On this page, you will find a list of over 70 high-quality free Vst plugins you can download and use for free in your various Daw Software. Welcome and enjoy your stay here! Note: These plugins are randomly listed, no best of best among the Vst plugins. After exploring thousands of great plugins for hours, we bring you a minimized list of best vst plugins out there. It includes a little over 100 plugins. As the cherry on the top, the below list also mention the top 100 vst plugins that are entirely free of cost and paid.

Contents

VST and AU plugins are used in digital music production, but what is it what is the history behind this? In this article, we dive deeper into all the topics that are related to VST and AU plugins and we close with the best list for 2019 VST and AU plugins!

What are VST Plugins?

So, to start off we have a closer look at the meaning of VST and AU plugins. VST stands for virtual studio technology and AU for audio units.

We have compiled a list of the 17 absolute best free VST plugins you can find in 2020, categorized by type of plugin. For each type (synth, delay, reverb, EQ, etc.) we have handpicked and featured the best plugin, but we will also give some honorable mentions here and there! In order to make it onto our top list, each of these plugins must be. On this page, you would find the list of 100’s of free and world-class premium VST plugins such as Compressor VSTs, Equalizer VSTs, Delay/Reverb plugins, Samplers and various kinds of VST plugins. If you are looking for guides on the selection of VST. The 10 Best Free VST / AU Synths. If you’re looking for the best VST synth plugins for 2019, you’ve come to the right place. Under one roof, we’ve gathered the best free synth of every sort – virtual vintage.

VST = the format for Windows/Linux computers
AU = the format for iOS computers

In this article, we’re mainly focussing on VST plugins, since it’s the same as AU but then for a different computer system and a different programming langue.

VST can be seen as audio plug-in software that functions as digital synths or effects in a DAW (digital audio workstation). In the world, there are thousands of plugins with a function such as needed effects for a guitar and others are more experimental or without a function at all (just for fun, like Fruity Dancer).

There are free VST plugins available and paid VST plugins, if they are free they are named as freeware.

VST is an additional function to a DAW, see it as an app you can install on your phone. With that application, you have more functions within the same phone.

Different VST formats

There are a few different formats that indicate what kind of a VST it is.

  • VSTi (VST Instruments) can generate audio such as a digital synthesizer.
  • VSTe(VST Effects) processes audio instead of generating audio, such as reverb and delay plugins.
  • VST Midi Effects processes midi langue for example an appreciator.

The History of VST Plugins

Steinberg is nowadays mainly known as the company behind the DAW Cubase. They released the VST format in 1996 together with Steinberg Cubase 3.02. After the release, they updated a few times and VST 3.5.7 was released in March 2017.

The VST plugin standard is the plugin standard created by Steinberg. It allows developers to create VST plugins for other host applications like FL Studio and Ableton.

Difference between VST and AU plugins?

Not that much besides technical terms and the way it’s programmed. The main thing you should know that VST mainly for Windows devices and AU for iOS software programs.

64-bit or 32-bit plugins?

Within plugin and computer world you probably heard of 64 and 32 bit. 64-bit and 32-bit can be used on more occasions then only within plugins, for example, the operating system you’re using can be in 32-bit or 64-bit.

Why do you want to run 64-bit software and plugins? With running 64-bit it’s easier to run applications in very large sessions such as a music project.

64-bit operating and plugins can use more memory that will result in fewer crashes within your DAW.

More info on 32-bit or 64-bit? Read this article by Izotope.

Best free download VST plugins in 2019?

ModulAir by Full Bucket Music

Polyphonic software synthesizer available in VST and macOS (VST/AU). Build for low consuming CPU usage. Please not this plugin is still in beta.

Wider by Polyverse Music

Easily transform a mono track to a stereo image on a single audio track with the Wider plugin.

DeEss by Airwindows

Download

One of the best Dessers we used so far.

Youlean Loudness Meter 2 by Youlean

This plugin has everything that you don't expect from a free plugin. You can even export the visual spectrum to PDF, PNG and SVG. Used for loudness range, dynamic range an true peak mesurments.

Dragonfly Reverb by Michael Willis

An open source plugin for iOS and Windows with advanced reverb options.

LABS by Spitfire Audio

Multiple presets that can create wonderful sounds that you would not find in every synth. Sounds as strings, synth pads, choir, charango, electric piano, amplified cello quartet, drums and a soft piano but then all in a very smooth way.

Temper by Creative Intent

A state if the art distortion plugin that can add a warm and edge to a sound. Available for Windows and Mac OS X.

SSD 5 Free by Steven Slate Drums

A version on Steven Slate SSD drums for free! Experience the quality for yourself and only if you like it, you are able to upgrade it.

Vocal Doubler by iZotope

A wonderful plugin to double vocals immediately! Don't waste time on copy and past vocals to a new channel, but just use the effect with a great visualisation.

Flutterbird

An open source effect plugin for pitch and volume fluctuation into incoming audio.

Surge

Subtractive hybrid synth with expensive functions for Windows and Mac.

VeeSeeVSTRack

A great open source virtual euro rack modular system.

TAL – Elek7ro

Virtual analogue synth with some unique features like oscillator hard sync and frequency modulation.

Ample Sound – Ample Bass P LITE II

A great quality bass guitar plugin! Digital Fender Precision Bass sound within your own studio.

Best Free Vst Plugins 2019

Tytel — Helm Synth

Helm brings visualisation of synthesis to a new level with an inbuilt step sequencer and 3 LFO's you have extensive options to play with!

Tunefish 4

A virtual analogue synthesizer available in VST and AU.

Best paid VST plugins in 2019?

1. Serum VST/AU

Serum was the most popular synth in 2018 used all over the world!

Price: $189

2. Massive VST

Vst

Already very popular for many years developed by Native Instruments, for soundscaping and EDM productions.

Price: $149


3. Omnisphere 2

Very popular within the hip-hop scene and other genres.

Price: €399

Work faster in your DAW?

Made for: Ableton, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Cubase, Reason and ProTools!

Top 10 FREE VST Plugins You Need 2019

In life many things don’t come free, but then again sometimes they do… VST plugins do so more often than not and that’s a good thing for many of the uprising producers, musicians and composers out there. We scouted and looked through many of those top 10 lists of instruments and plugins and came up with a mix of our own. In no particular order, here is our pick of the top 10 free VST plugins you should check out.

Before we even get started with this list, there’s also a HUGE selection of free sample libraries, sample packs, plugins and soundsets available at https://vstbuzz.com/freebies. Some of our favourites include:

  • Shortnoise: A free electronic sample library for Kontakt with a huge 6GB of content and over 300 Kontakt instruments to choose from including Electronic Grooves, Arpeggiated Sequences, Manipulated Synths, Cinematic FX, Unique and Expressive Performance Patches, this beauty has a whole world of surprises waiting to be unleashed!
  • Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra: a free orchestral sample library VST plugin – while not as advanced or ambitious in scope as commercial offerings, SSO contains all the basic building blocks for creating real virtual orchestrations. It’s primarily aimed at beginners, but also more experienced composers looking for something lightweight and/or portable might find it useful.
  • Pocketblaus Cello: A stunning free solo cello library for Kontakt created by Australian composer Blake Robinson. The library sounds gorgeous when soaked in reverb and is perfect for slow moving, expressive cello lines and fast, choppy spiccato lines.

1 ModulAir by Full Bucket Music

Full Bucket Music is a developer that mainly concentrates on soft synth plugins. Their iteration of KORG PS series in the form of FB-3100, 3300, 3200 synths was a smashing hit, and now they’re back with ModulAir and we can freely say that this is THE BEST freeware modular synth out there now. VCV rack is its competition and it’s a great freeware synth but ModulAir is an actual VST plugin which means it can integrate with your DAW and that’s something that VCV rack still can’t do.

This soft synth is still a work in progress application but it actually feels very stable and looks polished in its current state of development. The latest version features 38 module types and the ability to host 18 modules per patch. It supports 64 voice polyphony, file import and MIDI learn for quick control mapping.

The user interface is really simplified and minimalistic and not in a bad way because it allows the user to quickly navigate and manage complex patches with ease. It doesn’t feature virtual patch cables but it has drop down menus instead. This is a must-have synth for every modular fan out there with the lack of space in their studio or the lack of cash for actual hardware.

2 Stereo Buss Compression by Minimal System Group (MSI)

This is a Windows only plugin but even so it’s very special. Yes we know that there are many other free “mastering” buss compressor plugins out there and sure they all give you that kind of final touch and glue to your mixes, but in all honesty MSI Stereo Buss does it better than most others, plain and simple.

Here is what the guys from Plugin Boutique say about MSI Stereo Buss:

This plugin is perfect for those producers looking to add the finishing touches to their latest masterpiece. Modelled on legendary buss compressors from classic analogue consoles the Minimal System Group Stereo Buss Compressor could be just what you need. Analogue Buss Compressors are the secret behind many classic releases. Often very simple units, a buss compressor’s job is to ‘glue’ all the elements of a track together and make mixes sound bigger with more punch and character without losing clarity.

It was paid software at first but the nice guys from Minimal System Group have made it freeware since 2014 and it is featured on many a bedroom producer’s plugin lists and it is still the best freeware mastering buss compressor out there.

3 LABS by Spitfire Audio

If you have been living under a rock for the past few years then you have maybe never heard of Spitfire Audio, developers of top-notch orchestral sample libraries. LABS is a freeware rompler VST instrument. It is a simple sample player that serves as a platform for Spitfire Audio’s free sound libraries. The company keeps releasing new expansion packs for LABS and they never cease to amaze us with the quality of their free content.

Where LABS lack in features due to its minimalistic look, it compensates in sound quality and each new sample pack we got was very unique and of high-quality sound. The minimalistic look is rather convenient actually and it features a few controls. This way you can concentrate more on the sound quality and composing than tweaking all of the options.

We highly recommend LABS as it is an excellent sample player with free downloadable virtual instruments for all composers and music producers who need high-quality acoustic sounds.

4 Ignite Amps Emissary Bundle

Now here is something that every guitar player will appreciate. Ignite Amps is a developer that has been around for quite some time and the fact that they actually created their own hardware custom-made amplifier head, modelled it and then created a sleek looking plugin is simply awesome! And not only that but they made it completely free for everyone to use. Plus they have a whole bunch of other guitar tools out there as freeware plugins.

This amp bundle also comes with their own NadIR cabinet impulse response plugin for guitar cab simulation which features a whole bunch of modelled cabinets but you can also load your own. Even though this amp is built for metal and hard rock genres it still features an awesome clean channel and if you dial it back a bit you can get some really smooth crunch sounds. Check out their Pro F.E.T. distortion and power amp plugins also.

5 SSD5 Free by Steven Slate Drums

For all of you out there looking for some free high-quality drum samples then you won’t find better than Steven Slate Drums 5. This is a freeware acoustic drum kit developed by Steven Slate and his team at Steven Slate Drums. If you are aware of Slate Digital and their amazing plugins then you know what to expect from Steven Slate. Being a free version SSD5 features only one drum kit however there are no other limitations. This is a totally usable drum kit that feels like a complete product in all honesty. You can tweak it the way you wish and a provided drum kit can fit into every rock music track.

Best Vsts 2019

6 Camel Crusher by Camel Audio

Camel Crusher is a very well known and beloved plugin by producers and engineers alike and for a very good reason. It is very simplistic featuring a distortion and compression mixture in a single user-friendly interface. It also has a filtering option. This is the kind of plugin that is not for the faint-hearted as it can really destroy your tracks if not treated with care. But when you know what you’re doing it gives you some really meaty results as it can drastically change the texture of your sound. It has a lot of presets that range from total annihilation to tube warmth.

Camel Audio was the original developer but then Apple acquired them so the original version of the plugin is still available as freeware from third party VST websites.

7 Wider by Polyverse Music

Wider is a really simple freeware VST plugin that does its job really well. Amazingly well to say the least actually. Polyverse Music have teamed-up with Infected Mushroom to treat you with this amazing stereo widening tool for your tracks. Wider is derived from a stereo width module that is featured in their commercial VST called Manipulator. What makes this plugin so unique and amazing is the ability to broaden the stereo width of the signal without causing phasing issues when played back in mono.

You can’t make it simpler than this because Wider features only one control parameter and that’s it. The slider affects the amount of stereo processing but be careful when pushing it too far though, because too much stereo widening can make your track sound as if it doesn’t exist in the same space with others in your mix. Treated carefully this plugin is one of the best stereo wideners, while keeping your mix compatible with any type of playback system.

8 KOMPLETE Start by Native Instruments

Native Instruments? Need we say more? And this is not just one plugin but an actual collection of freebies you can use in your production. This is a great bundle of free instruments and plugins alike. It features more than 6GB of content which spans over various samplers, synths, sample libraries, mixing plugins and more. It is definitely something that every new producer and composer should take a look at.

9 Vocal Doubler by iZotope

The guys from iZotope have been known to put out a freebie from time to time and Vocal Doubler is their latest entry into the freeware world. This plugin is designed for natural doubling effect for vocals and also to add richness and depth to other sound sources. Basically it offers an artificial double-tracking technique. It is very easy to use simply by interacting with the visualization in the center of the GUI. You drag the position around to affect the stereo field and to introduce variations.

You are guided by percentage amounts of “Variation” and “Separation” as well as an “Amount” knob.

10 DLYM Delay Modulator by Imaginado

The creators of excellent DRC synthesizer are back with a freeware modulation multi-effect plugin. It is actually inspired by DRC’s built-in chorus effect but it expands to create a more versatile modulation tool which is capable of creating anything from subtle flanging and phasing effects over to extreme choruses and out-of-tune effects.

DLYM features a clean UI with a handy live waveform display. The user can adjust delay time and feedback amount, mod depth and rate, and the stereo spread of the affected signal. It includes six different modulation waveforms which can be synced to DAW tempo. 20 presets are included but we highly recommend that you give it a go at creating your own effects!

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