Article Content
As I cover in my new course Mastering in the Box, there are some incredible plugins available for anyone interested in computer-based mastering. Although nothing can replace an experienced engineer, working in an expertly designed room, on high-end equipment, there are some fantastic free tools available online that will aid engineers working on projects with limited budgets.
Here are some completely free plugins that you can work into your in the box mastering workflow …
- Equalization VST 15) XT-EQ Equalizer. The Best 50+ Free & Paid Kontakt Libraries In 2019. 14 thoughts on “ The Top 70 Best Free VST Plugins Of 2020! ” Rachel says: November 30, 2018 at 9:18 am This is an endless vst.
- ReaEQ equalizer VST plugin is one of the best free plugins for music producers. Its a graphic equalizer plugin with lots of features that you generally get with a paid VST plugin. Here are some features of ReaEQ This IR based equalizer has Unlimited bands.
The free Orchestra from ProjectSAM – A series of 12 free instruments for Kontakt (now works with the FREE Kontakt player, but WAV files are also included). Rare from Analog Obsession – An analog-modeled EQ “Rare” signature for low end from past. XPressor from e-phonic – XPressor is a high-quality saturation and dynamics processor.
1. Voxengo SPAN
As I cover in the course, Metering is absolutely essential to mastering, and SPAN is a versatile and free utility plugin.
It provides spectral analysis, correlation metering and clipping detection, as well as displaying RMS and max crest factor. The interface is simple, clear, and even somewhat customizable. It’s a truly deep, accurate and useful metering plugin, which is refreshing considering that it’s free. It’s also compatible with virtually every DAW.
2. LoudMax by Thomas Mundt
Described as “a look-ahead brickwall loudness maximizer plugin with a clean transparent sound, designed to retain the original character of the music as much as possible even at high compression levels,” LoudMax is a wonderfully simply tool. It has two sliders: threshold and output — and that’s all it needs.
If you’re interested in learning how a limiter works and affects your material, LoudMax boils the concept down to its most basic elements, all while providing a mostly transparent sound.
3. Limiter №6 by Vladg Sound
This is a more complex and versatile take on limiting. It offers more control than LoudMax, which can be helpful if your program material requires detailed tweaking.
Its five modules include: RMS compressor, peak limiter, high-frequency limiter, clipper, and true peak limiter.
Each of these modules have extremely flexible controls. There are some expensive and well-known limiter plugins that don’t come with features like mid-side processing, oversampling and true peak detection. The fact that these features come included with Limiter №6 makes it even more special.
4. mvMeter from TBProAudio
I’m still pretty shocked that this plugin is free. It looks great, it’s easy to use, and it’s deeper than some metering tools that cost hundreds of dollars more. It allows you to measure PEAK, RMS, EBU R128, VU and PPM. Additionally, it has multi-channel metering so you can see what’s happening on the stereo, left, right, mid, or side channels.
The five different themes allow the user to change the look to various classic VU and PPM Meters, which is a nice touch. (It doesn’t improve the sound quality — I prefer the sleek look of the retro skin.)
5. Stereo Tool v3 by Flux
Some mixes require a bit of balancing the information spread between the channels, and Stereo Tool v3 is prefect for this application. It includes panning controls for the left and right channels, a vector scope display, global stereo width and pan controls, PPM Input and Output meters, a phase correlation meter, and a variety of other useful features.
If the content you’ve been delivered has balance and phase issues, this is an excellent free plugin.
6. Voxengo Marvel GEQ
Being able to sculpt your signal using an equalizer is essential for a mastering engineer. This linear-phase 16-band graphic equalizer is impressive in both functionality and sound.
I’m not sure why every plugin doesn’t have an “undo/redo” function, because after using this equalizer, I find it to be quite helpful. Being able to work in mid-side mode allows the user to treat information in the center separately from the sides, which, when used properly, can result in a much clearer stereo spread, and a more defined space amongst individual elements.
As with each of the great tools on this list, it’s surprising that such a useful tool is free.
I generally believe that in audio, you get what you pay for, but each of the aforementioned plugins are exceptions to this rule.
Mastering in the Box Course
If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge and learning effective techniques for getting great sounding masters 100% in the box, check out my debut course: Mastering in the Box
Mastering in the Box with Ian Vargo
As I cover in my new course Mastering in the Box, there are some incredible plugins available for anyone interested in computer-based mastering. Although nothing can replace an experienced engineer, working in an expertly designed room, on high-end equipment, there are some fantastic free tools avai
FREE Masterclass: Low-End Mixing Secrets
Downloaded Over 19,455 times!
Discover how to make your kick and bass hit hard by cutting (NOT boosting) the right frequencies! Plus, more counterintuitive ways to get fuller yet controlled low-end in your mix. Download this 40-minute workshop by Matthew Weiss, now for FREE!
Hello Composers! Mike here, with a quick guide on the Best Equalizer VST Plugins. =)
The Equalizer effect is essential in both mixing and mastering of music production. To reduce annoying frequencies in a sound, to boost the focus, to filter out unnecessary lows and highs etc.
Best Free Eq Vst 2019 Download
Basically you use the equalizer to carve the sound into its own unique character, as well as place in the mix.
Best Vsts 2019
But which Equalizer VST Plugins should you choose? Well, here is my complete list of recommendations for you (in no particular order):