In the never-ending quest for better sound at a home producer’s price, I’ve compiled a list of free plugins I use in most, if not all of my mixes. There’s some real quality stuff being made out there that’ll get the creative juice flowing and possibly several of those “Oh my, that’s nice” moments. All of these plugins should have both VST and audio unit downloads so Microsoft users rejoice, some people do still think of you! Anyways, no need for me to waffle on anymore, here are 7 absolutely free plugins I use everyday and maybe you should too!

Camel Crusher – Camel Audio

This simple, easy to use plugin has been a mainstay in my library for several years. It’s a compressor, low pass filter and distortion effect all built into the single unit, and for something that’s free, it delivers fantastic sound. The built in presets will give you anything from warm vintage tones to all out gain-to-ten compression and everything in between. My favorite uses would be a gentle tube distortion on a drum bus or a few filter sweeps using the LPF. All in all, not only will this bad-boy knock your socks off, but it’ll send them into a new, scary sock-filled dimension. You can find the crusher here.

Nova – TDR

This is a relatively new plugin but for being around for such a small time, it’s making a huge impact. TDR’s Nova is a parametric EQ, dynamic EQ and multi-band compressor all-in-one with an impressive array of uses and sounds for a free plugin. Definitely good on buses and groups of instruments, and even very usable as a mastering tool. One thing that stands about this plugin is its’ super easy to use UI. You’ll feel like you’ve used this unit before and that saves time! You can find the TDR Nova here.

Upstereo – Quik Quak

Another plugin I have been using since before I was born, the Quik Quak Upstereo is an extremely fun unit to use. It gives plenty of those “Aha!” moments and that’s why I’ve included it in this list. Mainly useful in mastering applications the Upstereo is a stereo enhancer or widener. Basically what that means is it splits the audio by relatively small frequency bands and pans each second band left and the others right (or vice versa). So, this thing will take your narrow mixes and make them seem 360 degrees.

Noise Maker– TAL

This VSTi is an instrument that oozes cool with vintage aesthetics and very passable analogue synthesized sounds. It comes with everything you would expect with 2 oscillators for sound generation, two LFO for some movement, ADSR envelope and a really nice filter section. The interface is simple enough to use as far as VSTi’s go and it even features a handy panic button in case it starts to flip out. All-in-all a very impressive sounding soft-synth for no cost. You can find the Noise Maker (or NOIzE M4K3R) here.

Saturation Knob – Softube

This easy to use saturator is a fantastic addition to any VST library and is so simple. As the name suggests, this plugin will add a fantastically warm, saturated tone to almost anything you use it on. Perfect for getting vintage tones, it is especially useful on guitar, bass and drum sounds. You can pick up the Saturation Knob here.

Voxengo – Old Skool Verb

An apparent theme as I write this, is the simpleness of all the plugins I recommend and Voxengo’s Old School Verb is no exception. The simple layout, powerful sound and CPU saving architecture give this plugin a special place in my library. Although very easy-to-use with straightforward controls, don’t underestimate how clear this reverb sings. Suitable for most instruments this VST comes highly recommended. You can find the Old Skool Verb here.

Glitch Machines – Hysteresis

This kooky little plugin really seems it shouldn’t be free. It offers a fantastic range of controls to zing up your sounds and make them into something reminiscent of the sci-fi hay days. With delay, stutter, filters and general all-round wackiness built in, you can easily get lost for hours creating some other-worldly soundscapes. Definitely one for the tinkerers. You can find the Hysteresis here.

These are just a few of the fantastic range of free plugins out there in the inter-webs that I use super often. If you have some good freebies feel free to comment below and sure your thoughts!