FB-02, ZL Equalizer 2, FerricTDS mkIII: Free Plugins of the Week
FB-02, ZL Equalizer 2, FerricTDS mkIII: Free Plugins of the Week · Source: Full Bucket Music, ZL Audio, Variety of Sound
This week, Full Bucket Music serves up ‘80s nostalgia with FB-02, an emulation of the classic Yamaha FB-01 FM sound module. Check out the best free plugins of the week!
Free Plugins of the Week
Full Bucket Music FB-02: Free Emulation of the Yamaha FB-01 FM Sound Module
One member of the Yamaha FM family from the ‘80s that’s often overlooked is the FB-01, an unassuming 4-operator half-rack module from 1986. Like most FM synths of the era, it offered no hands-on control whatsoever. Full Bucket Music, purveyors of fine free software synths, have dedicated an emulation to the FB-01 that not only delivers the classic sounds, but also makes them much more controllable.
Full Bucket Music FB-02 simulates the original FM sound engine. In addition to the original factory presets, the handy patch browser includes a bunch of additional sounds. SysEx import and export is also available.
Most importantly, however, FB-02 gives you full control over the sound engine, making it much more usable. All settings of the four operators are instantly accessible, including the frequency, level, modulation rate and depth, and envelope. The Common panel provides access to the eight algorithms of the engine, as well as a bunch of common patch parameters. Striking the right balance between simplicity and hands-on control, FB-02 isn’t just a modern emulation of an often-overlooked classic, but also a great way to get your feet wet in FM synthesis. And if you own the original FB-01, you can even use the software synth as an editor for the hardware unit!
Full Bucket Music FB-02 is available for macOS and Windows in VST, VST3, AU, AAX, and CLAP formats.
ZL Audio ZL Equalizer 2: The Best Free FabFilter Pro-Q Alternative?
If you’re looking for a free alternative to FabFilter Pro-Q and similar dynamic EQs, look no further than ZL Equalizer 2 from ZL Audio. Originally released in 2024, the plugin has now been updated with a much more refined GUI for a smoother workflow.
Offering 64-bit floating point processing, six filter structures, and up to 24 frequency bands, each with a choice of eight filter types, this is a seriously capable EQ! Each band also provides full dynamic control with Threshold, Knee, Attack, and Release sliders and precise sidechain filtering. Five stereo modes (Stereo, Left, Right, Mid, and Side) are available per band.
The integrated spectrum analyzer has also been updated and now provides an even better overview of the frequency content of your signal. There’s even EQ Matching, although the developer says that this feature still has a few bugs.
ZL Equalizer 2 is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux in VST3, AU, LV2, and AAX formats. CLAP support is in the works.
Variety of Sound FerricTDS mkIII: The Classic Tape Compression Plugin Gets an Update
The latest in a series of excellent updates from Variety of Sound, FerricTDS mkIII takes this freeware classic a step further. Designed to capture the warm sound of tape compression, FerricTDS helps control the dynamics of your signals while providing tasty saturation. It’s great for everything from signal balancing and gluing to tonal shaping and increasing the perceived loudness.
According to Variety of Sound, the latest version brings the plugin up to modern standards in terms of signal processing. The tape simulation has been refined with pre-emphasis-driven high-frequency compression and a new wow and flutter feature. To improve usability, the developer has also made a couple of changes to the user interface, including a new toolbar with a preset manager and A/B comparison tools. Another fantastic update from Variety of Sound!
FerricTDS mkIII is available as a VST and VST3 plugin for Windows.
Looking for more free plugins like FB-02, ZL Equalizer 2, and FerricTDS mkIII? Check out our archive!
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