You may face several scenarios while mixing and mastering which may include the use of an equalizer, having a transparent display to analyze what you are adding or subtracting with the EQ, multiple EQ bands, and proper CPU usage is what to look for in an EQ.

But with that said every piece of software and hardware alike creates and outputs a slightly different sound meaning they all have unique timbres and uses. Alongside that, there are some rather expensive plugins we may see online, which aren’t out of our reaches but we don’t know what we need until we need it right? Well, this is why its best to try some free EQ’s first to see what it is you like within an EQ and what it maybe you are looking for.

We become ever so comfortable with our stock plugins, they do the simple tasks for us (sometimes), they don’t run our computer into the ground, and they for sure are pretty basic. Well, this is the issue most people come to, they want a better EQ, or they want a change of visuals.

EQ History – ‘The first EQ was first used by John Volkman working at RCA in the 1920s”

Z3TA+ 2 VST Z3TA+ 2 is the ultimate waveshaping synthesizer, designed to suit all your electronic productions. Load a preset or twist, bend, and morph your sounds into uncharted sonic territory. Vst plugin z3ta+. Z3TA+ 2 - The Ultimate Waveshaping Synth. Z3TA+2 is designed to suit any and all of your electronic productions. From pop to rap, energetic to atmospheric, you’ll have the sounds you need at your. Z3TA+2 – VST/AU Synthesizer Plugin by Cakewalk Cakewalk presents Z3TA+2, a powerful virtual synth who bring the legendary waveshaping sound of Z3TA+ with new features such as new filters.

Download VST VSTI AU RTAS AAX DAW Plugins Free FL Studio Ableton Live Logic Pro Cubase Pro Tools reFX Nexus Sylenth Massive Xfer Serum Spire Kontakt 5 Waves DAW & Plugin Native Instruments Traktor Pro 3 v3.4.0 WIN & MACOSX. Free VST Plugins VST plugins are virtual instruments and audio effects for your digital audio workstation. There are literally hundreds of free VST plugins online nowadays, and finding good ones takes time. To help you focus on making music instead of testing audio plugins, we. 11 of the Best Free DAW Software in 2020 1) LMMS (Linux MultiMedia Studio) Loaded to the brim with tons of features, LMMS is a compact DAW on the lines of FL Studio and Reaper. It offers support for third-party VST plugins, SoundFont2, LADSPA, VSTi and is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux platforms.

• The 15 Best Delay Plugins For Mixing (VST, AU, AAX)
• 10 Best Noise Gate Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
• What Are The Best Tools To Develop VST Plugins & How Are They Made?
• 37 Best Free Vst Compressor Plugins For Mixing & Mastering

1. DDMF Colour EQ | info & download
2. SPL Free Ranger | info & download
3. Analog Obsession STEQ v2 | info & download
4. TDR Nova Parallel Dynamic Equalizer | info & download
5. Cockos ReaEQ | info & download
6. Blue Cat’s Triple EQ | info & download
7. Analog Obsession Merica | info & download
8. TinyQ lkjb | info & download
9. Sonimus SonEQ | info & download
10. Ignite Amps PTEq-X | info & download
11. Leftover Lasagne Pushtec 5+1A EQ | info & download
12. lkjb QRange | info & download
13. TDR Slick EQ | info & download
14. Manda Audio 7Q | info & download
15. Mellowmuse EQ1A | info & download
16. Voxengo Marvel GEQ | info & download
17. Kuassa BASIQ | info & download

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• 64-bit processing
• Low-CPU Usage
• Customizable GUI
• Great warm sound
• 5 Bands
• Resizable Window

Features & When To Use:

Colour EQ is a 64-bit EQ plugin that offers 5 ”super parametric” bands to manipulate the frequency range. This is exceedingly handy when wanting to use more than one band in one instance; the intuitive gain knobs on the five bands allow for perfect mixing of these bands when mixing and mastering.

Using the two different types of curves, Colour EQ offers a warm sound that you just wouldn’t get from your stock EQ.

Having a bright visual display helps you to craft and mould your bands to preference.

A great way to use this plugin is when you are not getting enough warmth in your low, mid/mids, Colour EQ will add a great sense of warmth throughout the selected bands. Another cool way to use this plugin is to use two different setups with two different curve types; you can use modified versions of the EQ for selected times in your mixdowns to add the feeling of a change in energy in a breakdown or drop.

Colour EQ is a great tool to have in your arsenal for mixing and mastering, plus you may find many uses in your day-to-day production.

Compatibility:

Windows VST (32/64 bit), Windows/Mac RTAS, and Mac VST/AU format (Intel, OSX 10.5 and higher)

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• Four useful bands
• Volume knob
• Great sound
• Four buttons to switch between EQ settings

Features & When To Use:

With a sleek, minimalistic design Free Ranger is a powerful EQ.

With a mid-band (150Hz – 7kHz), fixed high (10kHz), low shelf (80Hz) SPL have kept things very simple so anyone can EQ with ease.

Free Ranger gives the feel of the world-renowned API 560 EQ but offers this all for free!

Free Ranger is a bodybuilder for your sounds while mixing and a gentle touch when mastering, this plugin makes EQing fun, quick and easy.

You may find yourself using the four different EQ settings and incorporate them into your mixdowns. Using them to create different feels and vibes can give your masters that final touch you’ve been looking for.

This is a must-have!

Compatibility:

macOS 10.9 through 10.15, Windows 7-10

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• mid-band (150Hz – 7kHz)
• fixed high (10kHz)
• low shelf (80Hz)
• Optical compressor knob
• Added preamp

Features & When To Use:

Free Download Vst Plugins Drums

Simplicity is key with EQ work in the mix or master, and this plugin keeps that in mind through and through.

With a very easy to use GUI STEQ 2 has a powerful but simple way of delivering a small form factor EQ to your DAW.

This EQ gives off old school retro vibe, precise, clean, and adds a lot of detail to the mid-range.

STEQ 2 is excellent for tonal rebalancing due to the broadness of the three bands creating a pure blend between the frequency ranges.

Using this to add punch to claps and snares is also a good use. But be careful when adding to full bus groups.

This EQ from Analog Obsession is an excellent tool to keep at your disposal when thinking about doing some tasks during your mix, or why not change up those stock plugins for free.

Compatibility

WiN, OSX AU VST, VST3

More Info & Download

Specifications:

Great for:

Parametric equalization

Dynamic equalization

Frequency selective compression

Multi-band compression

Wideband compression

Features & When To Use:

Nova is a parallel dynamic EQ; each band has a dedicated, dynamic section giving the user full flexibility.

Giving the option to drag and move bands in the visual GUI individually or group, this provides a natural form factor way to get results.

Using the multiband compression built into Nova your be able to manipulate your EQ even further, this will be displayed in the visual GUI with real-time feedback of the compression process. (subtly decrease the threshold to hear the difference)

In mix and mastering, you can use Nova to visually see where you may have audio issues to fix and makes it very easy to apply these changes with the drag and change feature.

The dynamic EQ is a handy tool to have in practice when mixing down full compositions – use it to bring down or up frequencies only when they reach a specific volume.

Nova is a heavyweight EQ with a lot under the hood all for free!

Compatibility:

Win XP SP2 or above, Mac OS X 10.7 or above.

More Info & Download

Specifications:

IDesignSound is participating in other affiliate advertising systems as well. Affiliate DisclosureIDesignSound is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by displaying and linking products to amazon.com, loopmasters.com, amongst others. Tal vocoder vst. Instead it aggregates all bundles.

• Low CPU & RAM
• Fast and highly configurable
• Portable – copy & run
• Resizeable GUI

Features & When To Use:

ReaEQ may look basic, but under the hood, there is a lot to offer.

Being able to have as many bands as you wish is a massive bonus, you also have the ability to change all of these bands to one of the following (shelves, bands, LPF, HPF, notch, bandpass, allpass).

With a stripped-back GUI, it keeps you focused on the task at hand, not over complicating things but giving you the power of an audio god at your fingertips.

With a tremendous real-time visual display, this gives you the eyes and ear focus that you need when EQ in the mix.

Phasing is a big issue when mixing, ReaEQ gives you a ‘Show Phase’ button which will show you in your display what frequencies are being affected by the band.

When mastering you may wish to keep all bands in one EQ patch, with ReaEQ you can do this.

Stripped back and powerful ReaEQ is a favorite among many producers across a wide range of genres.

Compatibility:

WIN 32, WIN 64

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• Semi-parametric EQ
• +/- 40dB Range per band
• MIDI control and automation support
• Real-time display
• All sample rates supported

Features & When To Use:

The Triple EQ is a three-band semi-parametric equaliser.

With a simple and easy to read visual display of the frequencies in real-time, you will have a clear display of the EQ in front of your eyes.

Alongside the huge +/- 40 dB range, Triple EQ has a bandwidth of .01 to 5 Octaves!

An exciting feature with Triple EQ is that you can link two bands together using the ‘Link Channels’ feature. This will allow you to use them in unison; combine this with the automaton support to create quick and easy modulation. This is a great way to change an EQ while in the mix with complex automation.

Using the linking feature to create movement and progression within your mixdowns makes Triple EQ a threat.

Fully customisable shapes make this a different tool when deep in the mix or master, you will find many uses for the dynamic bands you can create—having dynamic bands that you are able to manipulate helps when visually your EQ and how it may affect the whole frequency range.

Check this one out for a small form factor powerful EQ!

Compatibility:

Windows 7 to 10, Mac OS 10.7 or newer.

• 29 Best Sound Design VST Plugins In 2020
• 10 Best Opto Compressor Plugins (VST,AU,AAX) For Transparent Sound
• 11 Best Granulizer Plugins 2020 For a Future Sound Design
• 33 Best Waves Plugins of 2020 (Mixing & Mastering)
• Difference Between Active EQ, Passive EQ and Dynamic EQ

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• Low & High Band – Shelf
• Mid Band – Proportional Q Peak
• HP & LP Filter – Constant
• Low CPU usage

Features & When To Use:

We have another FREE plugin from Analog Obsession!

This time is bringing you Merica an emulation of the API 550A console equaliser.

A simple three-band EQ delivers a lot of power to your mixes and masters. Selectively choose which frequency your band boosts or cuts with the option to the right of the knobs.

All bands kept simple and easy to get to grips with.

Meica also has a nifty and very much needed output knob, there will be no issues with clipping in the digital domain when mastering with this plugin.

A larger than appearing sound Merica is an excellent EQ plugin to use when in the mixdowns and masters.

Given that the EQ it emulates is an industry-standard plugin this small form, powerful, easy to use, and was coded by one man! Merica is a must grab for all audio creatives looking to upgrade their stock EQ plugins.

Compatibility:

VST Win, VST3 Win, VST Mac, VST3 Mac, AU Mac

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• Four bands (20 Hz to 20 kHz)
• Small form factor (ability to make larger if wanted)
• High & Low cuts range is 6 and 48 dB/octave
• Included frequency analyser

Features & When To Use:

TinyQ is a small form factor EQ.

Giving the user a stripped-back interface TinyQ offers a solution to a simple job.

Having too many settings can become overwhelming; TinyQ does what it says on the tin and doesn’t make your job any harder.

Keeping things simple when mixing down whole groups is essential – finding yourself using CPU heavy EQ, or a stock plugin just might not cut it for you. TinyEQ is excellent for doing those necessary but straightforward EQ tasks!

With the recent addition of built-in frequency analyzer, it makes EQ even easier when getting stuck into your mixes or masters.

Create awesome sounding band curves.

Great emphasis on keeping things simple goes a long way with TinyQ; the team has made a great EQ that does everything it needs to in one small package. With four bands plus high pass/low pass filters, you won’t be looking any further for your day to day EQ needs.

Compatibility:

Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.7 or later (both 64 bit)

More Info & Download

• Three-band Equalizer, Low, Mid, High.
• 2 Musical Filters, High-Pass Low-Pass.
• Preamp stage with a bass booster.
• 64-bit floating-point precision.
• Up to 192kHz sample rates supported.

Features & When To Use:

SonEQ has 3 bands, low (20 Hz – 100 Hz), mid (150 Hz – 4 kHz), high (6 kHz – 15 kHz). Combined with a high pass and low pass filter, plus a ‘Mid-high Q’ this means when it’s on your band its narrow and when deactivated will cause it to be wider. This indicated by the red light.

Giving the user a lot of ways to EQ but keeping things user-friendly is what SonEQ does best.

Having the volume meter is very hand when mixing with any EQ, it gives the visual display of when things are getting a bit heated for your output.

SonEQ also gives you the full control of your input and output levels. This comes in handy when you are mixing your tracks with heavy effects, causing the overall levels to become louder than 0.0dB; this is where adjusting both the input and output parameters will solve the issue.

With this plugin being free for all to use we don’t see any reason why this shouldn’t be ready to deploy at the click of a finger, whether it’s beefing up the mix with the built-in bass boost preamp staging or adding a touch of colour to the highs this plugin has you covered.

Compatibility:

Mac OSX 10.6 or newer – Windows XP or newer

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• Three equalisation modules
• Stereo/Mono switching
• Four different tube types
• Global input/output level control

Features & When To Use:

PTEq-X is a digital emulation of three famous vintage EQ.

Equipped with three EQ modules comprised of mid-range (2kHZ – 7 kHz), low-frequency (20Hz – 150Hz), high-frequency (3kHz – 16kHz).

Using the mid-range module, you can use the low, mid parameter (top left) to effect the lower mid frequencies. Alternatively use the high mid setting (top right) to cause-effect to these frequencies.

Moving down the EQ, we have our second module, which is PEQ1A EQ (Low & High). This comes with a bunch of parameters to mould your EQ patches perfectly to your source.

Finally, this is all topped off with the HL3C module; this is a low-cut accompanied by a high-cut.

You can also use the ‘Oversampling’ feature to reduce aliasing.

Use the “Tube” switch to apply or deactivate the tube amp.

Using the input and output levels will give you the ability to control any nasty peaks brought in or out of the EQ.

PTEq-X is a combination of some of the best analogue EQ’s to exist, plus its FREE!! We recommend this one for a great addition to your EQ arsenal.

Compatibility:

Windows 7 – 10 32 and 64 bit. OS X 10.7 64 bit

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• 6 Band mid-range EQ
• Presets built-in
• Algorithms based on famous analogue gear
• Designed for mixing and mastering

Features & When To Use:

Pushtec 5+1A is a versatile mid-range program EQ that has mixing and mastering at its heart.

This plugin offers six bands, all offering a fantastic sounding boost through all parameters.

A vast selection of plugins makes it easy for users to start with something super effective and tweak to their liking.

“B/W” stands for bandwidth, this allows you to tweak the selected band and adjust to your preference.

A friendly and straightforward GUI keeps this EQ a smaller form factor but with a lot of power. Being designed for mixing and mastering be assured that this plugin delivers best when applied to a whole group or a master channel.

Giving instant sparkle to a mix or a very much needed bass boost this FREE plugin has you covered!

Compatibility:

Win 7 or higher only

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• 12 bands
• peak, shelf and cut filter
• Cut filters (12, 24 and 48 dB/oct steepness)
• Stereo/Left/Right/Mid/Side routing for each band
• A global gain for loudness adjustments
• Resizable GUI

Features & When To Use:

Reverberate 3 takes the impulse captures of iconic hardware reverbs and makes them sound better than ever before.Loaded with effects and modulation options ranging from the subtle to the sublime, it is a powerhouse of creative potential that can take impulse responses to new highs.It features a wealth of editing and modulation tools that can refresh and enliven any third party stereo and true stereo impulse responses. If you have captures of legendary studio hardware or even the overlooked gems, Reverberate 3 is for you. Take your captures closer to their original hardware than ever before, or so far away that they become almost unrecognisable.A cornerstone of Reverberate’s ability lies in own proprietary modulated capture and playback technology format called Fusion-IR. Reverberate 3 is for the impulse responses aficionados. Free crossfeed vst download.

QRange is a very straight forward, user friendly, and effective EQ for mixing and mastering.

Giving the user an intuitive click and drag feature makes EQ work easy and more controllable.

With a choice of twelve bands, there is excellent room for doing additive plus subtractive EQ all in one plugin patch. Each band has. Selection of up to five different types (peak, low-shelf, high-shelf, low cut, and high cut).

Built into the frequency spectrum, you have the power to change it to pre or post. ‘Pre’ will let you see what the frequency range looks likes before the EQ is applied, whereas ‘Post’ will allow you to see it after the EQ has taken effect.

Offering the ability to users to save and load their own presets makes it easy to bring back some of your favourite patches while working on a mix or master.

It has to be said lkjb QRange is a must-have FREE EQ plugin.

Compatibility:

Win 7 or higher, macOS 10.7 or higher

• The 6 Best Ring Modulator VST Plugins in 2020 | KiloHearts, Melda

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• Semiparametric EQ layout
• Three bands combined with 18dB/Oct high-pass filter
• Four EQ models: “American”, “British”, “German” and “Soviet” with optional non-linearity
• Five output stages: “Linear”, “Silky”, “Mellow”, “Deep” and “Toasted”
• Saturation algorithms by VoS (“Stateful saturation”)

Features & When To Use:

TDR’s Slick EQ provides a recognizable analogue sound.

Using three bands that bring together four different EQ models.

65 vest vst plugins. (Image credit: DiscoDSP)Let’s caveat this with an acknowledgement of subjectivity: there are numerous excellent freeware synths out there, and depending on your tastes, needs and musical leanings, you could make a convincing case for any number of them being the ‘best’. Though, let’s take a whistle-stop tour of the music production world’s most unmissable freebies.As impressive as all the plugins included here are, they do often lack some of the bells-and-whistles of paid-for plugins - niceties like expansive preset libraries, expanded feature sets or regular, substantial updates. That said, though, this recently updated Oberheim OB-X emulation undoubtedly counts as a must-have freeware instrument no matter what genre you’re working in.OB-Xd is a rich and thick sounding analogue-style synth that not only sounds good by the standards of a freebie synth, but holds its own against commercial plugins. When you’re ready to shell out, be sure to check out our guide to to make sure you’re spending your money in the right places.

Both low and high bands are coupled with a cut and bell feature allowing for comfortable band changing.

Auto gain estimates the gain change caused by the current EQ settings; this makes it great to compare your EQ setting during the mix. There is also an ‘EQ Sat’ button; this will activate the saturator which is very intelligently paired to your EQ bands. This will add harmonics when boosting and remain passive when cutting.

Being able to save your favourite EQ settings for a later mix or master can be done within the plugin. Coupled with a undo/redo button you never miss that sweet spot for your bands, alternatively set up two different EQs with the A/B switch.

Slick EQ gives a very stripped back interface meaning you don’t get caught up with the visuals when doing equalising, providing a focus on what your hearing. This EQ shouldn’t be overlooked, with great coding, algorithms, settings, and excellent sounding types SlickEQ delivers more than you would expect from a FREE plugin.

Compatibility:

Win 32 bit VST2, VST3, Win 64bit VST2, VST3, AAX
Mac VST2, VST3, AU, AAX 64 bit

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• Seven band EQ
• Highpass/lowpass
• Stereo/mono options
• Left/right options
• Output level

Features & When To Use:

Manda Audio brings us 7Q.

7Q is an emulation of the beloved ‘Classic EQ’ which became discontinued, the team came together and brought the community back a redesigned version.

7Q takes off all the fancy parts and gives you the bare basics; this is what gives this a place on our list. With 7Q giving you the ability to apply your EQ to the left or right or both channels, you can independently EQ both sides of the stereo field.

Each band can be additive or subtractive. Keeping easy to use format is what this plugin does best; it doesn’t over-complicate the task at hand but assists your needs along the way wether mix or master.

Low memory and CPU usage make it easy to have multiple instances in your projects without having your computer meltdown.

7Q is a nifty EQ that is awesome for giving your sounds a little crisp boost before running into your other plugins within the chain.

Compatibility:

Win VST 32/64 bit, AAX 32/64 bit
Mac VST, AU, AAX

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• HP: 10hz – 1khz / sweepable Q
• Low Shelf: 30hz – 500hz
• Low Mid: 70hz – 2khz / sweepable Q
• High Mid: 500hz – 6k / sweepable Q
• High Shelf: 1.5k – 18k
• Phase switch
• Output level
• 64-bit internal processing
• Formats: 64bit VST, VST3, AU and AAX
• Version: 3.2
• Legacy 32bit installers

Features & When To Use:

EQ1A is a FREE analog-style EQ with a clever algorithm giving you minimal phase coloration.

This plugin has initially been paid to use the plugin, but the developers have decided to give it to us all for FREE!

EQ1A allows you to use broad bands to shape your sounds or outputs in a clean, crisp and phase-corrected way.

Being able to save you presets within the plugin makes it very easy to pull back that EQ you made on the last mix. 4-band parametric equalizer with an additional HP filter with variable resonance gives a wide range of settings to play with while keeping everything simple and user friendly.

EQ1A does what it says on the tin for FREE!

Using this within mixing or mastering may help you when wanting to add a hefty highpass or when looking to give some warmth to your mid ranges.

It has to be said with a great look, and low CPU usage EQ1A is an excellent addition to your plugins.

Compatibility:

Win, Mac

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• 16-band graphic equalizing
• +/- 12 dB gain range per band
• Channel grouping
• Preset manager
• Contextual hint messages
• Freehand drawing mode
• Stereo and multi-channel processing
• Mid/side processing
• Undo/redo history
• All sample rates support
• Linear-phase equalizing
• Internal channel routing
• 64-bit floating-point processing

Features & When To Use:

Voxengo is notorious for doing some excellent free plugins.

This addition is the Marvel GEQ, which is a fifteen band linear phase EQ.

There is a routing tab that allows you to affect the signals mid/sides independently. (orange slides)

Also giving full independence to the mid/side output level, becoming very useful when mixing and mastering.

Bypass feature makes it simple to hear what your EQ is doing to your sound source. Alternatively, decide between two EQ setups with the A/B mode.

For quick EQ drawing, you can hold ‘Ctrl or Cmd’ and click across the EQ drawing in your fader settings with the click of a mouse.

Having a stripped back form factor with enough controls to complement your mixing tasks this plugin has to be our list today.

Compatibility:

VST Win, VST3 Win, VST Mac, VST3 Mac, AU Mac

More Info & Download

Specifications:

• Three-band EQ
• High, mid, low
• Presets tab
• Output level
• Very simple to use

Features & When To Use:

BASIQ is a three-band EQ.

It keeps in mind that EQ work for mixing and mastering doesn’t have to be a headache or over complicated.

BASIQ is a design similar to the classic ‘Baxandall Equalizer’ which is knowns for its natural-sounding shelves and HiFi quality responses.

Adding a smooth, gradual shimmer or warmth instead of a surgical sharpness is what BASIQ does best. Use on groups or a master chain to subtly but significantly add character with the turn of a knob.

With some added presets you be able to get a quick change in tone with the click of a button.

The small form factor makes this BASIQ a powerful tool to be used within the mix or master.

Compatibility:

Win, Mac, VST, AU, 64 bit

With all of that said, grabbing all 17 plugins wouldn’t do you any harm, but we want to break down our top 3 picks!

In our top spot, we have Colour EQ by DDMF.

This plugin brings so many features that you would expect from pay to use plugins but all for FREE! Another fresh point is that the curves you can create with this cannot be done on other EQ plugins, giving Colour EQ a versatile approach.

Low-CPU – Usage Customisable GUI – Great warm sound – 5 Bands

Coming in second is Nova by TDR.

Parametric, dynamic EQ, and multiband compression are all built into an excellent looking FREE plugin.

Nova has a built-in dynamic EQ parameter when mixing, and mastering using a dynamic EQ is crucial sometimes. Having this all in one plugin for free is hugely commendable to the team who developed this plugin!

Parametric equalization – Dynamic equalization – Frequency selective compression – Multi-band compression – Wideband compression

And finally, our last top pick is ‘Triple’ by Blue Cat.

This awesome plugin has so many features you just wouldn’t expect a FREE plugin to have.

With a fresh interface and drag and click feature to make EQing even more natural Triple is a powerful EQ.

Semi-parametric EQ – +/- 40dB Range per band – MIDI control and automation support – Real-time display

Today we have covered a lot of great FREE EQs for mixing and mastering. Amazingly, we have developers putting out all of these plugins for producers/sound engineers to level out the playing field. As we have all seen these ‘not to name’ brands releasing rather expensive EQs that we just can’t fork out for, but with the way, music has progressed today in the digital domain it has become much more accessible for creatives to share their ideas and effects for free.

With that said, they all have their benefits and downsides, but with them all being free, there is no reason you can’t pick them up and use these in your mixes or masters today!

What is a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)?

Are you Interested in making music? You must have come across the term DAW. A DAW or Digital Audio Workstation is an application software or an electronic device that can be used to record, edit and produce audio files. They come handy for the recording and production of audio across various formats like speech, songs, television, soundtracks, and many more.

DAWs can be divided into various types depending on the complexity users are looking for. They can be a single software program or a stand alone unit. The most complicated ones comprise of various components which are centrally controlled by a machine. In this article, we will inform you about various 100% free DAWs available in the market. To make it easier for you, we have also added their platform compatibility (Windows, Mac, Linux, and APP)

Tracktion 7

Compatible Platforms – Windows, Mac OS and Linux

Built by The Tracktion Corporation, Tracktion 7 is considered to be one of the best full-fledged DAWs all around the world. It has no ‘Lite’ version which comes free for users, instead it is completely free. It is known for its smooth and easy-to-use interface and unlike most other free software, you get support for unlimited MIDI and audio tracks. It also provides VST plugin support and ReWire Compatibility.

How is this app free in spite of being full-fledged? The catch is that it is an older version which will receive no future updates and no bug fixes. If you want to experience that latest, you will have to buy Waveform. But not taking away anything from it, it provides a great workflow and you will have a great time fiddling with it.

To make your experience better, they have also included an in-depth manual. It explains everything about the software in the simplest possible manner to make you feel at home.

Pros

• Cross Platform support
• VST Plugin support
• Unlimited MIDI and audio tracks
• Easy and intuitive UI

Cons

• Those who are coming from another DAW may find it cumbersome initially
• No future support
• Traditional Mixer View is missing

Cakewalk by BandLab

Compatible Platform – Windows (64-bit)

Previously known as SONAR, Cakewalk by BandLab is essentially the same software without the bundled third-party software. All the Microsoft 64-bit users can utilize this app for free and the company is also co-working with Microsoft to improve its performance on the Surface Line of supercomputers.

Cakewalk by BandLab comes with ARA support for integrated Melodyne Pitch Correction and has a 64-bit audio engine. It also has support for VST3, DirectX and virtual instruments. Like in T7, it also has support for unlimited MIDI and audio tracks. You can also use the Professional Channel to bring studio-quality editing at your fingertips.

Cakewalk by BandLab has won several awards for its interface and we don’t need to explain how good it is. But, like with most DAWs, you may not feel at home when you first use it. If you ask us to choose the best DAW of 2019, this will have a higher chance of taking the cake.

Pros

• Unlimited MIDI and audio tracks support
• VST Plugin support
• Professional grade tools
• VST3 is industry’s best audio engine

Cons

• Supports only Windows 64-bit
• Free BandLab Assistant software must be downloaded

LMMS (Linux Multimedia Studio)

Compatible Platforms – Windows, Mac OS and Linux

LMMS is an open-source software which gives it a bonus point before we start talking about it. Being driven by a community of enthusiasts, users are always assured of a software that is constantly evolving for the better. Not only that, it is cross platform, which ensures that it is compatible for various users irrespective of what they use. It is the biggest advantage of this software.

LMMS supports Giga, Ultrasound and Soundfonts and also has support for VST plugins. It also has support for unlimited MIDI and audio tracks along with the regular stuff that you will require. The community has contributed in a massive way by developing 16 synthesizers, which includes Roland, Nintendo and GameBoy, Yamaha, Commodore and many more.

With built-in compressor, limiter, delay, reverb and so many other convenient facilities, LMMS has been a great support for innumerable composers who cannot afford premium stuff. It has been designed by musicians, for musicians and this ensures a smooth and comfortable UI which makes music making a whole lot easier.

Pros

• Designed by musicians, for musicians
• Cross Platform support
• Unlimited MIDI and audio tracks
• Packed with features
• VST support

Cons

• The interface feels stale
• Being open source, there can be conflicts

BandLab

Compatible Platform – Android, Cloud-Based

BandLab is a software that was developed to make collaboration easier. Being cloud-based, you can use it across various platforms and devices and collaborate with musicians all over the world. If you think that it has a limited feature-set due to it being free, we will ask you to think again. It allows you access to more than 6000 royalty free loop triggering, MIDI sequencing, loops and so much more which are professionally recorded.

It also has support for more than 120 virtual instruments and cross-platform customizable presets, bass, guitar and vocal FX. To add to all of it, you get unlimited projects, storage which is secure, downloads, and Algorithmic Mastering. You can invite professionals to contribute to your vision and allow them to make changes as required.

Since it is connected to the cloud, you may come across occasional issues in terms of connectivity. Also you may not feel completely at home due to lack of physical instruments. These hindrances never make BandLab a bad experience and you will always enjoy this collaborative atmosphere.

Pros

• Doesn’t depend on Platforms
• Collaborative
• Brings different taste to music by mixing various communities
• Accessible from anywhere and anytime

Cons

• Weak internet may cause issues
• No real software for monitoring

SoundBridge

Compatible Platforms – Windows and Mac OS

SoundBridge has been developed while keeping simplicity in mind. To download and access this software, you must log in into your SoundBridge account every time. You get access to unlimited MIDI and audio tracks and it also has VST support for the added convenience. It allows users to collaborate via the skytracks.io interface and you can also access various SoundBridge Academy Courses.

It comes with a touch interface, which makes working on it a tad easier. It also supports RitMix: Drum Machine which is a mixture of MPC Pad Section and 16-step Sequencer. The MPC Pad Section can be made larger with the help of multiple touchscreens and this allows for more breathing space. In addition to all of these, it also boasts of huge variety built-in FX and Advanced Mixer.

Pros

• Very intuitive UI
• Lack of any unnecessary clutter
• Fast and smooth
• Compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit

Cons

• Lack of instruments
• No audio unit support
• Missing keyboard support for piano
• Plugin Bridging is not available

GarageBand

Compatible Platforms – Mac OS and iOS

GarageBand has been developed by Apple and it includes a complete music creation studio inside your Apple device. Most of the music makers start off with this DAW as it comes bundled with all Macs. It has been developed by the developers of Logic Pro and this adds a heft to it. It makes everything so much easier, be it sampling, recording, writing songs, or playing with instruments.

You just need to connect your keyboard or any other compatible device with your Mac and you are good to go. In addition to this, you also get access to live synthesizers instruments and samplers. And being compatible on several devices, it makes music on-the-go a whole lot easier. You are always ready to publish your new track on SoundCloud or YouTube.

Very few pre-installed applications provide so much utility as GarageBand and we are glad that Apple has continued to support this app and kept it free for all the users out there. Even though it is limited to 32 tracks, but we get support for AU plugins and makes music making feel inherent.

Pros

• Supports MIDI and audio recordings
• A wide range of instruments are available
• Makes on-the-go music making a reality

Cons

• Not compatible for Windows
• Track Count could have been more generous

Stagelight by OpenLabs

Compatible Platform – Android, Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Chromebook

Stagelight is not completely free and OpenLabs charge an amount for the Full Version, but it deserves a mention for what it offers in the Free version. This is a cross platform software which can help you juggle between various devices, if required. It allows support for unlimited tracks in both the Loopbuilder and Traditional Timeline modes.

Not only that, you get access to Drum Trucks, 9 instruments, Key Lock and 14 instruments. But the choice in the free version is limited. This app is more intuitive for hip-hop makers and has a DJ-oriented session view. It is also known to be very touch friendly, but if you need VST support, you must eke out some cash from your pocket.

Pros

• Loopbuilder
• Cross Platform compatibility is unmatched
• Easy and smooth UI

Cons

• Not a great range of plugins
• VST support is unavailable for free version

Pro Tools First

Compatible Platforms – Android, Windows (32-bit), and Mac OS

Pro Tools First is a software for the younger generation who are beginners and have just come by to test the water. These people can save their hard earned dollars by getting a free DAW that gets the job done, but if you want more functionality, you must pay the price. The free version comes with 1 GB of cloud storage and you can only save your ongoing projects there.

It also limits the current projects to 3 which can make the users furious but there are no two ways about it. The sampling rate tops up at 96 kHz but you are rarely going to care about it. To ensure ease for its users, it includes 20 plugins and Xpand2 which is considered very powerful. To add to all of these, you get a taste of Avid’s industry leading technology.

If you want to make great music, this is the place to start off. It also has support for collaboration which makes it easier if you plan to start a band. Avid says that more than 70% of commercial music is created using their pro software, Pro Tools. Pro Tools First thereby takes you closer to how the industry behaves.

Pros

• Xpand2 support
• Playback up to 16 tracks
• Ideal for beginners

Cons

• No VST support
• Limited Plugins
• Mixes must be stored on the cloud

Studio One 4 Prime

Compatible Platforms – Windows and Mac OS, both 64-bit

Studio One 4 Prime is a free version of its elder sibling and still comes with features that you are happy to pay money for. It works great on touchscreens and high DPI screens and has been curated to give you utmost convenience. Along with support for unlimited MIDI and audio tracks, Version 4 has included a new drum editor and instrument for pattern-based arrangement.

Being the free version, it also misses out on a lot. It has no VST support and comes with only a single workstation sampler, Presence XT. It is not compatible with the other instruments that you possess and this makes it hard to recommend. If you want to get a taste of the premium version before paying for it, you will have a great time using this software.

In spite of having some new features in its kitty, Studio One 4 Prime feels very much at home. It provides some significant advantages over its predecessor without charging a penny for the same.

Pros

• Comes with several mixing and editing tools
• Full MIDI and audio tracks support
• Intuitive UI
• Patterns are available

Cons

• No VST support
• It doesn’t feel enough

Best Free Daw Plugins

Conclusion

Free Download Vst Plugins Cubase 5

This guide will help you to choose amongst various free DAWs available in the market. There are several others which have missed out like Audacity, but we find those in the list superior to the others. Tracktion 7 and Cakewalk by BandLab are certainly the most powerful and feature-rich, but if you are a beginner, GarageBand and Pro Tools First won’t disappoint you as well.