Best Filter VST Plugins

What better way to get your studio off to a good start than with a good VST filter plugin? Using a filter is becoming common practice in today’s music; therefore it’s a good idea to compile a list of the best filter VST plugins. 

VST is an abbreviation for Virtual Studio Technology. A VST plugin is a form of digital software that enables you to use virtual instruments and audio effects in a DAW (digital audio workstation). A VST plugin works for audio or MIDI as it plays in a DAW, applying audio effects or making MIDI notes sound like they’re played on a musical instrument. 

During the recording and mixing processes, VST plugins are used to generate new sounds and improve the sound of a mix. A filter, on the other hand, removes frequencies and changes the harmonic quality of a signal, resulting in a timbre transition. You can filter the sound with the aid of various parameters and settings.

Cutoff frequency and resonance are the most important parameters in a filter. A filter may also have an infinite number of response curves, but the most common are low pass, which removes frequencies above the cutoff frequency, high pass, which removes all frequencies below the cutoff frequency, and bandpass, which removes all frequencies, not within a given band on either side of a center frequency.

If you are looking to get a plugin and you need a guide, you can read reviews to help you select the best. If you need recommendations on websites that handle the review of VST plugins, you can visit: https://dawvsthub.com/filter-vst-plugins/ for more insight. 

We have also reviewed some brands in this article. Please feel free to check them out.

Top Filter VST Plugins 

The following are some recommended VST plugins you can go for:

AudioThing – Filterjam (Windows/Mac)

Filterjam is an amazing multi-band resonant filter that can produce fascinating ringed-style effects. The input signal is divided into four bands, which are then added together or multiplied depending on the mode.

This free VST plugin is surprisingly flexible, and capable of producing extreme, saturated effects. It can brighten or deepen your chosen sounds, as well as fully mutilate acoustic sources. Because of the plugin’s basic, stripped-down design, it uses very little CPU.

Arturia – 3 Filters You’ll Need

For every musician, Arturia has built a suite consisting of three filter plug-ins:

Filter MINI

Filter M12

Filter SEM

These filters were designed with synthesizer filters in mind, and their interface is modeled after an analog synthesizer filter section. Overall, they have a nice appearance that makes them simple to use. 

They have over 100 presets to choose from, all of which were created by well-known sound designers. The filters are available in VST, AU, and AAX formats for use in your DAW. Overall, these three Arturia filters are highly recommended if you enjoy electronic music. Additionally, knowing how to use VST plugins helps you maximize the usage so it is recommended that you learn the operations first.

A1StereoControl

Having absolute control over a stereo field is always a plus particularly when using A1StereoControl, which is a smooth, free, and efficient plugin. This lightweight stereo expansion plugin created by Alex Hilton of Germany has enough power to please even the most seasoned mixing engineers and producers. 

It also has an easy-to-understand interface and a wide “stereo width” tab in the center that controls the width. It is also possible to choose between simple and professional mode, which restricts or reveals the more developed stereo control. 

Virtual Synthesizer | Podolski

Podolski is a simple, CPU-friendly analog synthesizer by u-he. It has one multimode filter, one oscillator, a sequencer, and one envelope. There are more than 520 presets included with Podolski and it is easy to understand and use. 

Tal-Chorus-LX

This free chorus effect is reminiscent of the Roland Juno-60, the iconic retro synthesizer that powered most of the biggest hits of the 80s. There isn’t a whole lot to talk about it but it sounds fantastic and is incredibly easy to control. You can control volume and stereo width by using three knobs and two keys. 

Volcano 2 

Volcano by FabFilter has proven to be one of the few plug-ins that can provide compelling high-quality digital filtering with a distinct analog character. Volcano 2 is the best in its class, with loads of features, modulation choices, and a fantastic user interface!

Some of the highlights include a simple drag-and-drop modulation with a 24-slot modulation matrix, broad interactive filter monitor, modulation source signal visualization stereo, and GPU-powered graphics acceleration. Other features include side chain input, mid/side processing, highly exceptional MIDI Learn, nearly 300 presets, special presets per component, comprehensive support file, and interactive assist hints.

To learn more about VST Midi effects and how they function in VST plugins, you can check here.

FilterFreak (Soundtoys)

The sounds of classic analog resonant filters are accurately recreated by FilterFreak. Smooth retro synth sweeps can be achieved by twisting the frequency knob. To add some edge, increase the resonance or even force the filter into self-oscillation. And, just like hardware, when you push it hard, FilterFreak responds by breaking up in a gritty and pleasing way.

FilterFreak is two different plug-ins: FilterFreak 1 and FilterFreak 2. FilterFreak 1 is a single, quick filter that can be loaded. However, if you need more power, use FilterFreak 2. It provides two analog filters, one in series and one in parallel, that can be used in series or parallel. When two filters are combined with FilterFreak’s deep modulation options, you can create a wide range of moving sounds.

AudioThing – The Orb

The Orb includes a spherical figure divided into ten parts, each of which represents a different vowel. Male, female, child, and custom vowel sets are all included. The Orb includes three bandpass filters for frequency editing, and also three LFOs known as “Vowel,” “Emphasis,” and “Drift.”

Finally, this plugin is CPU-light, and it is available in VST, AU, and AAX (32/64bit) formats, as well as Windows and macOS compatibility.

These are some of the VST filter plugins you will find in the market. You can search the internet to get more reviews.

Conclusion

VST plugins allow you to use virtual instruments to create your choice of audio effects with the help of a digital audio workstation (DAW). We have highlighted some of the best filter VST plugins available so feel free to check them out.