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Some free software/plugins/sample packs
🕑 Added 2023-01-04 10:22:45 +0000 UTCI got a comment about some free alternatives to ableton plugins for those of us either totally broke or just starting off and not ready (or don't want) to pay 324242432 trillion $ to music software corporations who have consolidated the market and (seemingly) barred many working class musicians from entry.
Obviously this stuff is geared to noise, ambient or experimental musicians (or anything somewhat tangentially similar to me), and absent are those free 808 packs that are everywhere.
I don't come from money, so when I had to use a lot of free resources to do what I wanted to do. In fact, I sometimes find using cheap stuff and sampling can add a flavour to noise/experimental music that stops it getting too polished like some brostep producer. I got splice (which is fairly affordable luckily) and found a many of the samples were way too nice compared to shit I recorded or ripped myself and less personal. I occasionally like mp3 compression at 240p.
Also when using copyrighted material be careful - copyright law is more authoritarian than ever and smaller (or even mid-sized) artists and labels rarely benefit from enforcing infringements, only CEOs and shareholders (the rich) do, but certainly lose. It's absolutely fucked up exmilitary isn't on spotify. Backxwash had a similar issue happen. However fair-use sampling is absolutely something that should be allowed. Feel free to do it to me, as I like it. If you want to make money from the track, just ask - I'll likely say yes unless you are signed to a big corp or trying to be an asshole to me.
Anyway comrades, enough opinions, here's some shit I found, downloaded myself, used or will do so. Generally most of them center around experimental music and my own creative interests. Some stuff for absolute beginners as well as some stuff even "advanced musicians" may have missed.
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Caution - some of the samples/vsts are open source with no catch, others have things like mandatory mailing list subscriptions etc when downloading as they are usually loss leaders for the company giving them away. Don't worry you can usually unsubscribe from these, but be careful with your data. I've marked 'OS' for open source (completely free no strings attached) and 'LL' for loss leader (usually require signing up for a mailing list or account or even placing in a shopping cart but are still free). Potentially copyrighted orphan works I disclaimed "copyright for personal use only".
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Software
Audacity (OS) - a free DAW which I still use all the time for sample editing. It can also have project files for making multitracks which are limited but fine, but I've heard reaper recommended as a cheap but very useful DAW for making songs. However I prefer Audacity's sample and mp3/wav editing skills to Ableton's because of its low CPU use and simplicity. Every musician needs it.
https://www.audacityteam.org/
LMMS (OS) - a free DAW that seems more focused on multitrack projects than sample editing. No experience with it, but its free and open source.
https://lmms.io/
Reaper (LL) - not technically free, but once you pass your trial period it just bugs you like winRAR used to but you can still use it. However it isn't expensive when you get it and many professionals swear by it. I have no experience in it however.
https://www.reaper.fm/
VCV rack (LL) - a mostly free modular synth that mimics real physical euroracks and can be a great way to understand them. Most of the modules are free, but it also has some paid add-on elements like a VST mode so it can be used in ableton. It's complicated so not the best for beginners just wanting to jump in, but can be definitely used for some fucked up noise.
https://vcvrack.com/
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VSTs
Full archive of open source VSTs and software. lots of stuff. (OS)
https://github.com/webprofusion/OpenAudio
Sample science (LL) - not all of it is free, but a lot of instruments and sample packs here are and the free packs are sold essentially as loss leaders to sell bigger versions of the product (which are not that expensive from a brief look). The (free) VSTs instruments are fine in quality, but interesting with a lot of non-western and unusual instruments, abstract sample packs and drum samples.
https://www.samplescience.info/search/label/free?max-results=6
Valhalla (LL) - Space Modulator (flanger), Freq Echo (modulated delay), Supermassive (reverb). I'd highly recommend these as they are high quality. I actually bought their Shimmer and use it a almost all of my drones as it is (imo) superior than the Ableton default hybrid reverb and kinda affordable at $50 USD. I'll maybe discuss shimmer later, as I used it a lot in The Flesh of the World to make it 'icy'. However the free plugins are simple but good.
https://valhalladsp.com/
Freakshow Industries (LL) - they make totally batshit insane multi plugins that are good for making scary and noise sounds (and look great too). One downside is they can be a bit opaque to use, as I generally like precision with what I am doing (a lot of noise-specialised gear and software does this and I'm not a fan). While I usually pay for them because they are pretty cheap (30-50 USD) the company has been kind enough to allow you to 'steal' or 'underpay' them for free for those of us who can't afford them. The website tries to dissuade you with a sense of humor though.
https://freakshowindustries.com/
PaulXStretch (OS) - An improvement on Audacitiy's paulstretch program, this takes samples and stretches them in ambient or noisy ways and I use it constantly. This version has VST compatibility and heaps of other useful features (some normal, like EQ, others less so like "harmonics". It's free and open source. Essential for drone makers. If you use it enough, you'll notice it has a specific flavour that you might here a bit in my own music.
https://sonosaurus.com/paulxstretch/
Glitchmachines (LL)- A software/sample company that specialises in strange glitchy futuristic VSTs and sound packs. The free loss leader VSTs are Hystersis and Fracture, which are quite polished. Their free sample packs are very good, as they are strange, futuristic, noisey, droney and fun to manipulate. If you want to pay for their non-free packs, they are usually around $79 which is surprisingly cheap for the quality. NOTE: I believe they used to have more free sample packs that I have on my HDD that are no longer available either as free or paid. Since they are no longer being offered as either I might post them when I have the chance, as they are fantastic.
https://glitchmachines.com/
Puremagnetik (LL) - Another software/sample giving away some free loss leaders. I havn't use the VSTs but they look great so I am going to do that right away. They also have some free sample packs. Also a lot of other software and samples are very cheap at 5-10 USD. Seems high quality.
https://puremagnetik.com/
Kit Plugins - Burier (LL) - recommended by violet (v ia) - the burier is a tube-preamp distortion that she uses for adding grit to things. I'm downloading it, even if I have to do an annoying login to do so. The other plugins seem cheap, and are 50% off at the time of writing.
https://kitplugins.com/pages/burier-free
SAMPLE PACKS
bluezone (LL+) - A massive massive library of free high quality samples which have no requirement to make an account or anything, just click and download. I use some of their paid "assault mech" samples for my cut-up noise. Samples from "free sound effects" include machines, industrial stuff, nature field recordings, cinematic impacts, guns, sci fi creatures, all which are fun to manipulate and remix and very high quality. The other sample pack focus more on music sound design, and includes some dark ambient. I just got all of them.
https://www.bluezone-corporation.com/free-sound-effects
https://www.bluezone-corporation.com/free-sample-packs
sounds resource (Copyright warning, for personal use only) - a large archive of sound files from various video games old and new. The copyright status of a lot of these is dubious, but its safe to say the ones that haven't been taken down are copyright orphans as the original rights owner doesn't care, hasn't seen them or cannot be contacted. Be careful, but very very useful.
https://www.sounds-resource.com/
silent hill media (Copyright warning for personal use only) - it probably doesn't surprise anybody that SH 2 and 3 are among my favourite games. This website has not only the complete soundtracks, but the sound files and many other resources as well. The silent hill sound files often contain musical elements like pads and notes which were used as soundfonts. SH2 is my favourite 'sample pack' of all time as its not only good, but holds a lot of personal meaning for me. Regarding copyright, the website hasn't been taken down which makes me think its a copyright orphan, but that doesn't mean it is completely safe to use especially given the series is set to be resurrected. Use with caution, but use with love.
http://silenthillmedia.net/
philharmonia sample pack (OS) - an orchestra just decided to record themselves doing individual notes and drones and give it away for free. Haven't listened yet as still awaiting download, but since it has no strings attached it could be very valuable for some real samples.
https://philharmonia.co.uk/resources/sound-samples/
pixabay (OS) - a big free splice-like archive of open source and royalty free sounds (as well as images and videos etc). It's incredible and I just discovered it. People even upload their own harsh noise tracks as samples for free use. No login or anything. Essential.
The Internet Archive (OS) - An archive of anything not-copyrighted anybody can find, I don't know how many "standard" samples there are there, but heaps of ripped recordings of religious sermons, historical documents etc
https://archive.org/details/audio
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That's it for now, as I find more I'll do another post. The above is definitely enough to make music with without paying a cent (minus computer). Go make something fucked.
Comments
Vincent Beaupré
this is amazing, much appreciated
