FREE VST Instruments or Loops for REAPER (2021 Version)

Kenny Gioia · 02-22-2021, 08:42 AM

I've asked this before but the scope this time is a bit different.

I'm about to prepare a set of videos featuring all the FREE VST Instruments and loops that are available for REAPER.

The idea being that REAPER doesn't come with much and this list would be the first ones a newbie would install to get going quickly.

I'm going to start with the simplest ones meant for beginners that sound really good but also are easy to use and set up.

The only limitation is that they have to work with both Mac and PC (Linux is a plus) and they have to be really FREE. No free trials etc.

They also need to be really stable.

Please make suggestions.

Thanks for your time.

Kenny

vitalker · 02-22-2021, 08:46 AM

Vital, Surge (is contributed by EvilDragon)?

Magicbuss · 02-22-2021, 09:09 AM

Spitfire labs - sampled instruments
https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/#cate...arch=&new=true

Ample P Bass (download link updated)
https://plugins4free.com/plugin/2505/

Ample Guitar M (download link updated)
https://plugins4free.com/plugin/2233/

Drums
Sitala https://decomposer.de/sitala/
SSD 5 https://stevenslatedrums.com/ssd-free/
MTPowerkit2 https://www.powerdrumkit.com/
Jamstix 4 Free https://www.rayzoon.com/rayzoon_downloads.html
Beat Factory https://www.pluginboutique.com/produ...-Factory-Drums
Sean Pandy Drums http://free.chokehold.net/sean-pandy-drums/
Speedrum Lite https://apisoniclabs.com/

Organ
CollaB3 https://vst4free.com/plugin/3117/
Hanon B70 https://www.kvraudio.com/product/hanon-b70-by-lostin70s
2 good Farfisa's https://vst4free.com/dev/273/

Piano
Keyzone Classic https://www.kvraudio.com/product/key...ic-by-bitsonic
Piano 1 http://www.supremepiano.com/index.html?piano1.html

Ripchord - Chord progression generator
https://trackbout.com/ripchord

Sampler
NI Kontact Player (also included in Komplete Start) https://www.native-instruments.com/e...free-download/
Independence Free https://www.magix.com/us/free-downlo...pler-software/
tx16wx https://www.tx16wx.com/

Easy Synths
Helm https://tytel.org/helm/
Synister https://the-synister.github.io/
Tal-noisemaker https://tal-software.com/products/tal-noisemaker
Podolski https://u-he.com/products/podolski/
Tyrell N6 https://u-he.com/products/tyrelln6/
Zebralette https://u-he.com/products/zebralette/
SyndtSphere https://www.klevgrand.se/products/syndtsphere

More Synths
NI Komplete Start https://www.native-instruments.com/e...omplete-start/
Surge https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/
Vital https://vital.audio/
OBXD https://www.discodsp.com/obxd/ (This is fully free. Donation is optional)
Synth 1 https://www.kvraudio.com/product/syn...ry-ichiro-toda
PG-8X 2.0 https://sites.google.com/site/mlvst0/
HY-Poly https://hy-plugins.com/product/hy-poly/ free download https://hy-plugins.com/download/
VK-1 https://blamsoft.com/vst/vk-1-viking-synthesizer/
Odin2 https://www.thewavewarden.com/odin2
Exact Lite https://www.sonicbits.com/exakt-lite.html

Sequencer
HY-Slicer https://hy-plugins.com/product/hy-slicerwin-mac/
HY-SEQ16x3v2 https://hy-plugins.com/product/hy-seq16x3/
https://hy-plugins.com/download/

porzione · 02-22-2021, 01:01 PM

Another vote for Surge, powerful and sophisticated synth - it is free and open source, multiplatform and actively developed.

elmuz · 02-22-2021, 01:05 PM

I think qualifying?
https://www.native-instruments.com/e...uded-products/
https://www.discodsp.com/obxd/

Reason · 02-22-2021, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magicbuss

SyndtSphere https://www.klevgrand.se/products/syndtsphere

Looks like SyndtSphere free may be a trial/demo:
"Until unlocked, the Windows & macOS plugin will start in Demo Mode � fully functional but with occasional audio disruptions. To unlock the full mode, you'll need to obtain and enter a license code."
Unclear to me if it's free to obtain a license code.

C-H · 02-22-2021, 06:07 PM

Again?!

sgarza · 02-22-2021, 07:35 PM

Thanks for all your work Kenny.

** Organic Drum Loops VST**:

This free Drum VST has some pretty nice multilayered/sampled sounds. It's free, its super easy to use and works on Mac and Win: https://www.organicdrumloops.com/ogdl-plugins/ock-vst/

Magicbuss · 02-22-2021, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reason

Looks like SyndtSphere free may be a trial/demo:
"Until unlocked, the Windows & macOS plugin will start in Demo Mode � fully functional but with occasional audio disruptions. To unlock the full mode, you'll need to obtain and enter a license code."
Unclear to me if it's free to obtain a license code.

The license key is free. You just need to create a login account for Klevgrand and they email you the key. I have the free version installed and working.

Regisfofo · 02-23-2021, 12:53 AM

Among the synths
Surge, sounds amazing, has a lot of features and presets. UI not easy for beginner though. Context menu integrates very well with reaper.
Odin2, much easier to get to IMO and sounds great too
Vital, you can see modulations, so it is nice for beginners too, can be cpu intensive.

Sitala drum sampler is really easy to learn too. It has automatic multiout for reaper.

All of these are available for win osx and linux.

mschnell · 02-23-2021, 04:04 AM

DEXED can use all DX7 patches ever created

-Michael

Held · 02-23-2021, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mschnell

DEXED can use all DX7 patches ever created

And you can download them here (not all, but a lot): http://bobbyblues.recup.ch/yamaha_dx7/dx7_patches.html

BJORG · 02-23-2021, 04:22 AM

Slightly off topic: I like free plugins without installing procedure, just copy some files and go. Would be cool know it before download something.

Spookye · 02-23-2021, 02:46 PM

Hi Kenny .... hope to help you. Below VSTi only in .dll files. In my experience good for "newbies", easy to insert, fairly stable in a few MB. I'm not sure, they can all run on all 3 operating systems. As for Windows .... yes. Greetings from Italy and thanks for your tutorials. Spookye

************************************************** **********************************

DRUMATIC 3
http://www.e-phonic.com/archived-plugins.html#/

********************
PIANO & C.
Piano/E-piano/Rhodes/E-bass

http://www.yohng.com/software.html

********************
SYNTH / K-Board

https://www.gtgsynths.com/plugins.htm

********************
E-BASS

https://plugins4free.com/plugin/938/

ivansc · 02-23-2021, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgarza

Thanks for all your work Kenny.

** Organic Drum Loops VST**:

This free Drum VST has some pretty nice multilayered/sampled sounds. It's free, its super easy to use and works on Mac and Win: https://www.organicdrumloops.com/ogdl-plugins/ock-vst/

New one on me and they sound great in the demo videos. I shall have a play with them.

gxray · 02-23-2021, 04:52 PM

There's a Google Sheets spreadsheet with:

+400 Free VSTi's
+200 Free VST's

Original Post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ableton/com..._updated_list/

Direct spreadsheet link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...HtGWlsF8#gid=0

There's also some quick infographics from other subreddits that have visual guides to free VSTs:
https://www.reddit.com/r/FL_Studio/c...some_of_those/

Personal opinion (which isn't saying much):

Vital
Surge (they have +50 of the Airwindows plugins builtin as FX in the synth)
Odin 2
Sitala (actually prefer it to any paid drum rack/sampler plugin)
Saike's "Yutani" bass JSFX is actually one of the better instruments I've used, and the JSFX GUI looks nicer than some actual VST's.
Anything by U-He

elmuz · 03-01-2021, 09:04 AM

https://www.soniccouture.com/en/prod...mersmith-free/

todd_r · 03-01-2021, 01:09 PM

https://www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a...stra-discover/

Spitfire Orchestra Discover is Questionnaire-ware

http://www.extentofthejam.com/

Digits

https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=220277

Saike's Yutani Synth

todd_r · 03-01-2021, 01:16 PM

Sonigen Modular stayed in permanent free beta before it disappeared, you can still get it here though...

https://plugins4free.com/plugin/1005/

IXix · 03-01-2021, 01:53 PM

The Valhalla freebies (Space Modulator, Freq Echo and Super Massive) are very simple and sound great.

https://valhalladsp.com/

bobobo · 03-22-2021, 01:56 PM

no VST but lv2
x42 all platforms all REAPERs

x42-plugins
avl-drums !! and the gm-plugin

the dragonfly reverb

https://distrho.sourceforge.io/ got some plugs too

GoodWassabi · 11-05-2023, 10:02 AM

Hope it�s ok to resurrect this thread. Looks like some great links above to plug-in that I�m very interested in. Just a general question on the safety and security of these. Has anyone run into any issues using any of these plug-ins? Any Trojans or viruses?

foxAsteria · 11-05-2023, 10:05 AM

New version of Charlatan should make the cut

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodWassabi

Hope it�s ok to resurrect this thread. Looks like some great links above to plug-in that I�m very interested in. Just a general question on the safety and security of these. Has anyone run into any issues using any of these plug-ins? Any Trojans or viruses?

These area all safe and widely used plugins mentioned in the thread.

Softsynth · 11-05-2023, 10:40 AM

Back in ye olde 2021 this freebie was $480 US dollars, and still beat many top orchestral sample library plugins at that price in some regards (still does of course) yet simultaneously it still feels like an unfinished work in progress!:
https://www.synful.com/

Hoping it will get further development, or go open source like Surge which became XT.

Now it's free it's a brilliant gift horse.

SiddieNam · 11-05-2023, 11:23 AM

Hey Kenny,

Can't add to the fine list people have made here too much. But just wanted to say TAL Noisemaker. Again.

I'm pretty certain I've seen this in one of your vids before, but it did get a GUI overhaul a year or two back and it's great. It's certainly great for free. I know many people have said it already -- just treat this as a "+1" upvote.

lozzec · 11-05-2023, 03:34 PM

Swatches from Applied Acoustics Systems
https://www.applied-acoustics.com/swatches/

You get the free AAS player, with swatch, a complialtion of all there libraries.
Theses sound are modelisation based, and there is a wide range of intruments. Including some cool ethnic string and percussion instruments.
Interesting for a starting varied collection.

GoodWassabi · 11-06-2023, 03:19 PM

Thanks all for the additional recommendations and particularly Foxxy for the all clear assurance.

frood · 11-07-2023, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiddieNam

Hey Kenny,

Can't add to the fine list people have made here too much. But just wanted to say TAL Noisemaker. Again.

I'm pretty certain I've seen this in one of your vids before, but it did get a GUI overhaul a year or two back and it's great. It's certainly great for free. I know many people have said it already -- just treat this as a "+1" upvote.

TAL plugins always seem to sound superb. This Juno 60 emulator is one of my favourites, it's gorgeous: https://tal-software.com/products/tal-u-no-62.