Looking for essential free music production plugins for a basic setup

[HarperYR]

I'm putting together a list of must-have free music production plugins for someone building their first home studio. What would you consider the absolute essentials across different categories? I'm thinking we need at least one good EQ, compressor, reverb, delay, and maybe a synth or sampler. But which free ones actually deliver professional results without costing anything? I've been testing a bunch lately but would love to hear what others consider essential.

[Aubrey.T]

For a basic setup, I think you need these categories covered: EQ, compressor, reverb, delay, synth, and drums. My picks would be: TDR Nova for EQ (dynamic and regular), TDR Kotelnikov for compression, Valhalla Supermassive for reverb/delay, Vital for synth, and Sitala for drums. That's a solid foundation that doesn't cost anything. All of these are free audio plugins for music producers that actually deliver professional results.

[OliverB]

I'd add a limiter to that list for mastering. The LoudMax limiter is free and really transparent. Also, for saturation, the Softube Saturation Knob is simple but effective. And don't forget about utility plugins - the Youlean Loudness Meter is free and essential for checking your levels. These are all essential free music production plugins that I use on every project.

[PatrickMJ]

The MeldaProduction free bundle is worth mentioning too. It has 38 free plugins covering all the essentials. The interfaces can be a bit overwhelming for beginners, but once you learn them, they're incredibly powerful. For someone just starting, I'd recommend the Kilohearts free bundle instead - much more intuitive. But if you want comprehensive coverage, Melda can't be beat.

[JackYJ]

I think it depends on the genre too. For electronic music, you might want more synth options. For acoustic music, better reverb and compression. But the core essentials are pretty universal. I'd also recommend getting a good spectrum analyzer - Voxengo SPAN is free and incredibly useful. And maybe a tuner plugin if you're recording instruments. These free audio utility plugins don't get enough attention but they're essential.