The 6 Best New Free VST Plugins of Spring 2024
Last month I filed my taxes and I found out I had spent as much money on VST plugins as I had on rent. I live in Montreal and rent is pretty cheap, but still… The joke is - of course - there has never been as many great free plugins as there are now. There are so many, in fact, that sometimes they’re hard to keep track of. That’s why I keep my eyes on new releases and report back to you. I would love it if you found inspiration and saved a bit of scratch so you can afford life’s small luxuries such as food and lodging. Peep below for a list of the best new free VSTs!
The Best New Free VST Plugins of Spring 2024
1. Vintage | Behringer
Behringer might be a controversial company, but at this point, even the snarkiest of critics have to admit they do some pretty cool stuff over there. At this point, pretty much every producer in the game has a Moog clone or a 303 clone lying somewhere in their studio, or serving as a doorstop.
Behringer is now throwing their hat in the VST ring, and of course they can’t seem to do it like normal human beings. The synth VST was available for download, then it was taken down, and some people have noted a resemblance with Saurus, which forced the developper Tone2 to issue a statement to say they weren’t involved.
Well, it seems like Vintage is back for good, and we have to admit it sounds pretty good. It is a very capable Roland-y poly synth feel that you might enjoy. Will it rival with all the other similar plugins out there from companies such as Arturia and Cherry Audio, only the future will tell.
2. Verve Analog Machines Essentials | Universal Audio
It’s always a special moment when UAD releases a new plugin. The giant of in-the-box production has some of the best coded emulations out there, as well as some innovative tools. Their new baby is somewhere between the 2, a tone machine that covers many flavors of saturation without trying to reproduce the character of a piece of hardware in particular.
Verve Analog Machines isn’t entirely groundbreaking, of course. Everyone has been using plugins like RC-20 Retro Color and Lifeline Expanse for a while now. But it’s cool to have Universal Audio offer their version! You can never have too many vintage tones to choose from, right?
I’ve turned enough fake knobs and I’ve seen enough decorative digital screws on emulations of existing hardware to appreciate the slick and colorful interface of Verve. It lets you pick between various modules that give you exactly what you’d expect: tape saturation, distortion, and lofi warbly goodness.
And if you like the free Essentials version of the new VST, you can of course upgrade to the full version whenever you want to get even more tones, and even more lofi warbles!
3. MoMa | Analog Obsession
If you like free plugins that don’t suck, you’re hopefully well-acquainted with Analog Obsession, a brilliant company that makes all sorts of mix and mastering plugins inspired by analog hardware, bringing an obsessive attention to details and innovation. (Hey, wait! Is that where the name is comes from…?)
Every new release from this company of renegades comes with a lot of excitement from production enthusiasts, and not just the broke ones who don’t like to pay for stuff. MoMa is their latest addition, a smooth saturation plugin that can make all the difference in your mixes.
AO has a great back catalog you should revisit, and it’s all free stuff, but if you’d like to show them some love you can always subscribe to their Patreon.
4. Trash Lite | iZotope
iZotope has nothing to prove anymore. If you know, you know. The forward-thinking manufacturer has redefined mastering and mixing for a lot of home producers, and Trash has been a go-to for all of our distortion needs.
While iZotope released a new version of this VST, they also launched Trash Lite, a freebie with a limited set of features, which you can then unlock by buying the full version (or one of their useful bundles.) You know the drill.
It is a modern and very cool plugin that can accomplish a lot, even with its free version. Check it out, you won’t regret it.
5. Blowdio | Intergraudio
Would you like a tape saturation plugin with more controls and flexibility? Do you like vintage and darker feels that you can channel in?
If you’ve answered yes, then ask yourself if Blowdio is right for you. It’s a fun VST, but most important of all, it has a funny name. Sometimes, that’s all that really counts.
6. Mi-03 Bassline | MusicInstinct
The squelchy sounds of the TB-303 will never die. The synth that’s forever associated with acid is one of those extremely evocative tones that put you in the mood to party right away.
At this point, there are many credible emulations of Roland’s synth out there, but are any of them free? Because MusicInstinct’s Mi-03 is ready for the taking, all you have to do is ask.
Pretty simple and much more fun to use than the actual hardware unit it’s based on, Mi-03 has all the features you need to make techno and house for decades to come.
If you’d like more sick 303 tones in your life, might I suggest Arturia's recent emulation, the Acid V, or… my ABSOLUTE favorite, D16 Group’s insane Phoscyon 2. It’s all good under the hood.
If you want more free audio tools, check out my free VST plugins section.
PHOTO CREDIT: Elijah Merrell
All products featured in this post are independently selected by myself. However, when you buy something through my retail links, I may earn an affiliate commission.