Product Reviews by KVR Members

One of the few free reverbs worth using, Sanford's core sound is unbeatable for short and medium length reverb sounds.

In particular its comprehensive early reflections section makes it indispensable for when early reflections really count. ER settings are important to tweak to your particular input source content, and the one-size-fits-all approach of most conventional reverbs make their early reflections almost useless. I've even used only its early reflections with the reverb all the way down to combine a different reverb with good early reflections, for when I want to use a different reverb.

Surgical ER, plus a great core sound that doesn't rely on noisy overdiffusion like most freebie 'verbs do, makes for a reverb I can't help but always come back to.

The core sound is rough. This is not going to get you sound quality on the level of Dexed or FM8. Using an oversampler or cranking your DAW's sample rate will help in that regard.

However, it excels in being based around such complex envelope options. For creating complex soundscapes that vividly evolve over time, this is an unbeatable addition to your freeware collection.

This remains the best freeware 808 emulation that isn't sample-based.

Does it sound like an 808 is in front of you? No, but neither does Roland's own reissue. If you want to spend $0 and you are modulating/automating enough to require a synth over samples, this is the one.

Despite the lack of GUI (which you don't really need for simple effects) this is still a great chorus and remains one of my go-tos since I run into stability problems with CH-2.

As far as pure sound quality, it remains one of the best software choruses ever made.

Meet the new boss - same as the old boss. This old FFT plug-in is still the best all-around FFT freebie.

Whether you want a generic multi-effect, a utility plug-in, or something to mangle your sound into liquidy FFT goodness, it's remains the ultimate FFT tool.

This remains the most capable and one the highest-quality free equalizers available.

It's not going to be your basic workhorse channel EQ. But for specific usages on complex signals, such as restoration or buses, it is unbeatable.

Not 100% stable, but not problematic enough to avoid using.

Still the best of its kind. If you want a surgical EQ or a brickwall HP/LP filter that won't smear transients or destroy phase, this is it. However its functionality is far deeper than that. Still a remarkable utility to have for various specific, precise applications.

This was notably the first free compressor with a feedback ability.

It doesn't have loads of character, it's meant to be more clean and basic. Like all Cockos software it's efficient and stable. I remember loading up projects with tons of instances with little CPU draw. It is still useful as a basic channel compressor.

This is an absolute must-have for fans of old VSTs who wish to breathe a little life into vintage plug-ins.

A lot of early-2000's plug-ins are too good to give up despite a lot of them cutting some corners out of necessity regarding CPU usage. If you want your old plugs with new sound quality, this little tool is indispensable.

All you have to do is find it somehow.

Revolutionary upon its release and hasn't lost a bit of charm in all its years. This is still a very useful cabinet simulator.

I haven't found its built-in distortion to be so hot for guitar/lead distortion. I recommend using Boogex after your own distortion of choice. Team this with a modern, proper circuit-modelling distortion, and I guarantee you'll be impressed.