Sometime you just need a plain good old sampler VST plugin for your tracks :
just load a .wav sample, tweak some envelope, maybe adjust pitch, and add some loop points. No more no less.
You don’t need the bells & whistles of Kontakt, nor gigabytes of library => just load some samples and come on !
So here’s a selection of 6 FREEWARE sampler in VST format:
Chordz is a VST plugin that allows you to trigger full chords by playing single notes. Each trigger note is associated with a separate chord. Each chord may consist of any number of notes. Play complicated chord progressions with one finger, with a MIDI keyboard or a drum-pad, or trigger chords from single notes added in your DAW's piano roll.
1. TX16Wx VST
download 100% free : http://www.tx16wx.com/
Available for Windows (32 & 64 bit) & Mac (VST & AU 64 bit)
This one is more than a simple sampler for loading & playing audio files!
It’s the more complete & full featured free sampler.
Tons of modulations & envelope, powerful keyboard mapping…
You can choose between 4 sizes for the UI (from 800X600 to 1280X768)
and the plugin can record from its own inputs (DAW inputs).
This is also the more “up to date” plugin.
It can load wav, aiff ogg, flac + sf2 soundfonts and sfz.
- FREE VST PLUGINS. Search for: FREE VST PLUGINS. Keys of the 70s size 3 MB / 4 MB / 3 MB / 3 MB Keys of the 70’s is a Keyboard wave synthesizer.
- A1 Trigger Gate is a free plugin that is simply amazing. It allows you to simply trigger the audio with a gated sound. You can then manipulate this with some built-in settings. A built-in window shows you the gate’s envelope settings, plus another window that shows the waveform.
2. Grace : Sampler
Grace Sampler
download : http://www.onesmallclue.com/plugin/grace/
Available for Windows in 32 & 64 bit VST format.
I find it more good looking than the TX16Wx!
It’s also very powerful; with keyboard mapping, envelope & modulation.
like the precedent, it can preview sounds, the browser is very nice.
can load wav, aif & snd + sfz bank sounds.
On the website you can also download library with good sounds.
3. ShortCircuit 2
download 4 free ! http://vemberaudio.se/shortcircuit.php
Availbable for Windows , 32 bit VST.
Sadly, Shortcircuit is discontinued.
But if you’re still using 32 bit VST, it’s one the best VST sampler around.
The Keyboard mapping (on a vertical view ! unlike the others), the modulation & evelope options, it’s very complete, and should work without any problems (you can also download older version if you experience some bugs)
can load wav files + AKAI sample file (AKAI S5000/S6000/ Z4 Z8) + sf2 files + Recycle REX files.
4. Paax 2 sampler
Paax 2 VST
direct download : http://www.behringerdownload.de/UCONTROL/p2_app.zip
Available for Windows 32 bit only VST.
Unfortunaly, the paax sampler has vanished from the internet, and is no longer developed.
The paax 3 was free for some time, and the paax 2 was always freeware.
The UI is small, but all the features are here.
Not the fastest workflow, but some like it like that.
5. EZ-Sampler
download : http://sbaudio.org/ez-sampler
Available for Windows, 32 bit VST only.
This one is simple, you can load only one sample, so no keyboard mapping.
Sometimes it’s just what you need ! and with EZ-Sampler, it’s fast and without troubles.
can load wav, aiff, ogg, flac, snd, wma & mp3 (need Lame Encoder).
6. Helios VST !
Tobybear Helios VST
dowload : http://www.tobybear.de/files.html
Available for Windows, 32 bit VST only.
From the Tobybear “insbag” VST collection. This one is old school !
ADSR on volume + filter + delay + LFO + loop. Just load a wav file and let’s go!
drop some LFO on the loop start : instant funkyness!
I recently came across a really cool new plugin called A1 Trigger Gate.
I’ve been playing around with it and it’s a lot of fun. It can take a really basic pattern or sound and make it super complex and deep. There are tons of customizable settings and it can be used with all different types of music, not just dubstep, trance and dance music and the like.
The best part about A1 Trigger Gate is the fact that it’s 100% completely free, and it works with just about any platform.
The plugin even has some included effects, including a lowpass filter, drive and distortion, and echo and delay. Plus the plugin is very easy on the CPU.
Here’s the link to the page where you can download the trigger gate plugin for free. It works with PC/Mac, 64/32 bit, VST, AU, AAX and RTAS.
Alex Hilton also offers a free stereo control plugin that’s worth checking out, which is also available from that page.
Below is a video that shows a demo of the A1 Trigger Gate plugin in action. It’s a basic video that will give you an idea of what the UI looks like and what the preloaded presets can do.
Vst Key Trigger Gate Free Full
Checkout the second video to learn how the plugin works and how to fine tune various settings to get a custom sound.
Vst Key Trigger Gate Free Vst
A1 Trigger Gate Presets Samples
This second video is an in-depth tutorial that helps explain how to use various aspects of the plugin, how to tweak settings, and use Expert Mode settings.
This video is also a great example of how versatile the A1 Trigger Gate plugin is, showing how it can be used with a basic rhythm guitar pattern.