KVR Audio

osiris · Post by **osiris** » Sun Jun 14, 2026 8:08 pm

https://shop.mercurialtones.com/?syclid ... 20185e8d0b

This is freeware resonance and EQ like Soothe does. I tried it and really like what it can do. You have to install their 'Hub' to download, but the process was quick and easy. I was up and playing around with it in a minute. Hub is pretty light, only @7mb. It acts as an updater also (for those that don't like phone home plugins).

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Sun Jun 14, 2026 11:06 pm

Hub says it's a trial. Is it the full version?

osiris · Post by **osiris** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 1:16 pm

This is a free effect. You can trial the other stuff they have. The Manta delay looks interesting.

sinkmusic · Post by **sinkmusic** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 1:19 pm

Thank you for the heads up.
Did you compare it to other similar effects? Resonance removers seem to be the trend of the moment, but they give all very different results.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 2:39 pm

Not really free, it's Hookware. Requires the installation of their "Mecurial Tones Hub" plugin manager (and store front).

Requires an email address, login, verification code, hoop jumping, and after all that the plugin will not load in two different DAWs (Windows 10).

Just a heads up to save someone else wasting their time. Off to take the trash out and uninstall....

EDIT: I tried manually moving the VST3 folder contents to a Win 11 system and the plugin will load but it's not possible to enter the reg code they provide without having the Hub installed.

I don't need yet another plugin manager (store front app) on my studio system so it's a hard pass from me.

MJACau · Post by **MJACau** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 7:34 pm

Teksonik wrote: Mon Jun 15, 2026 2:39 pm Not really free, it's Hookware.

Hookware is another name for Shareware. It is free, not shareware lol.
Uninstalling the hub it works fine.

osiris · Post by **osiris** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 7:58 pm

I had no problems. It even updated to v1.1 via the Hub.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 8:21 pm

Mine still says trial and requires activation, despite having ordered it. The hub hasn't updated. I have to assume some of you are having different experiences than Teksonik and I.

- edit - It's working now.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Tue Jun 16, 2026 4:17 pm

MJACau wrote: Mon Jun 15, 2026 7:34 pm
Teksonik wrote: Mon Jun 15, 2026 2:39 pm Not really free, it's Hookware.
Hookware is another name for Shareware. It is free, not shareware lol.
Uninstalling the hub it works fine.

Requiring the installation of a "Hub" (store front) is the text book definition of Hookware in my lexicon...."lol". It's an excuse for a developer to get their hooks into your system.

Imagine if every bit of "freeware" required you to install such bloat. I've already got a half dozen "product managers" installed from major developers and don't need or want any more especially from minor devs.

True freeware is "here's the plugin have fun".

If you don't care how bloated your system gets or don't care that even small developers want access to your system then by all means bloat away to your heart's content.

osiris · Post by **osiris** » Tue Jun 16, 2026 7:53 pm

I don't think I'd call 7 mb 'bloatware'.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Tue Jun 16, 2026 8:04 pm

The hub would be fine if it worked better. But again, maybe something just went wrong for Teksonik and I because you seem to have had a much better experience.

MJACau · Post by **MJACau** » Tue Jun 16, 2026 8:08 pm

Teksonik wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2026 4:17 pm Imagine if every bit of "freeware" required you to install such bloat.

Imagine if every plugin developer had free plugin in their line up?!
Wait a minute they don't. Oh the gratitude.
As for bloat how many Acustica Audio plugins do you own?!

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Tue Jun 16, 2026 8:27 pm

MJACau wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2026 8:08 pm
Teksonik wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2026 4:17 pm Imagine if every bit of "freeware" required you to install such bloat.
Imagine if every plugin developer had free plugin in their line up?!
Wait a minute they don't. Oh the gratitude.

But many do and don't ask you to install their store front to use them. For example does U-he ask you to install bloat to use their excellent freeware? No, it's just "here's the download, have fun".

That is an altruistic gesture and I do have much gratitude for those developers. I have far less gratitude to developers (especially smaller ones) who just want to monitize your system and seem to think they have a right install anything they wish just to run a single simple plugin.

MJACau wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2026 8:08 pmAs for bloat how many Acustica Audio plugins do you own?!

None. But there is a difference between the content needed to run a plugin and the bloat needed to authorize a "free" plugin. The former serves an actual purpose, the latter just kludges up your system.

But I guess some people are so desperate for a plugin they're willing to allow anything.

Mercurial Tones Dagon (Free Soothe like VST)