Free Plugins Mac

If you’ve been producing music for a while, you probably know that a lot of the commercial guitar VSTs or libraries out there are pretty expensive and not always easy to use. Although I own a few commercial guitar libraries, I also wanted to see what free guitar VSTs and sample libraries are available these days. I have to admit I was surprised by the number of interesting instruments I found. So, I’ve put together this list to talk about the best ones.

For this article, I looked at both acoustic and electric guitars but left out guitar amps and other effect plugins (I will cover these in an upcoming article).

See this article to find out our top 10 amazing free plugins for Windows & Mac! In the jungle of free VST plugins, there are many gold nuggets to be found, if you know where to look. Some of the free plugins out there hold such a class that they could easily go for several hundred bucks. Download the Best Free VST Audio Plugins for Mac OSX. Synths, Reverbs, Compressors.and much more. Just click and download. Our software library provides a free download of Sapphire Plug-ins 7.0 for Mac. Our built-in antivirus scanned this Mac download and rated it as virus free. The application is categorized as Audio & Video Tools. The most recent installation package that can be downloaded is 143.7 MB in size.

Free Acoustic Guitar Plugins

Ample Sound: Ample Guitar M II Lite

Format: AU, VST, AAX, RTAS / 32 bit + 62 bit
OS: Mac, Windows

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Audio examples:

Ample Sound is a Beijing-based company that has been creating guitar and bass VSTs since 2011. The Ample Guitar M II series aims “to bring the Martin D-41 Acoustic Guitar sound to your studio.” Luckily for us, the company also released a free lite version of the instrument, which comes with a reduced sample rate, fewer articulations and features and a lower sample count than the original (by now, version III has been released already).

This doesn’t prevent Ample Guitar M II Lite from being the best sounding (non-Kontakt) acoustic guitar in this list, though. The samples sound full and lively and can be triggered directly through MIDI (or your DAW) as well as through a built-in sequencer, the “strummer.”

The strummer makes it super easy to build patterns out of single notes, up and down strokes and mutes. Additionally, there are a bunch of effects and features available to change the tone. One of my favorite features is the doubling switch, which adds width to the instrument in an instant.

Another particular useful feature of Ample Guitar M II Lite is that it shows you which string corresponds to the note you’re playing. This quickly helped me create more realistic arpeggios.

If you also use Guitar Pro Tab, you can even import your tabs into Ample Guitar M II Lite. Note that you are limited to the first four frets of each string when you’re using the lite version.

There are so many fully functioning knobs and switches in this free plugin that I didn’t manage to get to all of them in my 45 minutes of playing around with it. What more can you ask for in a free guitar?

You can get Ample Guitar M II Lite on the Ample Sound website.

This is a quick introduction to the instrument:

DSK Music: Dynamic Guitars

Format: AU, VST / 32 bit + 64 bit
OS: Mac, Windows

Audio examples:

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This guitar VST has gotten a lot of attention lately, especially since the release of LifeStyleDidIt’s video “I FOUND THE BEST FREE GUITAR VST” (see below). DSK Music is a project by a Spaniard named Víctor who has been making hundreds of free virtual instruments since 2002.

DynamicGuitars contains three different instruments: an acoustic guitar, a nylonguitar and a steel guitar. It also offers control over the envelope of thesamples as well as the dynamic range and the voice mode (poly, mono, legato). All the included guitars feel smooth, warm andthick but could use a little EQ action for clarity.

In this video, you can see the plugin in use:

You can download DSK Dynamic Guitars here.

Pettinhouse Free Acoustic Guitars

Pettinhouse is a project by Andrea Pettinao. The company sells a wide variety of guitars and also offers a handful of free guitar sample libraries. Let’s take a look at them!

FreeAcousticGuitar

Format: Kontakt 3 and higher (full version required!)

Audio examples:

Free AcousticGuitar is a simple but well-recorded and programmed acoustic guitar Kontakt library. The samples are loaded as a multi and are separated into attack+ sustain, releases and fret noise sounds and come in different velocities. The samples are well mixed and sound wonderfully natural.

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FreeClassicGuitar

Format: Kontakt 5 and higher (full version required!)

Audio examples:

When you open the free version of Pettinhouse’s Classic Guitar, you’re getting a multi consisting of two instruments: classic guitar and noises. These work well together and offer a realistic and nice warm sound.

Yummy Beats: Modest Guitar

Format: Kontakt 5 and higher (full version required!)

Audio examples:

Yummy Beats is a platform for drums, loops and Kontakt instruments. You can also find a few free instruments on this site, including the free Modest Guitar. This Kontakt library delivers a present sound with round robin and three articulations: acoustic guitar, flageolets and fx guitar. Unfortunately, I found that the fx guitar produced noticeable crackle sounds (might have been my setup!). However, my favorite part is the flageolets with their well-rounded tone, anyway.

I found the steps to get Modest Guitar a little complicated. You have to open a Yummy Beats account, go to this page and enter the unlock code that you find here. If you’re looking for a free, quality flageolet sound, this is a good instrument to try out, though.

Here’s an example of a song that uses Modest Guitar (from the Yummy Beats YouTube channel):

Alternatives

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Here are some more acoustic guitar libraries:

  • DSK AkoustiK GuitarZ (VST / Windows / 32 bit)
  • DSK Guitars Nylon (VST / Windows / 32 bit)
  • DSK Guitars Acoustic (VST / Windows / 32 bit)
  • DSK Guitars Steel (VST / Windows / 32 bit)
  • Spicy Guitar (VST / Standalone / Windows, Mac / 32 bit + 64 bit)
  • Big Cat Instruments General Midi Soundset (has a guitar section / Kontakt)

Free Electric Guitar Plugins

Now, let’s talk about electric guitars.

Spitfire Labs: Peel Guitar

Format: VST2, VST3, AAX, AU; 32 bit + 64 bi t
OS: Windows, Mac

Audio examples:

Looking for a smooth moody guitar that fits into an ambient track or your next film score? Peel Guitar might be it! Originally, the guitar was sampled by Christian Henson in 2006 and, according to him, was used all over his scores. The instrument consists of three presets that differ slightly in guitar tone. Each guitar feels soft and comes with a long release, which adds to the atmosphere of the instrument. The minimalist interface offers control over the volume, velocity, reverb and “tightness” of the sound. To get Peel Guitar, you will need to install Spitfire Labs first (also free).

Iridium Iris: Lethality

Format: VST, 32 bit + 64 bit
OS: Windows

Audio examples:

The following examples were created with Lethality and Guitar Rig 5:

Lethality was released in 2014 by Iridium Iris. The developer’s website has been down for a while, so it’s not clear if they’re still working on new instruments. However, Lethality is one of their products that you can still come across today.

I wasactually quite surprised to see how many functions are built into Lethality.Besides “regular” single notes, the plugin also has open string and mutedstring articulations. Additionally, you can switch on hammer-ons, pull-offs andportamento articulations, which can be triggered by playing legato notes.

To find theright articulation on your MIDI keyboard, you can take a look in the manualthat comes with the instrument. When you’re as used to Kontakt as I am, it’s alittle inconvenient that the keyboard layout (including articulation zones andkeyswitches) is not displayed visually in the plugin. This means that you’llhave to remember the keyswitches and articulations you’ll need when playing.

If you’renot sure how to program your guitar, you can use the built-in riff patterns.They can be activated directly from the plugin or exported as MIDI clips intoyour DAW of choice. Truthfully, though, it makes more sense to program your ownMIDI clips, if only to create a more dynamic guitar part.

Although Lethality offers a distortion function, to get a good sound you will most likely want to use an external amp simulation or other effects on this instrument.

As the official developer website is down, you can get Lethality here.

Impact Soundworks Shreddage Stratus Free

Format: Kontakt 5.7 or higher (full version required!)

Audio examples:

The Shreddage series by Impact Soundworks has been the go-to place for affordable guitar sample libraries for years. Recently, the company made a very generous gift to composers when it released a free version of its Shreddage 3 Stratus guitar. Compared to the commercial version, the free version only offers neck pickup (instead of neck, middle and bridge), 12 frets (instead of 24), a reduced range and fewer articulations. However, this shouldn’t stop you from creating great, realistic electric guitar parts with this library. Up to 24 samples per note, including sustain, palm mute and choke articulations make this an amazingly usable library that will fit into many productions.

Amazingly,the free version of Shreddage 3 Stratus also comes with full mix consolefunctionality. In the mix console you can add effects, whether that’s pedals,amps, cabinets or EQ. The included presets (called “snapshots” by ImpactSoundworks) sound instantly great and are compatible with other Shreddageinstruments (as long as they use the same console). This is definitely the bestand most versatile free electric guitar on the market right now – so if youhave a full version of Kontakt, don’t miss out on this one.

Check outthe following video for an overview on how to use Stratus Free:

Get Impact Soundworks Stratus Free here (you will need to get a free account to download the instrument).

Mac

Pettinhouse Free Electric Guitars

Just as Pettinhouseoffers a few great acoustic guitar libraries, it has also released a fewinteresting electric guitars:

FreeDirectGuitar

Format: Kontakt 5 and higher (full version required!)

Audio examples:

The following examples were created with DirectGuitar and Guitar Rig 5:

Using this direct guitar library by Pettinhouse gives you maximum flexibility for sculpting your own tone. It comes with a range of four octaves and also includes a few effects (open the “strum” and “layers” instruments to find out where they are located on the keyboard). Amp and effects are not part of the instrument, so you will need to add one yourself. I used Guitar Rig 5 for the audio examples.

FreeMute&Slap

Format: Kontakt 3 and higher (full version required!)

Audio examples:

Mute&Slap is a very specialized instrument: The articulations range from mute tones in the lower velocities to slap notes in the higher velocities and are great for adding some funky notes to your beats and songs. While Free Mute&Slap also contains a couple of effects and amp choices, it might be worthwhile trying out a few different amp simulations with this to have more control over the tone.

Here’s avideo review for Mute&Slap:

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FreeFunkyGuitar

Format: Kontakt 3 and higher (full version required!)

Audio examples:

Need more funk in your music? Check out Pettinhouse’s Free FunkyGuitar. Besides regular plucked string sounds, this library also contains strum loops and muted strum loops. These are especially convenient (programming funk guitar rhythms manually is hell) and can be tempo-synced to the host or adjusted manually (in a range of 85 bpm – 130 bpm). The library comes with a built-in reverb, delay and phaser and a selection of amps. The guide tab will help you find your way around this instrument quickly.

FreeWarmJazz

Format: Kontakt 3 and higher (full version required!)

Audio examples:

When I was researching for this article and came across WarmJazz, a realization hit me: There are barely any jazz guitar sample libraries on the market. Apart from the occasional funk library, most current guitar libraries and VSTs are oriented towards rock, metal and blues. If you’re looking for a jazzier sound, though, you should check out WarmJazz by Pettinhouse. In its free version, it comes with seven presets and a range of effects (chorus, reverb, delay, compressor). The quality of the sound is indeed warm and jazzy and hard to re-create with any other library.

KaroryferSamples Cute Emily Guitar

Format: SFZ, Kontakt 5 and higher (full version required!)

The next three examples use Guitar Rig 5:

Cute Emily Guitar is originally a project by Karoryfer Samples and was first published in 2014. To quote the creator:

“There area lot of guitar samples out there intended for lots of styles of musicguitarists like, from Latin jazz to metalcore, but this library is for musicguitarists really hate, from hip-hop to EDM. It’s designed to be easy to usefor producers who don’t necessarily know a lot about guitars and don’t need awhole lot of different articulations, control over left-hand position, note offgroups, etc. Instead of all that you get a fat, percussive sound that’s greatfor crisp rhythms.”

Indeed, the instrument, which is a sampled Epiphone Emily the Strange, has a very pronounced, percussive attack. As the samples were recorded directly, it makes sense to run them through an amp simulator of some sort (I used Guitar Rig 5 for my tests).

You have the choice between two versions of this instrument: The original Karoryfer Samples version in SFZ soundfont format or a Kontakt version by Bigcat Instruments. The Kontakt version includes various effects, such as a phaser, chorus, reverb, delay, compressor, distortion and EQ. You can also add tremolo and adjust the velocity curve, as well as the attack and release.

Alternatives

Looking formore options? Check out the following instruments:

  • Greggjazz Suburban Guitarist (VST / Windows / 32 bit)
  • Krakli Strat-A-Various (VST / Windows / 32 bit)
  • SuperRiff: SuperRiff Guitar (VST / Windows / 32 bit)

Over to you…

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Free Plugins Mac

Do you have any other favorites that you didn’t see included on this page? Let us know in the comments!

Mixing with EQ is necessary for giving each mix element room to breathe and properly blend. Without proper equalization, instruments may bleed into one another, overpower each other, and ultimately coalesce into a muddy mix. By boosting or cutting specific frequencies from each track (or the mix as a whole), you’ll get the most out of each part of your mix, and ensure that everything that’s meant to be heard is heard. Before Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), EQing was done on analog mixing units, where audio was fed back to itself at certain frequencies in order to boost or cut said frequencies. While some studios still implement analog EQ, most utilize digital equalizers, which replicate the same process. While every DAW now comes equipped with at least one native EQ plugin, there are thousands of external EQ plugins on the market. To save you some time, we compiled 11 of the best EQ plugins for Windows and/or Mac, some free and some paid. Have a look:

Best Free EQ Plugins for Windows Only

We’ll start with three of the best EQ plugins exclusively for Windows, all free. Side note: you’ll find that most new plugins are built for both Windows and Mac. However, because developers have an easier time coding for Windows, there are more plugins just for Windows than there are just for Mac.

Modern Console EQ by Antress

Antress has developed a host of free plugins in its Modern series, including an exciter, compressor, and expander. As its name suggests, the Modern Console EQ replicates analog EQ consoles. It features an EQ In/Out and Phase switch, highpass and lowpass filters, and four frequency bands for parametric EQ. The plugin also offers gain knobs for each of its bands. For those used to working with analog consoles, its controls are straightforward. This is a simple but useful free EQ plugin.

ReaEQ by Cockos

It might not look flashy, but the ReaEQ plugin gives you full intuitive control of the frequency spectrum. This free parametric EQ plugin is fully featured, offering unlimited bands a large number of filter types, including notch, bandpass, and allpass filters. The plugin’s display shows a spectral graph, which you can easily manipulate with your mouse. Bandwidth, gain, and frequency for each band can be adjusted with dedicated sliders. There is also a master gain slider on the right-hand side.

Eq31 by Piotr Pyrzanowski

The “31” in the Eq31 plugin refers to the number of bands in this free digital graphic equalizer. From 20 Hz to 19k Hz, you can boost or subtract each band and adjust the Q factor, as well as the input and output gain. There isn’t much else to the plugin. Its simplicity and low CPU usage mean you shouldn’t run into any latency using it. This is a nice free tool to have in any DAW.

Best EQ Plugins for Both Windows and Mac

The vast majority of EQ plugins, free or paid, work on both Mac and Windows. Each plugin listed below works well for different scenarios. You might find that a graphic EQ serves an aspect of your mix better than a visual parametric EQ plugin, or vice versa. As such, these aren’t listed in any kind of order. They’re simply some of the best EQ plugins you can download or buy.

Free

We’ll start with the freebies. All four of these free EQ plugins are wildly different in presentation and functionality. Each one is best used in certain situations, be it tone shaping, mastering, or precision mixing. But they’re all worth looking into. Plus, they’re free!

TrackS Classic Equalizer

After examining its applications, depth of features, and sleek design, it’s hard to believe that TrackS Classic EQ is a free plugin. It was developed with mastering in mind, but this 6-band EQ plugin works well for general purpose EQing as well. Each band is designed with precision in mind, making it a powerful subtractive EQ tool, allowing you to cut out noisy, sharp frequencies. The plugin’s presentation is a bit dense, which might overwhelm new users. Still, once you get over the learning curve and tinker with it enough, you’ll find the TrackS EQ useful in many situations.

TDR VOS SlickEQ

You might remember this EQ plugin from our list of the 25 best free Mac plugins. Like the TrackS Classic EQ, the TDR VOS SlickEQ is great for both mixing and mastering purposes. The SlickEQ, however, takes a more simplistic approach in its presentation, making it the perfect EQ plugin for newcomers. There are just 3 bands to work with: low, mid, and high, each one with a frequency and gain knob. The low and high settings also feature two shaping/filter buttons. This semi-parametric plugin includes an auto-makeup gain feature which recognizes major changes in volume and compensates for them. The SlickEQ also features 4 output saturation modes. These replicate the tones of different types of analog EQ consoles. Overall, the TDR VOS SlickEQ offers more than meets the eye, and it’s become the trusty free EQ of choice for many. Those who enjoy the plugin can upgrade to the paid big brother version, the “Gentleman’s Edition,” which features a spectral analyzer, tilt filter, and more.

Voxengo Overtone GEQ

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The Overtone GEQ is hands downs one of the best free graphic equalizers out there. It also doubles as an aural exciter, as it can enhance harmonic overtones for each of its 7 frequency bands. If you want to adjust the coloration of your mix, this is your tool. In terms of presentation, the plugin couldn’t be easier to use. Each band, from 64 Hz to 12k Hz, has a large gain slider from -12 dB to +12 dB. You can use the Overtone GEQ for mid-side processing to better shape the stereo image of your mix. For such a simple looking free plugin, the Overtone GEQ ins incredibly versatile and useful in both mixing and mastering scenarios.

4U+ DynamicTiltEQ by Hofa

The 4U+ DynamicTiltEQ also made our list of the 25 best Mac free plugins (it’s compatible with Windows as well). This unique plugin is a conglomerate of a filter, equalizer, and dynamic compressor. You’re presented with a straight line overlayed on a spectral analyzer. You can then move this line up or down (gain control) or tilt it to use as a high- or low-pass filter. You can then turn the line into a curve and adjust bandwidth for more precise parametric EQing. But the features don’t stop there. It’s named “Dynamic” for a reason. You can dynamically boost or filter out the lower and higher frequencies with this free plugin. Overall, this one is fun to play with and can add a lot of musicality to a mix if used properly.

Paid

Now let’s get into the stuff that isn’t free. The four plugins listed below are designed for professional use. If you lack experience with in-depth EQ tools, you’re best off downloading the aforementioned free plugins and figuring those out first. Once you gain some confidence, you can check out these ones. Some of the plugins below also offer free trials or demo versions. It’s always a good idea to start with those before opening your wallet.

EQuilibrium by DMG Audio ($274)

This is the EQ you want for serious professional use. The EQuilibrium by DMG Audio offers all the control, functionality, versatility, customization, and compatibility you could possibly want, and more. Its sheer breadth of features is too much to get into here, so we’ll just note a few key ones: low or high CPU usage options, customizable user interface, 32 EQ bands with several filters and a +/-36 dB range, several vintage EQ circuit models, plugin presets, and so much more. The list goes on and on. In short, DMG Audio’s EQuilibrium simply offers more functionality than most of its competition. It doesn’t come cheap, but there’s a reason. This is an all-purpose EQ tool for those who know what they want and know what they’re doing.

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FabFilter Pro-Q 2 ($179)

Many producers swear by the FabFilter Pro-Q 2 EQ plugin. This award-winning EQ makes our list not only for its number of features but for its ease of use. This might be one of the advantages the FabFilter Pro-Q 2 has over the EQuilibrium. Its presentation is so sleek, simple, and brilliantly designed. New users should be able to get the hang of it in little time. In terms of its features, this software has it all: 24 possible EQ bands, extremely high sound quality, zero latency mode option, a number of filter shapes, auto gain and scaling, phase inversion,mid-side stereo processing, and more. It can be purchased on its own or as part of one of FabFilters several bundles. Or, if you want to try it for yourself at no charge you can download a 30-day trial.

Waves API 550 ($249)

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Waves has no shortage of incredible EQ plugins and analog emulations. Of course, we couldn’t list them all here. If you’re into EQ plugins that replicate analog consoles, you can’t go wrong with the Waves API 550. You’ll have a hard time finding the real deal API 550 consoles anymore (unless you’re willing to dish out a few grand or more). So, this plugin is great for achieving that early rock and roll sound popularized in the ’60s and ’70s. The plugin is divided into two sections, the 550A and 550B. The former features 3 bands with 5 frequency each. The latter has 4 overlapping EQ bands with 7 frequency centers each. If you’re thinking about grabbing this one, there’s no better time than Black Friday. It’s currently marked down from $249 to just $29 on Waves’ site! Hurry up!

Oxford SuprEsser by Sonnox ($122)

Lastly, we have the Oxford SuprEsser by Sonnox. If it wasn’t clear by its cheeky name, this plugin doubles as a DeEsser and Dynamic EQ. Its main purpose is to suppress harsh sounds and overtones in a mix. Admittedly, its user interface looks a bit outdated compared to the flash of the EQuilibrium and elegance of the FabFilter Pro-Q 2. But what this plugin lacks in aesthetic appeal it makes up for in functionality. This is the perfect tool for shaping vocals and cutting out hissing sibilant sounds or violent plosives. It’s also effective at smoothing out harsh cymbal hits and removing clicks, pops, and crackles. You have more control here than with a typical DeEsser. In short, if it sticks out like a sore thumb, the SuprEsser can shut it down easily.

Conclusion

Truth be told, there are many more fantastic EQ plugins for Windows and Mac out there. These are just 11 of the best. You can spend a long time with any of these free or paid programs and get a lot out of them. Whether you’re just starting out or you have years of experience and want to add more tools to your arsenal, take your pick. Getting good at EQing takes time, practice, and a lot of experimentation. The more you practice with plugins like these, the better you’ll get. So, what are you waiting for?