This is a guide to plugins from smaller, less well-known developers or well-known developers that are not that big in the world of guitar and bass plugins. The list is intended to give you ideas of things to try out when you feel you want to try something new. Items are in random order. Enjoy!
LostIn70s
Check the Modern Deluxe, Tone Deluxe and Bull Deluxe amp sims, also some keyboard-related VSTs. Freeware.
Chow DSP
A science project turning a Klon Centaur schematic into an audio plugin. That’s how the ChowCentaur was born. Includes both a traditional and a neural network-based model. If you want to dig into the code it’s all on Github. Open source software (BSD). Also don’t miss the virtual tape machine..
Schrammel OJD
An overdrive that is full of tone and maybe a bit obsessive. Developed as a side-project by a guy who works at Sonible. Code available on Github for this one too. Open source software (GPL).
SGA – Ace
A free model of a legendary 1950s, American, all tube, tweed, 5W amp by Shattered Glass Audio.
Cornflower Audio
Cornflower Audio is a Belarusian developer that offers the Fury amplifier for metal with some pre- and post-fx and a pretty unique UI with slavic warriors and monsters. Don’t miss the “language” menu choice to see the site in English.. Freeware.
Analog Obsession
Lots of free plugins mainly modeled after analog gear . All released for free on their Patreon page. For guitar you’ll find some preamps and effects pedals including a model of a Russian Big Muff.
Wampler Terraform
Wampler is offering VST3 versions of three of the fx from their multi-function pedal Terraform as a test. Included is an envelope follower, a univibe and a chorus. Free download.
Fewtube
Has a large number of amp sims but most seem to be in beta phase and it’s really a bit unclear how to buy them. Still there are demos (with audio dropouts) to download if you want to try them out early.
EXE Consulting
A number of amp sims and pedals to download. A good place to start would be with the “Classic Thirty”, that has some unusual (and highly detailed) settings to fine-tune amp gain. Developer Dave Clark was involved with the classic ACME Bar Gig software. Freeware.
Musical Entropy
Guitar Gadgets was an entry to the KVR Developer Challenge 2014. The focus here was not to develop classic effects but weird, strange, ugly or “different” ones instead. Freeware.
NSP VST
NSP is a russian developer that has some overdrive plugins on his site. Check out the Overdrive Rack Pro for example. Freeware.
More stuff??
If you have any suggestions on more items that could be on the list contact us via our Facebook group.