Nine Budget-Friendly Plugins Worthy of Elevating Your Audio Productions
In the realm of Music Production and Sound Design, the right tools can make all the difference. Here, we highlight a range of affordable audio plugins that can significantly improve your tracks, making professional-quality sound accessible to all.
Dada Life offers two incredible plugins for $59 / £45: Sausage Fattener and Endless Smile. Sausage Fattener beefs up sounds with distortion and grit, while Endless Smile is a washout tool for build-ups and post drop tension.
Waves' CLA MixHub, priced at $69 / £52.50, allows users to mix up to 64 tracks from the same plugin window. Inspired by Chris Lord-Alge's workflow, it's a must-have for streamlined mixing. Keep an eye on Waves' socials/website for potential discounts on their plugins.
Xfer Records' LFO Tool, priced at $49.95 / £38, is a versatile plugin designed for ducking effects and sidechaining. It offers a variety of presets and custom curve sculpting.
Valhalla DSP's Plate emulates the sound and behavior of real-world steel plate reverbs and costs $50 / £38. Its sister plugin, Shimmer, creates smooth, dense decays, vast ambiences, and is also priced at $50 / £38. Both offer demo versions for users to try before buying.
For those on a tighter budget, there are numerous free VST plugins available. TDR Nova, Valhalla Supermassive, Acon Digital Multiply, MeldaProduction Dynamic EQ, Voxengo OldSkoolVerb, Softube Saturation Knob, and TDR Kotelnikov are just a few examples. These free plugins offer powerful mixing and effects capabilities without cost, enhancing polish and clarity in your mixes.
In addition to these plugins, HoRNet Plugins provide professional-grade tools at budget-friendly prices. HoRNet Sleek is an automatic resonance suppression tool, while HoRNet TotalEQ MK2 is a visual, dynamic equalizer with up to 36 bands and analog saturation features.
Fuse Audio Labs Oelot Octa, priced at about $29, offers great value for synthesis and sound design. Waves Quick Vox, an all-in-one vocal plugin priced around $19, includes saturation, distortion, delay, reverb, compressor, EQ, limiting, and more, making it a versatile tool for vocal processing.
To find these plugins, visit official plugin deal websites such as Plugin Boutique, PluginFox, and Thomann, dedicated blogs and sample sites listing free VSTs, or manufacturer websites like HoRNet’s for detailed descriptions, demos, and purchase options. YouTube channels reviewing and showcasing new releases and deals can also provide valuable insights.
For those interested in formal education, registering with the school offering courses on plugins and digital audio workstations like Ableton and Logic Pro provides access to free sounds, plugins, online course samples, and more. MaxforLive's Arcade Series One Bundle, priced at $36 / £27.50, consists of four generative sequencers designed to create unpredictable melodies and inspire creativity within Ableton Live.
U-HE's Twangström, a spring reverberator that emulates classic rock n roll guitar and instrument amplifiers, is priced at €69 / £59. AudioThing's Outer Space, emulating the Roland RE-201 Space echo, features ducking controls, a preamp switch, spring reverb tank, tape echo section, Doppler effect, and costs €69 / £59.
By exploring these sources, you can find both budget-friendly paid plugins and excellent free alternatives to significantly enhance your audio productions. A guide to 9 Must-Have Free Plugins and 9 More Must-Have Free Plugins provides further information and recommendations.
In the realm of education-and-self-development, registering with schools offering courses on plugins and digital audio workstations can provide access to free sounds, plugins, and online course samples. Furthermore, the world of technology offers a range of affordable audio plugins, such as MaxforLive's Arcade Series One Bundle, priced at $36 / £27.50, and diverse free VST plugins that can significantly improve your music production lifestyle, like TDR Nova and Voxengo OldSkoolVerb.
