Must have vst plugins

[Navron]

Regarding free VSTs: http://vstplanet.com/index.htm

Oh course, being free, a lot of them suck, so here's a list of some pretty good ones I've found:

- Crystal (I think it's still regarded as the best free VST out there.)
- Cubix (Pretty awesome drum pattern machine.)
- Safron (Awesome soundfont player. Crystal supports soundfonts, but Safron lets you customize the attacks and releases in addition to adding various effects and filters.)
- Adonis (Very nice VST with a built-in sequencer and arpeggiator.)
- Metatron (Arps, Gates, Leads, and Basses.)
- Umbra (Very nice atmospheric pad machine.)
- TAL-Bassline (Just discovered this one. Can make some pretty nice bass lines, and is well suited for dubstep with a built-in LP LFO.)

There's plenty of great free VSTs out there, but one thing I've noticed between free and paid VSTs, is stability. A lot of free VSTs get glitchy or crash Cubase on me when I use more than 1 or 2 instances. Adonis, Metatron, and Safron are a few that have given me issues, so I usually make an audio sample of a particular part if I need to use the same VST more than once.

[Howlgram]

i guess the wise thing to do is search for a specific vst when i need it, not just download em all

[Mundius]

Gladiator is a must-have. Over 1200 presets to modify and rape at your liking, plus a random button that doesn't suck.

[Navron]

i guess the wise thing to do is search for a specific vst when i need it, not just download em all

Yup. There are literally hundreds, maybe thousands, of free VSTs and soundfonts. Unfortunately, only about 10% of those are even worth downloading.

I usually hold off until I need something specific. I didn't have a bass FM synth until I wanted to start working towards dubstep, so at that point I've already narrowed my search to a specific type of VST, so I'm maybe downloading a max of 5 and keeping the best one.

Regarding orchestral quality instruments (strings, brass, etc.) you really can't get away with anything other than a quality VST based off real instrument samples, and those cost money.

The best free string VST I've found is called Stringer, but I immediately junked that once I started using HalionOne in Cubase 5, and even HalionOne is nowhere near the quality as something by East West or Native Instruments.

[Lethaargic]

if you like intense distortion, I almost always use Bertill http://www.shuriken.se/?page_id=85

Trying to utterly destroy your sound? DFX Scrubby http://destroyfx.smartelectronix.com/

[Rumpy]

StringSynth has a bunch of nice tones. http://www.algomusic.net/freeware.html

They've also got a bunch of other VSTi's, both paid and not.

[CGEyeGuy]

Instruments
-------------------------------
http://www.dskmusic.com/ <--some awesome vsts
I like to use:
DSK Overture
DSK TechSynth PRO
DSK Darkness Theory 3
DSK Synthopia 2
DSK ChoirZ

http://www.vstplanet.com/Instruments/VS ... izers4.htm
TAL NoiseMaker is another good one

Effects
-------------------------------
GSnap is a useful tool to have
http://www.gvst.co.uk/gsnap.htm
It is a free autotuner.

Those are some of my favorite free vsts, I will look for more.

[ArtAttack]

Um, why is massive not in here.
Massive is the best thing.
If massive was a woman, I would make love to her.
Seriously.
Massive.

[Whitetail]

i guess the wise thing to do is search for a specific vst when i need it, not just download em all

Yup. There are literally hundreds, maybe thousands, of free VSTs and soundfonts. Unfortunately, only about 10% of those are even worth downloading.

I usually hold off until I need something specific. I didn't have a bass FM synth until I wanted to start working towards dubstep, so at that point I've already narrowed my search to a specific type of VST, so I'm maybe downloading a max of 5 and keeping the best one.

Regarding orchestral quality instruments (strings, brass, etc.) you really can't get away with anything other than a quality VST based off real instrument samples, and those cost money.

The best free string VST I've found is called Stringer, but I immediately junked that once I started using HalionOne in Cubase 5, and even HalionOne is nowhere near the quality as something by East West or Native Instruments.

Haven't used them myself but I hear these are pretty good for free strings
http://the-filmmusic-group.deviantart.c ... -224143947

[Senator Myth]

Haven't used them myself but I hear these are pretty good for free strings
http://the-filmmusic-group.deviantart.c ... -224143947

Yes. This is something you should get even if you DO have big fancy expensive libraries. The stuff in here is AWESOME. Beyond just the great sounding orchestral things, there are a few hidden gems that I looked for in vain in the past (like pitched wind! you can make music with howling wind, and it sounds pretty good!) So you should definitely check it out!

[Senator Myth]

Making another post to discuss a completely different topic: rotary speakers, also known as "Leslie" amps. I know a lot of artists who have gotten some really cool sounds using the real-life versions of these, including Elton John and Yes, so I decided to check out and see if there were any VSTs for it... and there are! Unfortunately, I don't have access to my DAW right now and won't for well over a week... But I'm going to post them here in case anyone else would courteously check them out FOR me! :3

(Or just so I can find them easier when I do get my computer back)

http://mda.smartelectronix.com/

http://freemusicsoftware.org/category/free-vst-effects-2/rotary-speakers

[mindsetpony]

NI released a free synth over the holidays called Skanner. It's sample-based and it seems to be pretty optimized for dubstep production. I've gotten some pretty cool basses and soundscapes from it so far

http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/ ... r/skanner/

[Navron]

Thanks for the link. Look forward to checking it out!

[cyrricky]

I'd recommend Sugarbytes 'WOW' (not free, $99) for filtering if you're going for a dubsteppy synth - I find it really awesome to route Massive through it, specifically for vowel basses.

[mindsetpony]

I'd recommend Sugarbytes 'WOW' (not free, $99) for filtering if you're going for a dubsteppy synth - I find it really awesome to route Massive through it, specifically for vowel basses.

I'm going to go ahead and 1-up this. EXTREMELY versatile filter, the vowel filter is the best I've heard so far. Great for talking bass as well as general processing/resampling. I use it on almost every track.

[CGEyeGuy]

Found a pretty nice orchestra soundfont collection

Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra

http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/

however you will need a sfz player

http://www.cakewalk.com/Download/sfz.aspx

found out about it through this video

[CGEyeGuy]

however you will need a sfz player

http://www.cakewalk.com/Download/sfz.aspx

^not that good of a program, can't run multiple instances. I will look for another.

[Versilaryan]

I posted a download link somewhere here. They made an updated version where you can run multiple instances, but for some reason, it's not in the official website.

If you can't find it, I'll upload it when I get home tomorrow.

[CGEyeGuy]

I can't seem to find it

[CGEyeGuy]

Found it! Thanks Versilaryan!
http://forum.cockos.com/showpost.php?p= ... stcount=10 <-SFZ

EDIT:
found another vst
Serenity:heavenly choir and string sythesizer

Been testing it out, it creates some good atmospheric sounds

http://www.hgf-synthesizer.de/se/dl/prdl.html

[Sgt-Whip (DJQ)]

NI released a free synth over the holidays called Skanner. It's sample-based and it seems to be pretty optimized for dubstep production. I've gotten some pretty cool basses and soundscapes from it so far

Skanner is really impressive, and if you have a recording plug-in like Edison, then you can use the live modulation to create some absolutely crazy sfx. It works great for those unimaginable high tone sounds and also for low bass melodies. Its unbelievably versatile.

Also, I would like to recommend Kairatune for the list. It's by far my favorite VSTi. It's great for melodies, and despite it being a primarily treble instrument, you can get a surprisingly large range from it. I recommend using it for pads, lead synths, and ambient sounds. It also has a very easy to use LFO feature, for volume and for cuts, so you can get a nice wobble.

Kairatune: http://www.futucraft.com/kairatune/
(Page has a demo of a track made using entirely Kairatune for just about every sound. Gives you a good idea of its power.)

[senntenial]

Oh skanner. I've been looking for that for the longest tIme. I can find the serial code page, but not the dl. Anybody have a mirror?

[Freewave]

Oh skanner. I've been looking for that for the longest tIme. I can find the serial code page, but not the dl. Anybody have a mirror?

dude viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2382

google is your friend but mlr can't host such questions,

[senntenial]

Uh... Dude?
Skanner is free!
I was referring to the fact that I can find the serial off of NI's webpage - I just need the download.
It ain't pirating.
( NI's Serial - http://co.native-instruments.com/index. ... nerdlmacpc )
They just don't have the DL anymore.

[PrincessAddictia]

http://www.artsacoustic.com/artsacoustic_reverb.php
Can't live without it anymore.