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How To Use Any Virtual Instrument Plug in In Pro Tools First - Video In this free video tutorial for Pro Tools First Russ shows how you can run any virtual instrument plug-in in Pro Tools First and not just the plug-ins purchased from the Avid store. In the Avid Pro Tools First FAQs it says 'Only plug-ins purchased through the Avid Marketplace.
The drum machine changed music. There’s no getting around it.Every these days comes with some sort of sampler or drum machine built right in. They’ve become a pillar of modern music production.But picking a sound can be tough when you have infinite possibilities at your fingertips.That’s why these drum VST plugins are so great. They impose some limitations to help you corral the creative juices a bit.So here’s the 10 best free drum VST plugins for making your drums pop. T.REX 606The name says it all. The is a compact rompler modelled after the iconic Roland TR-606 drum machine.The simple interface keeps things basic. Which is nice these days when so many VSTs are needlessly complicated.It’s just volume, reverb and 7 classic sounds.
Easy peasy.for free DjinndrumThe Linn LM-1 is a classic drum machine. It’s been used by everyone from Peter Gabriel, to Prince, to Michael Jackson.But let’s face it, these days they’ve gotten a bit pricey for what they are.No problem, The has you set for all that classic sound that the LM-1 packs in.for free Drum PROhas 20 built in drum kits, 12 pads and global effects, what more do you need from a drum machine plugin?The Drum Pro has you covered no matter what you’re making. Everything else you need for sweet drums?
Check that too.for free Line of LegendsThis plugin may not look as technical as others. But don’t let the looks of fool you.This plugin boasts 47 high quality samples, 8 individual output channels, and punch, release & attack knobs for some serious tweakage.Heads up: you may have to set up the output channels in your DAW if it’s only showing one channel.
So check your DAW manual to figure out how.for free Sean Pandy Drumsis based on a sample pack made by heavy metal drummer Sean Pandy. So if you’re looking for a heavier drum sound on your mix, this VST will definitely give you it.The ‘Sub Blower’ is especially good and certainly lives up to its namefor free KickMaker2 of the most important elements in any track that thumps is the.
So they deserve some serious attention.That’s what makes so great. It’s a plugin built for crafting the perfect kick. So what’re you waiting for? Get kickin’.for free Beat Factory Drumsis easy to use, sounds great, and packs a serious punch.It has fully tweakable ADSR parameters so you can customize each and every kit to your sound. Not bad for a FREE plugin.All you have to do is enter your email and that’s it.for free MT Power Drum Kit 2isn’t just a plugin for drums. In addition to top notch drum sounds that cut through any mix, it also has a fully pre-programmed groove library.It’s wicked for composing your own patterns, or stringing together grooves for the drum accompaniment you need.for free Dub Turbo DrumTROOPThe drum machine is big both in its sound and what it offers. It’s a powerful tool for everything from EDM to house and back again.Their website calls it a “weapon of mass production.” I can’t really disagree with that.
It’s definitely massive is every respect.for free Single Cycle Vintage Drum Elementshas a nice, warm analogue sound that so many vintage drum machines have.The 12 pad interface is easy to use and tweak, and the preloaded samples are all top notch.Name your price or enter your email to grab it on the Single Cycle Bandcamp.for free Drumming up the perfect soundNothing beats a banging drum track. They’re the backbone of tons of top notch songs.And the drum machine is a superb way to hone in on a specific sound for your tracks.So grab these sweet plugs and program away!Already set for drums? Grab some of our other favourite free VSTs.
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!
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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
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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.
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
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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.
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