Ami Sampler is a free 8-bit sampler plugin inspired by the Commodore Amiga computer from the 80s! This week’s roundup of the best free plugins also features a vintage channel strip and a free string machine synth. Enjoy!
Astriid Ami Sampler: Amiga-style 8-bit Sampler
If you like vintage samplers, you’re going to love this one. Ami Sampler is a free 8-bit sampler plugininspired by the classic Commodore Amiga personal computer from the 80s (which famously offered four channels of 8-bit sampled audio – a big deal back then). I know I’m not the only one getting a bit nostalgic when I think back to the golden age of home computing. The plugin’s retro interface will send you straight back to 1985 – including a rather clumsy mouse pointer, but that’s all part of the experience.
According to the developer, Ami Sampler isn’t meant to be a precise emulation of the Amiga’s capabilities. Instead, the plugin aims to bring the feel and sound of that era to your DAW. And it’s really quite wonderful. You can load up to 12 samples, each of which gets its own volume, pan, loop, and ADSR envelope controls. Furthermore, each channel can operate in monophonic, four-voice polyphonic, or eight-voice polyphonic modes. In addition to this, Ami Sampler offers a sample rate decimator control, as well as a Paula switch that imitates the Amiga’s characteristic panning limitations.
Ami Sampler supports drag&drop import of a surprisingly wide variety of file formats: .WAV, .AIF, .8SVX, .IFF (Amiga Audio File), 8-bit signed raw PCM, mu-law encoded .BIN (Linn Drum / Drumulator), and .BRR (Super Nintendo). Quite impressive! The developer recommends using samples with a sample rate below 28 kHz to get the full Amiga experience.
Ami Sampler is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux in VST3, AU, and LV2 formats and as a standalone app.
Analog Obsession ATONE: Vintage Channel Strip
Analog Obsession ATONE is a channel strip modeled after vintage Altec hardware from the 1950s. ATONE combines an A-type EQ, filters, and a 436-style compressor in a single plugin.
The input stage consists of A-type high-pass and low-pass filters. While it does not include a preamp or line amp, Analog Obsession says that you can use the Input knob to overdrive the EQ circuit for “nasty op-amp saturation”.
Next up is the EQ, which offers 3 fixed bands of inductor-based equalization. The compressor is a 436c-style compressor with modified attack and release times. The Amount knob controls the amount of compression and the make-up gain simultaneously.
ATONE is available for macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats.
Solcito Musica Solinoid: Free String Machine
Solinoid by Solcito Musica brings the sounds of classic string machines to your DAW. Like many analog string machines of the 70s, it offers separate orchestra and solo sections, each offering a choice of waveforms and a simple envelope. In addition to this, there’s an LFO for modulation, with each section offering independent controls for the modulation destination and intensity.
While the solo section offers a simple low-pass filter, the orchestra filter is a bit more advanced. With independently adjustable high-cut and low-cut filters and envelope / LFO modulation, you can easily achieve classic band-pass wah wah effects. As string machine is complete without an ensemble effect, Solinoid offers that, as well.
Solinoid is a VST plugin for Windows.
Looking for more free plugins like Ami Sampler, ATONE, and Solinoid? Check out our archive!
Image Sources:
- Astriid Ami Sampler: Astriid
- Analog Obsession ATONE: Analog Obsession
- Solcito Musica Solinoid: Solcito Musica
