Nothing is ever free for ProTools right? Wrong! There are plenty of free plug-ins out there if you care to look around. Last time we looked at free stuff, the focus was on synth plug-ins for all DAWs, so this time here are 10 of the best free effects plug-ins for Pro Tools (but some will also work with other DAWs).
DrumCore Free version 3
Well, no version of Pro Tools supports the VST format. ALL versions of Pro Tools only use the AAX format for plugins. Interestingly, the location for all of your AAX plugins will be the same for all Avid Products. Meaning, the full version or Pro Tools, Pro Tools First, and even Media Composer, all look for AAX plugins in the same location. VST, Plugins, Audio, Samples, Free, Download Pro Tools HD 12.5 (WIN) Pro Tools HD 12 Avid 12.5 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7, 8 and 10 Direct Download (1GB). Another favourite use case for Metaplugin is to load VST plugins in Pro Tools or to load AudioUnits in Pro Tools if you’re on a Mac. Hence, you can use it as a VST to AAX wrapper or an AU to AAX wrapper. While we’re at it: you can also use Metaplugin to load VST plugins in Logic/LogicX (VST to AU wrapper). What makes Pro Tools unique in terms of plugin management is that plugins are scanned upon every DAW launch. Due to this, we recommend that Pro Tools is closed when installing new plugins or plugin updates. The following bullet points will address most customer reports in regards to 'missing plugins' in Pro Tools. Plugin Installations. Brainworx BXCleansweep V2. The brainworx BX Cleanup V2 is a handy little tool, it is.
- Sonoma WireWorks
- RTAS (also AU/VSTi)
- http://www.sonomawireworks.com/drumcore/downloads
You only get two kits with the free version of DrumCore, but it's still 1.16 GB of lovely drum sounds, something noticeably lacking from a basic installation of Pro Tools.
Amplitube Custom Shop
- IK Multimedia
- RTAS (also AU/VSTi)
- http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/amplitubecs
IK want you to use Custom Shop as a portal to their online purchasing system, but with the free version you get four preamps, nine stomp boxes and two rack effects which is enough to get you started with guitar amp simulation!
Thump
- Metric Halo
- AAX
- http://apps.avid.com/metric-halo
A percussive subharmonic synthesizer that creates low end for your mix ' add bottom to your kick, strengthen a bass line or even synthesize drones.
Niveau Filter
- Elysia Software
- AAX/AU/RTAS/VST
- http://www.elysia.com/software/niveau-filter
Modelled on a semi-parametric Baxandall filter, the Niveau is essentially a hi-fi tone control on steroids, and is great for making wide-range changes to frequency - and there's nothing like it in Pro Tools built-in plug-ins!
Frohmage
- Ohm Force
- RTAS/AU/VST
- https://www.ohmforce.com/ViewProduct.do?p=Frohmage
Partly chosen because of its name I'll admit, this is another tool not found in Pro Tools built-in plug-ins, which are mostly tasteful and transparent. The cheesy one is a low-pass filter with resonance, distortion and delay, just great for '˜messing stuff up'!
Vinyl
- iZotope
- RTAS/AS/VST/MAS/Audio Unit
- http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/vinyl
It's been around for quite a while, but nothing adds the sound of vinyl to your mixes quite as well as, er, Vinyl.
BitterSweet 3
- Flux
- RTAS/AU/VST
- http://www.fluxhome.com/products/freewares/bittersweet-v3
Another tool missing from Pro Tools' basic set, BitterSweet is a transient designer with but one control, which keeps it simple, and allows you to enhance or soften transients without audible compression.
Project Time
- Hofa
- All formats
- http://hofa-plugins.de/pages/start_en/4u_en.php
/vst-vs-plugin.html. Included because I like to be reminded of just how much time I've wasted trying to turn my latest sow's ear into a silk purse! All it does is tell you how long you have spent on your current project ' know a better way?
The Hofa 4U pack also includes a more than useful Meter, Fader and MS ' Pan tool, and a Goniometer/Correlator.
Saturation Knob
- Softube
- AAX
- http://forms.avid.com/forms/AAXpluginoffer2012?cmpid=70140000000U2to
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Add analog warmth to your mix by turning a large knob - if only everything in life were that simple.
bx_solo
BrainWorx
AAX/AS/AU/RTAS/TDM/VST
Pro Tools Vst Support
A middle-and-sides decoder that lets you solo left, right, mono sum or difference; you can also turn a stereo recording into middle-and-sides and vice versa, and expand stereo width by up to 400% as well as fold down to mono. Invaluable!
Will Pro Tools Use Vst Plugins Plugin
Related Videos
Pro Tools First Vst Plugins
VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology. There are three types of VST plug-ins:
- VST instruments: These plug-ins generate audio and are either virtual synthesizers or samplers. Many VST instruments emulate the appearance and sound of famous hardware synthesizers. Popular VSP instruments include Massive, FM8, Absynth, Sylenth 1, Reaktor, Gladiator, Vanguard, and Omnisphere.
- VST effects: Effects process audio instead of generating it. VST effects function like hardware audio processors, like reverbs and phasers.
- VST MIDI effects:MIDI plug-ins process MIDI messages and send MIDI data to other VST instruments and hardware.
VST Plug-ins
VST plug-ins can be used within a digital audio workstation, in programs like Pro Tools and Logic. They’re frequently used to emulate hardware outboard gear such as compressors, expanders, equalizers, and maximizers. You'll frequently find these distributed to emulate certain models of hardware; there's some for vintage compressors, and you'll frequently find effects that emulate vintage hardware (both in instrumental and stompbox-like effects).
Think of VST plug-ins as really affordable ways to make your home studio sound like a really expensive commercial operation.
VSTi Plug-ins
Aside from VST plug-ins, you'll also find VST-instrument or VSTi plug-ins. These can emulate really cool, but expensive, hardware (like Hammond B3 and Nord Electro). The quality of these VSTi plug-ins can vary from acceptable to really poor; it all depends on the quality of your system resources (RAM and scratch space on your hard drive, for example), and how well-sampled the instrument is. You also want to make sure that your VSTi plug-in offers true polyphonic content, meaning you can make life-like chords that don’t sound too artificial.
Quality
There are thousands of plug-ins available. Some only take a few hours to produce and are free, but the quality is terrible. Some are made by huge companies and sound amazing, but are expensive. VST plug-in developers try to recreate the sound as closely as possible, but the original instrument is probably always going to sound better than the plug-in. You might be trying to get the rich, full-bodied sound of an organ, for example, but who owns an organ? No one has access to every type of instrument, so a plug-in will have to do. The good news is that VST plug-in technology is improving, so quality can only get better with time.
VST Plug-in Standard
Created by Steinberg, a German musical software and equipment company, the VST plug-in standard is the audio plug-in standard that allows third-party developers to make VST plug-ins. Users can download VST plug-ins on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. The vast majority of VST plug-ins are available on Windows. Apple’s Audio Units are standard on Mac OS X (it’s actually considered a competing technology), and Linux lacks commercial popularity, therefore few developers create VST plug-ins for the operating system.
Where to Find VST Plug-ins
There are thousands of VST plug-ins available, both commercially and as freeware. The Internet is flooded with free VST plug-ins. Home Music Production and Bedroom Producers Blog have robust lists of VST plug-in recommendations, and Splice and Plugin Boutique also offer a ton of free plug-ins.