Astronaut, stepDelay, FetCB: Free Plugins of the Week

12 Nov 2023 by Lasse Eilers |

5,0 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

Astronaut, stepDelay, FetCB: Free Plugins of the Week · Source: Shift Line

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Shift Line has made the reverb algorithms from the Astronaut pedal into a fantastic plugin – and there’s a free version! Our other freeware favorites this week are a new delay from PSP and a punchy FET compressor from Analog Obsession.

Shift Line Astronaut Free: Blend four Reverb Algorithms

Astronaut

After releasing the Skynet plugin in February of this year, Shift Line has once again turned to its Astronaut pedal for some excellent reverb algorithms. And this time, they’ve gone all in: The Astronaut plugin pairs selected algorithms from the pedal with an ingenious control system based on an XY pad. This allows you to create evolving soundscapes by blending four algorithms simultaneously. Think vector synthesis, but with reverbs. The full version of Astronaut costs $15 (which is a steal, really), but they were extra generous and also made a free version. Compared to the full version, Astronaut Free is fully functional in terms of control, but has fewer algorithms and lacks the internal preset system. Still a no-brainer!

Astronaut is available for macOS and Windows in VST3 and AU formats.

PSP Audioware stepDelay: Saturated, Modulated Tape Delay

stepDelay

PSP stepDelay is a versatile and creative delay plugin that specializes in analog-style tape delays and modulated ping-pongs. With a head cueing emulation and built-in tape saturation and filters, it’s capable of some pretty wacky tape delay sounds. It gets really crazy when you tap into the built-in LFO, which lets you go wild with three waveforms and a stereo spread feature that causes the modulation to affect the two channels differently. If lush, gritty, modulated tape delay is your thing, PSP stepDelay should be in your plugin folder!

PSP stepDelay is available for macOS and Windows in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX formats.

Analog Obsession FetCB: One-of-a-kind FET Compressor

FetCB

Analog Obsession is back with FetCB – a FET compressor plugin that ventures a bit off the beaten path. Instead of presenting the umpteenth 1176 emulation, FetCB is based on an original hardware design by the developer. It’s got all the essential controls: Attack, Release, Threshold, Ratio (1:1 to 20:1), Mix (for parallel compression), and Output. With attack and release times as low as 20 µs and 25 ms, respectively, it can really go to work. And there’s even an external sidechain input that allows you to control the compression from another source. You probably don’t need another compressor, but I’m sure you want one!

FetCB is available for macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats.

Can’t get enough free plugins? Our huge archive will keep you busy for weeks!