Free VST and AU plugins for any DAW*Ten experimental effects and synths
Tape doublers, granular reverbs, spectral freezes and drone synths we make at the Puremagnetik studio. Full versions in VST3, VST2 and AU for Mac and Windows. They run in Ableton Live, Logic, Bitwig, Reaper, FL Studio, Cubase and any other plugin host.
Ten devices with no time limit, seven effects and three synths, in VST3, VST2 and AU and native on Apple silicon. Plus free Ableton Live packs, drum kits and samples below.
* Pro Tools loads AAX only. Run Studies inside an AAX plugin host such as Blue Cat Audio's PatchWork or DDMF Metaplugin.
Ten free effects and synthesizers
Studies is the Puremagnetik plugin library: two plugins, Studies Effects for audio tracks and Studies Instruments for MIDI. The free tier opens these ten devices with full controls and presets, no sign-in needed.

Olden
Tape chorusTwo drifting delay voices, like tape machines slightly out of step. Subtle width or seasick chorus.

Driftmaker
Granular delayA grain looper through tape warble and chopped delay, with presets by BlankFor.ms.

Auras
Ambient reverbA reverb with a spectral sub-octave, frozen, distorted or dialed down to lo-fi.

Barber
Octaver · tremoloOctaver, fuzz, tremolo and arpeggiator in one, every rate locked to your host tempo.

Tensol
ResonatorA string resonator, recorded and chopped into grains. Drum loops come out pitched and metallic.

Vanisher
Granular reverbA reverb tail broken into particles: 3D motion, blur and glitch over your intact source.

Phanes
Spectral freezeFreeze a chord into a spectral cloud and play over it. New in Studies, never sold alone.

Verv
Tape loop synthA 1970s string machine, recorded to a loop and left in the sun all summer.

Expanse
Drone generatorBlurred noise and low drones that play on their own, no MIDI needed.

Darklands
FM synthHybrid FM for tense washes, bowed atmospheres and atonal synth-scapes.
Free Ableton Live packs
Instrument and Drum Racks, loops and samples, made in Live. The Studies devices above run in Live as VST3 or AU plugins; these packs open straight into your browser.
- The Foundation8 free Ableton Live packsLive pack
- Mélange70 handpicked instruments and loopsLive pack
- Wicked Kits5 drum kits, 808 to SP-1200Drum Racks
- KickbankAn assortment of kick drumsLive pack
- ClapBoxA retro clapper, after the Simmons ClapTrapLive pack
- Snare DesignerBuild and shape your own snare drumsLive · Kontakt · Logic
- Kleine StückeRoyalty-free tape textures by HANDSamples
More in Free Ableton Live packs
Plugins that come with an album
We made each of these with an artist for a release, and it comes with that record on Bandcamp. Buy the album and the download includes the plugin.
- KristallSound echo prism · with Arovane, GestaltBandcamp
- CoilArtifact anomaly generator · with Arovane, WirkungBandcamp
- FragmentDual fluctuation looper · with An Moku, LessBandcamp
- StagesDual golden ratio delay · with An Moku, Shapes (for a Name)Bandcamp
- CanvasTexture microsampler · with Boris Salchow, StarsBandcamp
- Small WintersGranular splice multitrack · with Taylor Deupree, Small WintersBandcamp
- AperuitMystical drone synthesizer · with Larum, Live at Public RecordsBandcamp
- LeemsSupernatural lo-fi portal · with Petteril, The Leems BoysteBandcamp
- WeaveBuffer drone and space machine · with Micah Frank and Chet Doxas, All the RoadsBandcamp
- StrataParticle tape loop device · with Chris Child and Micah Frank, Tape Pieces Vol. 2Bandcamp
- LoomFM microtexture machine · with Chris Child and Micah Frank, Tape Pieces Vol. 3Bandcamp
- InnerveltDark haze machine · with Micah Frank, NoontideBandcamp
Free plugin questions
Do they work in Ableton Live?
Yes. Studies loads as a VST3, VST2 or Audio Unit plugin, so it runs in Live on Mac and Windows. Put Studies Effects on an audio track and Studies Instruments on a MIDI track.
Which other DAWs?
Any AU or VST host: Logic Pro, Bitwig, Reaper, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Ableton Live and more. In Pro Tools, which loads AAX only, open Studies inside a wrapper such as Blue Cat Audio's PatchWork or DDMF Metaplugin.
Are they demos?
No. The ten free devices are complete, with every control and preset, and no time limit.
How do I download them?
Check out Studies for $0 with your email. The installer comes with your order. No credit card, no sign-in.
Mac and Windows?
Current macOS, native on Apple silicon, and Windows 10/11 x64.
What does a subscription add?
All 60 Studies devices, with new ones as we make them, for $9/month or $85/year. See Studies.
Ten free plugins, one download
Studies Effects and Studies Instruments, with the ten free devices ready as soon as you install.