The Coolest New Free VST Plugins - Feb. 2024
Are expensive VST plugins better than free ones? I could imagine myself arguing in the thick cigarette fog of a dimly-lit bar until the sun comes up. Yep, that’s what I would do if I had any friends. Instead, I stay in my studio and experiment with both paind AND free plugins to reach the ultimate conclusion: free plugins are getting good. Like, really good! A decade ago, a free VST meant an ugly GUI and buggy functionalities, but now they’re as great as the real thing - if not wayyy better. But why take my word for it when you can just download a bunch of free plugins, make a couple beats and see for yourself. It’s a good opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and experiment with new sounds. There are great free plugins coming out all year round, here are some of my favorite instruments (as well as one effect) that came out recently.
The Coolest New Free VST Plugins - Feb. 2024
5. Vaults - Shimmer Guitar | The Crow Hill Company
4. State Machine BitFlip | Cradle
3. Synthesizer Expander Module | Cherry Audio
2. Analog Lab Play | Arturia
1. Beat Slammer | Baby Audio
5. Vaults - Shimmer Guitar | The Crow Hill Company
You’d probably think that The Crow Hill Company sounds like the name of a hipster band that dresses in old-timey clothes, jams on banjos and drinks everything out of mason jars… But you’d be wrong. It’s actually the name of a VST company founded by Christian Henson of Spitfire Audio.
At first glance, their free plugin Vaults (currently in its Beta iteration) shares some similarities with Spitfire’s LABS, with its uncomplicated interface gravitating around a big knob.
The comparison doesn’t end at its crazy good looks, though, since the quality of Vaults is also on par with its brother from another mother. Vaults comes preloaded with a collection of acoustic banks that will probably grow in the future. They just released a Shimmer Guitar, an expansion that sounds like a guitar with some trippy effects on it.
It’s not the most nuanced guitar VST, but its slightly artificial sound should be perfect for your lofi beats.
Download Shimmer Guitar here
4. State Machine BitFlip | Cradle
If you like left-field synth VSTs, you probably already own The Prince, an instrument designed by the company Cradle, in collaboration with Frank Dukes (who worked with Drake, Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift).
Since then, the up-and-coming developer has released a product range called State Machine. It contains 4 virtual instruments, including BitFlip, which is free… And pretty dope!
Like its name - and its pixelated interface - suggests, BitFlip is inspired by the glory days of retro gaming. It samples 20 authentic 8-bit sound sources, includes 40 presets, and features a whole bunch of very usable features, such as an arpeggiator, a chord engine and all sorts of modulation effects.
How is all this free? Um… Good question.
Download BitFlip here
3. Synthesizer Expander Module | Cherry Audio
Inspired by the Oberheim SEM, Synthesizer Expander Module is a VST that captures the raw character of the dual oscillators of the original 1974 monophonic synth. Its legendary filter is also emulated to perfection. If you’ve played with Arturia’s version of this hardware classic, you already know its capabilities… And its limitations.
Although I love Arturia’s synth plugins, I do find myself grabbing for Cherry Audio’s instruments more and more. There are 2 reasons for that: 1) Their presets are usually just what the doctor ordered, and 2) I don’t know what it is, but I just find their sound less polished and more “analog-y.” Their new freebie Synthesizer Expander Module is a great example of that.
I like the raw, somewhat dry sounds that Cherry Audio’s plugins provide, and why take my word for it when you can download this bad boy for free.
Download Synthesizer Expander Module here
2. Analog Lab Play | Arturia
If you’ve read pretty much any post on this blog, you already know my favorite synth VST is Analog Lab Pro (né Analog Lab V.) The flagship plugin combines cool presets from instruments all across Arturia’s gargantuan V Collection, and it’s a must for any beatmakers.
That’s why I’m so jazzed about the release of Analog Lab Play, a free version of my little sweetie pie containing a cool 100 presets and a simplified GUI.
How simplified is the interface? Well, it’s simplified enough that you don’t spend 20 minutes looking for the cut-off filter like you do when you load an individual synth (that’s right, I’m looking straight at you CS-80 V3,) but not simplified enough that you won’t get inspired by the functions that actually are there.
And did I mention it's free!! Oh wait, I did…? Nevermind then.
Download Analog Lab Play here
1. Beat Slammer | Baby Audio
Baby Audio makes cool plugins with a modern GUI that are not getting bogged down with the limitations of tools of the past. If you make beats, VSTs like Crystalline, Comeback Kid and Super VHS are total no-brainers. I also have an affinity for IHNY-2, a parallel compressor that sounds so hard, it might as well reach out of the screen and smack you in the face.
There’s now a free version of IHNY-2 called Beat Slammer. You don’t get all the functions and the flexibility, but you still get enough bang for your none-buck with the possibility to x/y the hardness and wetness of its compressor. Sounds like a Tuesday night at my house, am I right folks! (I forgot to mention there’s a 2 drink minimum to this post, and please remember to tip your wait staff.)
If you dig free stuff, Baby Audio has a whole line of freebies, some of which you might still want to use even if you own the full version. Grab them all now. Do it.
Download Beat Slammer here
If you’re looking to get more plugins to make beats, check out my list of the best VST synths for people who looove presets.
Cover photo: James Stamler