I've been considering on using freeware so I would like to read recomendations about free plugins.

Which of them has surprised you? there must be some jewels out there that accomplish their job so nice that they might be in the party of your everyday-workflow

Which has dissapointed you to the point to remove them and make you never want to see them again?

Also, if you know other free plugins, it would be awesome to know about them.

Thanks guys

 

I don't use these, but you see them recommended often enough. I have a few installed but never make it to them. Buster seems decent, almost like a replacement for a NI Solid compressor instance. For free, it is really pretty nice. But.... I can notice a few of them start to resource burden for what they are adding; or would be subbed with. They don't really replace anything for me. Room41 is decent, Chopa is it's own thing.

 

Last edited: Jun 10, 2022

I just tried the BlendEQ Analog Obsession, and I like it.

 

Some swear by them, some people swear at them. That being said, I've only used LALA and it was OK as an opto type compressor.

 

FRANK is all over my new recordings. Simple, subtle EQ mostly for attenuating the bass and adding a little shiny top end. I like it!

 

I like me some CHANNEV.

Now, I'm not an EQ/compressor connoisseur by any means, but it's simple & smooth with a logical signal path. Maybe it emulates certain analog products, maybe not. But I want something that's quick to control, and this is one of those.

As someone who's always on the lookout for a good channel strip, this is as good as they come and the UI is very clear.

What is it missing? Well, it could do with an input gate to be an "all-in-one" and it would be nice to be able to switch EQ before or after the comp, but other than those I can simply drop one on a track and get my basics done.

 

It's kinda good IMO, AO plugins that I like :

1. Varimoon - EAR compressor, Fairchild-like compressor for acoustic bass, bass bus, go-to for now
2. TREQ - Trident emu EQ, it felt cleaner in a way especially on upper midrange, presence
3. HLQSE - Helios-type EQ for crunchy overdriven guitar sound, screaming midrange! alternative to the Waves
4. OSS - 176-style, for Parallel comp vocal, drum, this or MJUC, Arturia Tube-STA
5. FIVER - modern Neve-style EQ, drum individual channel, like it because it has drive knob, also it felt "tight" in a way.

 

Last edited: Jun 10, 2022

Channev is versatile,
Lovend is beast on kick drums and rock toms,
others are okay, but Overloud Gems are more functional imo

 

-TREQ sounds great to me, but it also tends to push things into the background, which of couse has it's uses. Big yay
-HARQULES does some very interesting stuff to brass instruments, specially the high band, also big yay

That's about all i've kept.

 

When you had to pay for them just the "Analog Obsession" name made not even try them.
Now that they're free I guess they're ok and probably some of them quite good compared to other freebies.

 

Try doing a mix without any processing and save it as a template or, create copies for trying various plugins from:
Analog Obsession (Compression, EQ, Pre Amps, Saturation & 1 Plate Reverb)
TDR - Tokyo Dawn Labs (EQ & Compression)
Variety of Sound (Compression, EQ, Pre Amps, Saturation 1 Delay & 1 Plate Reverb)

As my work is mainly with live/real tracks, I tend to look for resource friendly plugins that add character, Solid low end, smooth mids & non-brittle highs. On Windows the stock Pro Tools & Reaper plugins are my starting point unless I know that a third party plugin will give me what I am looking for. On MacOS the stock Logic plugins are almost always more than sufficient.

 

whoa! great tip, I'll try to do that, thanks !

 

NP...

 

After more than a year, what has changed for you? (which are your favorites, and which you would avoid?)

 

He updates his plugins like every week so if you like your projects to sound the same stay with one version.

 

i used to think that AO plugins were good, especially considering they are free. I now think otherwise. HIs compressors are wayyy too snappy / behave erratically. Some of the eq's are good, but can be buggy, and have compatibility issues. TDR nova is to me the best free eq.