Welcome to Sage Audio. Today we’re talking about the Top 9 Free Plugins
But first, If you have a mix that you need mastered send it to us at SageAudio.com to
receive a free mastered sample of it.
BritChannel - Analog Obsession
BritChannel is a great way to add some subtle harmonic distortion and analog emulated EQ
curves to your signal. The gain is automatically compensated and causes 2nd, 3rd, and 4th order
harmonics when set to higher levels, and primarily 3rd order harmonics when in mic mode.
The EQ is 4 band with a highpass, low shelf, mid bell, and high shelf.
Dirty Filter - BPB
Dirty Filter is a simple plugin that includes both high and low pass filters, a variable
slope for these filters, a wet/dry dial, an output, and the harmonic distortion dial.
The drive function creates odd-ordered harmonics, primarily a 3rd order, somewhat similar to
tape and transistor distortion.
Use this plugin on an individual instrument to control its bandwidth and cause some distortion.
MGate Multi - Mogwai Audio Tools
It’s rare to see a free plugin pull of multi-band processing, but MGate does it well - you can
create up to 6 bands of downward expansion or gating, and reduce the amplitude of the
signal whenever it falls below the threshold. Attack and release control the speed of the
gating.
A lookahead function can cause more accurate gating and bypass and solo functions are available
for each band.
Giant Verb - Mode Machines
If you’re looking for a quintessential algorithmic reverb sound, one that isn’t realistic but
more indicative of over-the-top 80s reverb, Giant Verb is a great addition to your instrument
chain. Feedback controls the perceived size of the reverb, while clarity, bandwidth, and
pre-warmth control the frequency response.
The modulation section allows for even more unrealistic sounds, so try those out as well.
Chow Tape - ChowDSP
Chow Tape is arguably the best free tape plugin out there, due to how in-depth the features
are, and the oversampling setting at the bottom. The sounds it can create range from slight
attenuation of the high end to a completely distorted timbre and truncated frequency response.
For starters, use a high tape speed for hi-fi sounds, and a low-tape speed for lo-fi.
Stage - RDG Audio
Stage is an easy-to-use stereo imaging plugin that allows you to control both the left and
right image, as well as the relationship between the mid and side. Try combining the two different
imaging types on an instrument to find a unique placement for it in the image.
The presets available up top will make cycling through the various options easy.
Warmy EP1A - Kiive Audio
Warmy EP1A is a good emulation of a Pultec EQ, and offers the musical bands you’d expect
from the processor. Additionally, this plugin offers oversampling, which is helpful if you’re
equalizing high frequencies at a lower sampling rate - although probably won’t do too much
given the processor type.
If you want to create some mild distortion, drive the input dial and decrease the output.
Basic Filters - Fabric 70
Filters outside of an EQ aren’t thought about too much when mixing music, but they
can be used for creative effect, especially through automation. Basic Filters allows for
some typical and not-so-typical filters like comb, and lets you introduce modulation to
the filter.
Furthermore, the ADSR of the filter can be controlled.
FreeClip - Venn Audio
FreeClip is an easy-to-use plugin with a really smart design, in which the interface actually
aligns with the metering and signal level. 6 different clip types allow for different
harmonics to form whenever the signal exceeds 0dB, while the oversampling function reduces
aliasing distortion.
You can also lower the ceiling to cause clipping more often, and monitor the attenuation of
the signal at
the bottom.
If you have a mix that you need mastered send it to us at SageAudio.com to receive a free
mastered sample of it.
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