Free music software round-up: Week 1

New plug-ins from the last week
New plug-ins from the last week

With developers working on it both around the globe and around the clock, new free music software hits the internet at a staggering rate.

As such, keeping track of what's out there can be difficult. Fear not, though, because MusicRadar is now on the case, tracking the latest freeware releases and bringing details and download links together in one place

Here's what's new from the past seven days.

VH-1 organ

VH-1 organ

Iliadis VH-1 - Virtual Drawbar Organ

Platform/format: PC/VST Download

A drawbar organ is a must for every plug-in rack, and Iliadis has a new one in the shape of the VH-1. This is 64-note polyphonic, and comes with nine adjustable drawbars and two percussion oscillators. Effects include a chorus vibrato, overdrive and key click.

Vicon

Vicon

Alterex ViCON

Platform/format: PC/VST Download

Inspired by (but not a copy of) Technosaurus's Microcon hardware synth, ViCON is a simple monophonic synthesizer. It's not exactly bursting with features, but if your brain's been fried by some of the more complex commercial plug-in instruments on the market, this could be a blessing.

2-band distortion

2-band distortion

Christian Budde 2-Band Distortion

Platform/format: PC/VST Download

Comprising "a crossover frequency splitter followed by a distorting waveshaper in each band", this is a plug-in that promises to deliver smooth harmonic distortion (low and high frequencies can be processed separately). It's open-source, so you can even modify the code if you're that way inclined.

BootEQ mkii

BootEQ mkii

Variety Of Sound BootEQ mkII

Platform/format: PC/VST Download

As well as offering a 4-band parametric EQ (this is said to sound 'musical' and be suitable for mixing purposes), this also contains a signal-modelled preamp simulation. Oh, and there's an analogue-style VU meter, too, which is always good news in our book.

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.