The Best Free VST Plugins For Mac - My Top Picks

daw

Using free VST plugins in Ableton Live on a Mac

When it comes to music production, having the right tools at your disposal can make all the difference. However, not everyone has the budget to invest in expensive software and plugins for their home studio. Fortunately, there are plenty of free options available that can help you take your productions to the next level. In this article, we'll be taking a look at some of the best free DAW music production plugins available.

🎚 Sign up for early access to my 27-class live online Intro to Music Production course: BALANCE 🎚

Tokyo Dawn's TDR Kotelnikov is a dynamic range compressor that can add punch and clarity to your tracks. It's easy to use and offers a wide range of settings, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced producers.

Boz Digital Labs' Panipulator allows you to check mixes for mono compatibility, alter speaker polarity, and identify phase issues. It's easy to use and offers a variety of useful controls, such as a stereo widener and a panning law adjuster.

Analog Obsession's Fetish 1176-style compressor is a great choice for those looking to add some warmth and character to their tracks. This plugin emulates the sound of vintage hardware compressors, giving your tracks a classic, analog feel. It's simple to use and offers a variety of presets that can help you achieve the perfect sound.

Soundtoys' Little Radiator isn't always free but it is at certain times of the year (Black Friday) and it's a great option for those looking to add some warmth and character to their tracks. This plugin emulates the sound of a vintage tube mixer used by Motown, giving your tracks a classic, analog feel. It's easy to use and offers a variety of presets that can help you achieve the perfect sound.

🎚 Learn how to get Loud & Clear mixes with my 9-class live online Mixing & DAW course 🎚

Bertrom Audio offers a number of "Free/Pay what you want" plugins. My pick is De-Noiser. It's a must-have for anyone who wants to clean up their tracks and remove unwanted noise. This plugin is great for getting rid of background noise, hum, and other unwanted sounds that can detract from the overall quality of your tracks. It's easy to use and offers a variety of presets to help you achieve the perfect sound.

Freakshow Industries has an amazingly unique take on the "Pay what you want" idea by offering a "Steal" option for their plugins. This is probably the best marketing strategy of all time and these plugins are awesome! My picks are Backmask for reverse effects and Mishby for tape emulation madness.

AudioModern's Filterstep is really cool and a great option for those looking to add some creative effects to their tracks. This plugin offers a variety of filter and modulation effects that can help you create unique and interesting sounds. It's easy to use and offers a variety of presets that can help you achieve the perfect sound.

TAL's Noisemaker is a virtual instrument for those looking to add some vintage character to their tracks. This synth plugin emulates the sound of classic hardware synthesizers and offers a variety of useful features, such as a built-in arpeggiator and a variety of presets to help you achieve the perfect sound.

🎚 Learn Ableton Live quickly and easily with my FREE 90-Minute Ableton Live course 🎚

TAL’ Reverb-4 is a great option for adding depth and space to your tracks. It offers a wide range of settings and is easy to use, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced producers.

iZotope Vinyl emulates the lofi sound of vintage vinyl, adding a warm and analog feel to your tracks. It's perfect for adding a touch of nostalgia to your music and works well on a variety of genres.

Klanghelm offers 3 free VST plugins. My pick is the MJUC Jr. It's a variable-mu LA-4-style compressor with pumping action and lots of vibe.

In conclusion, These are just a few of the many free DAW music production plugins available. I highly recommend trying them out for yourself and experimenting to see how they can enhance your music. Remember, the key is to find the plugins that work best for your style and sound. With a little experimentation, you'll be able to create professional-sounding tracks that will stand out from the crowd.

I'm Futch, a music production coach who not only offers free content and a free Ableton Live online course but also a complete 27-class Live Online Intro to Music Production course, complete with coaching and a community of users. You can find out more and sign up for discounted early access here.