KVR Audio

vasyan · Post by **vasyan** » Sat Feb 21, 2026 6:13 am

Retro Radio
Windows/macOS

With the free Retro Radio VST plug-in, you can simulate the sound of old AM radios with all the nuances, including noise, crackle, rattle, and Morse code inherent in this type of radio reception. As well as amplitude-frequency distortions and parasitic modulations. It is possible to emulate the acoustics of various models, from stationary to pocket radios.

The plug–in's design is stylized like a tube radio receiver, where the so-called "magic eye" is used as a level indicator - an imitation of the 6E5C cathodoluminescent lamp, which was widely used in various radios in the good old days.

Requirements:

Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11.
macOS 10.12 and later.
DAW with support for VST/VST3/AU plugins.

Homepage & downloads

Licension Price: Free

Download and enjoy!

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Sat Feb 21, 2026 6:40 am

vasyan wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 6:13 am Retro Radio
Windows VST3 version

With the free Retro Radio VST plug-in, you can simulate the sound of old AM radios with all the nuances, including noise, crackle, rattle, and Morse code inherent in this type of radio reception. As well as amplitude-frequency distortions and parasitic modulations. It is possible to emulate the acoustics of various models, from stationary to pocket radios.

The plug–in's design is stylized like a tube radio receiver, where the so-called "magic eye" is used as a level indicator - an imitation of the 6E5C cathodoluminescent lamp, which was widely used in various radios in the good old days.

Requirements:

Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11.

DAW with support for VST plugins\

Homepage & downloads

Licension Price: Free

Download and enjoy!

Looks fun. I used to have a really cool old radio-78 player that did only AM and shortwave. My uncle was bringing it to the curb for trash. It was huge, so I had to borrow a truck to take it. Worked perfectly, and came with a shitload of old Italians on discs. I used to mess with it and record bits of shortwave off it onto a 4 track cassette. The beginnings of my ambient phase. I had to leave it behind when I moved to California, and I couldn't even give it away.

tlvid · Post by **tlvid** » Sat Feb 21, 2026 2:15 pm

This sounds amazing, thanks! Would it be possible for it to be fully functional (noise, crackle, morse etc) on startup, without DAW transport playing? But at a much lower default volume than it currently is!

Chicken Drummy · Post by **Chicken Drummy** » Sat Feb 21, 2026 3:35 pm

Personally, I like how the plugin functions. No need to change it IMO. Thanks, St V.

vasyan · Post by **vasyan** » Sun Feb 22, 2026 5:50 am

tlvid wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 2:15 pm This sounds amazing, thanks! Would it be possible for it to be fully functional (noise, crackle, morse etc) on startup, without DAW transport playing? But at a much lower default volume than it currently is!

No, interference generation should not work while a DAW transport is stoped. If you work with this plugin for a long time, you will realize that listening to interference all the time is not good.

The signal levels are calculated so that at 100% the level is approximately 0 dB, and this is the most correct solution from a technical point of view. No one forbids you to lower the level, especially since by default all levels of interference (noise, crackle, drift and Morse) this is 0%, that is, they are muted.

tlvid · Post by **tlvid** » Sun Feb 22, 2026 12:58 pm

vasyan wrote: Sun Feb 22, 2026 5:50 am
tlvid wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 2:15 pm This sounds amazing, thanks! Would it be possible for it to be fully functional (noise, crackle, morse etc) on startup, without DAW transport playing? But at a much lower default volume than it currently is!
No, interference generation should not work while a DAW transport is stoped. If you work with this plugin for a long time, you will realize that listening to interference all the time is not good.

The signal levels are calculated so that at 100% the level is approximately 0 dB, and this is the most correct solution from a technical point of view. No one forbids you to lower the level, especially since by default all levels of interference (noise, crackle, drift and Morse) this is 0%, that is, they are muted.

Understood - thanks for your work as always!

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Sun Feb 22, 2026 1:17 pm

Really nice, certainly reminds me of my first AM radio back in the 70s

Intrigued by the morse option, never recall ever hearing that in these parts (SE UK)

Thanks.

(and works fine with Yabridge on Linux for anyone curious

)

Shalotta · Post by **Shalotta** » Sun Feb 22, 2026 1:20 pm

Had a quick play with the idea of adding broken mic(s) to a live drum setup for texture(s)
(mainly stepping through emulations & adding sat).
First thing I was missing is a main out gain to level overall volume
(i.e sat pumps it up significantly).

On a 2nd thought, M/S mode may give instruments another spin like freq widening.

Thanks for the creative, cpu efficient freebie!

TIMT · Post by **TIMT** » Sun Feb 22, 2026 2:34 pm

works fine in Cubase and Bitwig, but it seems to be force closing FL Studio 2025

vasyan · Post by **vasyan** » Mon Feb 23, 2026 4:36 am

TIMT wrote: Sun Feb 22, 2026 2:34 pm works fine in Cubase and Bitwig, but it seems to be force closing FL Studio 2025

In my FL Studio 2025 Producer Edition v25.2.3 [build 5171], the plugin is running normally and no crashes have ever been observed.

vasyan · Post by **vasyan** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 1:16 pm

The Retro Radio plugin is also available for macOS computers, both based on the Intel x86_64 processor and for the Apple Silicon arm64.

You can download it from the plugin page

OverBrightBlueLED · Post by **OverBrightBlueLED** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 1:41 pm

Just one obvious omission. Mono sum.

Whilst there was some stereo AM/MW transmission experiments, it is invariably mono.

You know you could also add a phaser with a smooth yet random LFO - rate maybe between 0.2 and 10Hz to start with and probably morphing between triangle and square. This would approximate the phasing you get when multiple signals refracting from the ionosphere that sum at the reception site.

This is most noticeable on short wave transmissions. It might take some tweaking to get the character of it right though. Could be fun to add.

In the meantime we can mono something going in and add a phaser before or after this plug in.

Other than that it is a fun idea, thanks.

vasyan · Post by **vasyan** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 2:40 pm

To each his own!
My musician friends use this plugin as a generator in their noise music.

You can add a lot, but it will be an improved version.
For example, you can add the interference that occurs with SSB-radio reception.

MattLeschuck · Post by **MattLeschuck** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 5:21 pm

Very nice freebie! thank you. I don't notice any big volume changes when engaging the emulations. Im running it in Pro Tools via Bluecat. Its easy enough to mono and or add gain compensation before or after if needed.

Cuauhtli · Post by **Cuauhtli** » Mon Apr 13, 2026 5:56 pm

"...and came with a shitload of old Italians on discs."

What ever did you do with the old Italians? Never mind. I don't want to know.

Retro Radio - new free AM radio simulator plugin from Stone Voices