However, Pro Tools will not recognize VSTs as usable content. Thanks to FXpansion, there are ways to add VST plug-ins into Pro Tools (See limitations) Free Plugins For Pro Tools 10 Mac Plugins For Pro Tools First. Computers with Apple Mac OS X v10.6 'Snow Leopard', Mac OS X v10.7 'Lion', Mac OS X v10.8 'Mountain Lion', OS X v10.9 'Mavericks. ReaFIR stands apart from most other noise reduction plug-ins with its wealth of pro features and flexible capabilities. Even if this were a paid plug-in, we would still recommend adding it to your arsenal of sonic enhancement tools. Redunoise by Voxengo. The Best Free Audio Plugins for OS X with Video Demos. AudioUnit (AU), RTA, VSTSynths, Reverbs, Compressorsand much more. Just listen, watch and download! Free RTAS Plugins From VST – Time To Wrap Up Pro Tools Free Download Mac. If you really want to use VST plugins with your Pro Tools rig, there is a way – you can get yourself a wrapper program that acts as an interface between the VST and Pro Tools itself.
For a long time, it’s been easy to find a whole world of free VST and AU plugins on the web. But for users of Pro Tools – arguably the most popular professional DAW in the U.S. – pickings have always been a bit slimmer.
Due to Avid’s exacting standards, fewer plugins have been written for Pro Tools’ proprietary RTAS, TDM and AAX formats than more open protocols like VST. But fortunately, the ones that are available for the platform are usually among the very best.
Despite a slightly greater barrier to entry when it comes to writing code for Pro Tools, there still is a healthy crop of free tools and toys for the program. Today we present you with a detailed and up-to-date list of some of the most functional free plugins available in RTAS or AAX.
Some companies (most notably Massey Plugins) offer extremely generous demos licenses that border on free. But for this particular rundown, we’re looking at purely free software only. This is an evolving list, and we’ll be sure to remove plugins as they become irrelevant, and add new ones as they crop up. In the meantime, feel free to offer any of your favorites (and your own experience with compatibility) in the comments section below.
EQs & FILTERS
elysia niveau filter
Plugin Alliance is responsible for four of the free downloads on this list. The first, elysia’s niveau filter, may be one of the simplest and most powerful free plugins around.
This EQ, which is culled from the innovative elysia mpressor, is essentially a semi-parametric Baxandall filter. In other words: a high-octane take on the classic hi-fi “tone” control. Pages fur mac os x 10 11 6.
The niveau filter is excellent for making broad, sweeping changes of EQ that still sound entirely natural. This unique filter allows you to select a center frequency, and then simultaneously raise bass and lower treble above and below that point – or vice-versa. In practice, this EQ can lead to subtly or radically new frequency curves, without some of the artifacts of a traditional parametric. It may be free, but the niveau filter can be extremely useful.
Another entry from Plugin Alliance, the brainworx bx_cleansweep v2 is a simple hi-pass and lo-pass filter combo. Technically, it doesn’t do anything to the sound that Pro Tools’ built-in equalizer plugin can’t do. Instead, what makes this free tool so useful is its unique joystick control that encourages creative and decisive strokes.
This simple and straightforward GUI also allows easy automation for time-based filter effects. Like the niveau filter, cleansweep is a simple, straightforward tool that’s surprisingly useful for reshaping sounds with elegance and ease.
Ohm Force Frohmage
Frohmage is a filter of a different variety. This free plugin from Ohm Force has less to do with the fairly transparent EQ plugins already built in to Pro Tools, and a whole lot more in common with the dramatic resonance filters you might find on a classic analog synthesizer.
This is a full-featured resonant low-pass filter that allows you to select your cutoff points by frequency or by musical note, and that offers detailed MIDI control. It can even add distortion and delay to each band, making the Frohmage an efficient and inspiring one-stop sound mangler.
Ohm Force warns that some users have reported issues with Pro Tools 10, but on my PT10 system, so far, so good.
The DDMF ColourEQ is a pretty straightforward parametric EQ. At first glance, it’s hard to tell why it would be worth a download, what with the flexibility of Pro Tools own EQIII, but DDMF has found reason to brag:
“Not just another EQ,” the company’s marketing materials relay, “With its custom-made 4th order IIR filter, ColourEQ sounds unlike any other EQ you have ever come across. It comes with five bands of “super parametric” peaking filters, which means that there is one more parameter in addition to the traditional gain/width/frequency set that can influence the curve shape. These shapes cannot be reproduced by ordinary IIR equalizers.”
Sounds fancy, but I have not been able to try ColourEQ myself as it is not yet compatible with Pro Tools 10. If you have an older system, give it a shot and let us know what you think.
Prosoniq’s North Pole is a free 4-band resonance filter with a built-in delay. It hasn’t been updated since 2011 and may not work for PT 10 users, but for those with older versions of the program, it’s worth a try.
The third entry from Plugin Alliance is a great sounding, easy-to-use 8-band graphic EQ. The catch? Only 4 of those bands are enabled: 40 Hz, 150 Hz, 1.8 kHz and 16 kHz.
It may not be as powerful as the first two PA plugins on this list, but the two low frequency bands on the FreeRanger can be very helpful in sorting out issues among competing bass instruments, and the upper bands sound about as good when boosting as any EQ can.
UNCONVENTIONAL SOUND SHAPERS
Softube’s Saturation Knob is easily one of the coolest saturators I’ve tried, and it’s free. Like all of Softube’s tools, Saturation Knob has a distinctive, convincingly analog character, a beautiful GUI, and is endlessly fun to use.
This simple and straightforward free plugin sounds full, rich and real at subtle settings. When it’s cranked up loud, Saturation Knob distorts like a real electrical circuit does – with squishy, ugly, satisfying grit. In addition to the eponymous knob, a single switch changes between three flavors of saturation. I’m a big fan of the “Keep Low” setting.
This is one of the newest freebies for PT, and it is AAX only. Pro Tools 10 users rejoice.
Flux’s Bitter Sweet II is a transient-designer type of plugin, controlled by a single all-purpose knob. At its best on percussion instruments, Bitter Sweet allows you to enhance transients, or to soften them, helping you to shape the attack characteristics of drums and other instruments without the artifacts or dynamic-range squeeze of a compressor.
iZotope’s Vinyl is a classic freebie that has been around for years. To iZotope’s credit, they have continuously updated it, and I’m happy to report that it works flawlessly for me on Pro Tools 10.
This plugin models the natural degradation and quirky EQ curves of real records, and you might liken it to an audio version of Instagram.
In the “1990s” settings, the affects are subtle yet meaningful, but crank that dial down to the “1970s” or below, and you can reshape your sounds and make your tracks lo-fi in a natural and organic-sounding way. You can even add mechanical noise, dust and record scratches if you’re so inclined.
I can’t begin to tell you what this free plugin does. All I can say is that it has one of the best GUIs in the known universe, and one of the coolest-looking installers I’ve ever run. As for the sound? Suffice it to say that with Cohmpost, yours will never be the same.
REVERB & DELAY
PSP’s PianoVerb emulates the reverb sound of the inside of a grand piano. You can adjust decay time, damping, and even the key of the sustain and the accuracy of the virtual piano’s tuning.
Try it on vocals, guitar amps, drums and all manner of stringed instruments. It may not suitable for every track, but rest assured, this free plugin provides an odd and memorable sound that’s occasionally the perfect touch. PianoVerb is another one of those classic freebies that has stood the test of time, and is still working seamlessly right up to Pro Tools version
FreqEcho Free
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If you are looking for some FREE Pro Tools plugins, then here’s the list, they often also work in any DAW that supports AAX, AU and VST, including Pro Tools, Studio One, Logic Pro X and many more. The list features FREE Pro Tools plugins from some top brands and is updated regularly. AAX: Pro Tools 10.3.6 or higher; Download: Windows / Mac. Delay Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin. Delay is an audio effect that records an input audio signal to a medium and then plays it back after a period of time or after the time you specify. Some of the free delay plugins are 12.) Proximity. As I cover in the course, Metering is absolutely essential to mastering, and SPAN is. Aax free plugins for pro tools 12 search results Descriptions containing aax free plugins for pro tools 12. More CCleaner 5.78.8558. Freeware - CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. CCleaner is the number-one tool for cleaning your Windows PC.
Disclosure: When you buy through our links, we may get a commission at zero cost to you.
“My audio sample sounds dry” – I’ll add a reverb effect to make it wet (sound roomy) a little!
That was a joke, I can bet you have come across several effects in your software applications (DAW) such as reverb, delay, compression, distortion, and other various effects.
But! Why do we use audio effects in the first place?
To answer that question, I’ll ask you a simple question. How would your meal taste without any ingredients?
Tasteless right! Yh, sure, it’s still eatable but it lacks flavor. Let’s transition back to the old question, why do we use audio effects?
Audio effects are software devices (ingredients) that manipulates an audio signal to a specific taste, it can make a dry audio signal sound wet, it can help in controlling the gains of an uncompressed sound (proper leveling of peaks), it can make a dull audio sample sound lively, and it can also be misused (think of adding too many/too little salt to your meal).
Since we know the importance of using audio effects, I would be recommending some of the best free VST effects plugins.
It doesn’t make any sense to randomly list the effects, so I decided to categorize each and every effect, all compressor vst effect plugin would be under the Compressor Vst category, reverb vst effects plugin would be under Reverb Vst category, you get the idea.
Page Contents
- Compressor Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
- Reverb Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
- Delay Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
- EQ Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
Let’s get cracking…
Compressor Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
Compression is an effect or an audio processing tool that is used to control the overall Dynamics of an audio signal or an audio portion.
Some of the best free compressor plugins are…
1.) Audiofb – SeteChave Compressor
SeteChave is the first compressor on our list and is designed with characteristics close to the “pumping” effect. It can be used for parallel compressing and it is really intuitive with minimal knobs, so, you will quickly get a hold of this one.
Features:
- Input – Input signal gain control from -12db to + 12db
- Att – Attack spanning from 1.2ms to 500ms
- Rel – Release ranging from 20ms to 5s
- Threshold – with decibel range from 0db to -36db
- Ratio – Compression ratio, ranging from 1: 1 to 200: 1
- Knee – Curve gives compression, which varies between values 1 and 5 Output – Output signal gain control from -12db to + 12db.
Specification Requirements:
- Windows: Minimum of Win 8.1
- Mac OSX: Minimum of 10.10
- Supports Only 64bits of this format: VST/VST3/AAX/AU
Download (Requires Free Registration): SeteChave Compressor
2.) TDR Nova
Nova is a parallel equalizer and a multiband compressor that can tackle and fix a wide range of applications when processing. It can feel a little bit daunting when using TDR due to its various knobs, but you should easily get familiar after experimenting with its features and besides, it is free 😉
TDR NOVA is useful and works with all kinds of audio material, be it a drum bus asking for more crispiness, or a sibilance issue with your sounds, Nova got your back!
A simple UI design, drag and drop display with a classic “Knob” interface given quick and smooth access to the various parameters driving NOVA’s powerful processing capabilities.
The most interesting thing about this tool is that it has a rare feature you would find in Nova is that it allow users to copy and paste presets, and a lot of more great feature.
Features:
- Parametric equalization
- Dynamic equalization
- Frequency selective compression
- Multi-band compression
- Wideband compression.
Specification Requirement:
- Compatible with Windows ( Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10 and later versions) and macOS X 10.7 and above
- Win 32bit formats: VST2/AAX
- Win 64bits formats: VST2/VST3/AAX
- Mac OSx 64bits formats: VST2/VST3/AU/AAX
Download TDR NOVA
3.) T-Chain
I can’t even believe this is free (well, partially!)
T-Chain as it names sounds, it is a chain of different plugins or a channel strip plugin that is designed for modularity, users can arrange different sound modules within the signal path, you get the idea!.
For example, you might decide to use it as a single Eq or a compressor module and if you so wish, you can arrange different sound modules such as a free EQ, Compressor, Gate, and Splitter (for splitting the signal into two distinct paths), one of the most exciting features about this free plugin, is that the module can be rearranged, added, and deleted by drag-and-drop, this way, your life can be easier rearranging your signal chain.
I should mention some modules aren’t free but getting a free Eq, compressor, gate, and splitter is more than enough for so many use cases. Train simulator free locomotives.
Features:
- Free and Paid modules, with the ability to demo any module at any time
- Customizable spectrum analyzer and waveform display
- Full-featured preset management system with searchable filter and text-based importing/exporting
- Multiple plugin interface size (compact, small, medium, and large)
- A/B Comparison feature for the entire plugin, and for individual modules
Specification Requirement:
- Available on Mac and PC; in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX formats; and 32- and 64-bit architecture
Download Mac: T-Chain for Mac
Download PC: T-Chain for Win
4.) TDR Kotelnikov
TDR Kotelnikov is a plugin by tokyodawn, the maker of TDR Nova.
Kotelnikov is a wideband dynamics compressor that is designed with high fidelity dynamic range control with deep musical flexibility. Their Nova plugin is a combo of Eq and Compressor while Kotelnikov is built solely for dynamic processing and has an on par features such as a proven control scheme, individual release control for peak and RMS content, an intuitive user interface, and powerful, state of the art, high-precision algorithms.
This plugin is suited when used as bus compression and or a master channel, if you try throwing many instances of Kotelnikov on your mixer inserts, you’ll eat your CPU up!
Autotune For Pro Tools 12
Features:
Free Pro Tools Instrument Plugins
- 64bit multi-rate processing structure for highest accuracy
- “Delta” oversampled signal path (bit transparent at 0dB gain reduction)
- Super fast, yet natural sounding compression
- Flexible sidechain highpass filter
- Advanced stereo linking options optimized for the stereo bus
- Delta preview mode previews the difference between the compressed and original signal
- Latency compensated, click-free bypass (i.e. processing never interrupted)
- Advance User interface rescaling (100%, 125%, 150%)
Specification Requirement:
- Compatible with Windows ( Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10 and later versions) and macOS X 10.7 and above
- Win 32bit formats: VST2/AAX
- Win 64bits formats: VST2/VST3/AAX
- Mac OSx 64bits formats: VST2/VST3/AU/AAX
Download Mac: TDR Kotelnikov
5.) Multiband Compressor – OTT
OTT is based on a popular Ableton compressor presets and are redesigned has a three-band compressor that can either be used as an Upward or Downward compressor.
Download OTT
6.) Beatskillz – Max1
I might be biased in this review but personally, this is one of the best auto-compressor plugins out there. Max 1 will automatically analyze the ratio depending on the audio source and compress accordingly.
If you feel itchy about using an auto compressor tool, you are as well covered, Max1 comes with the default compressor knobs (Threshold, Attack, Gain, and the likes). In addition to this, it also comes bundled with a soft clip switch so you can clip anything that goes past 0dB, this way, you can save extra effort using a Limiter.
Features:
- Auto-Compressor with “intelligent” and variable release time and ratio settings.
- Control your peaks very easily or increase the energy and levels of your track or mix effortlessly.
- The Plugin has accurate metering for both L/R input and output channels as well as Gain Gain Reduction Metering.
- Great Presets to get you started on all types of material and also save your own presets.
- When compressing a lot, just use the “Attack” knob to dial back the punch easily. Use the soft limit to make your track loud effortlessly and transparently.
- Never Lose “Bass” when maximizing your mix or sounds, retain the character of your sounds with this transparent dynamics processor.
- Easy Effortless Compression and Energy Maximization.
Download: Win 32 VST / Win 64 VST / Mac OSX VST / Mac AU
Note: You might be asked to provide a serial key, just input your email and if you don’t get one by email, click not today
7.) Dead Duck Free Effects Bundle (25 VST audio effect plugins)
This is a bundled effect plugin by Dead duck. It contains 25 original VST audio effect plugins covering everything from essential mixing tools such as EQ, compression, and limiting to creative sound-shaping tools such as delays, modulation effects, and reverb:
- AutoFilter: A resonant 4-pole low-pass filter with a built-in LFO modulator.
- AutoPan: An auto-panning modulation effect with optional tempo-sync and width control.
- BitCrusher: A bit-crusher effect for lo-fi distortion.
- Channel: A multi-function channel-strip plugin featuring gate, compressor, equalizer, limiter, filters and gain controls with comprehensive input, output, and gain-reduction metering.
- Chorus: A stereo chorus effect with optional tempo-sync.
- Compressor: A peak compressor with optional external side-chain input.
- DeEsser: A de-esser for reducing sibilance and other unwanted high-frequency sounds.
- Delay: A stereo delay featuring independent left and right channels with optional stereo linking and tempo-sync.
- DJEQ: A three-band ‘DJ-style’ equalizer.
- DualFilter: A high-pass and low-pass filter combination with full-range cutoff frequencies and resonance.
- Equalizer: A four-band parametric equalizer with switchable low- and high-shelf bands.
- Expander: A downward expander with optional external side-chain input.
- Filter: A multi-mode filter including low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and band-stop responses from 12 to 48 dB/octave.
- Flanger: A stereo flanger with optional tempo-sync.
- Gate: A noise-gate with optional external side-chain input.
- Limiter: A ‘soft’ limiter with optional hard-clipper.
- MonoDelay: A mono-delay with optional ‘ping-pong’ stereo output and tempo-sync.
- Overdrive: An overdrive distortion effect.
- Phaser: A stereo, multi-stage phaser with optional tempo-sync.
- Reverb: An efficient algorithmic reverb with pre-delay and input filtering.
- RingMod: A ring-modulation effect.
- SigGen: A signal-generator with sine, pink noise, and white noise outputs.
- TiltEQ: A tilt-equalizer for adjusting high/low-frequency balance.
- Tremolo: A volume-modulation effect with optional tempo-sync.
- Utility: A multi-function mixing utility.
Download: Dead Duck Free Effects Bundle
Reverb Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
Reverb is the simulation of the sound of space. This space could be your bathroom, a small room, a concert hall, a chamber, and so on.
It can be used to create all sorts of effects but it can easily be misused too, basically reverb effects can be used to…
- To create depth in a mix; pushing elements further back in a mix
- To glue elements within a track together
- and many more.
Let’s see some of the best free reverb plugins…
8.) Voxengo – OldSkoolVerb
Voxengo plugins have been my best and ready to go plugin for my music production toolbox.
OldSkoolVerbemulates the classic stereo verb algorithm and produces a crystal clear spatial image that blends well with an audio file.
This reverb tool comes bundled with various sets of parameters permitting a user to achieve different reverb styles ranging from room reverb to hall reverb to plate reverb.
“The Voxengo OldSkoolVerb is best used for a non-percussive and soft-attack sound like vocals, piano and pad sounds”.
Specification Requirement:
Free Plugins For Pro Tools First
Free Plugins For Pro Tools First
- Compatible with Windows ( Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 and later versions) and macOS (10.7 and later releases, Intel processor-based)
- VST/AAX supports
- Compatible with 32 and 64 bit on Windows and Mac Os
- Supports 2 GHz dual-core or faster processor
- 2GB RAM or higher
Download OldSkoolVerb
8.) Smart Electronix – Ambience
A friend recommended Ambience too me a few years back, and the moment I tested it, I was literally blown away.
One of my favorite features of Ambience is the hold parameter which smartly freezes the reverb tail until the button is released. You can use this for creating a reverse reverb effect, special effect and you can even automate the knobs.
Ambience is a donationware plugin. You get a nag screen with no limitation, and if you love the plugin, you can donate to the developer.’
Download: Win 32 VST / Mac OSX VST
9.) Anwida Soft – DX Reverb Light
This is the light version of the original DX Reverb. The light version contains only one simplified algorithm of the 11 available algorithms in the full version, even with the limitation, DX Reverb Light can be handy for a quick reverb effect.
Free Pro Tools Plugins Download
Download: Win 32 VST / Win 64 VST / Mac OSX VST / Mac AU
10.) Signaldust – Abstract Chamber
I don’t know if you ever notice undesirable reverb effect when used for longer reverb sounds, it sounds frustrating some times, with Abstract Chamber you can create a longer modulated reverbs whole also maintaining a natural yet abstract spatial impression.
It only supports VST
Download Abstract Chamber
11.) TAL-Reverb III
TAL-Reverb 3 is designed to be used as a stereo plate plug-in, which is the replacement of its predecessor (TAL-Reverb-II). This new edition has several improvements such as an optimized GUI and some changes in the reverb algorithm.
Additionally, TAL-Reverb 3 has a simple EQ section, a meter display and shows actual slider values.
Features:
- Plate reverb sound.
- One simple room size control.
- Pre-delay up to one second.
- EQ section (12dB cut, low shelf filter at 1000Hz, high shelf filter at 200Hz).
- Stereo width control (from full stereo to mono).
- Stereo input mode (mono or stereo input).
- Displays the slider value of the active fader.
- A meter shows the output volume.
- 10 factory presets.
Specification Requirements:
- Windows: Windows XP or higher (32 / 64 bit)
- OSX: OSX 10.7 or higher (32 / 64 bit).
- AAX: Pro Tools 10.3.6 or higher
Download: Windows / Mac
Delay Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
Delay is an audio effect that records an input audio signal to a medium and then plays it back after a period of time or after the time you specify.
Some of the free delay plugins are…
12.) Proximity
Proximity is easy to use delay plugin based on several psycho-acoustic models. The idea is to give mixing engineers a reliable tool for manipulating the depth of several sound sources in a straight forward and convincing manner.
It is available in both 32 and 64-bits versions for Windows and Mac OS X in VST & AU format.
Download: Windows / Mac
13.) Adam Monroe’s Delay
Adam Monroe’s Delay is a free delay VST/AU/ AAX plugin. It features traditional delay parameters such as time and feedback, as well as high/low-pass filtering and synchronized ping-pong panning.
It supports both 32 and 64-bit version:
Download: Win VST / Win AAX / Mac VST / Mac AU
EQ Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
14.) TAL-USE
TAL-USE (Ultra Simple Eq) is especially designed after some tilt eq’s from the ’70s.
This type of eq allows adjusting the audio material without changing the character of a sound to much.
It’s an easy way, to make an audio signal sound darker or brighter with only one knob. The bass lift knob is a special addition that boosts or attenuates bass frequencies below 300Hz.
Requirements:
- Windows XP or higher (32 / 64 bit)
- OSX 10.6 and < 10.10 (32 bit Host).
Download: Win 32 VST / OSX 32 VST / OSX 32 AU
I Would Keep Updating This Page…
Pro Tools Tips & Techniques- DAWs >Pro Tools
We introduce some of the best free plug-ins for Pro Tools 11.
One of the great things about Steinberg's VST plug-in standard is the huge community of developers who have taken advantage of its downloadable SDK to produce innumerable freeware and shareware plug-ins. By contrast, Avid's RTAS and now AAX plug-in formats have tended to be the province mainly of professional products that are often quite costly. However, there are developers who make available free plug-ins for Pro Tools, and as we've all just been through the expense of Christmas, I thought this would be a good opportunity to take a look at some of the free plug-ins that will work in the new 64-bit AAX Native format used by Pro Tools 11.
Blue Cat Audio Freeware Plug-in Pack II
This bundle includes not one but six excellent plug-ins, all worth having in your Pro Tools 11 list: a trio of modulation effects (chorus, flanger and phaser), a single- and dual-channel equaliser, a MIDI-controllable gain plug-in and a comprehensive spectrum analyser. For me, working mainly in post-production, the highlight of the bundle is the Gain Suite. A lot of the files I get to work on have not been recorded by professionals, so the levels and stereo image can be all over the place. Since Pro Tools 10, I now have Clip Gain to help with levels, but for stereo image I used to use pan automation to narrow the stereo field, which is cumbersome. Now I can simply insert this plug-in onto any of my tracks and use it in M/S mode, with the Mid Gain control as my gain trim and the Side Gain control adjusting the width of the image. On the occasions when one side is lower, I switch it to L/R mode and use the gain trims to even up the left and right gains. Job done.
You don't expect to find a good real-time spectrum analyser in a free plug-in bundle, but Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst is one such. It has an unusual threshold system designed to let you see the relevant parts of the frequency spectrum, and if you need to focus on a specific frequency range, you can zoom the display to show only the part of the graph you are interested in. This is great, especially when you aren't sure what frequencies are causing you problems, as you can use the FreqAnalyst plug-in to track down issues before employing the appropriate tool to fix them.
The three-band, semi-parametric Triple EQ has its three filters' controls linked, so that they behave like one complex filter. It has a wide (±40dB) gain range per band, and bandwidth variable between 0.01 and five octaves, making it easy to create complex filter curves. The dual-channel version can also be set to provide independent left/right or mid/sides equalisation, and both channels can be linked together in various ways, letting you, for example, use it as a frequency-dependent panner.
The Chorus plug-in offers the gentle motion you'd expect but, at more extreme settings, lets you drastically change the original sound to create 'deep pitch modulation or crazy 'bubbling' effects”. The Spread control on the stereo version facilitates variable-width chorus treatments. The second of the three modulation plug-ins is a stereo Flanger. I love to use flanging, especially on acoustic guitars and strings to spread and thicken the sound, and for helping to create other-worldly vocal effects. Blue Cat's Flanger is a very versatile example, offering everything from piercing and metallic sounds to soft filtering effects.
Finally, the Phaser plug-in lets you apply up to 32 phasing stages for a rich and obvious effect, or, with the wet/dry mix and feedback parameters set low, you can use it for subtle chorus-like modulation. You can also invert the polarity of the signal in the wet and feedback paths, which offers alternative sounds to the default in-phase settings. As with the other modulation plug-ins in the bundle, the presence of the Spread control in the stereo version lets you obtain deep stereo-widening effects as well.
IK Multimedia T-Racks & Amplitube CS
IK Multimedia's mastering suite has evolved into a Custom Shop arrangement, where a basic 'shell' plug-in can be decked out with additional modules. The additional modules are mostly paid-for upgrades — though you can try them for 72 hours before you part with your money — but the basic T-Racks CS shell is free, and comes with the Classic Equalizer module , a six-band parametric mastering EQ, and the T-Racks Metering Suite, which contains a host of useful and detailed displays including peak, perceived loudness, phase and RMS meters, plus a spectrum analyser with peak, RMS and averaging indicators. Both the equaliser and meter plug-ins can be instantiated as separate plug-ins in Pro Tools, or as part of the integrated T-Racks shell, which features eight plug-in slots, and allows you to chain up to 12 processors.
In the same vein, the free version of IK Multimedia's Amplitube 3 CS guitar amplifier and effects modeller has 24 models, including a digital chromatic tuner, nine stompbox effects, four amps, five speaker cabinets, three microphone models and two rack effects. From the 'in plug-in' shop you can try out and buy additional modules.
SPL Free Ranger
The Free Ranger plug-in is based on the SPL Full Ranger EQ from their EQ Rangers series. It is basically a graphic EQ with four carefully chosen bands. These are 16kHz, for adding glitter, brilliance, or air; 1.8kHz, which can be boosted for more bass definition and presence, or cut to reduce 'honk' and metallic sound on brass instruments; 150Hz, which gives warmth when boosted or clears up muddiness when cut; and 40Hz, for enhancing or controlling sub-bass content.
HOFA 4U Series
HOFA, who produce the IQ Reverb convolution plug-in reviewed in last month's SOS, also make a number of free plug-ins. As creatives, we are often not very good at tracking the time we spend on a project, which makes it harder to track what we need to charge the client. HOFA 4U ProjectTime helps you to keep track of how long you are working on a particular project, and starts measuring elapsed time as soon as it gets loaded into a plug-in slot in Pro Tools. ProjectTime shows the time which has passed during a DAW project, and has a pause function for those important breaks. The stopped time is saved with the closing of the project, and time measurement resumes when the project is reopened. It writes log files that show when you worked on the project, and every log entry can be commented on. It works on both Windows and Mac.
Meter, Fader & MS Pan is an unassuming but very useful plug-in, which regular readers will have noticed already in last month's article on M/S processing. As a level meter, it incorporates the EBU R128 loudness spec, so the middle bargraph can be configured to read Loudness in a range of formats as well as momentary, short-term or integrated EBU readings. A fader lets you adjust the gain, and you can trim the left and right channels separately. There is also an interesting pan option that enables you to bring each side in or out. It is a departure from conventional pan control design, but I like it! As we saw last month, an M/S decoder is built in, letting you matrix M/S stereo into L/R or vice versa. Finally, the buttons by the side of the fader include a mono button, which is really useful to check mono compatibility if you don't have that feature in your monitoring path.
Finally, HOFA's Goniometer & Korrelator is a very interesting take on the visual 'jellyfish' meter that can display image width and position as well as phase between the channels. It is switchable between goniometer with peak, hold and energy displays and correlation meter. The plug-in window is resizable, so you can make it big when you need to see it in detail, or keep it small so it doesn't take up too much screen real estate. Again, it works on both Windows and Mac platforms.
Free Plug-in Advice
If you want to know more about how to mix with nothing more than free plug-ins, there is an excellent video tutorial series on Groove 3 covering using free plug-ins in Pro Tools, which shows what can be done without spending a penny on additional effects or processors.
Format Frenzy
Many people are still confused about what plug-in formats they can use. The answer depends on which version of Pro Tools you have. To recap, the new plug-in format introduced in Pro Tools 10 is called AAX. Within this category, you will find both 32-bit and 64-bit AAX plug-ins, as well as AAX Native and AAX DSP plug-ins. AAX Native plug-ins do not require extra hardware to run, whereas AAX DSP plug-ins are coded to run only on the DSP chips in Avid HDX systems. Pro Tools 10 was a 32-bit application and can only run 32-bit plug-ins, and conversely, Pro Tools 11 will work only with 64-bit plug-ins.
Pro Tools 10 can also use the older TDM and RTAS-format plug-ins. RTAS plug-ins are the 'native' ones that run on the host computer's processors, while TDM plug-ins require the DSP chips on the HD TDM cards in Pro Tools HD systems.
- Pro Tools 9 and earlier: RTAS only.
- Pro Tools 9HD and earlier: RTAS and TDM.
- Pro Tools 10: RTAS and AAX 32 bit.
- Pro Tools 10HD: RTAS, AAX 32 bit, TDM (on TDM HD hardware) or AAX DSP 32 bit on HDX hardware. You cannot run AAX DSP plug-ins on HD Core or Accel cards and you can't run TDM DSP plug-ins on HDX cards.
- Pro Tools 11: AAX Native 64 bit only. Pro Tools 11 will not work with any AAX 32-bit plug-ins.
- Pro Tools 11HD: AAX Native 64 bit and AAX DSP 64 bit. Pro Tools 11HD will not work with any AAX 32-bit plug-ins.
Plugins For Pro Tools
To check out what plug-ins are available in AAX 32-bit or 64-bit formats, check out the AAX Database on Pro Tools Expert: www.pro-tools-expert.com/aax-database.