Unlock Your Mixing Skills with 88 Free Plugins!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Kilohearts Essential Bundle
3. DTM Hacker Bundle
4. Baby Audio Plugins
5. BlendEQ - Analog Obsession
6. RareSE - Analog Obsession
7. DReverb - Stone Voices
8. Dirty LA - Bedroom Producers Blog
9. T-Puncher - Techivation
10. EQ302 - Red Rock Sound
11. BYOD - ChowDSP
12. Conclusion

Top 88 Free Mixing Plugins

In the world of music production, having access to high-quality mixing plugins is essential. These plugins can help enhance your mixes and give them a professional sound. Luckily, there are many free mixing plugins available that can compete with their paid counterparts. In this article, we will explore the top 88 free mixing plugins that every music producer should have in their arsenal.

1. Kilohearts Essential Bundle

The Kilohearts Essential Bundle is a collection of 30 free plugins that cover everything from EQ, to delay, distortion, and unique processing like formant shifters and reversers. These plugins have a small footprint when loaded in a digital audio workstation (DAW) and offer high-quality sound. Let's take a listen to some of the plugins in this bundle.

Pros:

• Wide range of plugin types included
• Small footprint in DAW

Cons:

• Limited to 30 plugins

2. DTM Hacker Bundle

DTM Hacker offers a bundle of free plugins on Gumroad, including their Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Transient Shaper, and Vibrato plugins. These plugins have a user-friendly interface and are easy to use. One standout plugin in this bundle is the transient shaper, which allows You to adjust the attack and release gain and timing. Let's take a listen to the flanger and phaser plugins and explore their other offerings.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Transient shaper plugin is a standout

Cons:

• Limited to specific plugin types

3. Baby Audio Plugins

Baby Audio released a new Pitchdrift plugin that offers a pleasant effect similar to tape wobble and modulation. This plugin can Create interesting and creative processing with its adjustable time and depth settings. Additionally, Baby Audio offers three other free plugins: a delay with a ducker, a stereo image modulator, and a randomized delay/reverb combo. Let's take a listen to the Pitchdrift plugin and explore the other plugins.

Pros:

• Unique effects with adjustable settings
• Additional free plugins available

Cons:

• Limited to four plugins

4. BlendEQ - Analog Obsession

BlendEQ by Analog Obsession is a plugin that houses two 6-filter EQs in one. These EQs can be blended, resulting in unique curves. The plugin also offers oversampling for improved sound quality, and the ability to cause overdrive distortion by adjusting input and output levels. Let's take a listen to the BlendEQ plugin and explore its features.

Pros:

• Unique blending capabilities
• Oversampling for improved sound quality

Cons:

• Limited to EQ functionality

5. RareSE - Analog Obsession

RareSE is a Pultec EQ emulation plugin by Analog Obsession. This plugin offers two Pultec EQs, one for the left and one for the right Channel. A unique feature of this plugin is the ability to switch the processing to mid and side, allowing for manipulation of the stereo image. Let's take a listen to the RareSE plugin and explore its capabilities.

Pros:

• Accurate Pultec EQ emulation
• Mid/side processing for stereo manipulation

Cons:

• Limited to Pultec EQ emulation

6. DReverb - Stone Voices

DReverb by Stone Voices is a free reverb plugin known for its high sound quality. It offers a long RT60 option of 100 seconds, which is quite rare in other plugins. This plugin also provides wet/dry, pre-delay, diffusion, Parallel input filtering, frequency crossovers, and basic EQ and stereo width controls. Let's take a listen to the DReverb plugin and explore its features.

Pros:

• High-quality reverb sound
• Long RT60 option

Cons:

• Lack of documentation on the Excursion section

7. Dirty LA - Bedroom Producers Blog

Dirty LA by Bedroom Producers Blog is a combination of an LA2A compressor and saturator. This plugin can provide attenuation with program-dependent timing and mild distortion. It is best suited for heavy compression and distortion, but can also be used in parallel with the mix dial. Let's take a listen to the Dirty LA plugin and explore its capabilities.

Pros:

• LA2A compression and saturation in one plugin
• Mix dial for parallel processing

Cons:

• Limited to compression and saturation functionality

8. T-Puncher - Techivation

T-Puncher by Techivation is a free transient shaper plugin that allows you to increase the impact of transients or cause compression by reducing the middle dial. This plugin has a subtle sound that works well for enhancing drums and other percussive elements. For a more aggressive sound, you can increase the input into the processor. Let's take a listen to the T-Puncher plugin and explore its capabilities.

Pros:

• Subtle and effective transient shaping
• Adjustable impact of transients

Cons:

• Limited to transient shaping functionality

9. EQ302 - Red Rock Sound

EQ302 by Red Rock Sound is a unique EQ plugin that offers 32 bands for finely controlling the response. This level of control is not commonly found in most EQ plugins. Additionally, this plugin allows you to choose between 6 or 12dB slopes, and offers optional linear phase processing and oversampling. EQ302 also includes more than 60 presets and can even be used as a standalone application outside of a DAW. Let's take a listen to the EQ302 plugin and explore its features.

Pros:

• Fine control over response with 32 bands
• Choice of slope and optional processing features

Cons:

• Complex interface for beginners

10. BYOD - ChowDSP

BYOD by ChowDSP is a plugin that includes 43 free plugins within a routing matrix. Although designed for guitar effects, some of the plugins work great for mixing applications. This versatility makes it a valuable tool for music producers. Let's take a listen to some of the processors in the BYOD plugin and discover its potential beyond guitars.

Pros:

• Wide range of plugins included
• Versatile routing matrix

Cons:

• May not be as specialized as dedicated mixing plugins

Conclusion

In conclusion, these top 88 free mixing plugins offer a wide range of tools to enhance your mixes without breaking the bank. Whether you're looking for EQ, compression, reverb, or unique processing effects, there is something for everyone on this list. Take the time to explore these plugins and find the ones that best suit your mixing needs. Happy mixing!

Highlights

• The Kilohearts Essential Bundle offers 30 free plugins including EQ, delay, distortion, and unique processing options.
• DTM Hacker Bundle provides free plugins with a user-friendly interface, including a standout transient shaper.
• Baby Audio offers a new Pitchdrift plugin and three additional free plugins for creative processing.
• BlendEQ by Analog Obsession allows blending of two 6-filter EQs, resulting in unique curves.
• RareSE by Analog Obsession is a Pultec EQ emulation plugin with mid/side processing capabilities.
• DReverb by Stone Voices is a high-quality free reverb plugin with a 100-Second decay time option.
• Dirty LA by Bedroom Producers Blog combines an LA2A compressor and saturator for heavy compression and distortion.
• T-Puncher by Techivation is a free transient shaper plugin for enhancing percussive elements.
• EQ302 by Red Rock Sound offers 32 bands for fine control over the frequency response.
• BYOD by ChowDSP includes 43 free plugins within a routing matrix, versatile for mixing applications.

FAQ

Q: Are these plugins compatible with all digital audio workstations (DAWs)? A: Most of these plugins are compatible with popular DAWs such as Ableton Live, Logic Pro, and Pro Tools. However, it's always recommended to check the compatibility details provided by the plugin developers.

Q: Can I use these plugins for commercial purposes? A: The majority of these plugins are free for personal and commercial use. However, it's important to review the terms and conditions of each plugin to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.

Q: Are these plugins available for Windows and Mac operating systems? A: Yes, these plugins are generally available for both Windows and Mac operating systems. However, be sure to check the system requirements of each plugin to ensure compatibility with your specific setup.

Q: Can I use these plugins on my guitar recordings? A: While some of these plugins are designed specifically for guitar effects, others offer a wide range of processing options suitable for various instruments, including guitars. Experimenting with different plugins can lead to unique and creative guitar tones.

Q: Are there any limitations or restrictions on the use of these plugins? A: While most of these plugins are available for free, some may offer premium versions or additional features for a fee. It's important to review the details provided by the developers to understand any limitations or restrictions that may apply.

Q: Do these plugins come with technical support? A: As these plugins are generally free, technical support may not be available. However, many developers provide forums or community support where users can ask questions and seek assistance from other users or the developer themselves.

Q: Can these plugins replace paid plugins in professional music production? A: While these free plugins offer impressive features and sound quality, they may not necessarily replace paid plugins that often provide more advanced functionalities and customer support. However, these free plugins can be a great addition to your toolkit, especially if you're on a budget or starting out in music production.

Q: How can I install these plugins in my DAW? A: Each plugin comes with its own installation process, which is typically outlined in the documentation provided by the developer. This can involve downloading the plugin files, moving them to the appropriate folder, and scanning for plugins within your DAW's settings. It's recommended to follow the installation instructions provided by the plugin developer for seamless integration with your DAW.