| Software | Description | OS | License | File Date | Comments | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BuzMaxi 3 | Brickwall Limiter / Transparent Maximizer. [VST] | Windows | Freeware | 2005-05-05 | 6 | 70db |
| Free Bomb Factory LE 4.01 | Pack of seven essential studio plug-ins. | Windows | Freeware | 2004-03-01 | 5 | 60db |
| Mixer4 | Mixer4 is a plug-in that lets you mix and process audio tracks. | Windows | Freeware | 2014-10-02 | 0 | 60db |
| CS-12M Mastering Channel Strip v1.66 | CS12M is a Mastering channel strip plugin. [VST] | Windows | Freeware | 2012-02-23 | 1 | 60db |
| J1000 ALPHA v3.8 | Parametric EQ for fine tuning in post-production [VST] | Windows | Freeware | 2012-01-19 | 6 | 60db |
| sonicWORX Studio 2.6 | Audio editing and post production software. | Mac | Freeware | 2005-04-25 | 8 | 60db |
| J1000 GAMMA 2.0 | Equal loudness contour mastering EQ [VST] | Windows | Freeware | 2010-10-01 | 1 | 60db |
| Equilibre v0.9 | Equilibre is a virtual equalizer plug-in. [VST] | Windows | Freeware | 2012-04-10 | 0 | 55db |
| InTune | Sound analysis and editing in terms of pitch, dynamics, timing and noise. | Windows | Freeware | 10 | 55db | |
| BassLane 1.5 | Control the stereo field of lower frequencies in your audio material. [VST] | Windows | Freeware | 2010-11-12 | 0 | 55db |
| Free Bomb Factory TDM 4.2 | Pack of seven essential studio plug-ins. | Windows | Freeware | 2010-10-04 | 5 | 55db |
| Alloy v2.02 | Provides key sound shaping effects for your tracks and busses, bringing them to life with six processors designed to give character to every element of your mix. [VST/AU/RTAS] | Mac | Demo | 2013-08-23 | 0 | 55db |
| Mixer4 | Mixer4 is a small footprint audio mixer and processor. | Mac | Freeware | 2015-10-02 | 0 | 55db |
| BaxterEQ | BaxterEQ is a mix buss shelving and mastering EQ plug-in [VST] | Windows | Freeware | 2011-11-04 | 0 | 55db |
| Mixer4 | Mixer4 is a high precision audio mixer and processor. It will run with an optional graphical or without by using a text editor. | Linux | Freeware | 2015-10-02 | 0 | 55db |
| DC Terminator 1.00 | DC/SUBSONIC analysis and elimination in real-time | Windows | Freeware | 2010-12-13 | 0 | 50db |
These are the best free VST effect plugins for mixing and mastering. But, these can be used to pull off some pretty crazy sound design too!
It features 5 modules for compression, peak limiting, high-frequency limiting, a clipper, and a true peak limiter. For a free plugin you get a high quality processor capable of mastering like a pro with control over the smallest mix tweaks to huge compression. Browse this plugins skins and download it here from VladG Sound’s blog. Go for LANDR, a free audio mastering software that you can use to master sounds without paying studio rates. Just drag and drop files, mix them and get an instant master preview which can be downloaded in just seconds. (Of course, if you want a truly professional sound, you’re going to need some mixing and mastering by an audio engineer. But you can always record your vocals in GarageBand, and then just send your unedited recordings to the audio engineer.) For Mac users, the beauty of GarageBand is that you probably already have it, so go ahead and start.
Using these effects in your music production is a great way to up the quality and discover something new, all without paying anything.
Chart of the Best Free Mixing Effect Plugins
This table includes all of the free mixing effect plugins mentioned in the article below.
| Effect Plugin Name | Available Plugin Formats | Supported OS |
|---|---|---|
| BitterSweet | VST, AU, AAX | Windows & Mac |
| Vocal Doubler | VST, AU, AAX (64-bit only) | Windows & Mac |
| Frohmage | VST, AU, AAX | Windows & Mac |
| TAL-Reverb-2 | VST, AU, AAX | Windows & Mac |
| Vinyl | VST, AU, AAX, RTAS | Windows & Mac |
1. BitterSweet
This plugin by FLUX is going to let you shape the transients of your sounds as this is essentially a simplified compressor.
You can change other parameters like the stereo width (either based on your DAWs output, centered, or stereo), there is also a makeup gain section that will try to account for what is happening to the sound but I don't find it that useful.
There is also an option for how fast the compressor comes into effect, essentially the attack but only in 3 settings.
Now here's where the plugin comes in handy. You can either tighten things up and make it punchier by using the bitter side, or make things more subtle by using the sweet side.
2. Vocal Doubler
iZotope's vocal doubler is really unique as I think it combines a very subtle delay (almost like a chorus effect) with a stereo enhancer, letting you really widen a sound and take advantage of the full stereo width.
Now, there's nothing stopping you from using this on sounds other than vocals as you see here. Remember, it's just the plugins name.
A quick heads up, iZotope does recommend using this effect plugin on dry vocals since it can interact with other effects you may be using and make artifacts like popping or clicking sounds.
3. Frohmage
Frohmage is an interesting combination of a few different effects into one.
This multi-band resonant filter lets you change the resonance, the number of bands and how spread out they are, the cutoff frequency, and includes distortion and delay stages on each band to give it a unique effect similar to phasing.
Then there's the evolution parameter, which doesn't make any sense but it's fun to use. A great feature to this is it's presets and how you can actually change the speed it transitions from one to the next.
Setting this to a higher level is great for long ambiances that you want to give some very subtle progression.
4. TAL-Reverb-2
This is a sweet reverb to throw on to your tracks as it gives you control over a few key parameters such as the dry and wet levels, room size, predelay, and some stereo control.
The section I'm most interested in is the frequency control. This lets you apply the reverb to specific sections of the frequency spectrum and the options to the left let you set where each band is located.
5. Vinyl
Another plugin from iZotope, Vinyl is a great way to give you sounds an old-school vibe. You get a bunch of control over how the imperfections will play a roll in the sound.
You can throw in some electrical noise, mechanical noise, there's a wear option to, well set how worn out it is, I don't know what else to say…
You can also set how much dust and scratches there are, as well as how warped the sound will be.
Free Mixing And Mastering Software For Mac Free
That's it for the best free effect plugins for mixing. As always, thanks for reading.