Free VST Plugins are one of the most exciting things about mixing. In the past it was impossible to imagine that so many quality tools could be available at no cost. Today there are more great free plugins than ever before, but the freeware scene is always changing. How can you know which free VSTs are worth installing?
If you use Wavosaur for mastering / premastering, or signal analysis in a more general way, you need tools for audio analysis : spectrum analyzers, phase analyzers, sonogram.
Wavosaur comes with analyzers, you’ll find them in the ‘tools’ menu, along with oscilloscopes & statistics about the sound file (maximum sample peak, RMS power, average value.).
But you can also use VST plugins (for some people it can be more convenient).
We have searched deep deep inside deep deep down inside into the web, to find the best free VST plugins for audio analysis, here’s the selection:
1) Spectrum Analysis
1.1) Voxengo SPAN
This spectrum analyzer uses FFT to display the signal frequency in real time.
You can freeze the display, and use the mouse to shows dB values / Frequency value
Frequency is displayed in Hz and in musical note.
The Voxengo SPAN analyzer also displays statistics : RMS power, and it features a clipping detection.
More info and download @ http://www.voxengo.com/product/span/
It is worth mentioning these plugins too, freeware!
1.2) Mdsp SmartElectronix Fre(a)koscope
Very nice, with interesting options for the spectrum display : linear/logarithmic/semitones .
Adjustable size for the FFT buffer. Had sometimes display problem with Wavosaur.
More info and download @ http://mdsp.smartelectronix.com/freakoscope/
1.3) BlueCat FreqAnalyst
Like the previous VST effect, this one can show spectrum of left / right channel or both, has a “hold peak” feature that is interesting, when dealing with EQ level in your mix.
More info & download @ http://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_FreqAnalyst/
1.4) Seven phase Spectrum Analyzer
This one is freely resizable inside the host application (works in Wavosaur)
More info and download @ http://sevenphases.wordpress.com/spectrum-analyzer/
1.5) MultiInspector free
Download @ http://www.vertexdsp.com/downloads.html#MultiInspectorFree
2) Sonogram
2.1) ag-works sonogram sg-1
This free plugin displays a scrolling sonogram for frequency analysis.
You have the choice for the sonogram colors, and many options to tweak the sonogram displays
This is the only sonogram VST we have found for free ! Fortunaly it’s very good.
More info & download @ http://ag-works.net/plugins.sg1.htm
3) Goniometer
3.1) Flux Stereo Tool
When you need to visualize your stereo position, and the repartition in the field, this plugin is very useful. You can check for phase errors in your mixes.
download @ https://www.fluxhome.com/download
3.2) Gonio3
download @ http://www.uk-music.de/index.php?page=downloads
3.3) HOFA 4U Goniometer & Korrelator
download @ http://hofa-plugins.de/pages/start_en/4u_en.php
If you think that we have forget some free VST analyzer plugin in this list, do not hesitate to comment !
Edit:
We just have found this pretty nice analyzer somewhere on our harddisk :
Dust Analyzer:
It provides three modes : spectrum / scope / phase , with “hold peak” option, freeze option, dB/Freq display with mouse, linear / logarithmic scale
more info & download @ KvR audio forum & http://www.signaldust.com/
WHY JUST THE FREE ONES?
Get all plugins for € 49/month
Advantages of the upgrading
The software is totally free of charge, so please download and enjoy! You should consider upgrading to a professional version though, as this is what you would get:
- You can change size and style of the plugins.
- You can access the sonogram feature in the analyzers and equalizers.
- You can manipulate (save, load, organise) your own presets.
- You can access the modulators.
- Most plugins can perform upsampling which minimizes aliasing, therefore it is useful to improve sound quality.
- The plugins will not display the big red reminder box with our clickable logo at the bottom of every GUI.
- You will make us happy and help us develop more free software ;-).
A simple but powerful utility that adjusts the loudness to match the side-chain.
MixingAn advanced spectral analyzer and sonogram featuring normalization, super-resolution..
Analysis, MasteringA classic automatic panner with adjustable shape oscillator technology.
A great sounding automatic pitch correction plugin with some cool creative features.
Mixing, PitchA powerful filter plugin with high-pass and low-pass filters and slopes up to 120dB/oct.
FilterA serious tool for extreme distortion lovers that lets you do all sorts of bad things to bits!
Saturation & distortionProduces up to 8 MIDI CC values from its own parameters.
MixingA powerful utility which lets you mix and reroute the channels from both inputs.
MixingMCharmVerb is a great sounding lush algorithmic reverb based on the MTurboReverb engine.
Mixing, PitchAn extremely powerful multi-comb filter plugin with 2 super-powerful modulators.
FilterA powerful compressor with custom processing shape and many other unique features.
DynamicsAn easy-to-use highly optimized convolution reverb.
ReverbAn extremely easy-to-use, powerful 6-band equalizer with analyzer, sonogram and much more.
EqualizerA versatile flanger with top-class sound, variable oscillator shape and many other features.
A powerful utility that lets you adjust the phase of individual frequencies however you like.
A powerful frequency shifter for everything from mild stereo expansion to complete destruction.
Saturation & distortionAn EBU R128 and ITU-R BS 1770-3 compliant loudness meter featuring everything you could need.
Analysis, MasteringFree metronome featuring both sound and resizable visual feedback.
MixingA powerful noise generator featuring white & pink noise and a few probabilistic generators.
AnalysisA simple text editor, which you can use to store comments, lyrics or just any text. https://mapsomg.netlify.app/vst-plugins-cool-edit-pro-21.html.
An generator plugin with adjustable oscillator shape, completely free of aliasing.
AnalysisPowerful oscilloscope equipped with a pitch detector; it saves time, because it just works. https://omgze.netlify.app/best-free-stereo-expander-vst.html.
AnalysisAn phaser effect plugin with adjustable oscillator shape, up to 100 filters, saturation..
A simple utility that lets you crossfade between the main input and sidechain.
A powerful crossfader between the main input and the sidechain featuring our multiband engine.
A simple utility for a simple job - record the plugin input into a WAV file, saved to disk.
Classic ring-modulation effects using two oscillators with customizable shapes. 808 vst free lms.
Saturation & distortionA smooth saturation in a definitive tube-like way improving the clarity of the resulting sound.
Saturation & distortionBass Amp Plugin Vst Free
A unique plugin which lets you apply a panorama to each frequency individually.
Mixing, StereoA basic M/S stereo field correction, fully mono compatible.
StereoAn advanced stereo field analyzer, which lets you solo mid, side and separate channels.
Analysis, StereoA definitive tremolo sound with an adjustable shape, handling up to eight channels of surround audio.
A simple audio pitch analyzer designed mostly for tuning guitars and other instruments.
Free Microphone Vst Plugins Plugin
Analysis, PitchVolume, panorama, phase inversion, stereo swapping, a DC blocker, delay, RMS and envelope..
MixingA versatile vibrato with customizable shape, handling up to 8 channels of surround audio..
Vst plugin ott vst. The missing output control can be overcome with a trim plugin after in the plugin chain.
An analogue-inspired distortion module with a unique character ranging from mild harmonic enhancement to a complete sound destruction.
Saturation & distortionA waveshaper that lets you construct your own shape and features lots of other goodiess.
Saturation & distortion