- Download the Best Free Audio Plugins. Synths, Reverbs, Compressors.and much more. Just click and download.
- There are more free plugins for music production than you might think and just because they're free plugins doesn't mean they can't be used in professional sounding mixes. In this post, we're going to be sharing with you 11 of our favorite free VST, AU & AAX plugins. These plugins are all free legal plugins and they're not demos.
Last Updated on December 23, 2020.
Having a good drum sound in your mixes is essential, be it real drums, sampled drums or synth drums.
Today we're looking at five of my favorite free AAX plugins!To learn more, and to get my FREE Ultimate EQ Cheat Sheet, head on over to BetterMixes.comhttps:/.
Not everyone has the luxury of having a drummer available to record whatever they need 24/7, so making your own drum tracks and getting them to sound good is a great way of doing things.
Luckily, there are many free drum VST plugins available that should get you sounding amazing in no time.
1. MT Power DrumKit 2 (Windows, Mac)
The MT Power DrumKit is a free sampler which offers high-quality samples of an acoustic, realistic drum kit.
The Samples come pre-processed which should make them sit nicely in any mix without any tweaking.
In addition to the incredible drum sounds that cut through any mix, it also has a fully pre-programmed groove library, which makes it extremely easy to set up a quick drum track for any song.
It also comes with a mixer where you can adjust the levels of each component, plus you can control the level of compression and panning.
Make sure to check out the official website here.
If you're thinking about building a home studio, then make sure to read this entire post about the essential home studio components you need.
2. Drumatic 3 by e-phonic (Windows)
Drumatic 3 is a virtual-analogue drum synthesizer.
All sounds are 100% synthetic and allow for huge flexibility and variation.
It sounds pretty good, just remember that the sounds are nowhere close to a real drum, but that's the whole point.
Sounds: Bassdrum, Snaredrum, Handclap, 2 Toms, Hihats and a Rimshot / Bell.
Features
- Graphical envelopes for amplitude and modulation
- Load / save presets for single sounds
- Simple but effective effect section for each sound with distortion and bitcrusher and a filter.
You can download it here.
Are you also looking for 20 of the best Free Orchestral VST plugins? As it so happens, I wrote an article about the ones I think are the best!
3. DrumMic'a! by Sennheiser (Windows, Mac)
This is a Free drum sample Software which loads inside of the free native Instruments Kontact Player. This one allows you to change between Sennheiser and Neumann Microphones, which will change the drum sound a bit.
This one also comes with a mixer where you can adjust the volume of each individual component of the kit and also allowing you to EQ, Compress, add reverb and delay, pan, etc.
This is a fantastic option, especially because it's free, check its official website here.
Related: I love free plugins, so I put together a list of the best Free Synth VST Plugins out there which you can check out here,
4. Beatfactory Drums by BeatSkillz (Windows, Mac)
Beatfactory Drums is a free drumkit/drum machine plugin which works in any DAW on Mac OS X and Windows 32/64-bit.
The kits included in the plugin were created using the MPC 2500 passing through high end outboard EQ, compressors, tube and solid state gear, for a gritty and punchy sound.
It's a very fun plugin to use and it sounds absolutely fantastic!
Features
- Sampled from MPC 2500
- Created with High End OutBoard Gear
- Volume and Pan for Each Sample Pad
Here's the to where you can download the Beat Factory Drums.
5. MiniSpillage by AudioSpillage (Mac)
MiniSpillage is a free professional quality drum synthesizer plugin featuring high resolution 64-bit DSP processing that includes 3 exclusive drum synthesis algorithms along with distortion effects and resonant filters.
Features
- HD 64-bit Digital Sound
- 3 Editable Drum Pads
You can Download it here.
Now, maybe you need some truly powerful Drum VSTs and the ones on this list won't cut it; Here's a post about the best Premium Drum VSTs out there.
6. SM Drumkit by SMM (Windows, Mac)
This is one of the best free acoustic drum sample packs available. The samples are from a Vintage Ludwig drumkit which just sound fantastic.
The intention behind this was to provide a sampled collector drum kit in an easy to use format (Kontakt) as well as the open WAV samples to map in your own samplers of choice.
To use in Kontakt, however, you will need the full version since the free version of Kontakt only allows you to use it for 15 min.
This Pack adds up to 3.7GB across 3614 samples recorded in 24 bits, and each piece has up to 64 velocity layers and up to 8 round robins.
Here's a link to the official website.
If you're looking for a Free DAW to use these plugins with, then make sure to read this guide I wrote on the best free DAWs available today!
7. EXD-80 by Third Harmonic Studios (Windows)
EXD-80 is a free 32-bit virtual analog drum and percussion synthesizer plugin for Windows.
It is a flexible drum synth that can produce a wide variety of drum and percussion sounds.
From emulations of classic drum machines to crazy, mangled glitch sounds – all synthesized, no samples here!
It is suitable for many EDM styles including electro, glitch, industrial, ambient, dubstep, drum & bass and hip hop.
Features
- 8 Modules – kick, snare, open and closed hi-hats, 5 x percussion sounds
- 4 Stereo output pairs
- Each output pair has its own stereo effects section featuring a Granulator and Waveshaper
Note: It's only 32-bit.
You can download it here.
8. Drum Pro by StudioLinked (Windows, Mac)
This is a fantastic drum machine plugin no matter how you look at it. The sounds you can get out of it are great and the ease of use is unmatched.
It is ideal for Hip-hop, Trap, EDM, etc.
Features
- 20 drum kits.
- Global ADSR / reverb.
- 12 pads.
- Volume and pan for each pad.
Also, you can add some paid expansion packs if you'd like.
You can download it here.
9. TheDrumSource by Witech (Windows)
TheDrumSource is a sample based drum machine with a built in browser and sequencer. It has a simple, very clean interface and very fast workflow which is ideal for beginners.
Features
- support for many sample formats.
- Sample preview.
- Separate output channels.
- Very fast sample browsing.
- Resizable GUI.
You can download it here.
I've also put together a list about the top Free Bass Amp VST Plugins which is definitely worth checking out!
10. T.REX 606 (Windows, Mac)
The T.REX 606 is a rompler of classic 606.
It's got a vintage and Modern GUI Design featuring 7 Classics Sounds and knobs for Main Volume & Simple Reverb.
It's really straight forward to use, very simple and intuitive. The sound quality isn't the best, but you should definitely try it out since it's free.
It works both on Windows and Mac OS.
Blender vse free download. You can download it here.
11. Line of Legends (Windows, Mac)
Line of Legends may look extremely simple to you, but don't let it fool you, it's a great plugin
It features high quality drum samples from the eponymous free sample pack released by realdrumsamples.com.
The interface is divided in 8 sections (Kick, Snare, Clap, Snap, Toms, Hi hat, Ride and Crash).
Each section uses its own individual output for an easier handling in a productive environment.
Features
- 47 high quality samples.
- 8 individual outputs.
- Punch knobs for attack sculpting.
- Release and Pan knobs
Important Note: Some people have reported that in order to get sound you might need to set up the output channels in your DAW.
You can download it from the vst4free website.
12. Sean Pandy Drums (Windows, Mac)
Sean Pandy Drums is a VST/AU drum rompler plugin with Kick, Snare, 4 Toms – and a Sub Blower.
Every drum consists of 6 velocity layers and up to 10 random-robin samples, which means that you should get no machine gun effect even with fast repetitions.
This plugin sounds pretty nice to be honest, on the official website you will find two songs that have been recorded using this drum plugin and it surprised me, so make sure to check it out.
Also, it comes with a reverb, but it sounds a bit metallic, so go easy on it.
I've also put together a list about the top Free Bass Amp VST Plugins which is definitely worth checking out!
10. T.REX 606 (Windows, Mac)
The T.REX 606 is a rompler of classic 606.
It's got a vintage and Modern GUI Design featuring 7 Classics Sounds and knobs for Main Volume & Simple Reverb.
It's really straight forward to use, very simple and intuitive. The sound quality isn't the best, but you should definitely try it out since it's free.
It works both on Windows and Mac OS.
Blender vse free download. You can download it here.
11. Line of Legends (Windows, Mac)
Line of Legends may look extremely simple to you, but don't let it fool you, it's a great plugin
It features high quality drum samples from the eponymous free sample pack released by realdrumsamples.com.
The interface is divided in 8 sections (Kick, Snare, Clap, Snap, Toms, Hi hat, Ride and Crash).
Each section uses its own individual output for an easier handling in a productive environment.
Features
- 47 high quality samples.
- 8 individual outputs.
- Punch knobs for attack sculpting.
- Release and Pan knobs
Important Note: Some people have reported that in order to get sound you might need to set up the output channels in your DAW.
You can download it from the vst4free website.
12. Sean Pandy Drums (Windows, Mac)
Sean Pandy Drums is a VST/AU drum rompler plugin with Kick, Snare, 4 Toms – and a Sub Blower.
Every drum consists of 6 velocity layers and up to 10 random-robin samples, which means that you should get no machine gun effect even with fast repetitions.
This plugin sounds pretty nice to be honest, on the official website you will find two songs that have been recorded using this drum plugin and it surprised me, so make sure to check it out.
Also, it comes with a reverb, but it sounds a bit metallic, so go easy on it.
You can Download it here.
13. Dub Turbo DrumTROOP (Windows, Mac)
Ok, this has to be one of the best free drum machines available, it's just capable of doing way too many things and it does them far too well.
Logic audio editor free. DrumTROOP is a great alternative to constantly creating kits from scratch or messing around with bloated on board functions in most drum vst's.
Features
- 20 free drum kits.
- 16-20 sounds per kit (some kits are full = 100+ samples)
- 128 triggers on every kit.
- 16 outputs.
You can download it here.
If you're looking for a high quality guitar sound without investing in gear or even software, then make sure to check out my article about the top Free Guitar VST plugins available!
14. Single Cycle Vintage Drum Elements (Windows, Mac)
Vintage Drum Elements is a virtual drum machine featuring the sound of the Yamaha RX5.
The 12 pad interface is super intuitive and easy to use, making it an ideal choice both for beginners as well as experts.
The preloaded samples are of top-notch quality.
The plugin drum machine comes with 4 drum kits, 1 FX set and 4 instruments featuring;
Free Aax Drum Plugins
- Yamaha RX5 Kit 1
- Yamaha RX5 Kit 2
- Synthetic Kit
- Ethnic Kit
- FX
- DX Bass
- DX Clavecin
- DX Marimba
- DX Orchestra
The plugin is available as a VST & AU instrument for Mac & PCs both in 32 bit and 64 bit.
Here's the link to the official website.
Learn how to Produce music
If you want to learn how to produce music at home the right way and without making too many mistakes, then I'd recommend that you read these posts;
Conclusion
If you need real drum sample sounds, then I'd recommend either the MT Power DrumKit 2 and DrumMic'a! by Sennheiser.
If you want to create some hip-hop music, then the Drum Pro by StudioLinked is a good starting point.
Is EZ Drummer free?
EZ Drummer is not free.
However, you can try it for free for 10 days before having to purchase it!
What is a drum VST?
Free Aax Drum Plug-ins
VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology, and there are different kinds of VSTs.
As far as drums go, there can be VST libraries, beat machines and drum Synthesis, and they all work in different ways.
We have a comprehensive database of free plug-ins that work with Pro Tools so if you are a little tight for cash then check these out, but to help get you going here are 5 plug-ins we recommend you check out.
1. iZotope Vinyl
Back just in time for its 15th anniversary, iZotope Vinyl is a plug-in that lets you simulate the dust, scratches, and warp of a worn record and the electrical and mechanical noise of the turntable it's on. Give fresh recordings and instrument tracks the dirty, dusty feel of an earlier decade. You can apply Vinyl to any source audio to make it sound as if it's being played from a record and dial in exactly the right character to suit your tune. Plus, it's now updated to 64-bit!
The Spin Down button simulates slowly stopping playback of a record, modulating both playback speed and frequency. When used on the master bus, it can provide a dramatic overall effect as if someone has stopped the record playing. Within the context of a mix, it can add a unique but familiar effect when used on individual instruments or busses.
You can use Vinyl in film and television for treating audio to sound like it's coming from a vintage on-screen source. In this example, Vinyl is being used to make a song sound as if it is being played from an old radio.
You can find more examples here using the new iZotope Vinyl plug-in. You can download this free plug-in from iZotope. Existing owners will find a new serial number in their iZotope Accounts.
2. HOFA 4U Meter, Fader & MS-Pan
The HOFA 4U Meter, Fader & MS Pan is a free plug-in with so much going for it..
- Precise metering (peak, hold, EBU, LRA) - Although there is only one loudness meter in an instance of the plug-in, there is nothing stopping having 3 instances; one with the Integrated, a second with Short Term and a third displaying Momentary. Like the Avid Pro Limiter it only displays the EBU R128 scale so it is great for UK and Europe and any other territory that adopts the R128 standard. But it is still a useful guide for any other territory as the various versions of the standard are very close to each other.
- MS decoder - use this and then use conventional plug-ins to process using MS.
- Trim, fader and mute function
- Stereo-mono switch - use this on a Master fader to check your mono compatibility
- Analyze peak & EBU R128 levels via drag and drop of audio files
- Innovative panorama-function: this is the panner that you can also use for 'more than stereo' panning
- Changeable plug-in window size - getting a little more common but very rare on free plug-ins.
- PC and Mac, 32 and 64 Bit DAWs
In this tutorial Mike also shows just one part of this feature strong free plug-in from HOFA, the MS Decoder. It is also an EBU R128 loudness meter. You could insert this plug-in ahead of a plug-in that you would like to process 'post fade' but normally can't because all inserts on Pro Tools tracks are pre-fade except for the Master track. With the free HOFA 4U plug-in ahead of the 'post fade' plug-in, automate the fader in the 4U plug-in instead of the fader on the Pro Tools track, job done!
3. Boz Digital Labs Bark Of The Dog
Bark of Dog is a bass resonance filter that is designed to enable you to increase your low end without turning up the flab. I like to think of it as a way to boost the low end while still keeping it under control. While the controls are super simple, the effect that this has on controlling the low end in a mix is pretty exciting. That said Boz Digital Labs are very honest about this plug-in and what it can. They say..
Truthfully, what you get here can be accomplished with pretty much any digital EQ plugin. The reason why I made a dedicated plugin for this is because even though I had the capability to put a resonant high pass filter on my tracks for the past 15 years using my stock EQ, the thought never occurred to me to try it. I read reviews on a certain plugin that claimed to enhance the low end with a resonant high pass filter, and everybody who tried it seemed to love it. Rather than spending loads of money on a big dongle and then more money on a plugin, I decided just to make my own.
Even though it is super simple, I think it lived up to it's hype. I love this tool. It solved all my low end problems. Because this is a feature we all already have, I didn't feel right about charging money for it. There are enough good new ideas to do that I don't want to fall into the trap of repackaging old tricks. Think of this as more of a really helpful tip with a plugin to go along with it. If you don't want to download this plugin, then at least open up your stock EQ and play with the resonance on your high pass filter. It made my life a lot easier, and I think it can make yours easier too.
4. Flux BitterSweet 3
This is Russ's review of Bittersweet 2. Bittersweet 3 is the AAX Native version for Pro Tools 11 and above.
Flux describe Bittersweet v3 as a free software processing tool for managing audio transients. Turning the big wheel button on the sweet side, decreases the transients amplitude. On the bitter side the transients amplitude is magnified.
BitterSweet v3 features a control for the signal to be processed. When the main position is engaged, the process affects the stereo signal. If Center is engaged, only the M signal of the internal MS matrix is processed. If stereo is selected, only the S signal from the MS matrix is processed.
Three transient detection modes can be selected. Varying periods of integration for transients can be accessed. A Link function is provided to compensate the output gain with respect to the transient processing setting.
5. Softube Saturation Knob
In this show and tell review Russ takes a look at the free Softube Saturation Knob on a mix to see just how good it is.
The free plug-in Saturation Knob is a modeled output distortion that can be used anywhere you need some grit. Use it to fatten up bass lines, add some harmonics and shimmer to vocals, or simply destroy your drum loop.
The three modes, Keep High, Neutral and Keep Low give you three kinds of characters of distortion. If you want to squash a drum loop but keep the bass drum fairly intact, you can for example use the Keep Low mode.
What About Yours?
So there are 5 free AAX plug-ins that we think are worth checking out. Do share which free plug-ins for Pro Tools you rate and don't forget we have our comprehensive database of free plug-ins too take a look at.
