the logo for icon collective is yellow on a white background .

5 Free VST Plugins: July 2019


This free VST plugins roundup features a music production suite, vinyl simulator, multi-modulation effect, virtual acoustic drum instrument, and an SSL-style EQ.

Free VST Plugins

Each month we search the web for some of the music industry’s most essential freeware instrument and effect plugins. This list of  free VST plugin  downloads offers five modern tools for your arsenal. No need to spend a dime or waste time trawling the internet.

1. Native Instruments | KOMPLETE START

KOMPLETE START is a music production suite that offers a selection of instruments, effects, utilities, loops, and samples. This free bundle includes seven synthesizers, nine sampler instruments, and two effects. It also comes with KOMPLETE KONTROL, KONTAKT 6 PLAYER, and REAKTOR 6 PLAYER to play all the instruments. In addition, you get over 2,000 studio-quality sounds!

2. iZotope | Vinyl

Vinyl simulates the dust, scratches, crackling, warp, and mechanical noise of record players. It’s a great lo-fi plugin for music production! Vinyl also lets you control each nostalgic element independently, giving you all the vintage turntable sounds you love.

3. Imaginando | DLYM

DLYM is a free ‘Delay Modulator’ plugin that produces flanger and chorus style effects. This versatile modulation tool is capable of creating anything from subtle flanging and phasing effects to extreme choruses and out-of-tune effects. It also sports an elegant user interface that makes it easy to control.

4. Steven Slate Drums | SSD5 FREE

SSD5 FREE is the freeware version of Steven Slate Drums flagship SSD5 virtual acoustic drum plugin. While SSD5 FREE is a lightweight version of SSD5, it still packs a punch. The main limitation is that it only comes with a single sampled acoustic drum kit. Other than that, SSD5 FREE is virtually identical to the full version of SSD5. It rocks all the same features to craft slammin’ acoustic drums!

5. Variety of Sound | BootEQ mkII

BootEQ is an SSL-style equalizer and pre-amp simulator. It features four parametric EQ bands, musical sounding EQ curves, and modeled pre-amp simulation. BoostEQ is a great EQ plugin for adding classic EQ coloration to tracks or full mixes.

Join the ICON Collective Newsletter:

MORE ARTICLES FROM THE ICON BLOG

By Florian Radke 06 Dec, 2023
Mastering is the final stage of the music production process, and it can make all the difference between an amateur sounding mix and a professional, radio-ready track. As the last creative step before distribution, mastering polishes a mix and prepares it for the listener's experience across various playback systems. While mixing involves balancing and processing individual tracks, mastering takes a holistic approach. Mastering engineers use specialized tools and global adjustments to enhance the overall sound quality, consistency, and perceived loudness of a song. Their expertise and fresh ears provide an objective perspective on giving mixes the final touches they need. This guide breaks down the art of mastering into "4 C's" - clarity, consistency, color, and clipping/loudness. Understanding these concepts is key to elevating mixes and achieving professional masters. Whether you're a producer looking to DIY master your own tracks or better communicate with mastering engineers, the 4 C's provide a framework for success. I. Clarity Clarity refers to how clearly the listener can hear all the individual elements and details in a mix. It enables the message and emotion of the music to shine through. Mastering should enhance clarity by ensuring nothing obscures the core instruments and vocals. Equalization (EQ) is essential for boosting clarity during mastering. Strategic EQ can attenuate problem frequencies that clutter or mask other elements. For example, a dip at 400-600Hz could tame muddy bass buildup, while a boost at 2-4kHz could increase vocal presence. Subtle EQ moves of 1-2dB can make a notable difference. Multiband compression also helps increase clarity on specific frequency ranges. Compressing the low mids around 300-500Hz can tighten and control muddy resonances, cleaning up the low end. Gentle compression on highs above 10kHz can add sizzle and detail. The key is to compress transparently, avoiding pumping artifacts. Modern mastering tools like iZotope’s Ozone provide dedicated modules for honing clarity. The “Spectral Shaper” applies smoothing EQ to suppress resonances and masking. The “Vintage Tape” module smooths out peaks and enhances punch. Used subtly, these processing tools can work wonders for opening up a dense mix.  A case study in exemplary clarity is the mastering on Daft Punk’s 2013 album “Random Access Memories.” Despite the record’s density of instruments and arrangements, every element shines through in a clean, polished way. The mastering perfectly complements the pristine production quality.
By Florian Radke 01 Dec, 2023
Explore Rick Rubin's minimalist music production ethos, highlighting his work with Johnny Cash and Adele, and how his "less is more" approach revolutionizes music’s emotional impact.
LL Cool J
By Rory PQ 18 May, 2023
Hip hop is one of the world's most prominent musical genres and cultural influences. Explore significant events in hip hop history and its explosive evolution.

FIND YOUR SOUND, HONE YOUR CRAFT:


Are you ready to turn music into a career? ICON prepares students to become music producers, composers, performers, recording artists, professional DJs, and entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry. Click below to get information about our award-winning programs:

LEARN MORE
Share by: