Gluon is a free bus compressor plugin with multi-instance control, DRUMFLX may be the only free drum machine plugin you’ll ever need, and Bit Layer is a multi-band bit crusher: Free plugins of the week!
Free Plugins of the Week
nClear Audio Gluon: Free Bus Compressor with Multi-Instance Control
Gluon by nClear Audio is a bus compressor plugin inspired by British console classics, although it doesn’t claim to be an exact emulation of any particular hardware. Instead, the developer presents a fresh take on the subject, including some very cool features we don’t usually see in free plugins.
The basic controls are familiar: like any good bus compressor, Gluon has controls for Threshold, Ratio, Range, Makeup Gain, Attack, and Release, plus a gain reduction meter with several ranges to choose from. There’s also a Mix knob for parallel processing, an external sidechain input with a filter, and an output limiter.
What makes Gluon stand out from the crowd is the Map window, which lets you view and adjust the settings of all instances of the plugin across your entire project. While no audio flows between instances, there’s a neat Global control feature that allows you to make relative adjustments across instances, keeping their relationships intact. This is the sort of thing we usually only see in paid plugins.
Furthermore, Gluon also has a very cool Learn function for the Makeup Gain. To use it, press the L button and play ten seconds of your audio. The plugin then compares the input with the compressed blend and sets an appropriate Makeup value to bring their perceived levels closer, which is great for fine-tuning the compression by ear without being distracted by level differences.
Gluon is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux in VST3, AU, CLAP, and LV2 formats.
Sonix Audio DRUMFLX: Free Drum Machine Plugin with an Attitude
DRUMFLX by Sonix Audio is a sample-based drum machine plugin with a couple of cool features that go beyond the usual free sample player. To start with, there are three modes, each with a slightly different set of controls: Modern, Vintage, and Texture.
In Modern mode, DRUMFLX delivers hard-hitting drums that cut through the mix, perfect for hip-hop, trap, and similar styles. You can shape the transients with the Boost and Punch controls, apply some Analog EQ to tighten the low end, and add character with the Grit, Shine, and Noise knobs.
Switch to Vintage mode, and the Boost knob is swapped for a Drive control that mimics the sound of vintage hardware, such as tape recorders. In Texture mode, things get even more experimental with Resample and Instability controls, plus delay and reverb effects for creative sound design.
What’s more, DRUMFLX also has a Loop mode that maps the pads to a library of included loops rather than one-shot samples. And as you can also load your own samples, you’re not limited to the included content. Very nice!
DRUMFLX is available for macOS and Windows in VST3 and AU formats.
RiverFlux Audio Bit Layer: Free Multi-Band Bit Crusher
Bit Layer by RiverFlux could be the most surgical bit crusher ever invented. Contrary to other bit crusher plugins, which usually work on the full bandwidth of the signal, Bit Layer lets you split the signal up into no less than eight frequency bands, allowing you to apply targeted destruction to specific frequency ranges. Each band offers independent Bit Crush, Sample Rate Reduction, and Jitter settings. Moreover, these three parameters also each let you choose between stereo and mid/side processing independently. Need some digital grit in the far left and right sides of the stereo image, but only between 2 and 3 kHz? Bit Layer can do it.
Furthermore, the plugin also features additional Tonal and Transient modes that focus on sustained content or percussive attacks, respectively. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bit crusher with this many creative options, even as a paid plugin. Great stuff!
Bit Layer is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux in VST3, CLAP, and AU formats.
Check out our archive for many more free plugins like Gluon, DRUMFLX, and Bit Layer!
The post Gluon, DRUMFLX, BIT LAYER: Free Plugins of the Week appeared first on gearnews.com.