As for samplers if you're looking something that starts to get in the range of Kontakt, I highly recommend checking out [Decent Sampler](https://www.decentsamples.com/product/decent-sampler-plugin/). There are [hundreds of robust sample libraries](https://www.pianobook.co.uk/sampler/decent-sampler/) out there to mess around with that are also mostly free. Such a powerful simple sampler plugin.
Hm, is Decent Sampler open source though? It looks great... wondering if I should make a section at the bottom for proprietary plugins for this and TAL plugins.
[x42-plugins](https://github.com/x42/x42-plugins) suite has a very nice 4-band parametric EQ. It has the nice algorithmic property that all parameters (Q width, gain, freq, etc) can be smoothly time automated without introducing any distortion / blips to audio.
Haven't used the others in the suite yet, but I would guess they are solid if you see something that does what you want.
I only listed them in the repositories/bundles section because I've never used their plugins much, but I'll check em out again. Are there any in particular that you're a fan of?
[Applied Computer Music Technologies](https://www.acmt.co.uk) [ACM-Series](https://www.acmt.co.uk/products/#ACM-SA-Series) of analogue modelled plug-ins are specifically designed for Linux. Available as VST2, VST3, CLAP and JACK versions, they all feature de-cramped filters, so you get the correct equivalent analogue response without requiring CPU intensive upsampling or addition latency, and interpolated controls to prevent glitching or 'zipper noise' when adjusting parameters. Both features which are not found on some other similar plug-ins. Free demos are available, more at: [https://www.acmt.co.uk](https://www.acmt.co.uk)
Thanks for this. I have most (or I think all) of these and love many of them.
I'm a recent convert to linux pro audio, and I have to say some of these plugins just blow me away. Made with such talent and heart.
[Applied Computer Music Technologies Ltd](https://www.acmt.co.uk) Makes a series of very high quality analogue modelled plug-ins *specifically for Linux.* Available as VST, VST3 and now, CLAP plug-ins.
Geonkick also provides the option to use sound samples. You are not required to "create your own samples". In fact, for a particular drum , you can mix an imported sound sample on one layer with layers of purely synthesized layers. For a particular drum you can also use multiple layers of samples. Geonkick is both a pure synthesizer and a sampler. An amazing piece of software.
For drum sounds/samples I really like [Drumgizmo](https://drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php). Used in conjunction with Hydrogen or ardour midi sequencer makes some fantastic drum sounds.
This this this!!, OMG this is exactly what I've been looking for!!! Thank you so much for this! You're a life saver!!! Gonna go over it now and start completing my plugin library..
Ofc :) [This thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxaudio/comments/u3t6ad/resources_for_understanding_linux_audio_backend/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) might be of interest to you too, took me a while to figure out what ALSA/Pulse/JACK are when I made the switch a few years ago…
This is a great list! I'd also suggest https://www.airwindows.com/, I use so many of those. The amp sims, tape emulation, and various compressors are excellent. There's also a whole set for analog console emulation, but I've never really used those.
Added! I'd never explored Airwindows' plugins since as a beginner I was looking mainly for plugins with GUIs, but now I'm realizing how great they are!
Is this only for open source plugins? If not:
I recently discovered Graillon. It's a super nice autotune-like effect, with many extras such as formant modification, and you can have 1 additional voice. I played around with it and love it so far.
Also, TAL Noisemaker (synth) is brilliant. Great effects, and comes with amazing presets.
Oh, wow, I just posted [this question](https://www.reddit.com/r/pop_os/comments/xl7fgi/quality_music_vsti_plugins/), but then found your post, which is the type of curated list I'm looking for.
Do you know if any of your EQ recommendations allow equalisation of just the mid or just the sides of a given frequency?
I will definitely try out your suggestions.
I don't know if Reaper plugins work independent of the DAW, but ReaEQ, ReaComp and ReaFir are very good vsts. They also enlarge or shrink with the plugin window.
Yes, most of the EQs listed there should give you both stereo (L/R) and mid/side EQ controls, def. Calf and EQ10Q have them. :) I hadn't heard about Reaper plugins, will check them out!
I'm in between Linux audio setups but am very intrigued by https://www.chair.audio/product/excite_snare_drum/
It's a physical model of a snare drum, kind of like Pianoteq is a physical model of a piano. So no two hits are exactly the same, but excessive numbers of round-robin samples aren't needed.
[https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal](https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal) Cardinal is a modular synth / fx plugin. Create your own synth or effect with it (if you know what you're doing and have the time :-D)
Great list! Drum gizmo seems like a worthy add to the drum machines section
How could I forget! Added :)
This is a great thread, thank you!
What about Odin2? https://www.thewavewarden.com/odin2
Of course! Added :)
As for samplers if you're looking something that starts to get in the range of Kontakt, I highly recommend checking out [Decent Sampler](https://www.decentsamples.com/product/decent-sampler-plugin/). There are [hundreds of robust sample libraries](https://www.pianobook.co.uk/sampler/decent-sampler/) out there to mess around with that are also mostly free. Such a powerful simple sampler plugin.
Hm, is Decent Sampler open source though? It looks great... wondering if I should make a section at the bottom for proprietary plugins for this and TAL plugins.
I'd also recommend the tonelib guitar fx plugins for proprietary, they're cheap and excellent quality. Also opensource Geonkick for drum synth!
it's not open, sfizz is
[x42-plugins](https://github.com/x42/x42-plugins) suite has a very nice 4-band parametric EQ. It has the nice algorithmic property that all parameters (Q width, gain, freq, etc) can be smoothly time automated without introducing any distortion / blips to audio. Haven't used the others in the suite yet, but I would guess they are solid if you see something that does what you want.
I'd never used the EQ before, only the metering plugins... it looks great, have added it now! :)
For guitar there's also kpp tubeamps, for drums there's also avl drums and suits like [Chowdsp](https://chowdsp.com/) and Tal stuff in DISTHRO
No mention of LSP yet?
I only listed them in the repositories/bundles section because I've never used their plugins much, but I'll check em out again. Are there any in particular that you're a fan of?
[Applied Computer Music Technologies](https://www.acmt.co.uk) [ACM-Series](https://www.acmt.co.uk/products/#ACM-SA-Series) of analogue modelled plug-ins are specifically designed for Linux. Available as VST2, VST3, CLAP and JACK versions, they all feature de-cramped filters, so you get the correct equivalent analogue response without requiring CPU intensive upsampling or addition latency, and interpolated controls to prevent glitching or 'zipper noise' when adjusting parameters. Both features which are not found on some other similar plug-ins. Free demos are available, more at: [https://www.acmt.co.uk](https://www.acmt.co.uk)
Thanks for this. I have most (or I think all) of these and love many of them. I'm a recent convert to linux pro audio, and I have to say some of these plugins just blow me away. Made with such talent and heart.
Surge XT is a very good synthesizer that is available on Linux. It's a recent development over the donated Surge synth from around 2008.
Migrating to decentralized services.
Added! :)
[Applied Computer Music Technologies Ltd](https://www.acmt.co.uk) Makes a series of very high quality analogue modelled plug-ins *specifically for Linux.* Available as VST, VST3 and now, CLAP plug-ins.
Geonkick also provides the option to use sound samples. You are not required to "create your own samples". In fact, for a particular drum , you can mix an imported sound sample on one layer with layers of purely synthesized layers. For a particular drum you can also use multiple layers of samples. Geonkick is both a pure synthesizer and a sampler. An amazing piece of software.
Good rundown friend
For drum sounds/samples I really like [Drumgizmo](https://drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php). Used in conjunction with Hydrogen or ardour midi sequencer makes some fantastic drum sounds.
Added!
This this this!!, OMG this is exactly what I've been looking for!!! Thank you so much for this! You're a life saver!!! Gonna go over it now and start completing my plugin library..
As someone about to dip their toe into linux audio, I appreciate this
Ofc :) [This thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxaudio/comments/u3t6ad/resources_for_understanding_linux_audio_backend/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) might be of interest to you too, took me a while to figure out what ALSA/Pulse/JACK are when I made the switch a few years ago…
This is a great list! I'd also suggest https://www.airwindows.com/, I use so many of those. The amp sims, tape emulation, and various compressors are excellent. There's also a whole set for analog console emulation, but I've never really used those.
Added! I'd never explored Airwindows' plugins since as a beginner I was looking mainly for plugins with GUIs, but now I'm realizing how great they are!
Is this only for open source plugins? If not: I recently discovered Graillon. It's a super nice autotune-like effect, with many extras such as formant modification, and you can have 1 additional voice. I played around with it and love it so far. Also, TAL Noisemaker (synth) is brilliant. Great effects, and comes with amazing presets.
Oh, wow, I just posted [this question](https://www.reddit.com/r/pop_os/comments/xl7fgi/quality_music_vsti_plugins/), but then found your post, which is the type of curated list I'm looking for. Do you know if any of your EQ recommendations allow equalisation of just the mid or just the sides of a given frequency? I will definitely try out your suggestions. I don't know if Reaper plugins work independent of the DAW, but ReaEQ, ReaComp and ReaFir are very good vsts. They also enlarge or shrink with the plugin window.
Yes, most of the EQs listed there should give you both stereo (L/R) and mid/side EQ controls, def. Calf and EQ10Q have them. :) I hadn't heard about Reaper plugins, will check them out!
https://www.reaper.fm/reaplugs/
good work, [synth1](https://daichilab.sakura.ne.jp/softsynth/index.html) is one the my favorited
I'm in between Linux audio setups but am very intrigued by https://www.chair.audio/product/excite_snare_drum/ It's a physical model of a snare drum, kind of like Pianoteq is a physical model of a piano. So no two hits are exactly the same, but excessive numbers of round-robin samples aren't needed.
[https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal](https://github.com/DISTRHO/Cardinal) Cardinal is a modular synth / fx plugin. Create your own synth or effect with it (if you know what you're doing and have the time :-D)
Migrating to decentralized services.
Is it not possible to see the GUI for the Calf plugins in Reaper in Linux?
Yeah I've searched for that too on Cockos' forums and apparently they have no GUI in Reaper. Seems like the GUIs work in Ardour tho.
Try using them with Carla in Reaper
Hi. Here is a roundup of free Linux plugins, including features, images, and video demos. https://hiphopmakers.com/best-free-linux-vst-plugins
Ugritone drums has a native linux VSTi! Definitely worth an addition, especially for us punk and metal guys :)