Resource Collection Thread - Free and Useful Plugins, Samples and Soft Synths - General

[B]Free Software for the Bedroom Producer goes here![/B] I can't believe we don't have a thread for this already so I decided to make one. Since sound production has basically become something every teenager in their attic will give a go at some point, the internet is full to bursting with quality VSTs and Sample banks, which are often free and easy as shit to use. More often than not, they sound fantastic too - and even if they don't it's worth giving them a try. So let's collect them in a thread! If you know of any great soft synths for free, any plugins you think are worthwhile, etc etc, then post them below. I may or may not make a list in the OP - but even if I don't at least they'll be in the thread. Make sure you post a description though so people know what you're linking to! Specify for what operating system as well, while you're at it. [B]Windows:[/B] [B]Drum Machines[/B] [B]- The Machine -[/B] Largest free resource of vintage drum machine samples on the net at the moment. The samples are not high fidelity, but they aren't terrible sounding either - they sound fine. And for the variety, you can't go wrong. All you need to do once you have this is find out what drum machine you want to use, if any. Then find it. You're set. [I]Comes in 4 parts:[/I] [URL]http://nfurl.us/mach1[/URL] [URL]http://nfurl.us/mach2[/URL] [URL]http://nfurl.us/mach3[/URL] [URL]http://nfurl.us/mach4[/URL] [B]Sample Banks:[/B] [B]- DX7 Banks for FM8 -[/B] The Yamaha DX7 was the classic synth of the 80s. Look up any New Wave band or synthpop band and they're bound to have used one at some point - along with the Korg Polysix, the Roland Juno 5, and the Fairlight. While it's a little difficult to find something that emulates these synths, the DX7 was an FM synth, which FM8 is also. In fact, FM8 has the capability to import sysex files, which was what the DX7 used to store its preset banks. What does this mean? It means access to tonnes of authentic, classic 80s sounds for free - if you're looking to sound a bit like anything on the Rosso Corso label, like Com Truise or Miami Nights 1984 if that's your jam: [URL]http://bobbyblues.recup.ch/yamaha_dx7/patches/DX7_AllTheWeb.zip[/URL] Extract that and open up FM8 - File > Import from Sysex File... > Open the one you want and it'll appear in your NI shared content folder, which is usually in documents. You can find it in your FM8 file browser. I recommend the Godric collection in that folder and the Deckard one for your basses. The Bass1 preset is one of the most famous basses of the 80s and the Epiano Preset is still in heavy use today. Lots of them sort of don't work and some of them do, it's a bit hit and miss but worth it if you can get it working. [B]Plugins:[/B] [B]- Ambience -[/B] Really good sounding free reverb with a few features to boot. [URL]http://magnus.smartelectronix.com/#Ambience[/URL] Site also has delays and EQs which are apparently pretty good if that's your thing. [B]-ThrillSeeker- [/B] Cool Stereo levelling plugins that I use a lot - gives a bit of punch to your recordings and can make them sound a bit tapey. Just cool to add on the top of things for a subtle difference. [URL]http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/downloads/[/URL] Site also has a sweet delay called NastyDLMKII which is the most destructive delay I think I've heard. Really cool. Also the Density compressor is awesome. [B]-Rough Rider -[/B] Don't know much about this one, but it's apparently a compressor programmed solely to give some dirt and pump to rhythm tracks and has features to assist there. The site says it's 'definitely not an all purpose compressor' so I guess give it a go? [URL]http://www.audiodamage.com/downloads/product.php?pid=ADF002[/URL] [B]- Ohm Force Frohmage -[/B] Old low pass filter which is still in heavy rotation today. Is now freeware but definitely worth using, very famous VST, lots of sound options and sounds really good if you know how to use it (unfortunately I don't) [URL]https://www.ohmforce.com/ViewProduct.do?p=Frohmage[/URL] Post more resources and let's have some fun!

[url]http://www.tweakbench.com/[/url] Tweakbench provides some silly free plugins. Mostly chiptune stuff, apparently some effects too

I highly recommend these free plugins: [url]http://www.dskmusic.com[/url]

I haven't seen these before, need to check these out, the chiptune stuff sounds like fun, I've been looking for stuff like that for a while this dskmusic one needs donations though, is that right?

[QUOTE=killerteacup;43821119]I haven't seen these before, need to check these out, the chiptune stuff sounds like fun, I've been looking for stuff like that for a while this dskmusic one needs donations though, is that right?[/QUOTE] They have a free library of many vst plugins if you check the top tabs, I think the main collection only wants cash.

Oh man I've forgotten bout the DSK plugins, need to get some of these again :v:

whack this baby into 88 miles per heughgh and it basically makes songs for you [img]http://i.imgur.com/JiHm42o.png[/img]

I made this collection of free shit for another forum a while back but Google Drive is weird about downloading folders so you may have to click the "Add to Drive" button before you can download more than 1 file at a time. [url]https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0By43FtqurqmyamdDWjhnNHhDRzg&usp=sharing[/url]

When I don't have access to a keyboard, I'll normally use [url=http://sourceforge.net/projects/drumtrack/]DrumTrack[/url] for my free drum software. The stock sounds aren't all that great, but I love its simplicity. Don't really know where to find other samples, however.

Just a few of the plugins and VSTs I've used in [url=soundcloud.com/trlechippers]my tracks...[/url] [B][url=http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=Pro-SoloVst&id=1491]Pro SoloVST[/url][/B] Great free version of the ARP Pro Soloist as used by Tony Banks, Gary Numan etc. The solo from "In The Cage" has never sounded better. [B][url=http://www.elektrostudio.ovh.org/index.php?go]eSLine[/url][/B] String synthesizer, based on the ARP Solina used by countless artists - Pink Floyd, Buggles, Elton John etc. The modulation effect is beautifully lush. [B][url=https://sites.google.com/site/artifakelabs/]Redtron[/url][/B] There's lots of different Mellotron VSTs but this is the best one I've found - pristine samples and lots of customisation. The samples only last 8 seconds but that's a small price to pay...

Here's a song in which I used DSK Darkness theory 3 and DSK Choirz made by me: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViU0V7QRsGM[/media]

[QUOTE=TRLEChippers;43909059]Just a few of the plugins and VSTs I've used in [URL="http://soundcloud.com/trlechippers"]my tracks...[/URL] [B][URL="http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=Pro-SoloVst&id=1491"]Pro SoloVST[/URL][/B] Great free version of the ARP Pro Soloist as used by Tony Banks, Gary Numan etc. The solo from "In The Cage" has never sounded better. [B][URL="http://www.elektrostudio.ovh.org/index.php?go=esline"]eSLine[/URL][/B] String synthesizer, based on the ARP Solina used by countless artists - Pink Floyd, Buggles, Elton John etc. The modulation effect is beautifully lush. [B][URL="https://sites.google.com/site/artifakelabs/=esline"]Redtron[/URL][/B] There's lots of different Mellotron VSTs but this is the best one I've found - pristine samples and lots of customisation. The samples only last 8 seconds but that's a small price to pay...[/QUOTE] That's actually not the fault of the VST. Even in an actual mellotron samples only last about 8 seconds due to the way they were recorded on small slices of tape. [editline]15th February 2014[/editline] im really interested in redtron, I love mellotrons to death and have about 3 different sample banks of them, but your link seems to be broken? [url]https://sites.google.com/site/artifakelabs/[/url] That link works though as far as I can tell it just uses the taijiguy samples which are free on the internet anyway, but this looks like its cleaned them up really nicely There's actually another sample bank done by mike pinder from the moody blues, which is always worth checking out as well - it has a lot of chamberlain samples

Pick up a copy of Computer Music magazine. The disc attached has a shitload of usually premium plugins. I'd upload them but I'm not sure if that's piracy.

completely forgot to mention this place [url]http://rhythm-lab.com[/url] so much amazing free content

[QUOTE=supersnail11;43914876]Pick up a copy of Computer Music magazine. The disc attached has a shitload of usually premium plugins. I'd upload them but I'm not sure if that's piracy.[/QUOTE]Yeah CM has a load of great stuff on the disks. I love the sample packs myself

I saw one TAL plugin in C0linSSX's Google Drive but [URL="http://kunz.corrupt.ch/Products"]here[/URL] is the site. Most of there plugins are free and awesome.

TAL's SH101 Bass VST is pretty awesome, I use that sometimes [url]http://kunz.corrupt.ch/products/tal-bassline[/url] this one

[QUOTE=CLungcancer;43807920][url]http://www.tweakbench.com/[/url] Tweakbench provides some silly free plugins. Mostly chiptune stuff, apparently some effects too[/QUOTE] I use their Melotron VST on a ton of shit, it's really good.

If there's educational resources being shared here, does anybody have anything on learning how to master properly and understand EQ?

That's not a bad idea actually, I didn't think about that but sure here's a really good few websites: [url]http://tweakheadz.com/the-perfect-mix-notes-on-mastering-post-production-audio-and-the-final-touches/[/url] [url]http://therecordingrevolution.com/[/url] [url]http://music.tutsplus.com/[/url] [url]http://music.tutsplus.com/articles/35-audio-tutorial-sites-that-will-keep-you-learning--audio-13464[/url]

Also, any good theremin VSTs would be nice c: [editline]22nd February 2014[/editline] ninja'd, nice finds!

here's a good eq'ing guide [url]http://www.dnbscene.com/article/88-thinking-inside-the-box-a-complete-eq-tutorial[/url]

What I use or have used: [b]4Front Series[/b] Piano, EPiano, decent sound... [url]http://www.yohng.com/software/piano.html[/url] [b]Alieno[/b] I don't use this one too much, but it can produce some weird sounds. [url]http://www.kvraudio.com/product/alieno-by-acrobatics[/url] [b]Analog Warfare[/b] Nice analog synths (especially basses) with awesome step-filter stuff [url]http://www.amvst.com/analogwarfare[/url] [b]basic64/basic65[/b] Commodore 64/various chiptune synthesizer - really cool arpy stuff) [url]http://delamanchavst.wordpress.com/instruments/[/url] (will take you to all of the free VSTi's! Be sure to check out his effects too.) [b]Boogex[/b] A Voxengo freebie that simulates guitar amps. Voxengo is generally great, by the way. [url]http://www.voxengo.com/product/boogex/[/url] [b]Xhip[/b] Awesome analog synthesizer. I use this extensively when I want to toy around with analog sounds. [url]http://xhip.net/[/url] [b]BIT BOX[/b] Retro/Chiptune drum machine [url]http://woolyss.com/chipmusic/chipmusic-plugins/BiT_BOX.zip[/url] [b]Bleep[/b] Another Commodore 64-esque/various chiptune synthesizer [url]http://woolyss.com/chipmusic/chipmusic-plugins/Bleep.zip[/url] [b]DSK Series[/b] I mainly use the Asian/World instruments, but enjoy a lot of what DSK puts out. [url]http://www.dskmusic.com/[/url] [b]epicVerb[/b] Use sparingly - it's a CPU hog but sounds cool! [url]http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/2009/01/01/epicverb/[/url] [b]Famisynth[/b] One of my favorite synths - replicates the NES/Famicon synthesizers [url]http://woolyss.com/chipmusic-plugins.php?s=Famisynth[/url] [b]Input Vinylator[/b] Everyone can sound old and beat up now! [url]http://rekkerd.org/theo-krueger-releases-input-vinylator/[/url] [b]mda Series[/b] I mainly use mda Stereo for widening unimportant synths. [url]http://mda.smartelectronix.com/[/url] [b]NES VST[/b] A synthesizer brought to you by MIT for the purpose of accurate emulation [url]http://www.mattmontag.com/projects-page/nintendo-vst[/url] [b]Rocket Punch[/b] Awesome retro chiptune sounds! Produces crazy phaser synths of doom or dainty blips of puniness. [url]http://woolyss.com/chipmusic/chipmusic-plugins/Rocket_Punch.zip[/url] [b]SQ8L[/b] Fancy shmancy analog synthesizer. Love it. [url]http://www.buchty.net/ensoniq/[/url] [b]Stereo Touch[/b] Another Voxengo freebie. It really only should be used on spreading out unimportant synths or pads. That, or very, very lightly on a separate bus coming from an instrument. [url]http://www.voxengo.com/product/stereotouch/[/url] [b]Subfreak/Subatomic[/b] Two really good subsynths! I use them in pretty much every song now. [url]http://delamanchavst.wordpress.com/instruments/[/url] [b]Superwave P8[/b] Damn good synthesizer. Can do quite a bit including Trance synths, 80's brass synths, 303's, you name it. [url]http://www.superwavesynths.co.uk/product_p8.htm[/url] [b]Synthestra[/b] Basic synthesizer that can do some neat sounds [url]http://marvinpavilion.ojaru.jp/en/sound/vst.html[/url] [b]Tweakbench Series[/b] Blippy nonsense [url]http://www.tweakbench.com/[/url] [b]TranceDrive[/b] CPU HOG. CPU HOG. CPU HOG. Also, it can do some nice Trance sounds! I'd rather use Superwave P8, though. [url]http://www.yedey.com/2010/02/official-release-of-trancedrive/[/url] [b]VOPM[/b] I use this with ripped Genesis synths to make awesome chiptune bits as well. [url]http://www.geocities.jp/sam_kb/VOPM/[/url] [b]Voyager[/b] Another awesome analog synth. I'm using it more and more. [url]http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=383[/url] [b]ymVST[/b] ATARIIIIIIIII [url]http://www.preromanbritain.com/ymvst/[/url] [b]Other chiptune stuff:[/b] [url]http://www.woolyss.com/chipmusic.php[/url] [b]Samples:[/b] [url]http://www.breakbeat-paradise.com/bb_samples.php[/url] (yes, I use this website)

It's probably been mentioned but for all dance producers ; Valhallaroom is probably one of the top reverb plugins there is

For feeding something through vinyl to make it sound all vinyl you can't go further than iZotope vinyl: [url]http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/vinyl/[/url] [editline]28th February 2014[/editline] Also jesus wauterboi thats a good collection

I forgot about Piano One, which can also be a nice alternate sound to 4Front Piano. [url]http://www.supremepiano.com/product/piano1.html[/url]

Thanks for all the content, everyone.

Also I suggest keeping an eye on Native Instruments site, from time to time they give away simplified versions of upcoming synths and effects. Like supercharger which they gave away in december. It's 50 euros now in the store.

Anyone know of a good site for finding acapellas?

[QUOTE=_Kyle_1;44319681]Anyone know of a good site for finding acapellas?[/QUOTE] If you can't find it within 2-3 google searches, it doesn't exist.