Every few weeks we will let you know about the latest free audio plugins. Check those expiry dates because some won’t be free forever. Join the Plugin Deals and Freebies Facebook Group, or check out r/newplugindeals and r/freeaudioplugins on Reddit if you want to find out about the latest deals and freebies as they happen.
Audio Assault Xmas Amp Sim Available as Free Download
Expiry: January 6th
Audio Assault has released XMAS, a vintage-style guitar amp simulation available as a free download.
XMAS is designed to deliver vintage-leaning tones with a simple control set and broad range. The core controls—gain, volume, and tone—can be pushed to produce distinct sounds, from chime to fuzz to high-gain.
Example settings provided by the developer include:
- Set the tone control to maximum with default settings for a British “Vox”-style sound.
- Lower the volume and increase the gain for a fuzzy, almost broken character.
- Keep gain low, set tone to maximum, and raise volume to around 8–9 for metal-oriented tones.
XMAS requires the Amp Locker host plugin. Within Amp Locker, users can demo and combine different amp simulations from the same developer.
Tracktion releases Sol free Dawesome granular reverb for Windows and Mac
Expiry: None
Tracktion has released Dawesome SOL, a free textural ambient reverb plugin for macOS and Windows, developed in collaboration with sound designer Chris Bryant (S1gns Of L1fe).
SOL combines a granular processing stage with a Clouds-style reverb engine. The design emphasizes evolving textures and spacious tails rather than traditional room or hardware emulation, aiming at atmospheric and ambient use cases.
The plugin is intended for creating wide, layered reverberant fields, diffuse washes, and motion-rich ambience from a variety of input sources. It can be applied to pads, vocals, guitars, and percussion to introduce movement, smear transients, and add depth for sound design, electronic production, and post-production.
- Granular effects engine for decomposing and reshaping incoming audio
- Clouds reverb stage for diffuse, space-filling tails
- Focus on textural and ambient processing rather than room simulation
- Plugin formats: AU and VST3 on macOS; VST3 on Windows
- Free download
Brian Funk releases Nutcracker Sugar Plum Fairy Celeste concluding free Christmas Ableton Live Packs series
Expiry: None
On December 25, Brian Funk released Nutcracker Sugar Plum Fairy Celeste, Ableton Live Pack #242, concluding his series of free Christmas-themed Live Packs. The pack is available as a free download.
The release contains an Ableton Live Instrument Rack and a Drum Rack built from recordings of a celeste and physical nutcrackers. It requires Ableton Live 12.3 Intro or later.
The Instrument Rack is a multi-sampled celeste constructed from recordings by the FreeSound contributor stamperadam. The samples are organized for keyboard performance within Live.
Sixteen Macro controls are provided for tone shaping and effects. Two dedicated controls, Nut-Crackers and NutCr.Pitch, adjust the level and pitch of additional mechanical layers.
The mechanical component was created from recordings of nutcrackers to emulate the instrument’s physical actions. These sounds are set to trigger after a note is played, allowing users to add an optional mechanical character to the celeste part.
The same nutcracker recordings are also assembled into a Nutcracker Percussion Drum Rack, enabling users to program rhythmic patterns from the source material.
PSPaudioware releases PSP stereoAnalyser2 plugin as free seasonal gift
Expiry: None
PSPaudioware has released PSP stereoAnalyser2, a free stereo metering plug-in for Windows and macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon) in AudioUnit, AAX, VST, and VST3 formats. The tool provides visual analysis of dual-channel audio for recording, mixing, and mastering workflows.
The plug-in covers stereo image and level monitoring via an X-Y scope (goniometer), Peak and RMS level meters, a correlation meter, and a balance meter. It supports evaluation of stereo width, mono compatibility, phase alignment, and left/right energy distribution.
PSP stereoAnalyser2 includes frequency-limited monitoring with adjustable high-pass and low-pass filters, a monitoring mode to audition the filtered band, and a zoomable scope with optional nonlinear display shaping. Workflow features include a resizable interface, an advanced preset browser, A/B comparison, and an undo/redo system. Internal processing is 64-bit with support for sample rates up to 384 kHz.
The plug-in is available as a free download. Access is provided via a user account, with a $0 checkout and no purchase required.
HoRNet Plugins releases TapeLite tape saturation plugin as permanent free download
Expiry: None
HoRNet Plugins has released TapeLite, a tape saturation plugin for macOS and Windows, available as a permanent free download.
TapeLite emulates the non-linear behavior of a professional multitrack tape machine, based on the Otari MX80. It introduces harmonic distortion, mild compression, and frequency contouring associated with magnetic tape. Processing uses fixed 4x oversampling with 64-bit internal precision.
The plugin provides two tape speeds: 15 IPS and 30 IPS. At 15 IPS, users can expect a stronger low-frequency head bump, earlier saturation, and a softer high-frequency response. At 30 IPS, the response is brighter and tighter, with extended high-frequency content and a flatter low end. Typical uses include 15 IPS for drums, bass, electric guitars, and lo-fi textures, and 30 IPS for vocals, acoustic instruments, mix buses, and master bus applications where clarity is a priority.
Controls include:
- Input / Output: Adjust drive and level-match; increasing Input raises saturation and compression.
- Speed: Toggles between 15 IPS and 30 IPS, changing the frequency response and distortion profile.
- Bias: Sets the tape bias current; higher values can smooth high frequencies and alter distortion character.
- Mix: Blends processed and dry signals for parallel saturation.
TapeLite uses the same DSP engine as Tape MK2. Key differences are as follows:
- TapeLite: One deck emulated, two speeds (15/30 IPS), fixed 4x oversampling, manual gain, free.
- Tape MK2: Five decks emulated, two speeds per deck, adjustable oversampling up to 8x, auto gain, priced at €19.99.
TapeLite is suited to use across individual tracks, groups, and the master bus, with 30 IPS commonly chosen for bus and mastering contexts.
Thanks for reading. We hope you found some cool and useful new tools!
Check out previous FREE Plugins Reports for even more freebies! You can also browse a range of free effects, free instruments, and free studio tools available from our partner Plugin Boutique, so check those out too. For everything else you can find lots of audio plugin deals on this website.