Mixing

bolsterisers

bolsterisers is a free compressor VST plugin developed by whiteLABEL. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

whiteLABEL’s collection of bolsterisers are described as “naive dynamics” plug-ins.

An Imaginary History

The bolsterisers hark from a time before compression as we now know it. A long-obscure English experimentalist engineer and gentleman scientist by the name of Edwin Pierfax III derived his naive design of the original bolsteriser during a nap on the lawn with his cat Tiswold. He is said to have announced one day during afternoon-tea that he had “found a method to aid in the bolsterising of signals to an extent most satisfactory”.

He set to work at once.

Fast-forward nearly ninety years and the bolsterisers are reborn in digital form. After various component-level tests, it was decided to power-up the devices and take some measurements with a view to recreating these fantasy beasts in software – and here they are in their equally naive digital implementations.

In their day, there was no working language of audio compression, so some of the terminology associated with the bolsterisers is a little out of keeping with the modern production lexicon. Today, the devices would be characterised roughly as follows:

Rev (A) – Softknee RMS Compressor

Rev (B) – Hardknee Peak Compressor

Rev (C) – Hardknee Booster

Rev (D) – Softknee Booster

Rev (E) – Side-channel Hybrid

http://dazdisley.co.uk/whiteLABEL/

Blue Cat’s FreqAnalyst CM Edition

Blue Cats FreqAnalyst CM Edition is a free spectrum analyzer VST, Audio Unit, DirectX plugin developed by Computer Music. Compatible OS(s): Windows, macOS.

Blue Cat’s FreqAnalyst CM Edition is a spectrum analysis plug-in, exclusively available for free on the cover-DVD with Computer Music Magazine (CM 130), which also includes a tutorial to get started with the plug-in.

Blue Cat’s FreqAnalyst CM is a frequency analyser for Windows in VST and DX formats. It offers average, instant and peak modes, curve comparison functionality, and lots more. If you’re serious about perfecting your tracks, FreqAnalyst CM will give you invaluable insight into what’s really going on in your mixes.

http://www.computermusic.co.uk/

Blindfold EQ

Blindfold EQ is a free equalizer VST, VST3, Audio Unit, AAX plugin developed by AudioThing. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

Blindfold EQ is a freeware EQ plugin inspired by a quote by Matt Wallace from the book Recording Unhinged by Sylvia Massy.

It has 4 bands (LowShelf, LowMid, HighMid, HighShelf), but each knob is blind. There are no indicators or numbers to show frequency values, gain values or Q values.

You’d have to use your ears.

{See video at top of page}

https://www.audiothing.net/

Bitter Sweet V3

Bitter Sweet V3 is a free compressor VST, Audio Unit, AAX plugin developed by FLUX::. Compatible OS(s): Windows, macOS.

Bitter Sweet is a free dynamics processor to manage audio transients. Turning the central button on the sweet side, decreases the transients amplitude. On the bitter side, the transients amplitude is magnified. Bitter Sweet also features a control for the signal to be processed. When the main position is engaged, the process affects the stereo signal. If Center is engaged, only the M signal of the internal MS matrix is processed. If stereo is selected, only the S signal from the MS matrix is processed.

http://www.fluximmersive.com

Bitter

Bitter is a free bitscope VST, VST3, Audio Unit, RTAS, AAX plugin developed by schwa. Compatible OS(s): Windows 64b, macOS.

Bitter is a 64-bit bitscope and intersample clip indicator.

Bitter shows how many of the available bits are being used by the audio signal, reports clipping samples, and estimates when digital-to-analog conversion would cause inter-sample clips.

Typical uses for a bitscope include: verifying that a render dither is working properly; verifying that a particular plugin is not reducing the signal bit depth; testing for faulty audio source data.

http://www.stillwellaudio.com/

Bitsmacker

Bitsmacker is a free overdrive and saturation Audio Unit plugin developed by Meatscience. Compatible OS(s): macOS.

Bitsmacker is a digital distortion swiss army knife for adding that certain digital crustiness to your pristine audio signal. It can simulate vintage samplers, classic video game systems, and other lo-fi paraphernalia. At extreme settings, it warps your audio with power you can’t get from a stomp box or full stack.

Features:

Zero-latency.

Sample rate reduction from 50 to 44,100 hz.

Bit depth range from 0.01 to 32 bit.

Parametric EQ on Input.

Parametric EQ on Output.

Drive adjustment for boost.

All values continuously variable, no large steps between values.

http://meatscience.net/

Binvert

Binvert is a free eq and enhancer VST plugin developed by Noisebud. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Binvert was originally meant to be a plain mix tool to handle phase problems when mixing several bass heavy channels, but the users seemed to use it mainly to deepen or sculpt the low end. Development have therefore been focused on the usability as a bass sculpturing tool even though the original functionality is still there.

The result is a versatile tool that you can use either as originally intended, extreme bass drum sounds or for a subtle boost in the low end while mastering.

Binvert takes the signal and splits in into two bands (split point is adjustable between 25-440Hz). After the split there’s a phase invert for both bands so you can invert the polarity of the two bands independently from each other. Problem fixed, the bass is still heavy and the mid/high transients stay crisp. You can also make that frequency resonate on either or both the upper and lower bands and you can also steer that extra energy with a ADSR curve.

Changes in 2.0:

You can now disable the resonator in both bands.

Added a simple brick wall limiter.

Added a bypass button, easier handling for mastering purposes.

Added a side chained ADSR.

Added the ability to totally turn off the bands.

Added a incoming gain button.

Added wet / dry control.

Noisebud’s donationware: There’s always a free, fully featured, version of every plugin but it will be in black & white. If you appreciate our work and donate you’ll get a full color version of the plugin.

http://www.noisebud.se

Better Run

Better Run is a free overdrive and saturation VST plugin developed by RunBeerRun. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Better Run is a high gain overdrive plug-in for the electric guitar. It features 3 gain modes and an optional midrange boosting circuit.

https://runbeerrun.blogspot.com/

Best served cold

Best served cold is a free overdrive and saturation VST plugin developed by RunBeerRun. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Best served cold is an amplifier simulator for the bass guitar with a 3-stage preamp section. It is similar to hardware preamps that accentuate dynamics.

https://runbeerrun.blogspot.com/

Berrtill

Berrtill is a free overdrive and saturation VST plugin developed by Shuriken. Compatible OS(s): Windows, macOS.

Berrtill is a distortion-unit modelled on circuit bent hardware.

http://www.shuriken.se/