QDelay, Phoenix LT, HoRNet TapeLite: Free Plugins of the Week
QDelay, Phoenix LT, HoRNet TapeLite: Free Plugins of the Week · Source: Tiagolr, Shattered Glass Audio, HoRNet Plugins
Developer Tiagolr is back with QDelay, a very versatile free delay plugin with a bunch of tricks up its sleeve. This week’s collection of freebies also features a great-sounding tube saturator from Shattered Glass Audio and an analog tape simulator from HoRNet Plugins.
Free Plugins of the Week
Tiagolr QDelay: The Only Free Delay Plugin You’ll Ever Need?
Developer Tiagolr ranked high on our list of best free plugins of 2025 with the awesome RipplerX synth and the equally amazing GATE-12, TIME-12, FILT-R, and REEV-R plugins. His latest creation is QDelay, a highly versatile free delay plugin. Inspired by plugins such as ReplikaXT and EchoBoy, QDelay is a feature-laden dual delay designed for sonic variety and a quick workflow.
In addition to the basic delay parameters (time, feedback, mix), QDelay offers a host of features designed to help you create unique delay patterns. There’s a ping-pong mode with feedback width control, a tap mode, and swing and feel offset. You can also accent odd or even delay taps to make your delays groove. In addition, QDelay offers modulation of the delay time, diffusion (pre or post delay), and pre and post saturation with adjustable color, bias, and dynamics.
But that’s still not all: QDelay even includes a pitch shifter that can affect the feedback path or the post-delay signal, a ducking feature, and tape wow and flutter for even more creative possibilities. While it may not be quite as unique as the developer’s releases from last year, it’s a complete bag of tricks for creating interesting delays. Excellent!
QDelay is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux in VST3, AU, and LV2 formats.
Shattered Glass Audio Phoenix LT: Free Tube Preamp with Saturation
Phoenix LT by Shattered Glass Audio is the free intro version of Phoenix 2 ($54.99). That said, it can also be seen as the spiritual successor to the popular, but sadly discontinued SGA1566 tube preamp plugin released over a decade ago. Like SGA1566, Phoenix LT brings the sound of an analog tube preamp based on two 12AU7 triodes to your DAW. According to the developer, the entire preamp circuit is simulated in real time using high-performance circuit simulation technology.
The GUI has been updated, but the controls are similar. In addition to the all-important Input, Gain, and Output knobs, Phoenix LT offers a Baxandall-style EQ for tone shaping that can be inserted pre- or post-preamp. In comparison to SGA1566, a third band has been added. Phoenix LT also offers an auto gain feature, automatic 4x oversampling, and a Mix knob for parallel processing.
In comparison, the full version of Phoenix 2 gives you a choice of five different preamps and three types of EQs.
Phoenix LT is available for macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats.
HoRNet TapeLite: Free Tape Simulation for Analog Warmth
HoRNet Plugins released HoRNet TapeLite as a free gift for Christmas 2025. Based on an emulation of the legendary Otari MX80 reel-to-reel machine, it’s designed to breathe analog warmth into lifeless digital recordings.
In addition to Input, Output, and Mix knobs (with a link feature), HoRNet TapeLite offers a choice of two tape speeds (15/30 IPS). The bias is also adjustable.
HoRNet TapeLite is available for macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats.
Looking for more free plugins like QDelay, Phoenix LT, and HoRNet TapeLite? Check out our archive!
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