The workflow is extremely intuitive and easy to use, but powerful at the same time. And makes Kleverb one of the best vst plugins of 2021. What usually takes some automation trickery, Kleverb streamlines the process to just a click of a button, and we’re all for it. You can get Kleverb from the Klevgrand webshop.
- But I have written a similar post on the best free VST instruments as well, which you can check out here. And if you want to discover my all-time VST favorites, you should also read this other post I wrote. Note 2: All these are free VST plugins, but some of them might ask you to provide your email address in exchange for downloading their.
- CamelCrusher is a free VST (!) featuring two different distortion tones (which can be used separately or blended together), a silky smooth low-pass filter and user-friendly compressor. All of these options combine to make CamelCrusher a go-to VST for all situations and a great place to get started with distortion on any project.
In the world of digital music production, there’ a whole universe of VST plugins to choose from.
Most VSTs are really good at one thing, or suited for a specific genre. But there’s a select few out there that are total workhorses.
They do a lot of things really well no matter what your project sounds like.
The VSTs on this list offer heaps of possibilities in a single plugin.
Whether you’re making sweeping ambient drones, experimental prog rock or wall-shaking techno, you’ll find yourself coming back to these plugins track after track—no matter what genre you’re working in.
Here’s our 7 favourite versatile VST plugins that belong in every production toolbox.
Massive by Native Instruments
Massive is (rightfully) described as a ‘sonic monster’.
It’s an unbeatable synthesizer for basslines and leads. There’s over 1300 presets to choose from and an easy-to-use browser that sorts presets by type and characteristics.
Even though Massive has become known as a popular VST for dubstep and EDM producers, one look through the enormous and diverse library of presets shows that this plugin can do a lot more than create wobble bass effects.
One look through the enormous and diverse library of presets shows that this plugin can do a lot.
Each preset has 8 customizable macro controls to allow you to dramatically change the sound of each preset, and if that wasn’t enough, you can also go in and alter any of the 3 oscillators or their filters and envelopes to further shape your sound. With so much room for customization, you can tweak almost any sound in the plugin to suit your personal preference and work across a variety of genres.
What Are Vst Plugins For Music
Even though Massive shines for window-shattering basslines, it also has a huge selection of beautiful soundscapes and pads for those softer passages, making it one of the most versatile and widely used VSTs on the market.
NI Massive: $149 USD
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Serum by Xfer Records
What makes this synth really special is the ability to import your own recorded audio or outside samples—making the possibilities truly endless and versatile for any project.
Serum is a 2 oscillator wavetable synthesizer with fully user-editable wavetables. What makes this synth really special is the ability to import your own recorded audio or outside samples—making the possibilities truly endless and versatile for any project.
Serum also features a Remap Mode, which allows for you to draw your own wavetables and customize the presets or your own imported audio.
The effect rack also includes 10 different modules making this synth even more useful than most synth VSTs.
Xfer Records Serum: $189 USD
Decapitator by Soundtoys
When it comes to saturation effect plugins, Decapitator shows up in a ton of top lists—And for good reason…
With 5 different analogue saturation models, Decapitator lets you create subtle, extreme, or anywhere-in-between hardware-modelled saturation.
With 5 different analogue saturation models, Decapitator lets you create subtle, extreme, or anywhere-in-between hardware-modelled saturation.
Decapitator’s tone control allows you to shape your sound how you want it, and it’s mix control allows you to blend in dry signal without the need to use routing and sub-mixes.
The flexibility of this VST makes it the perfect choice for adding character to every instrument in your mix, no matter what those instruments might be.
Soundtoys Decapitator: $199 USD
Toraverb by D16 Group
When the engineers at D16 Group set out to create Toraverb, they wanted to make a reverb VST that was unlike any other. Marketed as a ‘concept algorithm reverb’, Toraverb has easily accessible parameters for creating your own type of reverb—forget your classic room, hall, etc.
Toraverb has two independent, single band parametric equalizers, one for early and one for late EQ reflections—a feature that allows for full user control.
Toraverb sounds lovely when used on pads, synths, and guitars, but also adds depth to rhythmic patterns.
Because the sound shaping in Toraverb is so flexible and high-quality, it’s useful on any component in your track — it sounds lovely when used on pads, synths, and guitars, but also adds depth to rhythmic patterns.
D16 Group Toraverb: $39 USD
CamelCrusher by Camel Audio
CamelCrusher is a free VST (!) featuring two different distortion tones (which can be used separately or blended together), a silky smooth low-pass filter and user-friendly compressor. All of these options combine to make CamelCrusher a go-to VST for all situations and a great place to get started with distortion on any project.
CamelCrusher will beef up any component of your track—but where it really shines is on drums of all types. The infamous ‘Phat Mode’ ensures your kick will cut through even the most heavily-distorted basslines.
CamelCrusher will beef up any component of your track—but where it really shines is on drums of all types.
Unfortunately the company that created CamelCrusher, Camel Audio, does not exist anymore, but CamelCrusher is still available for free here.
Camel Audio’s Camel Crusher: Free!
Movement by Output
Movement features over 300 presets and allows you input any sound, instrument, or track—making it the swiss-army knife for effects.
Other highlights of the plugin include analogue modelled effects, 76 modulation knobs, and state-of-the-art sidechain modulation which allows you to modulate up to 38 parameters using a single input source.
Movement features over 300 presets and allows you input any sound, instrument, or track—making it the swiss-army knife for effects.
Movement also allows you to adjust your sound in realtime using Movement’s XY macro pad, which lets you to control up to 152 parameters at the same time.
These features and more let you completely transform any instrument or track, making it an invaluable tool for any producer.
Output Movement: $149 USD
MXXX by Melda Productions
MXXX is pricey but worth it…
It gives you every Melda Productions effect (all 94!) in a simple, user-friendly interface. Echo, reverb, delay, distortion, compression, saturation, flanger—I mean everything.
This VST has more than 70 processors and over 500 active presets, each with their own set of processors and controls allowing you to completely customize and create new sounds.
This VST has more than 70 processors and over 500 active presets, each with their own set of processors and controls.
An especially impressive feature of this VST is the automatic routing matrix: Insert any of the FX processors and the VST will do the routing for you by putting inputs and outputs in the most probable locations. This of course is fully editable, but is definitely a nice feature.
The folks over at Melda Productions really put together the complete package with MXXX that is sure to please everyone.
Melda Productions MXXX: $1218 USD
Ready for Anything
With an overwhelming selection of VSTs available on the market, it can be hard to know where to even start.
By choosing VSTs that can do a lot for you you’ll get the most bang for your buck.
Having a small but solid collection of plugins that can adapt to different tracks, instruments and genres will help you have an effective workflow as a producer, and your RAM will probably thank you too.
1. Xfer Records Serum
Serum is a wavetable synthesizer produced by Xfer Records that lets you create, import, edit, and morph wavetables. It boasts a workflow-oriented interface that makes creating and altering sounds fun, as opposed to tedious. If you’re looking for a versatile multi-purpose synth, Serum is an excellent option.
This synth delivers two ultra-clean oscillators with 16 voices per oscillator, click-and-drag modulation application, tons of different filters, and ten built-in audio effects. Serum’s popularity makes it a go-to synth when collaborating with other artists.
2. Spectrasonics Omnisphere
Omnisphere brings together many different types of synthesis to create a truly unique software instrument. It includes over 14,000 sounds, 58 effects units, and an excellent patch sorting system and search bar. If you like using presets, you’ll find no shortage of them using Omnisphere.
Believe it or not, Omnisphere is the only software synth in the world to offer a Hardware Synth Integration feature. You can control Omnisphere with over 65 well-known hardware synthesizers, which makes using Omnisphere a very tactile experience.
For more synth recommendations, check out '5 of the Best Plugin Synths on the Market.'
3. Native Instruments Kontakt 6
Kontakt is a sampler that provides you with access to over 55+ GB of detailed, creative, and expressive software instruments. It powers the biggest selection of sampled instruments available, many of which are available from third-parties.
You can drag and drop your own samples into an instrument’s interface or build your own instruments with sample-editing and instrument-building options. If you’re looking for playable software drums, strings, brass, keys, guitar, bass, and more, it’s worth experimenting with Kontakt.
Best Vst Plugins Of All Time Free
4. XLN Audio Addictive Drums
Recording drums is a nuisance. It can take a tremendous amount of time, energy, and money to record a studio drummer. A lot of producers steer clear of recording live drummers because of the convincing realism and quality that drum production studios like Addictive Drums 2 are capable of.
Whether you produce rock, pop, indie, jazz, electronic, or other styles of music, Addictive Drum 2 will deliver the samples, editing functions, mixing functions, and rhythmic patterns you're looking for.
5. Celemony Melodyne 4 Editor
Celemony’s Melodyne improves pitch accuracy without the robotic sound characteristic of Auto-Tune. If a vocalist falls out of key a few times throughout their recorded performance, Melodyne may be the answer.
Thanks to Melodyne’s user-friendly pitch editor window, you can easily click and drag blobs (segments of audio files) to affect their pitch and time. The built-in Pitch Drift and Pitch Modulation tools let you control pitch drift and vibrato.