Best Vst Plugins Paid
CS-80 V By Arturia – Paid Plugin The CS-80 VST is absolutely amazing. This is another plugin that my band used religiously as the arpeggiators and synths are just incredible. Here is a list of the top 10 most popular and used VST instruments. Which one is the most used VST? Might be Xfer Serum, Massive or even Sylenth1, Nexus, VPS Avenger. We made a list of our top 10 most popular vst. 15 Best Drum VST Plugins (2020) – Paid & Free. The use of VST plugins for drums has become extremely popular among musicians and music producers in recent years.
Best Paid Vst Plugins 2019
Although we have all the tools we need to produce extremely clean and precise music without any unwanted artefacts there’s something about the imperfections of analog recording equipment that triggers certain emotions in us.
So if you want to produce lofi music it’s important to pick the right sounds and samples from the start. You could, for example, sample old vinyl records or buy an old drum machine. It would however be easier to just get your hands on a decent LoFi House or Hip Hop sample pack.
Once you have a selection of cool sounds & samples you can further refine your music to sound like it was recorded a few decades ago. Luckily there are plenty of cool lofi plugins available so you don’t have to actually own an old tape machine. Here are some of the best options:
Free LoFi Plugins
I want to start this list with a bunch of free lofi VSTs, because I know that a lot of producers are one a budget, especially when they’re still going to school (or music is their only income lol). That said, you don’t always have to spend money to get some quality software. The freeware in this list can easily compete with some of the paid stuff I’ll mention later on.
BVKER LoFi Rack
The “LoFi Rack” is a free Ableton Rack based on Live’s stock plugins. It comes with 8 macros allowing you to decrease the band width, add vinyl crackles, detune and distort the source sound. Unfortunately it’s only available for Ableton Live users, so if you’re using another DAW you have to pick some of the other options in this list. If you’re using Ableton however, hop on my newsletter and I’ll send you a free download link.
iZotope Vinyl
As the name suggests, iZotope’s “Vinyl” is a plugin emulating the characteristic imperfections of vinyl records. Since the freeware only comes with a handful of parameters it’s easy to use and setting it up won’t take much time. What I love the most is that you can adjust the year of your “recording”. A must have for every lofi producer if you ask me.
Spitfire Audio Labs
Labs is a free software instrument made by the London based sound design company Spitfire Audio. There are several extensions available, including pianos, brass, choirs and synths. Most of these instruments are rather unique and therefore a nice addition to the basic instruments libraries you probably already own. The cool part about Labs is that it comes with only a handful of parameters so you won’t spend 10 years trying to get everything perfect. The sound either fits your production or not.
Tritik Krush
Tritik’s Krush is an effect plugin with 3 different distortion types. A bitcrusher , a downsampler and an analog drive knob. It further comes with 2 filters and an LFO that can be used to modulate every parameter. It’s available for both Windows and Mac in VST, AU and AAX format so really everyone can get their hands on this.
HY-Lofi2
This one is a free bit quantizer, waveshaper & filter plugin made by Tadashi Suginomori from HY-Plugins. It’s meant to process “audio to give it a low fidelity sound”. Just like Krush it combines different distortion modes with high and low-pass filters. More precisely it has one drive knob and a quantizer, which can run in different modes and qualities.
Legowelt Ableton Racks
Legowelt is a dutch producer known for releasing samples from analog hardware units, but you’ll also find some Ableton Racks on his website, including the Smackos Tape Station, the Smackos Lemuria Vintage Sampler Simulator, the Smackos 808 Simulator and the Smackos Amiga 909.
Sound-Base Audio Retro Boy
The Retro Boy is a Windows only VST synth. It comes with one oscillator, 7 waveforms and controls for ADSR, vibrato and decimation, which makes it perfect for Chiptune or 8-bit music. Since there isn’t much processing going on, the synth is quite CPU-friendly.
Best LoFi Plugins
Although you can definitely do some cool stuff with the freeware I mentioned so far there are some paid options no lofi producer should miss out on. A lot of them do more or less the same thing so in the end it’s up to personal preference (and budget), which ones you should get. Luckily most of these plugins aren’t that expensive compared to some of the stuff by other brands.
XLN Audio RC-20 Retro Color
Probably the most hyped plugin of this list is the R-c20 Retro Color by XLN Audio. It combines 6 different effect units, including noise, wobble, distort, digital, space and magnetic. Combining these options basically allows you to recreate any lofi characteristic you could possibly think of. If I could only pick one plugin of this list I’d probably go for this one, since it comes with the most features.
Baby Audio Super VHS
Considering that Baby Audio is a rather new plugin company, their products already gained quite much attention. Super VHS again combines multiple effects, including a distortion unit, a retro sounding VST reverb and detune knob labeled “drift”. All knobs sound surprisingly good and I really dig the design.
D16 Group Decimort 2
Decimort 2 is a bitcrusher on steroids. It offers two optional anti-alias filters, adjustable jitter, two quantization methods and controllable dithering. If you’re looking for a cool bitcrusher, this is definitely the one you should get your hands on. With less than 50 bucks it’s also pretty affordable.
AudioThing Vinyl Strip
The Vinyl Strip is just like RC-20 a multi-effect plugin consisting of 6 different modules: Distortion, Compressor, Bit Crusher, Tilt EQ, Vintage Reverb, and something they call Vinylizer. In contrast to most plugins mentioned in this list, you can change the signal flow simply via drag-n-drop. On their website is stated that you can activate your license without an internet connection, which is pretty cool if you still live in a cave 😉
Devious Machines Texture
Texture is a plugin I just recently found out about watching Virtual Riot’s production workshop he did for Cymatics. It allows you to add noise to any kind of source sound. The cool part is that unlike similar effects you can even load your own noise samples and can adjust the exact frequency range, amount, ADSR and stuff like that.
Cableguys ShaperBox
When it comes to beat making, there’s one plugin every FL Studio user slaps on their melodies: Gross Beat (you’ll find plenty of memes about this). The problem is that it can’t be used in other DAWs (at least on Mac). This is where the Cableguys come into play. Their ShaperBox combines different effects that can all be modulated. The Time one is especially interesting for lofi producers, because it allows you to play back your melodies in halftime, add cool pitching effects and mix everything in with the dry signal.
Initial Audio Analog Pro
Analog Pro is once again a plugin meant to bring your digital audio tracks to live by simulating analog hardware. It comes with a variety of adjustable controls, including Noise Level, Noise Type, Impulse Type, Impulse Mix, Emphasis, Stereo, Lowcut, Highcut, Wow, Flutter and Amount. While I’m writing this the plugin is on sale for €26.10 (which is 64% off) so feel free to check out if this offer is still available.
Aberrant DSP SketchCassette
SketchCassette is a VST inspired by 4-track cassette recorders. It comes with most features the other plugins in this list have. Since it’s however available for only $20 it’s particularly interesting for producers on a tight budget.
Goodhertz Wow Control
Wow Control focuses on the weird and random modulations of analog playback devices. According to their website Goodhertz has carefully studied the essence of three different tape machines to make sure their plugin is the most comprehensive tape model they ever heard. I haven’t tried it out to be honest, but there are some videos about it on YouTube so feel free to check them out if you’d like to learn more about it.
PSPaudioware VintageWarmer2
The PSP Vintage Warmer is a tool simulating the saturation of analog compression / limiting. It comes with classic compression controls, such as knee or release time, and since it can run in multiband mode you can further control the individual bands a bit. In contrast to most usual compressors it comes with a big drive knob. Since it also comes with a mix knob you can drive the compression / saturation quite hard and mix it in just a bit to make your drums or vocals or whatever a bit fatter.
Wavesfactory Cassette
According to Wavesfactory’s website “Cassette is an audio plugin that imparts the unique character and sonic imprint of an often maligned recording medium”. You can also get your hands on their free Cassette Transport plugin, which “simulates the sound of tape speeding up and slowing down”. Or with other words: it’s a pretty cool tape stop plugin.
Psychic Modulation EchoMelt
Echomelt is “designed for adding character, texture and warmth to your sounds”. It doesn’t look that stunning, but it comes with an echo and chorus unit, which sets it apart from the other options in this list.
Aphex Vintage Exciter
The Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter by Waves is modeled on a tube-powered hardware unit. It allows you to increase high frequencies without raising the level too much.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of lofi plugins available that make your productions sound like they were recorded with a toaster (or something like that). The free offers, especially Vinyl and Labs are no brainers, since . well, they’re free, so make sure to download them straight away if you haven’t done so yet 😉
Disclosure: When you buy through our links, we may get a commission at zero cost to you.
Imagine creating music with no reverberation whatsoever, you hear the audio directly with no simulation of the sound of space (a room, hall, or a sound-reflective space), this would give you a dry signal, which is unnatural to the human ear, and this is because we are used to getting the illusion of the simulation of a real space in a mix.
Reverb is one of the tools and effects used by music producer/engineer to extract selective clarity, size, richness, wideness, etc. from the various elements of a multitrack production.
It can be used to create all sorts of effects, and can greatly make your music or mix stand out if used properly, but it can easily be misused too, typically, reverb effects can be used to…
- Create depth in a mix; pushing elements further back in a mix
- Multitrack projects are often crowded with 24, 36, and often more tracks filling the arrangement simultaneously (fighting to be heard), adding long reverb times can make certain element uncluttered in the mix
- It can be used to bring coloration to a sound
- You can use it to create drama in a track, for example, the intro can bring in a lush sound, and when the first verse begins, you can automate or dial back the lushness aggressively, making it sound not only dramatic but also pleasing to the ear.
- To create a reverse reverb, the original sound is reversed in time (flipping back), and you then add a duplication of the original track to the next bar, which when played together snap back to its original place in time, using this can be used to create suspense in a track, super useful
A before and after of a simple melody I just created, one with no reverb, and the other with a classic reverb:
You see how the reverb added more clarity and depth to the melody, wish I could show more example, I’ll leave that in your hands.
Since we know the importance of using reverb, I would be recommending some of the best reverb effects plugins in the music production scene right now.
Let’s get going…
1.) MangledVerb by Eventide
MangledVerb combines reverb and distortion to give you a stunning effect, it sends a stereo reverb into distortion, and when that is done, you get a plugin that is capable of creating lush reverbs, ripping distortion leads and sound-sculpting musical chaos.
This plugin is especially great if you are a guitarist, and if you are performing live, you’ll enjoy the RIBBON, you can program two settings for any combination of the controls and seamlessly transition between them.
The way the RIBBON work is you click on the white dot at the tip of any knob and drag it to the desired setting for the left-hand side of the Ribbon. This will program the knob and draw a blue arc from the initial knob position to the new, programmed knob position.
►Key Features:
- Create out-of-this-world soundscapes by increasing the Size and Overdrive.
- Use it as Mono-In/Mono-Out, Mono-In/Stereo-Out or Stereo-In/Stereo-Out for ultimate flexibility.
- Smoothly move from Softclip distortion to Overdrive for ripping transitions.
- Use the Wobble control to create spooky detuning effects.
- Use The Ribbon control to easily manipulate multiple parameters in a live situation.
- Program the HotSwitch to instantly change multiple parameters at once.
- Optimized for live use with MIDI control of The Ribbon and Tap Tempo for quick meta-control on the fly.
- Use Mix Lock to scroll through presets while keeping the wet-dry mix constant.
►System Requirements:
- Windows 7 or higher // 32-64bit
- macOS 10.7 or higher // 64-bit only
- 64-bit only
- AAX, VST2 & VST3 Formats for Windows, and
- AAX, AU & VST2 Formats for mac
2.) MorphVerb by United Plugins
MorphVerb is a multipurpose reverb plugin, whether you need a chamber, hall, algorithms for spring, ambience place, and a plethora of reverb effects.
The beauty of this plugin is the fact that it supports multiple reverb types, it features a lush algorithm for Spring, Ambience, Echoes, Room, Chamber, or Plate. It also features great spaces like Hall or Cathedral and your reverb can even be Infinite.
Another interesting feature of this plugin is that you can blend smoothly between any two neighboring reverb types. So you can get 20% Chamber and 80% Hall. MorphVerb fills the gaps between reverb styles and gives almost infinite possibilities.
►System Requirements:
Mac
- macOS 10.10 and newer
- 64-bit only
- Intel/AMD processor with SSE2 support
- VST2, VST3, AAX, or AU compatible host
Windows
- Windows 8-10
- 32-bit or 64-bit
- Intel/AMD processor with SSE2 support
- VST2, VST3 or AAX compatible host
3.) XenoVerb by Audiority
XenoVerb is a superb Multi-Algorithm Reverb plugin with a sleek and intuitive GUI, I really love the interface of this plugin but it doesn’t only thrive in that aspect. It also features both classic and creative reverb algorithms delivering a wide range of reverbs with a clean and simple interface.
►Key Features:
- 10 Reverb Algorithms:
- Room, Hall, Plate 1, Plate 2, Springy, Glass, Flow, Shimmer, Bode, Formant
- Over 250 presets
- Pre Delay
- Diffusion
- Modulation
- Tone Control
- Reverb Freeze
- Soft Limiter
►System Requirements:
PC
- Windows XP SP3 or later
- Intel i3 or higher
- 2GB RAM
- Screen resolution: 1024×768
- VST2, AAX 32-bit or 64-bit host
MAC
- OSX 10.7.5 or later
- Intel i3 or higher
- 2GB RAM
- Screen resolution: 1024×768
- VST2, AU, and AAX 32-bit or 64-bit host
4.) Perfect Room by denise
Perfect room plugin is a re-implementation of the classic algorithmicreverb, denise ditched the method of using a combination of short feedbacking delays to create the illusion of reverberation, they instead created TXVerb™ technology.
This technology doesn’t use delays for the tail and will enhance the character and coloration of any audio you run through it in an extremely natural way, whether you are using it for drums, vocals, and any other instrument, you’ll absolutely enjoy the mechanism and sound quality of this plugin.
►System Requirements:
Mac:
- OSX 10.7 to macOS 10.14 (64-bit only)
- VST, VST3, AU, AAX
Windows:
- Windows 7 or newer (64-bit only)
- VST, VST3, AAX
5.) GrainSpace by Audiority
GrainSpace is a granular processor by Audiority that focuses on real-time granularization and reverberation of the incoming audio signal.
GrainSpace provides dynamic grain generation (up to 32 per channel), 7-grain parameters, 4-grain modulators (including two 11 waveforms LFO), smearing, chord resonator, and reverb to create crazy sound effects, rich textures, and much more.
System Requirements:
- Windows XP SP3 or later // OSX 10.7 or later
- Intel i3 or higher
- 2GB RAM
- Screen resolution: 1024×768
- VST2, AAX 32-bit or 64-bit host
6.) Spring by Eventide
Eventide Spring is an easy reverb that models the sound and character of the popular artificial reverb found in guitar amplifiers, with an additional tube amp style tremolo. /orchestral-vst-plugin-not.html.
It doesn’t only model the sound and the character, but also allows you to make a further tweak to physical parameter controls not readily available in the real unit.
One thing that struck me with this plugin is the intuitiveness and play-ability. You can easily adjust the knobs or specifically, you can use the RIBBON to program two settings for any combination of the controls and seamlessly morph to any sound between them.
► Key Features:
- Artist presets by Matt Lange, Nick Hook, and Nu-Trix.
- Tempo Sync reverb decay to your DAW
- Craft original sounds by changing the number of springs and damping frequency
- Alter overall resonance by selecting the size of the spring tank
- Tube-amp-style tremolo that can be routed pre- or post-reverb
- Create chorus-like effects by altering Modulation Level
- The Ribbon controller allows for dynamic modification of several knobs at once to easily morph between settings
- Programmable Hotswitch provides the ability to jump instantly to an alternate sound at the push of a button
- Mac/Windows plug-in version works as VST, AU, AAX
► System Requirements:
- Windows 7 or higher
- macOS 10.7 or higher
- 64-bit only
- AAX, VST2 & VST3 Formats for Windows, and
- AAX, AU & VST2 Formats for mac
Best Paid Vsts
Note: Eventide tests their plugins in Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and Studio One. However, their plugins should work with any compatible host.