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JayO Offline OP
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Well, now that we are able to host VST and AU plug-ins directly in BIAB I thought it might be good if we could share our favorite freebie plug-in recommendations for use in BIAB.

Being the "broke struggling artist" (aka: cheapskate) that I am, I'm always on the lookout for good free plug-ins.
Maybe we can start a running list of peoples favorites here, only free or shareware that work in Mac BIAB 2016 or later please.

Enjoy !

- Jay

Here are the freebies I currently have in my AU/VST Plug-ins folders:

AU Synths:
4Front Bass http://www.yohng.com/bass.html
4Front E-Piano http://www.yohng.com/epiano.html
4Front Piano http://www.yohng.com/piano.html
4Front Rhode http://www.yohng.com/rpiano.html
BeatZille http://www.u-he.com/cms/beatzille
ComboF http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=1365
ComboV http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=1004
Crystal http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/dnld2.html
Dexed http://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
FreeAlpha http://www.linplug.de/stock/alpha/free%20alpha%20installer%20330.dmg
Kriminal-LP-SGC https://splice.com/plugins/6184-kriminal-lp-sgc-au-by-chokehold
Lokomotiv http://www.kvraudio.com/product/lokomotiv-by-archetype-instruments
Obxd http://www.kvraudio.com/product/ob-xd---virtual-analog-synthesizer-by-discodsp
Podolski http://www.u-he.com/cms/podolski
sforzando http://www.plogue.com/products/sforzando/
SpicyGuitar http://www.spicyguitar.com
SymptohmPE https://www.ohmforce.com/UseFreeSoftware.do?action=listFreeNonStandalones&productId=1274001
Synth1 http://www.geocities.jp/daichi1969/softsynth/#downmac
TAL-NoiseMaker https://tal-software.com/products/tal-noisemaker
TripleCheese http://www.u-he.com/cms/triple-cheese
TyrellN6 https://www.amazona.de/amazona-de-freeware-synthesizer-tyrell-n6-v3/
VOPM http://www.geocities.jp/sam_kb/VOPM/

VST Synths:
model-e https://www.steinberg.net/en/support/unsupported_products/vst_classics_vol_1.html
neon https://www.steinberg.net/en/support/unsupported_products/vst_classics_vol_2.html
vb1 https://www.steinberg.net/en/support/unsupported_products/vst_classics_vol_1.html
zr3 http://blog.wavosaur.com/download/zr3.vst.zip

AU Effects:
Ambience http://magnus.smartelectronix.com
AmplifikationLite http://www.kuassa.com/downloads/
Boogex http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
CaliforniaSun http://www.audiorammer.com/site/
CamelCrusher NLA
HarmoniEQ http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
iZNeutrino https://www.izotope.com/en/products/mix/neutrino.html
iZVinyl https://www.izotope.com/en/products/create-and-design/vinyl.html
LAConvolver http://audio.lernvall.com
Marvel GEQ http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
MSED http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
NadIR http://www.kvraudio.com/product/nadir-by-ignite-amps
OldSkoolVerb http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
Overtone GEQ http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
PSP PianoVerb2 http://www.pspaudioware.com/plugins/reverbs/psp_pianoverb/
Soniformer http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
Sound Delay http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
SPAN http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
Stereo Touch http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
TAL-Chorus-LX https://tal-software.com/Products
TAL-Filter-2 https://tal-software.com/Products
TAL-Filter https://tal-software.com/Products
TAL-NoiseMaker https://tal-software.com/Products
TAL-Reverb-2 https://tal-software.com/Products
TAL-Reverb-3 https://tal-software.com/Products
TAL-Reverb-4 https://tal-software.com/Products
TAL-Vocoder-2 https://tal-software.com/Products
Tempo Delay http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
Tube Amp http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugin-download/
karlette https://www.steinberg.net/en/support/unsupported_products/vst_classics_vol_2.html

Last edited by JayO; 12/16/16 04:56 PM.

MacPro 5,1/12 core@3.46GHz -- OS X 10.15.7 -- ATI 7970 -- 32 Gig RAM -- Crucial 500GB OS SSD -- Samsung EVO 1TB Audio/Sample SSD -- BIAB 2023 -- Logic Pro X -- Cubase Elements 11 -- Too many plugins
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JayO Offline OP
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Oops almost forgot to mention...
Now that BIAB comes with sforzando as a replacement for SampleTank, there is a nice free soundbank for sforzando here :

http://www.plogue.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=7090

Again, enjoy !

- Jay


MacPro 5,1/12 core@3.46GHz -- OS X 10.15.7 -- ATI 7970 -- 32 Gig RAM -- Crucial 500GB OS SSD -- Samsung EVO 1TB Audio/Sample SSD -- BIAB 2023 -- Logic Pro X -- Cubase Elements 11 -- Too many plugins
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For freebies I've got a few "bigcat" instruments, both as vst and sfz that I quite like. They've usually got a very minimal interface and tweaking options compared to the pro stuff out there, but on the flip side are easy on the mind of both user and puter alike...and they sound pretty great for the most part, or at least those that I've kept. I also use the free ones that came from Steinberg, which are already listed above.
Some found here: http://bigcatlists.blogspot.is/2014/05/totally-free-instrument-by-type.html

EDIT: With this new addition I'm also rediscovering the value of soundfonts, which you can now use as replacement (Default Synth) for that awful built-in dls we have from Apple. And since the sforzando application can convert these soundfont filetypes and make use of the sounds like any sfz files, the usability of soundfonts has become even greater.
And my main go-to place for soundfonts that are (nearly) all free: http://www.soundfonts.gonet.biz/list.php


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JayO Offline OP
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Nice ! Some good stuff at the bigcats site, thanks !
I'm going to be busy for a while now. grin

Also, I did see one listed on that bigcats site that I forgot about Versilian VS-1 Upright Piano, very nice free piano.
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=VS_Upright_1&id=1890

Thanks.

- Jay


MacPro 5,1/12 core@3.46GHz -- OS X 10.15.7 -- ATI 7970 -- 32 Gig RAM -- Crucial 500GB OS SSD -- Samsung EVO 1TB Audio/Sample SSD -- BIAB 2023 -- Logic Pro X -- Cubase Elements 11 -- Too many plugins
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Originally Posted By: JayO
Nice ! Some good stuff at the bigcats site, thanks !
I'm going to be busy for a while now. grin
Well, I'm likewise having a blast grabbing yours, just figured it was only proper to return the favour cool
Now, if only more people would chip in...!

p.s. That Soundfonts link lists quite a few sfz sets as well as soundfonts, so it should be worth the visit for that only if nothing else.

Last edited by Icelander; 12/17/16 12:23 PM. Reason: updating factual details

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Originally Posted By: JayO
I forgot about Versilian VS-1 Upright Piano, very nice free piano.
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=VS_Upright_1&id=1890

- Jay
This place is a nice source of freebies, just a shame only a fraction of their list is Mac savvy though. And even when they are, it's a lot of hit'n-miss when it comes to actual compatibility. Found a every promising guitar vst there, for example, which after installing always resulted in a "no instrument found" error, regardless of which tool I used to test it smirk
Another promising one, an organ vst (which you provided a direct link to), does seem to work only in some apps (MultitrackStudio) and not others (no sound in BBox, not showing in Cubase at all), while yet another piano vst does work and sound fine but as it has nothing to adjust, it doesn't respond to volume changes in BBox (and doesn't show in Cubase at all) and so on...
But it was a fun evening in my book regardless, going through and trying all these different things, so thanks again for these links smile


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By the way, for a low footprint, solid tester of both VSTi and AU on the Mac, go find "MultitrackStudio". It's a free (crippleware) dedicated VST/AU host application, with midi import/play capabilities, export to audio and more. Very handy if you want to avoid loading clunky big daw or crash hazards just for the purpose of checking a vst/au.

Last edited by Icelander; 12/18/16 09:04 AM. Reason: updating factual details

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JayO Offline OP
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Hey Eddie,
I see what you mean about some of those plug-ins being hit or miss with the Mac.
I did notice that most of those sampler instruments at the bigcat site you posted were made with Maize sampler.
Those Maize made plug-ins (including Versilian VS-1 Upright Piano) have a problem with BIAB.
The GUI doesn't show up when using the AU versions, but the VST versions I tried seem to work with BIAB.
Those same AU instruments work fine with all my other AU host programs though.

This is a pain since I mostly use AU plug-ins in Logic, and don't have the disk space to keep 2 versions of the same instruments, which tend to be large.

Hopefully some others will chime in here with their favorite freebies, I can't believe that you and I are the only cheapskates here. eek smile

- Jay


MacPro 5,1/12 core@3.46GHz -- OS X 10.15.7 -- ATI 7970 -- 32 Gig RAM -- Crucial 500GB OS SSD -- Samsung EVO 1TB Audio/Sample SSD -- BIAB 2023 -- Logic Pro X -- Cubase Elements 11 -- Too many plugins
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Oi, watch it! shocked

That last bit actually made me LOL so good on ya there cool
And I agree with you. Judging by the less than enthusiastic responses I've been getting to my $1 Usertracks in this "Sharer's Utopia" of a forum, I think it's safe to presume you and I are definitely not "the only cheapskates" around here! wink

Maybe we're just so good at finding stuff that we've already found everything the others are using (and then some) smirk


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JayO Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: Icelander
Oi, watch it! shocked

Heh heh ! smile
You know I kid, right ?

How about we just say "broke struggling artist" then ?
That has a much nicer ring than that other "C--- word". smile

There are a lot of great free plug-ins out there, and I've been told I'm a "cheapskate" (that's according to my wife anyway blush ), so I do like to try out as many of those freebies as I can .

Needless to say, a lot of them have gained "permanent resident" status in my plug-in folders over the years, hence the long list in my first post. wink

- Jay


MacPro 5,1/12 core@3.46GHz -- OS X 10.15.7 -- ATI 7970 -- 32 Gig RAM -- Crucial 500GB OS SSD -- Samsung EVO 1TB Audio/Sample SSD -- BIAB 2023 -- Logic Pro X -- Cubase Elements 11 -- Too many plugins
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It's all good, no worries cool

Seriously speaking, I suspect the real reason for the lack of participation in this thread is simply because we're having it in the "wrong" place, i.e. the lesser frequented Mac forum, and that's all there's to it.
Anyway, how about sfz sounds & banks, have you been seeking out for any of those for the new sforzando compatibility? I've got some pretty awesome things in that department already...and all completely free, of course wink


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JayO Offline OP
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I assume that you've found this place :
http://patcharena.com/tag/free-sfz-instruments/

I've downloaded a few but haven't had a chance to give them a good test yet.

- Jay


MacPro 5,1/12 core@3.46GHz -- OS X 10.15.7 -- ATI 7970 -- 32 Gig RAM -- Crucial 500GB OS SSD -- Samsung EVO 1TB Audio/Sample SSD -- BIAB 2023 -- Logic Pro X -- Cubase Elements 11 -- Too many plugins
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Originally Posted By: JayO
I assume that you've found this place :
http://patcharena.com/tag/free-sfz-instruments/

I've downloaded a few but haven't had a chance to give them a good test yet.

- Jay
Actually, I don't think I had seen this particular place. Though some of its items I've seen (or got) elsewhere, some I most certainly have not.
Never presume knowledge wink

p.s. I used to own that Casio CK-10 keyboard, so this link turned out to be an extra personal treat for me! cool


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This thread serves to even more profoundly illustrate what a tiny percentage of the power of biab that I use...or for which I'm even aware of. For a production I generate real drum and realracks, dump them into Logic Pro X and take it from there with a host of Izotope products. And return to biab only to regen tracks.


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Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
This thread serves to even more profoundly illustrate what a tiny percentage of the power of biab that I use...or for which I'm even aware of.
To me that's precisely the beauty of not just this section, but this whole forum. It's such a 'mixpot' of so many views, experiences & ideas that one is bound to discover new ways and methods to use this one tool that combines us all smile


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Hi all...while I am a long time user of BIAB-Windows, I am a new user of the Mac version...My question is simple, and I am a bit ashamed I can't figure it out...

I can certainly route the MIDI through the IAC to sampletank, or Sfz, put the instruments on the correct channel, and be fine.

I can even select the instruments in the plug ins...but I have been unable to get sounds using just the plugins...tried changing channels, forcing MIDI, etc..yet, I can hear the sound when I activate the keyboard..just nothing when I hit play (even though the mixer shows messages in the channel).

Can anyone give me some hints as to what I might be missing?

I figure it has to be simple, I am just not seeing it...

thanks!

Steve

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Originally Posted By: stevend
Hi all...while I am a long time user of BIAB-Windows, I am a new user of the Mac version...My question is simple, and I am a bit ashamed I can't figure it out...

I can certainly route the MIDI through the IAC to sampletank, or Sfz, put the instruments on the correct channel, and be fine.

I can even select the instruments in the plug ins...but I have been unable to get sounds using just the plugins...tried changing channels, forcing MIDI, etc..yet, I can hear the sound when I activate the keyboard..just nothing when I hit play (even though the mixer shows messages in the channel).

Can anyone give me some hints as to what I might be missing?

I figure it has to be simple, I am just not seeing it...

thanks!

Steve
You can start by selecting the default Built-In DLS as your output, instead of the IAC or other external drivers, then quit and restart BBox and see if that hasn't fixed it. Other than that I'm afraid I don't have the answer for you. You'll have much more success with solving this if you create your own thread dedicated to just your issues.


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JayO Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: Icelander
You can start by selecting the default Built-In DLS as your output, instead of the IAC or other external drivers, then quit and restart BBox and see if that hasn't fixed it. Other than that I'm afraid I don't have the answer for you. You'll have much more success with solving this if you create your own thread dedicated to just your issues.


Try what Icelander says, and also make sure you have the proper audio output device selected in BIAB.

Go to the "Preferences..." menu item and click the "Audio" button, then click the "Audio Devices" button.

Here is what I have set up, I am using an M-Audio interface that is also my system default device.
hopefully this helps.

- Jay



MacPro 5,1/12 core@3.46GHz -- OS X 10.15.7 -- ATI 7970 -- 32 Gig RAM -- Crucial 500GB OS SSD -- Samsung EVO 1TB Audio/Sample SSD -- BIAB 2023 -- Logic Pro X -- Cubase Elements 11 -- Too many plugins
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Also, just discovered a new guitar amp sim. that's not too bad.

http://www.lostin70s.com

- Jay


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The following thread has some relevance to this subject: http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=402007


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