mode. I wish I could love SM more, & it still has its uses, just be careful not to invest too much into it. Buy ComputerMusic & use the version on the DVD for what you intend to do before you buy.

There are other options, like Max/DSP4 if you need VST export & video, or version Max/DSP5 if you want the latest version or looking forward to the Ableton Live plug-in, NI Reaktor if you want to design synths/effect w/o the VSTI interface (but still can interact with audio hosts), or SynthEdit, which has vast 3rd party module libraries written in C++/ASM.

==
KVRAudio.com is a great directory/news feed to find free/cheap VSTs.
Some of my fav SE VST makers: NovaFlash, NOVAkILL, odosynths, xoxos (though all may be CPU-hungry)

Also not technically free-free, some of the synths & effects included on the ComputerMusic UK mag (usually found in B&N in the computer mag rack) are top-notch for only $17 or so which includes Gigs of samples & the mag.

[Steve]

Can people if they can prefix there post with either: MAC // PC (if they only work on one or the other) :D ;)
SHUT YOUR MACFACE! :D

[Steve]

I've been using SM since beta, contributed to the WIKI, bug reporting, development, etc (I'm even listed on the "About" screen), & I'd have to say SM is good for learning how audio works, or for something in FruitLoops/FL Studio, but not good for making even semi-pro VSTs, due to it's buggy & CPU-hungry nature, & lack of MIDI timing for sequencers. Some VSTs you make will have no problems in some hosts, but Reaper has issues with SM, new Cubase can't use SM at all (incompatible VST versions), & some SM VST exports crash randomly. The creator program also will crash every few hours. Personally, I still consider SM in beta-mode. I wish I could love SM more, & it still has its uses, just be careful not to invest too much into it. Buy ComputerMusic & use the version on the DVD for what you intend to do before you buy.

There are other options, like Max/DSP4 if you need VST export & video, or version Max/DSP5 if you want the latest version or looking forward to the Ableton Live plug-in, NI Reaktor if you want to design synths/effect w/o the VSTI interface (but still can interact with audio hosts), or SynthEdit, which has vast 3rd party module libraries written in C++/ASM.

==
KVRAudio.com is a great directory/news feed to find free/cheap VSTs.
Some of my fav SE VST makers: NovaFlash, NOVAkILL, odosynths, xoxos (though all may be CPU-hungry)

Also not technically free-free, some of the synths & effects included on the ComputerMusic UK mag (usually found in B&N in the computer mag rack) are top-notch for only $17 or so which includes Gigs of samples & the mag.
I'm actually impressed that you spent enough time with this guy to get a credit. I played with it off and on for about a year, and all I got was gray hair. There are definitely better ways in which I could've spent that time, but I congratulate you on helping me age less with your input into the project. :)

[infuzion]

I'm actually impressed that you spent enough time with this guy to get a credit....but I congratulate you on helping me age less with your input into the project. :)hehe thanks
But dang, I better have gotten some love back from him, 767 posts in the bug forum (http://synthmaker.co.uk/forum/search.php?keywords=&terms=all&author=infuzion&fid[]=2&sc=1&sf=all&sr=posts&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search)alone (though I'm sure 20% was just jibber-jabber or errors on my part).
SM could be great if they had atleast 1 more dev, but having 1 guy programming for 4 platforms (FL, SM editor, VST export, EXE export) trying to fix bugs & add features while being a web admin, business admin, & PR is far too much to ask.

[infuzion]

needs sticky back plz
http://www.sidewaysfive.net/forums/showthread.php?t=795

[Fonzie]

Here's a neat one that Quin recently introduced me to


Exoscope
http://bram.smartelectronix.com/plugins.php?id=4

http://bram.smartelectronix.com/images/scope_small.png

A great, free waveform visualization plug. Really helps me pick out where I've got conflicting frequencies. Very helpful