Modulation audio effects are an important part of your mixing toolkit.

• Modulation Vst Plugins
• Vst Plugin Torrent

They’re the special way to add movement and groove to sounds that need a little something extra.

The main types of modulation are Tremolo, Ring Mod, Chorus, Phaser and Flanger.

Despite the different types, all modulation effects have something in common…

They all achieve their effect by modulating an aspect of the signal with an LFO (low frequency oscillator). The style of modulation is different depending on whether the LFO is manipulating the pitch, timing or volume of the signal.

Modulation LFOs work similarly to how LFOs are used in synthesis.

The FEM 1 VST plugin is a freeware FM synth by miniSoftMusic. It features 6 operators with ADSR-envelopes, a modulation matrix, 4 LFO's, filter with ADSR-envelope, ring modulation, overdrive, delay unit. The FEM 1 FM synth plugin comes with 35 presets. Tremolo is an amplitude modulation effect. Amplitude modulation plugins vary the volume of your signal. It’s the easiest type of modulation to understand because you can easily hear the effect of the LFO settings on your sound. VST 4 FREE - Free Audio Plug-ins and Archives. Free VST downloads: ring thing (Ring modulation / LFO by de la Mancha) - Ring Modulator 101 (Vintage ring modulator.

In this article I’ll go through all the common types of modulation, how they work and the best modulation plugins for each.

Tremolo

Tremolo is an amplitude modulation effect. Amplitude modulation plugins vary the volume of your signal.

It’s the easiest type of modulation to understand because you can easily hear the effect of the LFO settings on your sound.

A softer, rounded sine wave shape will create a gentle bobbing tremolo, while a steep square wave will create a machine gun stutter.

A softer, rounded sine wave shape will create a gentle bobbing tremolo, while a steep square wave will create a machine gun stutter.

Tremolo is commonly found on vintage guitar amps, so it’s associated with early guitar genres like surf and country.

But it can be a very interesting effect on all kinds of sources. Try using tremolo to create rhythmic action on sustained sources like synth pads or drones.

Best Tremolo VSTs

Free Plugin: Adam Monroe Tremolo

Adam Monroe’s Tremolo is an effective and easy-to-use vintage style tremolo.

Cheap Plugin: Goodhertz Trem Control

Goodhertz Trem Control is a great sounding, feature-rich tremolo that can go from subtle vintage vibe to experimental chop in an instant.

Pro Plugin: Soundtoys Tremolator

Soundtoys Tremolator is a fantastic creative tool for designing any kind of tremolo. Tremolator emulates some of the most classic hardware tremolo effects all in one powerful plugin.

Ring Mod

Ring Mod is basically an extreme application of tremolo. It uses the same amplitude modulation principle.

Ring Mod is basically an extreme application of tremolo. It uses the same amplitude modulation principle.

LFO frequencies used for tremolo are far below the range we can perceive as a distinct tone.

As you increase the LFO frequency into the audible range, additional tones called sidebands begin to develop in the signal.

The sidebands can be quite dissonant since they’re not evenly related to each other or the original sound.

This can result in some bizarre robotic effects and strange textures. Ring Mod is probably best known for creating the voices of the Daleks on Doctor Who.

Ring Mod is used significantly less than other types of modulation, so I’ll keep it simple for examples.

Best Ring Mod VSTs

Free Plugin: Melda MRingModulator

Cheap Plugin: Melda MRingModulatorMB

Melda MRingModulator and MRingModulatorMB are two great takes on ring mod from a quality plugin designer.

The basic version covers all of your traditional ring mod needs, while the MB edition includes sophisticated multiband processing.

Chorus

Chorus is another form of simple modulation. Chorus plugins make a copy of the signal and vary its pitch up and down.

Blending the dry and modulated signals gives a shimmery, detuned tone that can add depth and dimension to a sound.

If modulating a sound’s pitch with an LFO is ringing a bell, you’re on the right track. By using 100% of the modulated signal instead of blending it with the dry, you’ll get a vibrato effect,

Varying the characteristics of the LFO results in changes to the sound. Increasing the frequency of the LFO makes the rate faster while increasing the amplitude makes the depth more intense.

The first chorus effects created their modulated signals using analog bucket brigade device chips (BBDs).

These chips couldn’t copy the input signal perfectly, but the warm tone and fluid modulation they provided became a classic sound.

Best Chorus VSTs

Free Plugin: TAL-Chorus-LX

TAL-Chorus-LX is an accurate reproduction of the unique chorus found on the classic Roland Juno 60 synth.

Cheap Plugin: D16 Syntorus

D16 Syntorus is a versatile dual analog-style chorus. It offers complete control over each delay line for extremely precise chorus tones.

Pro Plugin: UAD Brigade Chorus

The UAD Brigade Chorus is an incredibly accurate emulation of the classic Boss CE-1 pedal. One of the first chorus effects on the market, the CE-1 is the pedal that started it all.

Phaser

A phaser is an effect that manipulates the phase of the signal with an LFO.

Imagine a sine wave on a graph. The phase is the starting position of the waveform along the x-axis expressed as an angle.

The phaser effect is created by splitting the signal and sending it through a series of “all-pass” filters that alter the phase. Audio spectrum vst free.

The phaser effect is created by splitting the signal and sending it through a series of “all-pass” filters that alter the phase.

When the dry and phase-shifted signals are combined, any frequencies that are inverted 180 degrees cancel out, resulting in the characteristic notches.

As the LFO sweeps, notches will appear at different frequencies. Each all-pass “stage” introduces more notches into the sound.

This creates the churning frequency shifting character of phaser effects.

Best Phaser VSTs

Free Plugin: Blue Cat Phaser

Blue Cat Phaser is a free high quality phaser plugin that’s capable and versatile considering it’s free…

Cheap Plugin: D16 Fazortan2

D16 Fazortan is another entry into the series of highly flexible modulation effects from D16. This phaser has two LFOs available for more tweakability.

This phaser has two LFOs available for more tweakability.

Pro Plugin: Soundtoys PhaseMistress

Soundtoys PhaseMistress is one of the best sounding and most in-depth phaser plugins available. If you can’t get your perfect phase with this super-flexible plugin, it probably doesn’t exist.

Flanger

Flanger is the original modulation effect. It’s the recognizable “jet engine taking off” sound.

The first flanging was created with two tape machines playing identical tracks at the same time.

Applying pressure to the edge of the reel (or “flange”) of one machine would cause it to slow down and play back out of sync.

Flanger is the original modulation effect. It’s the recognizable “jet engine taking off” sound.

Summing the two signals together created the distinctive comb filtering sound that started to appear on recordings in the psychedelic 60’s.

LFOs are used to modulate the delay time in place of manually slowing down the tape in today’s flangers.

Flangers sometimes also include a “feedback” or “regen” control to mix some of the affected signal back to to the input to intensify the effect even more.

They’re great for thickening and stereo widening as well as that classic jet plane sound.

Best Flanger VSTs

Free Plugin: Blue Cat Flanger

Blue Cat Flanger is another great free option from a respected plugin maker.

Cheap Plugin: Toneboosters Reel Bus 4

Toneboosters Reel Bus 4 is an incredible bargain for such a full-featured plugin. In addition to great tape saturation emulation, it features a fantastic sounding tape flanger

Pro Plugin: Softube Fix Flanger and Doubler

Softube Fix Flanger and Doubler was designed in collaboration with Paul Wolff, who engineered the original hardware BBD flanger in the 70s. The resulting plugin is a drool-worthy high-end flanger.

All Mod Cons

Modulation effects can be some of the most fun processing you apply in your mix.

Any of these modulation types can add movement, interest and dimension to your tracks.

To recap…

The 15 Best Modulation VSTs

Now that you know some of the best plugins for every modulation style, Start adding LFO action to your tracks.

Disclosure: When you buy through our links, we may get a commission at zero cost to you.

“My audio sample sounds dry” – I’ll add a reverb effect to make it wet (sound roomy) a little!

That was a joke, I can bet you have come across several effects in your software applications (DAW) such as reverb, delay, compression, distortion, and other various effects.

But! Why do we use audio effects in the first place?

To answer that question, I’ll ask you a simple question. How would your meal taste without any ingredients?

Tasteless right! Yh, sure, it’s still eatable but it lacks flavor. Let’s transition back to the old question, why do we use audio effects?

Audio effects are software devices (ingredients) that manipulates an audio signal to a specific taste, it can make a dry audio signal sound wet, it can help in controlling the gains of an uncompressed sound (proper leveling of peaks), it can make a dull audio sample sound lively, and it can also be misused (think of adding too many/too little salt to your meal).

Since we know the importance of using audio effects, I would be recommending some of the best free VST effects plugins.

It doesn’t make any sense to randomly list the effects, so I decided to categorize each and every effect, all compressor vst effect plugin would be under the Compressor Vst category, reverb vst effects plugin would be under Reverb Vst category, you get the idea.

Page Contents

• Compressor Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
• Reverb Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
• Delay Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin
• EQ Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin

Let’s get cracking…

Compressor Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin

Compression is an effect or an audio processing tool that is used to control the overall Dynamics of an audio signal or an audio portion.

Some of the best free compressor plugins are…

1.) Audiofb – SeteChave Compressor

SeteChave is the first compressor on our list and is designed with characteristics close to the “pumping” effect. It can be used for parallel compressing and it is really intuitive with minimal knobs, so, you will quickly get a hold of this one.

Features:

• Input – Input signal gain control from -12db to + 12db
• Att – Attack spanning from 1.2ms to 500ms
• Rel – Release ranging from 20ms to 5s
• Threshold – with decibel range from 0db to -36db
• Ratio – Compression ratio, ranging from 1: 1 to 200: 1
• Knee – Curve gives compression, which varies between values 1 and 5 Output – Output signal gain control from -12db to + 12db.

Specification Requirements:

• Windows: Minimum of Win 8.1
• Mac OSX: Minimum of 10.10
• Supports Only 64bits of this format: VST/VST3/AAX/AU

Download (Requires Free Registration): SeteChave Compressor

2.) TDR Nova

Nova is a parallel equalizer and a multiband compressor that can tackle and fix a wide range of applications when processing. It can feel a little bit daunting when using TDR due to its various knobs, but you should easily get familiar after experimenting with its features and besides, it is free 😉

TDR NOVA is useful and works with all kinds of audio material, be it a drum bus asking for more crispiness, or a sibilance issue with your sounds, Nova got your back!

A simple UI design, drag and drop display with a classic “Knob” interface given quick and smooth access to the various parameters driving NOVA’s powerful processing capabilities.

The most interesting thing about this tool is that it has a rare feature you would find in Nova is that it allow users to copy and paste presets, and a lot of more great feature.

Features:

• Parametric equalization
• Dynamic equalization
• Frequency selective compression
• Multi-band compression
• Wideband compression.

Specification Requirement:

• Compatible with Windows ( Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10 and later versions) and macOS X 10.7 and above
• Win 32bit formats: VST2/AAX
• Win 64bits formats: VST2/VST3/AAX
• Mac OSx 64bits formats: VST2/VST3/AU/AAX

Download TDR NOVA

3.) T-Chain

I can’t even believe this is free (well, partially!)

T-Chain as it names sounds, it is a chain of different plugins or a channel strip plugin that is designed for modularity, users can arrange different sound modules within the signal path, you get the idea!.

For example, you might decide to use it as a single Eq or a compressor module and if you so wish, you can arrange different sound modules such as a free EQ, Compressor, Gate, and Splitter (for splitting the signal into two distinct paths), one of the most exciting features about this free plugin, is that the module can be rearranged, added, and deleted by drag-and-drop, this way, your life can be easier rearranging your signal chain.

I should mention some modules aren’t free but getting a free Eq, compressor, gate, and splitter is more than enough for so many use cases.

Features:

• Free and Paid modules, with the ability to demo any module at any time
• Customizable spectrum analyzer and waveform display
• Full-featured preset management system with searchable filter and text-based importing/exporting
• Multiple plugin interface size (compact, small, medium, and large)
• A/B Comparison feature for the entire plugin, and for individual modules

Specification Requirement:

• Available on Mac and PC; in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX formats; and 32- and 64-bit architecture

Download Mac: T-Chain for Mac

Download PC: T-Chain for Win

4.) TDR Kotelnikov

TDR Kotelnikov is a plugin by tokyodawn, the maker of TDR Nova.

Kotelnikov is a wideband dynamics compressor that is designed with high fidelity dynamic range control with deep musical flexibility. Their Nova plugin is a combo of Eq and Compressor while Kotelnikov is built solely for dynamic processing and has an on par features such as a proven control scheme, individual release control for peak and RMS content, an intuitive user interface, and powerful, state of the art, high-precision algorithms.

This plugin is suited when used as bus compression and or a master channel, if you try throwing many instances of Kotelnikov on your mixer inserts, you’ll eat your CPU up!

Features:

• 64bit multi-rate processing structure for highest accuracy
• “Delta” oversampled signal path (bit transparent at 0dB gain reduction)
• Super fast, yet natural sounding compression
• Flexible sidechain highpass filter
• Advanced stereo linking options optimized for the stereo bus
• Delta preview mode previews the difference between the compressed and original signal
• Latency compensated, click-free bypass (i.e. processing never interrupted)
• Advance User interface rescaling (100%, 125%, 150%)

Specification Requirement:

• Compatible with Windows ( Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10 and later versions) and macOS X 10.7 and above
• Win 32bit formats: VST2/AAX
• Win 64bits formats: VST2/VST3/AAX
• Mac OSx 64bits formats: VST2/VST3/AU/AAX

Download Mac: TDR Kotelnikov

5.) Multiband Compressor – OTT

OTT is based on a popular Ableton compressor presets and are redesigned has a three-band compressor that can either be used as an Upward or Downward compressor.

Download OTT

6.) Beatskillz – Max1

I might be biased in this review but personally, this is one of the best auto-compressor plugins out there. Max 1 will automatically analyze the ratio depending on the audio source and compress accordingly.

If you feel itchy about using an auto compressor tool, you are as well covered, Max1 comes with the default compressor knobs (Threshold, Attack, Gain, and the likes). In addition to this, it also comes bundled with a soft clip switch so you can clip anything that goes past 0dB, this way, you can save extra effort using a Limiter.

Features:

• Auto-Compressor with “intelligent” and variable release time and ratio settings.
• Control your peaks very easily or increase the energy and levels of your track or mix effortlessly.
• The Plugin has accurate metering for both L/R input and output channels as well as Gain Gain Reduction Metering.
• Great Presets to get you started on all types of material and also save your own presets.
• When compressing a lot, just use the “Attack” knob to dial back the punch easily. Use the soft limit to make your track loud effortlessly and transparently.
• Never Lose “Bass” when maximizing your mix or sounds, retain the character of your sounds with this transparent dynamics processor.
• Easy Effortless Compression and Energy Maximization.

Download: Win 32 VST / Win 64 VST / Mac OSX VST / Mac AU

Note: You might be asked to provide a serial key, just input your email and if you don’t get one by email, click not today

7.) Dead Duck Free Effects Bundle (25 VST audio effect plugins)

This is a bundled effect plugin by Dead duck. It contains 25 original VST audio effect plugins covering everything from essential mixing tools such as EQ, compression, and limiting to creative sound-shaping tools such as delays, modulation effects, and reverb:

1. AutoFilter: A resonant 4-pole low-pass filter with a built-in LFO modulator.
2. AutoPan: An auto-panning modulation effect with optional tempo-sync and width control.
3. BitCrusher: A bit-crusher effect for lo-fi distortion.
4. Channel: A multi-function channel-strip plugin featuring gate, compressor, equalizer, limiter, filters and gain controls with comprehensive input, output, and gain-reduction metering.
5. Chorus: A stereo chorus effect with optional tempo-sync.
6. Compressor: A peak compressor with optional external side-chain input.
7. DeEsser: A de-esser for reducing sibilance and other unwanted high-frequency sounds.
8. Delay: A stereo delay featuring independent left and right channels with optional stereo linking and tempo-sync.
9. DJEQ: A three-band ‘DJ-style’ equalizer.
10. DualFilter: A high-pass and low-pass filter combination with full-range cutoff frequencies and resonance.
11. Equalizer: A four-band parametric equalizer with switchable low- and high-shelf bands.
12. Expander: A downward expander with optional external side-chain input.
13. Filter: A multi-mode filter including low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and band-stop responses from 12 to 48 dB/octave.
14. Flanger: A stereo flanger with optional tempo-sync.
15. Gate: A noise-gate with optional external side-chain input.
16. Limiter: A ‘soft’ limiter with optional hard-clipper.
17. MonoDelay: A mono-delay with optional ‘ping-pong’ stereo output and tempo-sync.
18. Overdrive: An overdrive distortion effect.
19. Phaser: A stereo, multi-stage phaser with optional tempo-sync.
20. Reverb: An efficient algorithmic reverb with pre-delay and input filtering.
21. RingMod: A ring-modulation effect.
22. SigGen: A signal-generator with sine, pink noise, and white noise outputs.
23. TiltEQ: A tilt-equalizer for adjusting high/low-frequency balance.
24. Tremolo: A volume-modulation effect with optional tempo-sync.
25. Utility: A multi-function mixing utility.

Download: Dead Duck Free Effects Bundle

Reverb Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin

Reverb is the simulation of the sound of space. This space could be your bathroom, a small room, a concert hall, a chamber, and so on.

It can be used to create all sorts of effects but it can easily be misused too, basically reverb effects can be used to…

• To create depth in a mix; pushing elements further back in a mix
• To glue elements within a track together
• and many more.

Let’s see some of the best free reverb plugins…

8.) Voxengo – OldSkoolVerb

Voxengo plugins have been my best and ready to go plugin for my music production toolbox.

OldSkoolVerbemulates the classic stereo verb algorithm and produces a crystal clear spatial image that blends well with an audio file.

This reverb tool comes bundled with various sets of parameters permitting a user to achieve different reverb styles ranging from room reverb to hall reverb to plate reverb.

“The Voxengo OldSkoolVerb is best used for a non-percussive and soft-attack sound like vocals, piano and pad sounds”.

Specification Requirement:

• Compatible with Windows ( Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 and later versions) and macOS (10.7 and later releases, Intel processor-based)
• VST/AAX supports
• Compatible with 32 and 64 bit on Windows and Mac Os
• Supports 2 GHz dual-core or faster processor
• 2GB RAM or higher

Download OldSkoolVerb

8.) Smart Electronix – Ambience

A friend recommended Ambience too me a few years back, and the moment I tested it, I was literally blown away.

One of my favorite features of Ambience is the hold parameter which smartly freezes the reverb tail until the button is released. You can use this for creating a reverse reverb effect, special effect and you can even automate the knobs.

Ambience is a donationware plugin. You get a nag screen with no limitation, and if you love the plugin, you can donate to the developer.’

Download: Win 32 VST / Mac OSX VST

Modulation Vst Plugins

9.) Anwida Soft – DX Reverb Light

This is the light version of the original DX Reverb. The light version contains only one simplified algorithm of the 11 available algorithms in the full version, even with the limitation, DX Reverb Light can be handy for a quick reverb effect.

Download: Win 32 VST / Win 64 VST / Mac OSX VST / Mac AU

10.) Signaldust – Abstract Chamber

I don’t know if you ever notice undesirable reverb effect when used for longer reverb sounds, it sounds frustrating some times, with Abstract Chamber you can create a longer modulated reverbs whole also maintaining a natural yet abstract spatial impression.

It only supports VST

Download Abstract Chamber

11.) TAL-Reverb III

TAL-Reverb 3 is designed to be used as a stereo plate plug-in, which is the replacement of its predecessor (TAL-Reverb-II). This new edition has several improvements such as an optimized GUI and some changes in the reverb algorithm.

Additionally, TAL-Reverb 3 has a simple EQ section, a meter display and shows actual slider values.

Features:

Vst Plugin Torrent

• Plate reverb sound.
• One simple room size control.
• Pre-delay up to one second.
• EQ section (12dB cut, low shelf filter at 1000Hz, high shelf filter at 200Hz).
• Stereo width control (from full stereo to mono).
• Stereo input mode (mono or stereo input).
• Displays the slider value of the active fader.
• A meter shows the output volume.
• 10 factory presets.

Specification Requirements:

• Windows: Windows XP or higher (32 / 64 bit)
• OSX: OSX 10.7 or higher (32 / 64 bit).
• AAX: Pro Tools 10.3.6 or higher

Download: Windows / Mac

Delay Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin

Delay is an audio effect that records an input audio signal to a medium and then plays it back after a period of time or after the time you specify.

Some of the free delay plugins are…

12.) Proximity

Proximity is easy to use delay plugin based on several psycho-acoustic models. The idea is to give mixing engineers a reliable tool for manipulating the depth of several sound sources in a straight forward and convincing manner.

It is available in both 32 and 64-bits versions for Windows and Mac OS X in VST & AU format.

Download: Windows / Mac

13.) Adam Monroe’s Delay

Adam Monroe’s Delay is a free delay VST/AU/ AAX plugin. It features traditional delay parameters such as time and feedback, as well as high/low-pass filtering and synchronized ping-pong panning.

It supports both 32 and 64-bit version:

Download: Win VST / Win AAX / Mac VST / Mac AU

EQ Free VST/AU/AAX Plugin

14.) TAL-USE

TAL-USE (Ultra Simple Eq) is especially designed after some tilt eq’s from the ’70s.

This type of eq allows adjusting the audio material without changing the character of a sound to much.

It’s an easy way, to make an audio signal sound darker or brighter with only one knob. The bass lift knob is a special addition that boosts or attenuates bass frequencies below 300Hz.

Requirements:

• Windows XP or higher (32 / 64 bit)
• OSX 10.6 and < 10.10 (32 bit Host).

Download: Win 32 VST / OSX 32 VST / OSX 32 AU

I Would Keep Updating This Page…