1 Big List of Top Indie Audio Plugins, Instruments, and Effects for Electronic Music Producers

This is a list of audio plugins, instruments, and effects made by indie developers, perfect for your electronic music or other productions.

It's by no means exhaustive, but should provide a great starting point.

Every one of these comes as a recommendation from my electronic music producer friends on Twitter when asked for their favourite indie plugins.

Why?

I was feeling a bit fed up with a certain plugin company due to one of their employee's openly being a TERF. Negativity comes naturally to me, but beyond calling it out I didn't feel that me cussing about it on Twitter was serving much of a purpose. Instead, I thought I could be devoting that energy towards hyping up some indie devs.

So I reached out to my Twitter people and asked what they like. I compiled that list, spent a few minutes here and there trying to organize it a bit with what limited time I have, and voila.

I hope you enjoy, and don't be a TERF.

AAS

https://www.applied-acoustics.com/

• Multiphonics CV-1 - modular synthesizer.
• Chromaphone 3 - acoustic object synthesizer.
• Ultra Analog VA-3 - analog synthesizer.
• String Studio VS-3 - string oscillator synthesizer.
• Strum GS-2 - acoustic and electric guitars.
• Lounge Lizard EP-4 - electric piano.
• Objeq Delay - acoustic filter and delay.

Aberrant DSP

https://aberrantdsp.com/

• Digitalis
• ShapeShifter
• SketchCasette

Acustica

https://www.acustica-audio.com/store

• Fire The Clip
• Nebula
• Silver
• Maize
• Fire The Tilt
• Space Control
• Fire The Pan
• Aero
• Jet
• Graphite
• Rust
• Tan 2
• Lava

Audio Damage

https://www.audiodamage.com/

Effects

• AD054 Other Desert Cities
• AD052 Panstation 2
• AD049 Enso
• AD048 PhaseThree
• AD047 Ratshack Reverb 3
• AD045 ADverb2
• AD044 Discord4
• AD043 Filterstation 2
• AD041 914 Mk 2 Fixed Filter Bank
• AD040 QuatroMod
• AD039 Replicant 2
• AD037 Kombinat Tri
• AD036 Dubstation 2
• AD035 Grind
• AD034 Eos 2

Instruments

• AD055 Quanta 2
• AD053 Phosphor 3
• AD051 Continua
• AD042 Axon 2

Baby Audio

https://babyaud.io/

• Crystalline - reverb.
• IHNY-2 - compressor.
• TAIP - analogue tape.
• Smooth Operator - eliminate resonance and bring out clarity.
• Spaced Out - ambience generator combining delay, reverb, and modulation.
• Super VHS - 1980's lofi sound.
• Parallel Aggressor - split audio into 3 parallel tracks: saturated, compressed, and dry.
• Comeback Kid - delay.

Bleass

https://www.bleass.com/

• Alpha Synthesizer - highly versatile analog polyphonic stereo synthesizer.
• Chorus - from subtle classic chorus effects to crazy textures.
• Compressor - a comprehensive compression tool offering external sidechain input, input filters and real-time visualization.
• Delay - a unique audio effect featuring multi purpose Delay / Echo / Frequency Shifter / High Pass & Low Pass Filters as well as Stereo Effects.
• Dragonfly - a completely new approach to tremolo effect which brings new sonic possibilities to all music producers.
• Filter - inspired by classic analog filters, filter features an envelope follower as well as a LFO and a warm sound which create mind boggling filter sweep effects.
• Flanger - a comprehensive flanging effect with a wide range of sonic possibilities thanks to 2 LFOS, 3 Stages of modulation and beat synchronization.
• Granulizer - a granular texture effect plugin with randomization, 4 multi-bus audio inputs and a 3D visualizer.
• Groovebox - professional music production instrument for studio and live performance.
• Monolit - combines the rich analogue sound and intuitive ease-of-use of Alpha with the creative expressiveness of Omega.
• Motion EQ - a unique sound design tool used to split and move the frequency bands of the audio signal to bring more motion to your music!
• Motion FX - a new and creative workflow to effects sound design.
• Omega - an innovative and user-friendly approach to FM Synthesis: 11 FM algorithms, Waveshaper, Multi-Mode Filter, and Four FXs.
• Phase Mutant - an effect plugin that applies the principles of FM to bring a whole new universe of unique and modern-sounding effects.
• Phaser - all-encompassing phasing effect with a vast array of sonic possibilities, from resonant swirls to stunning atmospheric stereo sounds.
• Reverb - a unique audio unit effect with filters, freeze toggle button, frequency shifter/wave shaper X/Y panel, and side-chained compressor for duck effect!
• SampleWiz 2 - sample-and-synthesis instrument with a granular engine envisioned by genius Keyboardist Jordan Rudess and engineered by BLEASS.
• Saturator - energize your basses, crush your drums, explode your leads in a beautiful yet destructive sound saturation.
• Shimmer - unique Pitch Shifting Reverb emphasizing harmonics and adding a smooth and pleasing reverb trail to any sound!
• Sidekick - fully AUv3 compatible professional drum kick generator and sequencer coupled with a powerful sidechain compressor.
• Slow Machine - mutates any beat or melody from predictable to innovative. Revamp leads into deep basses, thicken percussion, and add live & sequenced tape stop effects!

Cherry Audio

https://cherryaudio.com

• Elka X
• Lowdown
• Miniverse
• Dreamsynth
• Quadra
• Synth Stack 2
• Mercury-4
• Memorymode
• PS-20
• Eight Voice
• Polymode Synthesizer
• Surrealistic MG-1 Plus
• CA2600
• DCO-106

D16

https://d16.pl/

Instruments

• Phoscyon 2 - acid line.
• PunchBox - bass drum synthesizer.
• LuSH-101 - multitimbral polyphonic synthesizer.
• Nepheton - drum machine.
• Drumazon - drum machine.
• Nithonat - drum machine.

Effects

• Spacerek - virtual space reverb.
• Syntorus 2 - triple path analog chorus.
• Godfazer - advanced modulation unit.
• Redoptor 2 - vintage tube distortion.
• Fazortan 2 - controllable space phaser.
• Toraverb 2 - space modulated reverb.
• Tekturon - multitap sequenced delay.
• Repeater - vintage modelled delay.
• Frontier - self-adaptive versatile limiter.
• Decimort 2 - high quality bit crusher.
• Devastor 2 - multiband distortion unit.
• Antresol - analog BBD stereo flanger.
• Sigmund - high quality flexible delay unit.

Destroy FX

http://destroyfx.org/

• Geometer - visually oriented waveform geometry.
• Scrubby - speed up or slow down playback.
• Buffer override - configure buffer size.
• Transverb - delay.
• Rez synth - play resonant band-pass filter banks.
• Skidder - turn sound on and off.

Felt Instruments

https://www.feltinstruments.com/

Effects

• Smugi - filter bank
• Stockhausen's filter

Keys

• Due corde grand piano
• 1930s celeste
• Super-soft upright piano
• Rediscovered guitaret
• Forgotten pianet

Fors

https://fors.fm

• Glänta - Dynamic FM synthesizer.
• Kit - Experimental collection.
• Chiral - Holographic synthesizer.
• Superberry - Delicious superwave.
• Romb - Uncomplicated reverb.
• Pluck - Karplus-Strong synthesizer.
• Doublet - Ambidextrous synthesizer.
• Bokeh - Defocusing delay.
• Roulette - Poly-asymmetric sequencer.

Future Audio Workshop

https://www.futureaudioworkshop.com/

• SubLab XL
• SubLab
• Circle2

Full Bucket Music

https://www.fullbucket.de/music/vst.html

Free collection simulations for DW-6000/8000, Korg Mini Pops-7, Korg Poly-800, Korg Trident, Korg PS-3300, Korg PS-3200, Korg PS-3100, Korg Sigma KP-30, Korg Mono/Poly, Korg Delta DL-50, Korg Vocoder VC-10.

Free collection of modular, wavetable, string, complex modulation, formant, and other performance synths.

Free collection of grain straining effect, Bode frequency shifter, analog phaser simulation, BBD analog delay simulation.

Glitch Machines

https://glitchmachines.com/

• Cataract - segment multiplexer.
• Plaindrome - granular morph plotting.
• Polygon - hybrid sampler.
• Quadrant - modular hybrid.
• Cryogen - modular malfunction effects.
• Subvert - multi-channel distortion.
• Tactic - phase generator.
• Convex - dueling multi-effects.
• Fracture XT - granular buffer effects.
• Fracture - buffer effects.
• Hysteresis - glitch delay.

Goodhertz

https://goodhertz.com/

• CanOpener Studio - conjure speakers from your headphones.
• Vulf Compressor - beastly compression, by Vulf.
• Tone Control - timeless EQ, taken back to the future.
• Trem Control - classic tremolo for the 21st century.
• Lossy - digital artifacts, on demand.
• Lohi - filter sweeps: lo, hi, & anywhere in between.
• Faraday Limiter - peak limiter w/ a powerful magnetic field.
• Panpot - new directions in panning.
• Good Dither - world-class dither, simple controls.
• Midside - expressive stereo imaging.
• Tiltshift - superior tone-shaping, from mix to master.
• Midside Matrix - easy Mid/Side conversion.
• Wow Control - wow, flutter, tape.
• Megaverb - incredibly good bad reverb.
• Tupe - tube + Tape = Tup

K-Devices

https://k-devices.com/

• Magma
• Tatat
• LFOH!
• Modulators 21
• Shaper 2
• Hexo
• Ttap
• Wov
• ESQ
• AutoTrig
• Twistor
• Moor
• Ext3
• Tip
• TEDfx
• Terra
• Alter Echo
• Holder
• Herse
• AutoBeat
• Ref
• drumk 2
• Kfluxin
• Kfluxsy

Kilohearts

https://kilohearts.com/

• Phase Plant
• Multipass
• Snap Heap
• Carve EQ
• Convolver
• Disperser
• Faturator
• Slice EQ

Klevgr

https://klevgrand.com/

• Fosfat - transient fertilizer.
• Borsta - brushed percussion.
• Pana - natural panner.
• Rum - room simulator.
• Slammer - drum instrument.
• Skaka - shaken percussion.
• Pipa - expressive vocal synth.
• Kleverb - algorithmic reverb.
• Grand Finale - audio finalizer.
• Stark - amp simulator.
• DAW Casette - tape deck emulation.
• Knorr - bass vitalizer.
• Brusfri - noise reducer.
• Korvpressor - smart compressor.
• Haaze 2 - stereo tool.
• Hillman - vintage combo synth.
• Luxe - audio enhancer.
• Modley - multi-fx delay.
• Reamp - audio gear modeler.
• Ting - percussion instrument.
• Spinn - multi-band modulation.
• Degrader - resamler and bitcrusher.
• GotoEQ - premium equalizer.
• DAW LP - vinyl player simulation.
• Gaffel - synced band splitter.
• Esspressor - professional de-esser.
• Kuvert - envelope shaper.
• SyndtSphere - sound surfer synth.
• Roverb - multi delay spaces.
• SquashIt - multi-band distortion.
• Enkl - monophonic synthesizer.
• Baervaag - FM synthesizer.
• Jussi - vocal synthesizer.
• Pads - lush pad synthesizer.
• Syndt - polyphonic synthesizer.
• Tines - electric piano.
• Svep - phaser flanger chorus

Loomer

https://www.loomer.co.uk/

• Architect - modular midmi toolkit.
• Aspect - semi-modular polyphonic synthesizer
• Manifold - ensemble processor.
• Resound - vintage tape echo.
• Sequent - modular step-sequenced fx processor.
• Shift - diatonic granular pitch-shifting delay.
• String - ensemble string synthesizer.

Minimal Audio

https://www.minimal.audio/

• Morph EQ - expressive EQ designer
• Rift - cutting-edge hybrid effect
• Rift Filter - next-gen morphing filter
• Rift Feedback Lite - explore the unique and unpredictable capabilities of feedback

OmniTaur

http://www.omnitaur.se/

Daedalus and Monolista VSTi synths.

Physical Audio

https://physicalaudio.co.uk/

• Derailer - physical modelling instrument based on nonlinear models of strings and collisions.
• Dual Spring Reverb - physical modelling instrument plugin built from mathematical models of strings, bars and spring connection elements.
• Dynamic Plate Reverb - effect plugin that uses a physical model of helical spring vibration to recreate the classic sound of spring reverbs.
• Preparation - physical modelling instrument based on nonlinear models of strings and collisions.

Polyverse

https://polyversemusic.com/

• Comet - lush and versatile reverb.
• Manipulator - alter timbre and pitch.
• Gatekeeper - volume tool.
• i Wish - take any sound, instantly freeze it in time.

Rhizomatic Software Synthesis

https://rhizomatic.fr/

• Plasmonic - captures the complex acoustic resonances of Physical Modeling, expands on it with more familiar elements of Subtractive Synthesis, and adds a few unique twists.

Rogue Amoeba

https://rogueamoeba.com/

• Airfoil - any audio, everywhere.
• Audio Hijack - record any audio.
• Farrago - robus, rapid-fire soundboards.
• Fission - fast and lossless audio editing
• Loopback - cable-free audio routing.
• Piezo - charmingly simple recording.
• SoundSource - superior sound control

Sinevibes

https://www.sinevibes.com/

• Stator - modulation effect for beautiful tape vibes.
• Corrosion v2 - multi-algorithm distortion.
• Skew - warp it, scratch it, glitch it.

Sixth Sample

https://sixthsample.com/

• SSF
• Deelay
• Deelay PE
• Clips
• F(l)atter
• Cramit

Sonic Charge

https://soniccharge.com/

• Echobode - frequency shifter and delay.
• Permut8 - modulate, manipulate, and mangle audio.
• Bitspeek - linear prediction coding.
• Synplant - software synthesizer with a genetic approach.
• Microtonic - drum and percussion synthesizer.

Soundhack

http://www.soundhack.com/

Plugins for wide-scope timbral morphing, time, pitch and phase stretching, shifting, and smearing.

Sound Theory

https://www.soundtheory.com/

• Gullfoss - improve the clarity, detail, spatiality, and balance of a mix or recording.

Sugar Bytes

https://sugar-bytes.de/

• Nest - DIY sequencer.
• DrumComputer - drum synthsizer.
• Aparillo - 16-voice FM synthesizer for cinematic sound design.
• Effectrix - professional multi-effect sequencer with 14 tools.
• Obscurium - productive synthesis tool.
• Turnado - multi effect for real-time audio manipulation.
• Factory - versatile poly synth with modulation-matrix and sequencers.
• WOW2 - multi filter.
• Looperator - loop design.
• Egoist
• Cyclop
• Guitarist - expressive e-guitar emulation.
• Consequence - chord groovebox.
• Thesys - pitch sequencer.
• Unique - virtual analogue synth.
• Artillery 2 - effect keyboard.

Surreal Machines

https://www.surrealmachines.com/

Deeply reshape transient signals with simple controls and an intuitive interface.

Tape Delay, Multi Reverb and Modulation Fx.

Morphing Classic Reverb Delay.

TAL Software

https://tal-software.com/

Plugins for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Drum, J-8, U-no-lx, Bassline 101, Sampler, Mod, Dub-x, DAC.

U-he

https://u-he.com/

Synthesizers

• Zebra 2 - workhorse synth.
• Diva - the spirit of analogue.
• Hive 2
• Repro
• Bazille - modular synthesizer.
• ACE - gateway into modular.
• Zebralette - spectral synth
• Podolski
• Triple Cheese
• Beatzille - modular.
• BazilleCM - modular.
• ZebraCM
• TyrellN6 - compact synth.

Effects

• Twangstrom - spring reverberator.
• Colour Copy - bucket brigade delay.
• Presswerk - compression with musical soul.
• Satin - Tape simulation.
• Filterscape - sound mangling and filtering.
• MFM2 - delay.
• Uhbik - nine effects.
• Protoverb - experimental reverb.

Vallhalla DSP

https://valhalladsp.com/

• Delay - echoes, looping.
• VintageVerb - old school digital hardware reverbs.
• Room - algorithmic room simulation.
• Plate - warm and dense reverbs from the 1960's and 1970's.
• Shimmer - ethereal decay and pitching shifting.
• UberMod - chorus flanging multitap reverb.
• Space Modulator - infinite flanging and doubling.
• Freq Echo - skull-melting chaos.
• Super Massive - reverbs, harmonic echoes, space sounds.

We make digital reverb and analog-inspired delay plugins for musicians, engineers and other audio artists. We're obsessed with creating powerful tools with simple interfaces. Our goal is to inspire you and help your work to flow.

Vital Audio

https://vital.audio/

Spectral warping wavetable synth.