Free Audio Plugins & Softwares for Windows

Catalyst

Catalyst is a free software synthesizer developed by Broken Gadget. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

Catalyst produces hybrid waveforms by taking two oscillators, applying half wave rectification then sticking the results together to form some unusual waveshapes. The focus of the synth is producing some interesting, dynamic waveforms. The concepts may not be that familiar, however the synth has been designed so that each control does something meaningful and useful. There is an in depth manual on the developer’s site explaining what’s going on ‘under the hood’ and 64 presets to get you started.

The synth has been featured in Computer Music Magazine: “Different is good and Catalyst is nothing if not different.”.

Update, June 2013: The calibration of the control linking the envelope to the filter cutoff has been modified to yield a deeper envelope to cutoff modulation.

The short sound demo is created entirely with Catalyst. No external effects used, just a little mix compression.

http://www.brokengadget.org

Casio MT-68

Casio MT-68 virtual instrument is a free sound bank for Kontakt and Sforzando, by Weirding Module.

Casio MT-68 For Kontakt 5 and SFZ 2.0

Recorded, edited and programmed by Jonathan Adams Leonard
http://www.weirdingmodule.com
[email protected]

Features:

Native Instruments Kontakt 5 and SFZ instrument formats.

All 20 preset instruments.

4 Bass instruments.

7 Drum samples.

12 Drum Beats and Fills looped and sliced in beatmachine (Kontakt).

Every note in each preset is sampled.

Samples are monophonic, 44.1kHz / 24-bit .ncw (Kontakt) and wav (sfz) files.

Every sustained sample is hand looped for infinite sustain (17×49=833).

Relative volume levels of each note are preserved.

Additional envelope variations are provided as instruments.

Velocity Sensitivity, Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release and Vibrato controls (sfz).

Introduction:
The Casio MT-68 was a very affordable analog synthesizer sold in the 80’s that had miniature keys, 20 preset sounds and a rhythm section with auto accompaniment. It can be heard on various recordings and has an interesting 80’s or ‘retro’ sound. If you grew up with this synthesizer and wished you could hear it again, here is a chance to play it once more in Kontakt 5 and SFZ format.

SFZ is an open format and sfz sample players that fully support this library are available for current computer platforms. See the link below to install a free sfz player.

Great care was taken to record the MT68 with the best equipment and minimal processing so the original sound and character is preserved. All notes and beats were sampled and looped to offer the most complete virtual version of this classic synth for years to come. This was my first synthesizer, and I offer it’s sounds to my friends and fellow musicians who might be as fond of it as I am.

Note:

This library requires Kontakt 5 or a software sampler that can import sfz 2.0 instruments, or an sfz 2.0 player.

Tested in ARIA Player, Plogue Sforzando and Kontakt 5.

Full MT68 Beats and Fills provided at slowest tempo in the Loops folder (sfz).

Links:
http://www.plogue.com/products/sforzando/
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/synths-samplers/kontakt-5/

http://www.weirdingmodule.com

Carpenter Trombone

Carpenter Trombone virtual instrument is a free sound bank for Kontakt, by Ivy Audio.

Carpenter Trombone is a solo trombone library focused on highly realistic legato playing.

The library features “comprehensive legato”, meaning that every legato transition was recorded leading into a full sustain. The end result is a natural sounding, responsive legato that is a joy to play.

Some details on the library:

Almost 900 “comprehensive legato” samples.

Sustain, legato, and multiple staccato articulations.

Extended range on sustains, four and a half octaves.

Two round robins on sustains, five round robins on staccatos.

Recorded in a professional studio with quality equipment.

Dynamics and expression control.

Built in convolution reverb provided by Bricasti.

Precise control over legato parameters.

Free to download and use in personal or commercial projects.

Audio demos:

{See video at top of page}

http://www.ivyaudio.com

Capture!

Capture! is a free audio recorder VST plugin developed by Sonic Assault. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Capture! is an auto 16/24/32-bit Wav File Recorder.

Features:

16 / 24 / 32 / 32-bit Float Recording and Playback.

Stereo / Mono L / Mono R / Mono L+R Recording.

0.001 sec – 10 Minute Recording Time.

Selectable Notation Values / Seconds Time Settings.

Host / Manual Tempo Settings.

Audio Input Triggered / Host Triggered / Manual Record Modes.

Normalised Audio Output Option.

Loop Playback.

‘Snap to Mouse’ Cueing and Playback.

User Adjustable Wave Display.

Audio Input Level Clipper.

8 Sample Slots.

External MIDI Control of Recording and Playback Controls.

16 User Patches.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jez.price/

Cantabile

Cantabile is a free host application developed by Topten Software. Compatible OS(s): Windows .

Cantabile 3 is a complete, ground-up rebuild of the entire product and incorporates feedback from hundreds of musicians making it the best Cantabile yet. Everything from the audio engine to the user-interface and everything in between has been re-imagined, re-designed and re-engineered.

Cantabile is a powerful host for virtual instruments and effects with an emphasis on real-time performance and use in live performance situations:

Play: Play VST instruments and process audio effects in real-time. Plug-ins can be connected in series to form racks and multiple racks can be run concurrently with each delivering a different sound or instrument. Racks can also be connected together to apply common effects to multiple instruments.

Perform: For live performance, Cantabile’s song state and pre-loaded set list support can be used to instantly switch songs. Most settings can be controlled remotely using MIDI bindings and everything can be kept in sync with MIDI clock support.

Record: Cantabile’s audio and MIDI recorders can be used for automatic or manual recording.

Cantabile is available in three editions:

Cantabile Lite: A free, simple to use, yet high performance host designed for use as a quick VST scratch pad, or for users just getting started.

Cantabile Solo: Intended for home hobbyists and casual users who need a more flexibility. Audio and MIDI file players, recording, set lists, advanced MIDI routing, MIDI filters, embedded racks, MIDI bindings (control just about everything from MIDI control surface).

Cantabile Performer: Designed specifically with live performance in mind, Performer adds features like “Live Mode” with large status indicators, super fast song switching, linked racks for sharing instruments across songs, lots more…

Cantabile Performer Features: (Cantabile Solo and Cantabile Lite are a subset of this):

Low-latency real-time performance.

Flexible audio and MIDI routing.

Fast switching between configurations with song and rack states and pre-loaded set lists no waiting for plug-ins to load mid-performance.

Individually triggerable audio and MIDI clips.

Control of all important settings (including VST parameters) from your MIDI control surface (or device).

Automatic and manual audio and MIDI recording.

Easy management an entire performance with set lists.

Send MIDI configuration to external devices on song load with triggers.

MIDI clock synchronization (send and receive).

Easy configuration of keyboard splits.

Multi-channel audio support.

Built-in metronome.

Multi-core CPU support.

On-screen keyboard and controllers.

Supports VST effects, instruments and MIDI plug-ins.

Support for 64-bit audio.

Touch screen and hi-res screen ready.

Fully scalable user-interface.

x86 and x64 versions available.

http://www.toptensoftware.com/

Cabbage

Cabbage is a free development tool VST, Audio Unit, Ladspa plugin developed by Cabbage Audio. Compatible OS(s): Windows, macOS, Linux.

Cabbage is a framework for audio software development. Using simple markup text and the Csound audio synthesis language users can target Windows, OS X, Linux and Android with a single piece of source code.

Cabbage Studio (Beta) is a Csound based DAW with a fully functional patching interface and development environment. Develop, prototype and test Csound based audio instruments on the fly using an integrated development solution that includes an embedded source code editor and rapid GUI designer. Cabbage Studio isn’t just for users familiar with Csound, it can load a number of different plugin formats including VST, AU, and LADSPA and comes with over 100 high end audio plugins ready to use out of the box.

Cabbage for Android will let you run any of your Cabbage plugins on an Android smart phone.

Cabbage AU (Beta) is a dedicated AudioUnit front-end for Cabbage. Unlike the Cabbage VST interface, CabbageAU is a single plugin. Once loaded into a DAW, users can open any Cabbage instruments they wish and load as many instances of CabbageAU as they want. Saving the DAW session will also save the instruments associated with each instance.

Cabbage Features:

Cross Platform: Cabbage can be run on Windows, OS X and on Linux.

Standalone Software: Cabbage instruments and effects can easily be exported and run as standalone software without the need of a host program or DAW.

VST Export: Users can export instruments and effects as fully functional plugins to be run inside your favourite host/DAW.

Share: Users can share plugins/instruments as text files to be used on Windows, OS X, Linux and Android.

Python Scripts: Custom Python scripts can be embedded directly into an instrument’s underlying source code.

Multichannel: Cabbage can be run as a multichannel software, both in standalone and in audio plugin mode.

Automate: Csound can be used to automate any of the plugin controls, and to save and load session data.

MIDI Instruments: Not into audio processing? That’s Ok, Cabbage lets you easily build MIDI only instruments.

Signal Gen: Users have up to 1300 different signal generators/modifiers available.

Control Widgets: Csound can be used to control the state and behavior of any widget. This means widgets can be programmed to move around the screen, change colour or size, morph or fade into other controls, as well as lots of other funky operations.

GUI Controls: GUI controls, include sliders/knobs/buttons, xy-pads and waveform/envelope editors, checkboxes, text editors, file browsers, etc. GUIs can be implemented directly in simple mark-up language, or via drag and drop once in Edit mode.

Theme with SVG: Customise your Widgets with Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg’s).

OSC Support: Both desktop and Android versions of Cabbage support OSC. Cabbage instruments can be built to take control of other instruments, or indeed third party software over a shared network.

For details on the Csound language please the Csound homepage.

{See video at top of page}

http://cabbageaudio.com/

BuzzVST

BuzzVST is a free adapter VST plugin developed by Jeskola. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

Buzz Adapter for VST, allows for Buzz generators to be used within a VST host – requires Buzz.

http://www.jeskola.net/

Buzzkill

Buzzkill is a free software synthesizer developed by Chironex Audio Works. Available format(s): VST for Windows.

Buzzkill is a lightweight but “grungy and beastly” synth, aimed at making bassline-type sounds. With its “energy modulation” system, it is able to create the sounds you need for almost any electronic-type music.

Features:

“Energy Modulation” system.

SVF + Moog Filters.

Overdrive.

Stereo Widening (Phatness).

Advanced Syncing Trancegate.

http://chironex.gigacities.net/

Buzz

Buzz is a free adapter plugin developed by Jeskola. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

VST Adapter for Buzz written by rout, Arguru, Zephod and FSM Allows VST effects and VST instruments to be used in Buzz.

http://www.jeskola.net/

BuzMaxi3

BuzMaxi3 is a free compressor VST plugin developed by buzzroom. Compatible OS(s): Windows.

BuzMaxi3 is a Brickwall Limiter / Transparent Level Maximizer for mastering, mixing, and recording.

Features:

Mode: Aggressive/Smooth.

Make up level, 0~+24dB.

Output Ceiling level, -24~0dB.

Level Meter, -40~0dB scale.

Frequency Spectrum Analyzer, 2.1^(-4~4) scale (50Hz~20kHz).

64bit internal processing.

Very low CPU usage and latency.

http://www.x-buz.com/