The realm of music production plugins can be a financial black hole for many producers and mix engineers. Luckily, there are thousands of free VST plugins on the market to help you elevate your music production game without spending a dime!
Instead of having you sift through the depths of the Internet for the best free VST plugins, we've done the research for you.
If you're ready to spend more time making music and less time trying to find the right plugins for your needs, come dive in with us as we explore some of the best free VST plugins, free tools, and free virtual instruments by category on the market today!
BUT FIRST...
What Are Free VST Plugins?
If you're new to the world of music production, you might be asking,
What in the heck are "VSTs"?
A VST is an audio software effect or virtual instrument that is meant to be used in a host application that supports Virtual Studio Technology.
Back in 1996, Steinberg introduced VST plugins, making an incredible impact on the way producers make music today. With this technology, producers, composers, and mix engineers can elevate and expand their digital audio workstation palettes with virtual instruments and third-party plugins.
In this article, we've covered the best free VSTs across the following categories:
- Instruments
- Synths
- Drums
- EQ
- Compression
- Saturation
- Guitars
- VST Effects
- Reverb and Delay
- Utility
- Host Applications
Best Free VST Instruments
Spitfire Audio LABS
LABS is one of the best virtual instruments around, free or not. This sample-based platform has an extensive collection of high-end soundbanks to work with, which is consistently growing. While you'll find many synthesizer-like sounds, the best sounds from LABS used sampled instruments and acoustic sounds.
You can use LABS to play drums, piano, guitars, and more! The best thing is that Spitfire is always recording and building new expansions for LABS, so you never run out of things to play with!
Native Instruments Komplete Start
Native Instruments Komplete Start is the greatest free plugin to introduce yourself to the wide world of Native Instruments. With this incredible bundle plugin, you get more than 2,000 studio-quality sounds to play with for FREE.
Within the plugin, you'll find 16 sampled instruments and pro-grade synthesizers, as well as loops , samples, and effects. All of the software is found within the Komplete Kontrol interface, making it easy to navigate and find the instruments you want at the drop of a hat.
ARCADE by Output
ARCADE by Output is a MASSIVE library of sample-based instruments, one-hit sounds, and high-end loops recorded by professional musicians. Any time you feel stuck when writing music in the studio , ARCADE is an excellent plugin to pull up for some inspiration.
No matter what genre you work in, whether it's hip hop, EDM, orchestral, rock, pop, or lo-fi, you can find the right sound for your needs. Once you pick the right sound, you can use the built-in macros and sliders to modulate it, chop it, flip it, and more!
The beauty of ARCADE is that it does the busy work for you, allowing your creative juices to flow freely.
Plogue Sforzando
SFZ is a non-proprietary sound format for sampled instruments that many producers and sample hobbyists use to share virtual instruments and experiment. The beauty of Plogue Sforzando is that it has a single instrument slot and doesn't rely on any fancy mixers or effects. This handy tool is AWESOME if you're looking for a flexible and easy way to use SFZ formats.
Ample Sound Ample Bass P Lite
It's hard to come across a decent-sound electric bass VST, as there are so many nuances to the electric bass. However, Ample Sound did an excellent job with this instrument, allowing users to integrate the sounds of a studio-quality P-bass in their productions. The Ample Bass P Lite has a great tone to start with but also has a variety of articulations to make it sound more realistic, including sustains, hammer-ons, pull-offs, legato slide, pops, slaps, and more!
Versilian Studios Chamber Orchestra 2 Community Edition
If you're thinking about getting into scoring or you want to add the beautiful sound of a chamber orchestra to your tracks, then the Versilian Studios Chamber Orchestra 2 Community Edition is one of the best free VST plugins you can get your hands on. The beauty of this orchestral plugin is that it throws out antiquated ideas of orchestral sampling.
With a unique, high-performance engine, you get the sound of real musicians playing real instruments in a real space. What more could you ask for?
Sound Magic Piano One
Sound Magic Piano One is a must-have VST plugin if you're looking to get the authentic tone of a grand piano. The beauty of this particular piano VST is that it has a nice, trebly tone, which can fit beautifully into bright, modern mixes. While you may not be able to achieve softer, moodier tones with Piano One (which is where we would look at Spitfire LABS), it's awesome for realistic piano tones in a pinch.
Dream Vortex Studio DVS Saxophone
Trying to make a solo saxophone sound realistic is difficult, which is why we were blown away when we first heard the DVS Saxophone by Dream Vortex. Right off the bat, this thing sounded surprisingly realistic and lush. If you make jazz or any other kind of music that might require a solo saxophone, then you truly can't miss out on this one.
Sampleson CollaB3
Whether you make indie rock, hip hop, or gospel music, you know that the B3 is a staple instrument. It's been heard on so many classic songs that it'd be impossible to count. Plus, it has such a unique sound that it's difficult to replicate with anything else.
For these reasons, we believe that everyone needs a B3 organ in their arsenal, which is why we highly recommend checking out the Sampleson CollaB3 .
Best Free VST Synths
Vital by Matt Tytel
In our opinion, Vital by Matt Tytel is one of the best free VST plugins on the market right now and one of our favorite free synthesizers we've ever had the pleasure to play around with! The feature set on this synthesizer is mind-blowing, giving producers access to many similar features that rival top synth plugins, including Massive and Xfer Serum.
The best thing about Vital is the User Interface. Even though the synthesis engine is quite complex, it is one of the easiest synthesizer plugins to get the hang of.
Ohm Force SymptOhm
With more than 1,200 presets and unique "Syncgrain" synthesis, Ohm Force SymptOhm is one of our absolute favorite free VST synthesizers! This VST synth is the free version of the legendary Symptohm:Melohman , delivering sample-based sounds with a narrower control panel.
U-he Zebralette
Zebralette acts as an introduction to the fantastic oscillators present on the Zebra2 synthesizer. With this free version of U-he's excellent synthesizer software, you get a single Zebra2 oscillator, 24 incredible spectral effects, oscillator waveform editing, and so much more!
Synister SYNISTER
SYNISTER is a wonderful VST synthesizer that was made for those who are new to the world of synthesis and want something practical to use. We believe it's a great place to start for those who still feel uncomfortable looking at complex synthesizers. Plus, with an onboard sequencer and an open-source design, it's a synth made for the people!
The WaveWarden Odin 2
Odin2 is a Nordic-Themed VST synthesizer and is likely one of the most advanced free VST synthesizers on the market today! This thing is packed to the brim with incredible features, including multiple filter models, loopable envelopes, a completely editable wavetable oscillator, and an extensive modulation matrix.
Up until we discovered Odin 2, we didn't think companies out there could push the boundaries of freeware quite like this.
OctaSine
There's no doubt that FM Synthesis is a strange realm, but if you're into the idea of digging in and crafting your own unique sounds, then Octasine is one of the best VST synths out there. This open-source synth features four operators with parameter knobs for volume, panning, modulation indexing, envelop values, white noise toggling, and more.
You'll also find four LFOs with several waveforms to pick from, as well as flexible routing options with very few limitations.
Vember Audio Surge
Audio Surge is another open-source synthesizer that features multiple "scenes," which you can layer and manipulate for some of the most expressive synth sounds you can craft. We love that the company left the source code open for people to explore, as it gives interested synth geeks a look under the hood to learn more about the wild world of synthesis.
While Surge is a complex synthesizer, to say the least, Vember Audio has laid it out to make dialing in the right sounds more straightforward than ever. The workflow is seemingly effortless, and attention to detail is remarkable.
Output SIGNAL Free
SIGNAL Free by Output is the demo version of Output's pulse engine, though it provides more than enough to generate incredible sounds with many superb presets to get you started. In this demo version, you'll find 2GB of artfully-recorded live instruments and ultra-fat analog synths. We absolutely love the interface, as it's clean and gives users a real-time look at how they're manipulating their sounds.
u-he Tyrell N6
The u-he Tyrell N6 is a high-quality free virtual synth with a compact yet ultra-effective interface that delivers warm analog subtractive synthesis. With your classic synth architecture and diverse range of presets to get you started, there is more than meets the eye with the Tyrell N6. Some of the top features on this VST include analog-style ADSR envelopes, authentic overdrive, and two oscillators.
Dexed
Dexed is a Yamaha DX7 clone. For those who don't know, the DX7 changed the synthesizer game in the 80s. Dexed is such a faithful recreation of the DX7 that you can actually load the original patches from the DX7 into its engine. So if you've ever wanted to capture the sound of the synth bass from A-Ha's "Take On Me" or those cool, vintage electric piano sounds found in many 80s Whitney Houston songs, then you'll love Dexed.
Best Free Drum VSTs
Steven Slate Drums SSD5 Free
Steven Slate Drums offers some of the best drum sounds for rock, metal, and alternative music. With plenty of artist-modeled drum kits in a vast range of styles, you can get creative with plenty of ultra-realistic drum tones. Plus, you'll find a variety of MIDI grooves to start sketching out ideas with, as well as an ultra-sleek resizable GUI, which makes it easy to navigate the plugin.
With Steven Slate Drums SSD5 Free , you get a single kit that is packed with plenty of extraordinary sounds and all of the other tools from the flagship version to manipulate the drum kit for all of your creative purposes.
Dub Turbo DrumTroop
If big drum sounds are what you're after, then the Dub Turbo DrumTroop is one of the best free VST plugins out there. With 20 free kits and 16 individual outputs, it's an easy virtual instrument to get started with. Plus, each drum pad has onboard parameters you can manipulate, including volume, panning, attack, and release. They didn't bloat the plugin with effects, which we love, as it keeps it as simple as possible.
Analog Obsession SweetDrums
While this free VST plugin does not actually have drum samples built into it, it is one of the best free VST plugins for adding life to your drum sounds. The Analog Obsession SweetDrums plugin is an analog-modeled processor to give your drum sounds the necessary warmth and saturation they need to fill your mix.
The plugin has a two-band dynamic EQ, a three-band fixed EQ, and saturation/compression controls. It's easy to use, easy on your CPU and sounds incredible. Once you hear it in action, you'll never want to go back.
DrumMic'a's by Sennheiser
While there are many drum VST plugins out there, DrumMic'a's has a unique feature set that sets it apart from the rest. With this VST, you can change the microphones you are using on each part of your drum kit, which is a pretty incredible amount of control, considering this is a free VST plugin.
Some of the other cool features found on DrumMic'a's include the adjustable snare bleed and the transient shaper. Plus, right out of the gate, this thing delivers insanely good drum tones.
AudioSpillage MiniSpillage
Though it's been around for a few years now, MiniSpillage is still one of the handiest drum VST plugins out there. While the sound engine might be limited, you can squeeze a wide sonic scope out of the three onboard generators. From deep kicks to noisy hats to a variety of percussion sounds, the possibilities are seemingly endless.
Every generator comes with an LFO and envelope to add movement and shape to your tones, while the filters and distortion modules allow you to sculpt the tones of each drum even further.
Best Free EQ VSTs
Bee-Happy 550
The API EQ is arguably one of the most sought-after EQs out there. The Bee-Happy 550 is one of the best freeware versions of this legendary EQ, offering a great way to get you familiar with the API sound. You'll find carefully-matched EQ curves, a soft-clip and distortion section, and gain-dependent variable Q.
Plus, with only a few controls to mess with, it might be one of the easiest EQs to navigate!
Blindfold EQ
One thing we love about this piece of freeware is that it forces you to listen to the EQ decisions you're making . There are four bands found on the Blindfold EQ, including a Low Shelf, Low Mid, High Mid, and High Shelf. However, none of these band knobs have frequency values, Q values, or gain values. You HAVE TO use your ears to mix with it, which, in turn, will make your mixes much stronger while helping you develop better ears.
Ignite Amps PTeq-X
Everyone should have a Pultec emulation of some sort in their arsenal, as the Pultec EQP-1A hardware EQ set the bar for warm, gentle, and musical EQ decades ago. Ignite did an excellent job with the PTeq-X freeware, delivering the same broad tonal sculpting capabilities found on the original Pultec, and the warm tonal characteristics that you get even when simply running audio signals through it!
TDR Slick EQ
The TDR Slick EQ is a three-band equalizer that is made for easy sound sculpting. One of the unique things about this particular EQ is that it also has four saturation options, which you can use to dial in a slight bit of dirt once you reach the output stage. This EQ is perfect for mixing and mastering, and lets you choose between five output stages depending on the sound you're going for.
In our eyes, it's a classic free EQ plugin that you can't pass up.
Blue Cat's Triple EQ
If a simple parametric equalizer is what you're looking for, then the Blue Cat's Triple EQ semi-parametric equalizer is a great place to start. You get a low-shelf filter, a high-shelf filter, and a peak filter for boosting or cutting. All. of the filters are linked, meaning when you alter the bandwidth or center frequency, the other filters are modified.
One unique thing we love about the Blue Cat's Triple EQ is the fact that you can EQ the right and left channels separately!
Best Free Compressor VSTs
XFER OTT
The OTT upwards/downwards compressor has long been a favorite for EDM producers around the globe. The XFER OTT plugin is a free version of this insanely aggressive multiband compressor . If you're looking to squeeze the most energy you can out of your bass, drums, and synths without dropping a dime, look no further than the XFER OTT.
Thomas Mundt Loudmax
If you're looking for a lookahead brick wall limiter, then this piece of freeware is for you! The beauty of the LoudMax plugin is that it delivers loud, punchy mixes while retaining transparency. Even at the highest levels of compression, you'll still retain the original character of your music, which is something you don't get with many limiter plugins.
Frontier by D16 Group
Frontier is D16 Group's free, easy-to-use compressor plugin. You can use Frontier to boost the loudness of individual tracks with straightforward controls. Simply adjust the Threshold knob to compress your incoming audio signal and the Output Level knob to set your desired loudness.
If you're looking for a compressor plugin that can speed up your workflow and deliver high-quality compression , we highly recommend you download Frontier.
Limiter No. 6 by Vladislav Goncharov
Another excellent free limiter plugin is Limiter No. 6 by Vladislav Goncharov. This limiter features five stages of compression, including a compressor, peak limiter, HF limiter, clipper, and protector. As your signal moves through each of these stages, the compressor protects the signal's natural tone while reducing the dynamic range .
Limiter No. 6 is a VERY powerful limiter for mastering and is a wonderful piece of freeware that can handle complex signals. One of the best things about this Limiter is its ability to keep things sounding transparent, giving you natural yet dynamically controlled sound at the output.
Klanghelm DC1A
The Klanghelm DC1A is a one-size-fits-all compressor. This simple tool is perfect for adding a thick layer of magic across your individual tracks or master bus. Only a few small tweaks are required. There are a variety of tonal characteristics that set this particular compressor apart from the rest, and you really have to try it out to see what we mean.
Best Free Saturation VSTs
Klanghelm IVGI
It's hard to even count the number of professional mix engineers and producers we've seen using the Klanghelm IVGI . This analog saturation freeware offers some of the best-sounding virtual saturation we've ever heard. From subtle harmonic enhancements to heavily saturated coloration, the Klanghelm IVGI is packed with unique sounds. Analog saturation is a necessary part of any digital mix, and this is one of the best free saturation options you'll find.
Softube Saturation Knob
The Softube Saturation Knob is a modeled output distortion that allows users to dial-in full-bodied harmonics, adding warmth, depth, and analog love to their instruments. There are three different saturation modes to play around with, perfect for fattening up bass guitars, kicks, vocals, and more! Best of all, you only need to worry about the one giant knob in the center of the interface, making it easy to dial in the sound you want FAST.
When you hear what this plugin can do with a single knob, it'll blow you away!
TBPro Audio GSat+
The GSat+ saturation plugin was derived from the TBProAudio CS5501V2 channel strip plugin, delivering several saturation modes and tons of tweakability. They've even added more features than found on the channel strip version.
You'll find oversampling options, old-school VU meters, and several presets to get you started. The interface is easy to navigate, and the CPU needs are low, great for use on multiple tracks in a session.
Analog Obsession PEDALz
While we often see tape and tube saturation plugins on these kinds of lists, it's not often that we see saturation plugins that mimic guitar overdrive pedals. This plugin mimics the look and sound of high-end guitar overdrive pedals and comes with fine unique overdrive models that mimic some of the most popular overdrive pedals in history, such as the Guv'nor SD-1 and the Big Muff.
For a bit more control over your tone, Analo Obsession added a few knobs to PEDALz , allowing users to manipulate bass frequencies, treble frequencies, drive level, pre tone, and output.
FerricTDS MkII
If tape saturation is what you're after, then FerricTDS MKII by Variety of Sound is one of the best free tape saturation plugins on the market. This plugin simulates the dynamic range and saturation properties on analog tape, unlike any other free plugin.
Whether you want to add analog-style saturation, compress your signal, or round out any harsh transients, it's an essential tool. Users get two different tape modes to choose from, including Modern and Classic, as well as a limiter on the output section that prevents your signal from clipping.
SNFK Music DirtyPumper
DirtyPumpter is a high-end saturation plugin that does exactly what it says it does — pumps grit and saturation into your mix. Whether you choose to use it for a single track or your entire mix is up to you! It's great for drum busses, helping to create a bit of extra punch and crunch, though if you really want to push it to its extremes, you can use it on just about any source. The interface is very straightforward, perfect for those who want simplicity.
Best Free Guitar VSTs
Brainworx bx_rockrack V3
So many guitar amp sims out there attempt to emulate hundreds of amps with near-endless microphone choices. Of course, it seems that even after many hours spent tweaking knobs and switching out virtual microphones, getting the tone right is difficult. The distortion often sounds brittle, and the amps never feel organic.
With Brainworx bx_rockrack V3 , you get eight high-end famous amp models at your fingertips, allowing you to plug your guitar in and shred away! Some of the famous amp models you'll find in this bundle include ENGL, Mesa, and Marshall.
Ample Guitar M Lite II
Ample Guitar M Lite II delivers a real acoustic guitar to your fingertips using samples from a real Martin D-41, one of the most highly sought-after acoustic guitars on the market. The simple interface gives you a keyboard and a guitar fretboard to help you visualize the notes you are playing on your guitar.
It's surprising how many cool techniques are built into this thing, including palm mutes, hammer-ons, pull-offs, legato sweeps, and much more! Plus, with a three-fader microphone mixer, you get the highest degree of flexibility as you dial in the perfect acoustic guitar tones for your mix.
IK Multimedia Amplitube Custom Shop
The IK Multimedia Amplitube Custom Shop amp simulator has several basic amplifiers to get you started in the world of amp sims. With this free software, you get 42 iconic amps, pedals, speakers, cabinets, mics, and rack FX. Best of all, you can use this great plugin as a stand-alone amp or a DAW-integrated amp.
If you love what you hear with this Custom Shop plugin, you can download over 400 gear models from IK Multimedia's expansive collection!
Black Rooster Audio Cypress TT-15
Black Roosters guitar amplifier emulations are always top-notch, as the company meticulously models popular vintage amps with precision and care. This particular amp VST models a unique low-wattage amplifier and provides six intuitive controls to help you dial in the tones you want right away!
While the TT-15 does crunchy distortion quite nicely, we were pleased with how well the clean tones sounded. You'll also find a bypassable 2x12 cab simulation, perfect for those who want to feed into an external cabinet or power amp. It's an excellent piece of freeware for guitarists.
Impact Soundworks Shreddage 3 Stratus Free
Impact Soundworks' Shreddage is a Kontakt Library VST that requires the free Kontakt player to use. Once you have it set up, you have the iconic sound of a Fender Stratocaster at your fingertips. There is a wide variety of performance settings and articulations you can use, which translates how the MIDI runs through the guitar. From strumming to plucking to total shredding, the possibilities are endless with this VST.
Even though you only have access to the Stratocaster with this VST, Impact Soundworks included a wide range of amps, cabinets, and guitar pedals, allowing you to push your creative limits.
Best Free VST Effects
Eugene Yakshin Ribs
Ribs is by far one of the most unique free VST effects out there, using granular fx and textures to elevate your audio signals. Simply run your audio input through Ribs software to create glitchy, scratchy sounds that feel synthesized and otherworldly.
T-RackS 5 Custom Shop
The T-Racks Custom Shop plugin is a powerful plugin to get you started with the massive collection of IK Multimedia processing plugins. Whether you're mixing, mastering, or producing, there are limitless options with the Custom Shop plugin. You can integrate unique EQ plugins, compressor plugins, saturation options, and so much more!
Aegean Music Doppler Dome
The Aegean Music Doppler Dome is based on the Doppler Effect, creating unique stereo-based effects to stretch your music beyond the speakers. This is one of the most flexible free effects plugins we've ever messed with, providing access to a modulator, pitch shifter, spatializer, and auto-panner, all wrapped up in one!
With its unique visual interface, you can see how Doppler Dome is impacting your audio in real-time, making it an exciting visual experience!
Cable Guys Pancake 2
You won't even realize how much you'll use an auto-panner plugin until you have one in your arsenal. The great thing about the Cable Guys Pancake 2 auto-panner is that you can sync it to your DAW clock to get the most precise panning effects possible. Of course, they also make it possible to sync up the plugin to MIDI or custom-drawn modulation curves, giving you a surprising amount of flexibility that you wouldn't expect from a free plugin.
Wider by Polyverse
While Infected Mushroom has crafted a large line of unique production tools for musicians, Wider has got to be one of our favorites. This plugin is a stereo field enhancer, perfect for widening your mixes with care and precision. Whether your signal is mono or stereo, Wider can beautifully enhance it. Plus, it does so without negatively impacting the phase, even when you dial it to its ends.
TAL Chorus lx
If you're familiar with the layouts of vintage synths, then we guarantee you'll recognize the look of the TAL Chorus lx . This free virtual instrument captures the beautiful sound of the chorus found on the iconic Juno-60 from Roland. The best thing about it is that you don't get the unwanted noise and hiss found on the original analog hardware.
However, what you do get is the distinct characteristic of the Juno-60 chorus module. This effect is so easy to use that they didn't even include presets on the TAL Chorus lx. Just start playing with the onboard buttons and knobs to get started!
Valhalla DSP SpaceMod
Another wonderful free VST from Valhalla is the SpaceMod plugin. This plugin offers a unique take on flagging with eleven algorithms to mess around with. Whether you're looking for strange echoes, doubling, barber pole flagging, detuning, or reverb, you can dial in a variety of effects that defy description. Best of all, SpaceMod only has a few knobs on it, making it simple to navigate!
Best Free Reverb & Delay VSTs
Valhalla DSP SuperMassive
Supermassive from Valhalla DSP does what it claims to do. This massive echo creator can make never-ending soundscapes, trailing delays, and so much more! Whether you're looking to drown your pads in otherworldly delays or create swelling feedback to breathe cinematic life into your mixes, we promise this plugin is like nothing you've ever played around with before.
Smartelectronix Ambience
Ambience by Smartelectronix is one of the most versatile reverb plugins on the market today. With so many useful features and presets, it is somewhat of a classic in any VST plugin collection. Beyond your regular reverb functionality , however, you have some interesting functions, including the gather and hold features.
By pressing the hold function, you can freeze the reverb to maintain the current sound, which is fantastic for creating lush pads and long, sustained notes.
TAL Reverrb 4
TAL decided to put out another iteration of their free reverb plugin after releasing Reverb 2 a few years ago. This unique reverb VST plugin is great for music producers who want to get that vintage, 80s-style reverb sound. With a slick and intuitive user interface, you can create incredible reverb effects with ease.
Whether you're looking for natural room tones or larger-than-life vintage delays, TAL reverb 4 provides.
Best Free Utility VSTs
Melda MNoise Generator
Melda's MNoise Generator is a simple tool for generating pink or white noise. You can use this tool for audio analysis or add it to your audio signal for additional layers. However, the fun doesn't stop there. With integrated modulators, you can pull some unique creative effects out of this free VST.
Best Free VST Host Applications
Audacity
Many still consider Audacity one of the best freeware audio editors on the market. It's an incredibly stable and reliable piece of music software, perfect for simple recording and editing tasks. You can even load your own third-party VST plugins into Audacity, though the software itself comes with a variety of handy effects.
Of course, the user interface is way outdated, and we think it could definitely use a facelift in 2022, though it seems that the Audacity programmers are living by the motto,
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
LMMS
LMMS is hands down the best open-source beat-making platform. In many ways, it resembles the inner workings of FL Studio, which is undoubtedly one of the industry's most popular pieces of beat-making software.
One of the main advantages of LMMS is its sequencing workflow , which is rooted in old-school designs from Reason and FL Studio. Compared to other platforms, which have layouts that are more traditional , LMMS is great for playing around with drum samples and banging out quick beats!
Waveform Free
Waveform Free is the entry-level version of Traktion's Waveform Pro DAW. However, don't let the "entry-level" fool you, as this is one of the most feature-packed free DAWs on the market. It offers ReWire compatibility and VST plugin support, making it one of the most capable digital audio workstations around. You can even use it to load up animations or movie scenes!
If you produce electronic music, then Waveform Free is one of the best free tools around.
Noiz-Lab LE Mastering Bundle by Home Studio Mastering
Noiz-Lab LE Mastering Bundle is a unique mastering application available for free download. Home Studio Mastering released these tools to go hand-in-hand with their mastering book, though anyone who visits the site has access to them.
You'll find a compressor, a limiter, an equalizer, a "monomizer," and a convolution reverb. All of the effects in this free VST plugin bundle have a similar visual design and are incredibly user-friendly. You're not going to find the secret mastering mojo you've been after with this bundle, but you will find tools to help you master your songs with speed and intuition.
MuLab
If you're looking for a full-featured host application for live performance, then MuLab FREE is an awesome choice. Even with a four-track limit, this is one of the most powerful modular VSt hots out there, allowing you to chain up different instruments and effect racks with ease.
With MuLab, you can save various patches and flick through them with keyboard shortcuts, allowing you to set up presets for your live shows.
