Best Free Audio Xpander Vst
Type of plugin: VSTi. What it does: This virtual analog synth was inspired by the Clavia Nord. KV331 Audio announced today that they are offering SynthMaster Player as a free download for a limited time. It regularly costs $29 USD, works as a VST/AU/AAX plugin, and ships with over 1800 high-quality presets. 1) HoRNet CompExp. HoRNet CompExp is a compressor-expander vst plugin.
Best Free Audio Xpander Vst Plugin
Getting a wide stereo sound in mixes or recordings is one of the most desired techniques in music production.
And as there are actual ways you can accomplish this using recording techniques like Blumlein or mid-side techniques, we often find that we need to apply stereo widening to already recorded tracks within our DAW.
One of the best ways to do this is with a dedicated software plugin. Quite likely, your DAW may have something within the lines of a stereo widener, and there are many good quality paid versions out there.
But we decided to take a look at some of the best free stereo widener VST and AU plugins available for download in this guide. Let’s check ’em out!
Find more great gear here:
Surge by Vember Audio Surge by Vember Audio is the best free synthesizer VST plugin right now. But if you just want to learn all about audio editors specifically, keep reading. Which Audio Editor Do I Use? Audacity (Windows, Mac, Linux) This is the godfather of free audio editing software. You can multi track to an extent (have more than just one stereo track e.g. A full band recording). “What are the best free limiter VST plugins out there in 2020?” Limiters are incredibly simple yet powerful tools used for a range of mixing and mastering functions. They act as a type of compressor, but instead of smoothing the peaks of a waveform, they instead completely clip any audio signal above a certain threshold.
Free Stereo Width Plugins
Here we go over some of the most effective free stereo widening plug-instructor available, all of which can do a great job of making individual tracks bigger and wider.
With simplified control and undeniably great sound, these free plug-ins are excellent alternatives to costly and impractical hardware solutions and esoteric studio techniques.
The List
Plugin Roundup
iZotope’s Ozone Imager is the free standalone plug-in version of the imaging technology found in the company’s own Ozone mastering suite. Although it has a much simpler set of controls than its more fully-featured counterpart, Ozone Imager is nevertheless capable of narrowing or widening the stereo image of your audio to a remarkably precise degree.
Like most of the components of Ozone, Imager provides immediate visual feedback that enables intuitive setting of the parameters. The plug-in even has a vectorscope and a correlation meter that aid in precision sound-staging during mixing and mastering.
Voxengo’s Stereo Touch employs mid/side coding in transforming the most basic mono sources into rich stereophonic tracks. Best suited to mono sources that don’t have a lot of sharp transients, it is especially effective for widening acoustic and electric guitars, synthesizer pads, and vocals. With the spacious and expansive “surround” produced by this plug-in, you no longer have to devote time and channel space to double tracking.
Stereo Touch also works on multi-channel input signals, processing each one independently as separate mono signals. The stereo streams are then combined to produce a single stereo signal at the output.
Whether you are looking for a quick way to add stereo imaging or you want to widen a mono source, Stereo Touch will deliver like a champ.
A1Audio’s A1StereoControl does exactly what it says on the tin: give you precise control over stereo imaging. Even though it is equipped only with a single knob, you can expand or limit your tracks’ stereo width to a remarkable degree.
One of the best things about A1StereoControl is how easily it helps you sidestep a common issue when “stereoizing” bass sounds. The plug-in has a “Safe Bass” algorithm that centers all the low frequencies below a user definable threshold. This keeps bass and other low-end sounds right at the center of the stereo spread, where they won’t cause any phasing issues.
Even without the dedicated mid/side controls found in other imaging plug-ins, A1StereoControl prevents your low end from causing any issues when collapsed to mono.
MeldaProduction’s MAutopan is more of a panning plug-in than a dedicated stereo imager, but it is quite a capable one at that. The plug-in employs a unique modulation system that consists of continuously adjustable oscillators. Each of these oscillators may combine predefined shapes, custom waveforms, and algorithmic post-processing.
The result is a tremendous degree of control by which you can define the stereo placement of your sounds.
MAutopan actually handles more than just mono and stereo sources. The plug-in is also capable of processing up to eight channels of surround audio, making it a useful tool for game and film audio production.
QuickQuak Audio’s UpStereo is a sort of classic in stereo imaging circles, with a set of simple controls that can make short work of stereoizing any mono source. It employs a fixed frequency EQ, a stereo widening unit, and a loud switch, all of which result in bigger, wider, and louder tracks.
Unlike most other stereo widening plug-ins, UpStereo comes with an option to push the sound into overdrive. Combined with the stereo widening capabilities of the unit, this makes it possible to produce individual sounds that stand out without the need for extensive processing.
Brainworx’s bx_solo is a free stereo imaging plug-in offered for free to everyone who signs up at Plugin Alliance. Employing the infinitely useful m/s processing technique, it gives you a surprising degree of control over the placement of sounds in the stereo spread.
A comprehensive range of solo features are included with the bx_solo, giving you the ability to hear the left, right, middle, and side channels while tweaking. This feature alone adds a lot of functionality to any DAW, very few of which allow for such flexibility.
Xfer Records’ Dimension Expander is a spatial expander modeled after the popular Boss/Roland Dimension D chorus effect. By splitting audio into four parts, flipping the phase of two streams and then delaying them, the plug-in produces rich, lush, and wide textures that retains punch and clarity.
Expander Audio
Admittedly, the Dimension Expander is a bit of a one-trick pony. But the trick is a pretty damn impressive one.
And considering the relative rarity and cost of the Dimension D in the vintage market, this free plug-in will make a welcome addition to your suite of stereo imaging plug-ins.
Top Pick
The Ozone Imager is pretty much the one to beat in this roundup. Offering all the flexibility, control, and great sound that iZotope has become known for, it can handle most every stereo widening need you can think of and then some.
That being said, the Voxengo Stereo Touch, the A1StereoControl, and MAutopan all deserve special mention as well. Going well beyond the capabilities offered by most stereo imaging plug-ins, and or all of these three will find a welcome place in any mix engineer’s arsenal.
If you want a better mix, knowing how to use compressors is key. Not every compressor does the same thing. Compressors have personalities!
In fact, you should have several compressors and get to know what each one brings to your mix.
Compressors give you more loudness without clipping. They smooth out peaks and give more punch.
So here are 7 free VST compressors plugins for you:
- Rough Rider
- OTT
- DCAM Free Comp
- TAN
- SAFE Compressor
- FR COMP 87
- MCompressor
Grab them for either Mac or PC and install them on any DAW.
Add them to your toolkit today and compress your way to success:
1. Rough Rider
By Audio Damage
Audio Damage’s Rough Rider is a modern compressor with a vintage flavour.
Rough Rider is the best for adding pump to rhythmic tracks. It’s not designed for transparency but gives great high impact bite. Drive it to get some extra crunch and warmth.
Adjust the Ratio, Attack, Release times, and Sensitivity and Makeup gain knobs to find your perfect ride.
Download Rough Rider for free here.
2. OTT
By Xfer Records
OTT is a multiband upwards/downwards compressor made by Xfer Records.
It’s an aggressive-style of compression very popular in dubstep and electro productions.
Tweak the knobs to adjust the Depth, Time, In Gain and Out Gain. /vst-plugin-kontakt-5-portable-x64-64-out.html. Play with Highs, Mids and Lows. Adjust the percentages of upwards and downwards compression to your taste.
Download OTT for free here.
3. DCAM Free Comp
By FXpansion
FXpansion’s DCAM Free Comp is modelled after classic console bus compressors.
What does it do best? It glues together subgroups in your mix. Gluing gives you more punch and definition while also taming your peaks. Nice!
Change the settings for a more extreme creative effect.
Download DCAM Free Comp here.
4. TAN
By Acustica Audio
Acustica’s TAN compressor was modelled from classic analog VCA compressors.
It’s a versatile compressor that gives you a wide range of adjustments.
The TAN compressor has a unique ShMod knob. It allows you to fine-tune the shape of the attack. For all of you precision freaks out there!
Download TAN for free here.
5. SAFE Compressor
By Semantica Audio
The SAFE compressor is part of a unique project. Semantica Audio has one mission: “control your audio effect plug-ins using terms that normal human beings can understand!”
Just type a term into SAFE’s text box (warm, bright, etc.) and the plugin will look for a setting to match it. Add your own words for a particular setting you like.
A dream right?
Will upgrading to windows 10 affect vst plugins. Download the SAFE Compressor for free here.
6. FR COMP 87
By eaReckon
Instead of giving you a limited demo version of their ANALOG87 series, eaReckon made a fully functional free FR COMP 87.
What this plugin does best? Simplicity. The FR COMP 87 has two knobs: threshold and makeup. Choose from three speeds—fast, medium and slow. Or turn on the limiter switch if you need it. Sometimes simple is just better.
Download FR COMP 87 for free here.
7. MCompressor
By MeldaProduction
MCompressor is a feature-packed, smart compressor.
Fully customize the shape of your graph. Use the smart randomization feature to instantly generate new settings. Use side-chaining to better mix your kick and bass. Even map your MCompressor onto a MIDI controller!
The MCompressor can handle mono, stereo and even 8 channel surround processing—great if you’re mixing for video, film or movies!
Download MCompressor for free here.
Be a Comp Champ
Stock up on these compressors and build a killer virtual effects rack.
Testing lots of compressors and finding the perfect ones for each mixing situation is key.
So download this list, try them out and keep your favorites close.
Make the art of compression part of every DAW session.
Best Free Audio Xpander Vst Download
Get all of the LANDR-approved free VST plugin collection: