March is a month of growth and transformation. If you’re looking to refresh your sound and perhaps transform your production setup, our pick of March’s best freeware could spice things up.
This month’s roundup includes a fiery ‘bass enhancer’, a channel strip, an analogue colouration plugin, a cool-looking instrument called Sur, and a compression plugin created by Phil Speiser. We’ve picked these plugins out because, while free, they’re well-developed, delivering arguably as much power as paid-for plugins.
Vox Samples – Fire Boy
Fire Boy is the latest free effect plugin by Vox Samples, joining the equally free Pixel Rabbit bit crusher, Time Turtle delay, Fat Cat saturation plugin and more. Fire Boy is a bass enhancer plugin that helps enrich bass without muddying the sound.
Crafted for musical harmonics, it adds depth without sacrificing headroom. It’s a straightforward effect, donning three simple knobs – Intensity, Freq, and Gain – that can be used to adjust for your desired bass enhancement and volume control.
Download Fire Boy for free at Vox Samples.
Lotus Sound – MixHARMONY
MixHARMONY, engineered for versatility, is a channel strip that features EQ and compressor sections drawing from classic Solid State Logic channel strip models.
With the EQ, you can use it to enhance vocals or boost low end effortlessly. Smoothly add dynamics or aggressively compress your bus with the integrated compressor. You can also explore various meticulously crafted factory presets for instant inspiration.
Download MixHARMONY for free on Patreon.
Variety Of Sound – TesslaPro Mk IV
TesslaPro Mk IV is the latest update to Variety Of Sound’s free analogue enhancing plugin.
It’s a powerful tool designed for digital mixing and mastering engineers seeking to infuse their productions with the rich, analogue character often associated with high-end hardware devices.
It brings subtle analogue artefacts into the digital domain, adding warmth and depth to the sound while enhancing transients and stereo imaging. Its Boost feature provides further control over mix cohesion and peak management. Whether applied to individual tracks or to your mixbus, TesslaPro works well for adding elegant analogue vibes wherever needed.
Download TesslaPro Mk IV on Variety Of Sound.
MNTRA Instruments – Sur
This new soft synth by MNTRA is a “free taster” of the brand’s forthcoming Naada synth. Replicating the essence of the drone in Indian classical music, Sur is a sample-based instrument using samples of traditional Indian instruments, such as the Tanpuras, a Sitar-like string instrument, and the shruti box.
Powered by MNTRA’s advanced MNDALA 2 sound engine, it invites musicians to delve into the intricate nuances of popular Ragas with precision and authenticity, serving as a gateway to the calm beauty of Indian classical music.
Download Sur for free on MNTRA.
iZotope – Trash Lite
iZotope’s Trash distortion plugin, which was originally released in 2003 and soon established itself as an iconic distortion effect for producers, made a big return recently. This revamped version introduces a new look, a more modern interface, a free version and a version for iPad.
Trash offers over 60 distortion types and 600 impulse responses. New additions include an XY pad for blending algorithms, an envelope follower, and what it calls a Scream filter. With Trash Lite, you get a free, limited version of the full thing, but it’s still impressive nonetheless.
Check out Trash Lite for free on iZotope.
Phil Speiser – The_Compressor
Phil Speiser, a musician and now plugin developer who to date has been involved in a number of top 10 hits, has released The_Compressor. This plugin simplifies compression, providing easy control for professional outcomes.
Developed due to frustration with existing options, it most notably features a function called Magic Mode, which automatically sets optimal parameters. Designed for accessibility, it ensures users of all levels can achieve expert compression without having to be an expert.
Download The_Compressor for free on Phil Speiser’s website.
SoliderSound – S Doubler (Free)
S Doubler is a widener plugin that lets you position four doubling voices on a virtual sound stage so you can tailor the stereo image of your music. Using it, you can add width and depth to vocals and instruments, replicating the psycho-acoustic effects of sound proximity for dimension in your mix. There are three controls to shape the width you’re giving your audio, Spread, Distance, and Tone.
According to the developer, “Whether you’re looking to create subtle enhancements or bold stereo effects, S Doubler offers the exibility to tailor the sound to your exact specifications.”
Download the free version of S Douber on Solider Sound.
The post Best free plugins and freeware of the month: March 2024 appeared first on MusicTech.
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