In digital audio workstations (DAW) that we use for creating, mixing, and mustering our audio tracks, whenever the audio signal goes beyond 0dB, the DAW engine considers it as hard clipping, creates an unwanted bad type of distortion.

In good old analog days, the mix engineers needed to push the tape beyond 0 dB to achieve soft clipping as the audio signal clips but opposite to digital clipping this type of analog clipping is somehow appealing to the people and it sounds very musical.

A most important reason to use saturation plugins when mixing inside DAW is to get that analog magical sound and bring back the life to the mixes.

1. Best Free VST Plugins 1. Native Instruments. Native Instruments has done a remarkable job by releasing KOMPLETE START. It’s a complete audio-mixing bundle that contains a variety of VST plugins, virtual instruments, thousands of audio effects, and several other free resources for music production. Earlier all these elements were available.
2. Best Preamps VST Plugin Review: Every Musician Should Have. A preamp serves a very important purpose in your musical recording. The preamp is what gives your vocals and instruments the necessary signal power. Recording without a preamp is going to seriously affect the quality of your work. You’ll get a noisy, distorted recording.
3. As with every Mercuriall amp sim, this plug-in includes a number of popular guitar pedal and cab emulations for an extremely realistic tone. The Tube Amp U530 is one of Mercuriall’s first plug-ins, and emulates the Engl E530 preamp, also known as the “heart of modern rock.” With multiple tube options and countless cab combinations, the.
4. The new Helios Type 69 Preamp and EQ plug-in for UAD-2 and UA Audio Interfaces is the world's only end-to-end circuit emulation of the iconic analog channel that recorded The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and more.

These are some free saturation VST plugins that are practical and can be used as your regular saturation VST. There is no particular order, each free saturation VST plugin has its own characteristics and sounds good.

• PreBOX by Analog Obsession (VST/AU for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows & Mac)
• Saturation Knob by Softube (VST/AU for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows & Mac)
• X-Tube by Xenium Audio (VST for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows)
• IVGI by Klanghelm (VST/AU for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows & Mac)
• Tube Saturator Vintage by Wave Arts (VST/AU for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows & Mac)
• FreeAMP by Klevgrand (VST/AU for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows & Mac)
• PhreePhuzz by LVC Audio (VST/AU for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows & Mac)
• Tube Amp 2 by Voxengo (VST/AU for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows & Mac)
• MSaturator by MeldaProduction (VST/AU for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows & Mac)
• SGA1566 by Shattered Glass Audio (VST/AU for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows & Mac)
• Saturate by BlueLab (VST/AU for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows & Mac)

PreBOX

The VMS Virtual Microphone System by Slate Digital is a hybrid microphone and preamp modeling system. The system includes the ML-1 microphone, two vintage preamp emulations, and the VMS microphone/preamp modeling software. You can mix and match precise models of sought-after microphones and preamps to find your flavor. The most convenient 'pre' plugins I found were those built in into Logic from the 10.4 version, but if you'd rather not use Logic then there's the Analog Obsession PreBox, a single plugin offering 11 preamp emulations with filters from the T-Funk/Siemens V76, mimicking the transient response and harmonic distortion with linear freq response and (IIRC) linear phase as well. We have collected for you the top 6 VST plugins Preamp according to PluginBoutique. VST list navigation: Pre X7 Front DAW 1973-Pre TridA-Pre 3 Preamps You’ll Actually Use V76-Pre 1. Pre X7 by Audiority Pre X7 is an analog modelled preamplifier based on an iconic vintage tube unit primarily designed for bass guitar and that we modified to make it work with several audio sources.Both input.

PreBOX is a preamp modeler VST plugin made by Analog Obsession, it contains/emulates eleven PreAmp models(mic/line). Each preamp model has its character, dynamics, and transient with two knobs to control input, and the output also Lowpass and Highpass Filters from V76 circuit.

Some preamp models have a subtle saturation effect and some have pumping distortion, you can increase the amount of saturation by increasing the input gain knob. PreAmp models this VST plugin emulates are

1. Humptone
2. SS Nine
3. Tape Color
4. Rosenrot
5. New 81
6. F2Bam
7. Quad Core
8. A10M
9. 15A66
10. Fairy
11. Vacuum76

Download: PreBOX by Analog Obsession(Available for Windows & Mac, 32-bit, 64 bit, VST, AU)

Saturation Knob

Saturation Knob is a free saturation VST plugin by Softube, gives you an analog modeled distortion output, it is a perfect and simplest way to add some grit to any incoming audio signal. The saturation knob has one knob to control the amount of saturation you want to add with additional options to affect low, high, or both.

The only thing that is missing is the makeup or volume control. Use this tip! If you are making trap music then use the saturation knob to add an extra punch and harmonics to kick drum and snares. Or you can use it as a send effect channel to use as a parallel effect. Add harmonics to 808s and sub-basses, synth sounds, leads, and vocal.

Download: Saturation Knob by Softube (Available for Windows & Mac, 32-bit, 64 bit, VST, AU)

X-tube

X-tube is a free tube saturation VST plugin developed by Xenium Audio, it is a simulation of 12AX7, a vacuum tube. with the processing of 64-bit floating-point, it supports Stereo, Mono, Quadro, and 5.1 tracks. The sound can be further shaped using an IIR-type equalizer with three bands, low mid, and high.

This tube saturation VST plugin supports zero-latency processing and up to x16 oversampling with additional features like drive and bias to get more authentic tube saturation emulation.

Download: X-Tube by Xenium Audio(VST for 32 bit & 64 bit Windows)

IVGI

IVGI by Klanghelm is capable of providing subtle saturation to distorted effect to spice up incoming audio. IVGI additionally allows you to alter the frequency response of the saturation. the RESPONSE management is that the results of clever eq-ing, a bunch of pre- and de-emphasis filters, and a few specific compression characteristics. all moving the particular character of the saturation.

If you switch the knob to the left, low frequencies are a lot of suffering from saturation. Also, you may notice some high-end roll-off and a few low-end bump and compression. if used meagerly, the RESP0NSE management will increase transparency.

Turned to the right, high frequencies area unit additional full of saturation. In additional extreme settings, you may notice some multiplied HF compression and physical phenomenon effects.

Download: IVGI by Klanghelm(Available for Windows & Mac, 32-bit, 64 bit, VST, AU)

Tube Saturator Vintage

Tube Saturator Vintage by Wave Arts is a saturation free VST plugin that reproduces circuit simulation technology to authentic reproduce the sound of a dual triode preamp. Tube saturator vintage emulates cathode 12AX7 preamp, has Baxandall 3-band EQ, drive knob, and fat function to add extra punch to the audio, and works in mono and stereo mode with zero latency.

Use Tube Saturator to add a bit of analog warmth to recordings, or increase the drive for some distortion. You can use it as a saturating peak limiter too.

Download: Tube Saturator Vintage by Wave Arts(Available for Windows & Mac, 32-bit, 64 bit, VST, AU) Best free vst instruments 2013.

FreeAMP

FreeAMP by Klevgrand is small, simple yet has the same power as its big brother REAMP, FreeAMP uses all saturation algorithms are the same as the REAMP. But the FreeAMP is simple to use s it only has three very straightforward knobs.

FreeAMP gives tape and tube saturation at the same time makes it a kind of interesting saturation VST plugin. Use a drive knob to get the desired amount of saturation and use a mix knob to use it as a parallel effect.

Download: FreeAMP by Klevgrand(Available for Windows & Mac, 32-bit, 64 bit, VST, AU)

PhreePhuzz

Phreephuzz by LVC Audio is an easy to use free saturation VST plugin with a simple user interface. PhreePhuzz uses the same technology as its bigger brother PreAMPed. PhreePhuzz has 6 varieties of saturation settings give a distinct flavor saturation effect to the sound.

PhreePhuzz offers linear phase filtering to get the shiny high-end that is done by 4x oversampling. It has AB functionality that makes it easier to compare a couple of settings at the same time. Use this plugin to add quick saturation on any audio or midi track.

Download: PhreePhuzz by LVC Audio(Available for Windows & Mac, 32-bit, 64 bit, VST, AU)

Tube Amp 2

Tube Amp is a free saturation VST plugin by Voxengo that emulates asymmetric tube triode overdrive that is found in single-tube microphone pre-amp boxes. Tube amp VST gives from subtle warmth to fuzzy distortion effect to the sounds. Fl studios vst plugins free. This free VST plugin has two processing modes which offer two distinct saturation algorithm.

Other features like 64-bit floating-point processing, up to 175% GUI scaling, up to x8 oversampling, and AB comparison which allows comparing multiple settings simultaneously.

Download: Tube Amp 2 by Voxengo(Available for Windows & Mac, 32-bit, 64 bit, VST, AU)

MSaturator

Free saturation VST plugin MSaturator by Voxengo is capable of processing audio in warm tube-like saturation to a complete distortion module for guitars. MSaturator’s advanced GUI engine is highly customizable and is freely resizable. It gives a choice to choose between knobs, sliders, or buttons you want to use the most.

MSaturator encodes audio not only in mono, stereo but also offers Mid-Side encoding that lets users freely manipulate the sound as they want. It also features oversampling up to x16, MSaturator includes automatic gain compensation, which quickly adapts to current settings and ensures the output sounds as loud as the input.

Download: MSaturator by MeldaProduction(Available for Windows & Mac, 32-bit, 64 bit, VST, AU)

SGA1566

SGA1566 by Shattered Glass Audio is based on all tube single channel vintage tube amplifier created to give classic warmth to any sound which goes through it. It claims to recreate every nuance of the preamp, has two-band Baxandall EQ that can be used either before or after the preamp.

It supports up to x4 oversampling which increases the quality of saturation but also increases the CPU usage. Is supports mono and stereo processing. Overall it can be used as a saturation compressor or overdrive distortion for guitars and synths.

Download: SGA1566 by Shattered Glass Audio(Available for Windows & Mac, 32-bit, 64 bit, VST, AU)

Saturate

Saturate is a simple one-knob free saturation VST plugin by BlueLab, this saturation plugin doesn’t try to emulate any piece of a hardware unit, it has its way to saturate the audio, it targets the waveform to give a saturation effect. It uses x4 oversampling to increase the overall quality of the saturation it produces.

Download: Saturate by BlueLab(Available for Windows & Mac, 32-bit, 64 bit, VST, AU)

X-tube by Xenium Audio is the only free saturation VST plugin that is available for only Windows users, but Mac users can other best free saturation VST plugins from the VST plugins list given above.

Last Updated on December 17, 2020 by

Free Bass Amp Simulators are really hard to find. There are some, but most of them are terrible.

So, in order to save you some time, since I already did some research on the topic, I’m going to share the ones I found that I think are worth trying.

I will also be including a Cabinet simulator at the end which will enhance the sound you can get quite a bit, especially for the plugins that only work as a preamp.

Table of Contents

1. GK Amplification 2 LE
2. Ignite Amps SHB-1
3. TSE BOD v3
4. Amplitube Custom Shop
5. Bass Grinder Free
6. Ronald Passion Bass Preamp

Free Cabinet: NadIR by Ignite Amps

Nr. 1: GK Amplification 2 LE

Modelled after the Gallien-Krueger MB150 amp, the GK Amplification 2 LE can be used as a standalone application or as a VST/AAX/AU plugin.

It is the light version of the GK Amplification 2 Pro, which means that it only includes a single amp model with a single speaker and mic option compared to the full version which has more.

GK Amplification 2 LE includes all the functions and all controls of the original amp.

The great thing is that it can be used for recording in the studio or at home, for band practice, or even live performances since the delay isn’t noticeable.

It is available both for Windows and Mac OS.

Here’s the link to the official website.

Related: If you’re in need of better-sounding Bass VST plugins, then check out this post I wrote about the best Premium ones.

Nr. 2: Ignite Amps SHB-1

The SHB-1 is based on the real SHB-1 Extreme Bass Head which is a custom-built amp designed for the bass player of the band “Subhuman”.

Just like the previous amp on this list, the SHB-1 can be used for practice, recording and also for live performances.

This amp sim can do anything, from thick bass tones, to very tight funky sounds, all the way to heavy metal distorted sounds.

It works both on Windows and Mac OS.

Features

• Dynamic 12AX7 / ECC83 coupled triode stages analog modeling
• Mono / Stereo processing support
• Selectable oversampling rate
• Global input / output level controls
• Double precision (64-bit) floating point mathematical model
• Fully automatable controls
• Zero latency

You can download it here.

Related: Here’s a list of the best FREE Guitar VST Plugins that sound great!

Nr. 3: TSE BOD v3

The TSE B.O.D. is a digital replica of the SansAmp Bass Driver DI pedal, which is a very popular bass preamp DI box with distortion, presence, and EQ controls.

This is a very simple plugin which works great and doesn’t really use much CPU power.

The free plugin is available in VST, AU, and AAX formats, with support for both 64 and 32 bit.

You can download it here.

Nr. 4: Amplitube Custom Shop

Amplitube is a standalone program, which means that you can run it on its own without the need of a DAW.

Best Mic Preamp Vst Plugin

It’s also available, however, as a plugin for VST/AU/AXX format.

It is primarily a Guitar amp simulation program, since most amps and effects you get are geared towards guitar sounds, however it also comes with a bass amp simulation which sounds quite good.

One of the features of the Custom Shop is the ability for you to “try before you buy” individual pieces of gear. You can demo fully working gear for a period of 72 hours.

You basically get a Free version of AmpliTube 4 with 24 models including a digital chromatic tuner, 9 stomps, 4 amps, 5 cabs, 3 mics, 2 rack effects.

If you’d then like to add more effects you can simply purchase them directly from the app itself.

Here’s the official Website.

If you’re also interested in Free Drum VST Plugins, make sure to read this article I wrote on that topic!

Nr. 5: Bass Grinder Free Edition by Audio Assault

This must be one of the simplest plugins out there.

It comes with two amplifiers and three cabinets, nothing more.

It’s incredibly easy to use thanks to the simplicity of the controls.

Available in VST/AU/RTAS/AAX for Windows and Mac OS.

You can download it here.

Related: I love free plugins, so I put together a list of the best Free Synth VST Plugins out there which you can check out here,

Nr. 6: Ronald Passion Bass Preamp

This Bass Preamp is an analog tube bass preamp effect plug-in which is really simple to use, sounds great and you get the cab-emulation built into it which is great since you can activate and de-activate it whenever you want.

If you don’t want to use the built in cab emulation simply add the one I recommend at the end of this list.

Controls

• Active Switch (On/Off).
• Cab Switch (On/Off).
• X-tra Lo/X-tra Hi for additional body.
• Drive in preamp input section.
• Bass/Mid/Hi tone controllers.
• Mid frequency selection knob.
• Master output.

You can download it here.

Here’s a list of two affordable and high-quality audio interfaces which will allow you to get a better bass sound.

Free Cabinet

NadIR by Ignite Amps

Best Preamp Vst Plugins

NadIR is a zero latency, dual Impulse Response convolver, designed to be used as a cabinet simulator for guitar and bass (pre)amplifiers.

In this video you hear how the guitar tone changes drastically. Same thing happens to the bass tones.

It has been designed to perform extreme quality convolution in real time, while being light on the CPU and easy to use, providing advanced built-in filters and delay controls to let guitarists and bassists shape their tone with ease, without the need to be professional audio engineers.

NadIR is meant to be used as a cabinet simulator for live playing and jamming, tracking or mixing inside hosts capable of VST or AU Plug-Ins support.

Features

• Zero Latency.
• Low CPU usage.
• Three routing modes: Mono, Dual Mono and Stereo.
• Selectable quality control for max IR length (up to 0.185 seconds).
• Automatic high-quality resampling for IRs with different sampling rates.
• High-quality analog shaped filters.
• Selectable delay for phase interactions between loaded IRs.
• Continuous morphing control between loaded IRs.
• Global input level and single IR level controls.
• Fully automatable controls.

Here’s a link to the official Website.

How to learn to Mix Bass properly

Well, even though you could just go by ear and learn by simply listening to what’s happening, which definitely isn’t bad, there’s a way to fast-track your progress and learn how to properly mix a bass guitar in no time.

There are a couple courses out there which teach you this, but this one I found is excellent and super affordable, so make sure to give it a try.

Conclusion

Finding free bass amp VST’s is already hard, but finding good ones is REALLY hard.

The two I liked the most are GK Amplification 2 LE and Ignite Amps SHB-1 simply because of their overall sound quality.

Adding the NadIR free cabinet to the chain can also do wonders for your tone. Just try them all out, since they are free, and see which ones you like the most.

Have a wonderful day!

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