Although it can be tempting to reach for expensive Synthesizers and Mixing Tools for your productions, the market for free VST plugins is huge and full of high-quality devices.
In the list below are 6 Free VST Plugins that allow you to do essential sound-design for electronic music without having to spend a penny!
TDR Nova (Dynamic EQ)
TDR Nova is a dynamic EQ, it enables you to use the precision of a Parametric EQ but with the added ability to control the dynamics of each EQ band the same way you can using a Compressor. This can offer lots of flexibility, from taming harsh bass noises or processing drum transients. This includes more traditional uses such as a desser on a vocal. This plugin rivals products that cost hundreds, making it a no-brainer as a tool in your arsenal.
Roth-Air (Multi-Band Processor)
Roth-AIR is a device aimed at making it easier to add ‘shimmer’ and ‘presence’ to any sound. It does this through a combination of Multiband Compression and Saturation to bring out the high end of any sound. It works particularly well on Synths, Strings & Vocals but it has proven to be useful when used on Basses, Drums and More!
U-He Protoverb (Reverb)
U-He Protoverb is one of the more unusual plugins on this list. It is an experimental reverb effect that uses individual character combinations to simulate the air and resonances of a random room. This can create a unique sound that, despite being unforeseen, can achieve a space that is peculiar and compelling. Even though it only has a few controls on the interface, you can achieve a diverse range of reverb tones due to the unpredictability of the parameter values this plugin generates.
MeldaProduction MWaveFolder (Distortion)
MWaveFolder is a distortion VST that works remarkably on a vast array of sound sources. Using the drive parameter you can easily add subtle harmonics to any sound, or vice versa push the sound into total audio decimation! Using the Character, Symmetry & Non-Linearity knobs you can create complex, inharmonic frequencies which form strange growling bass sounds or add warmth to acoustic sounds like piano & guitar! This VST comes as part of a huge bundle of free effects called MFreeFXBundle which contains some of the best free effects on the market.
Voxengo Stereo Touch (Stereo Widener)
Stereo Touch by Voxengo is a very useful device that enhances the width and presence of sounds in your mix. It works by taking a monophonic signal and generating a stereo output, giving the impression of a double-tracked or surround recording. This works especially well on Synths, Vocals and more! Simple but effective.
Soda Devices Lith (Synthesizer)
Lith is an extremely capable synth that can produce a diverse palette of sounds. It is a Virtual Analogue Synthesizer which means it has been designed to emulate the behaviour of electronic circuitry and reproduce their tone. One of it’s most useful features is the random function, this generates a random synth patch which frequently yields complex and interesting textures and timbre. This is an amazing feature and can give you a great starting point for sound design, or easily create unique sounds with the press of one button!