Best Free VSTs/VSTis - Classic 70s Prog Rock Keyboards

A quick demo of some of the best free "classic keys" VSTs I've found (for "classic keys" read 70s prog!!). Pretty much all the sounds you hear are presets that come as part of the VST.

Although I amassed these over a period of some time, and from a variety of sources, pretty much all of them can be found on the excellent plugins4free website.

First, you'll need an ASIO driver for minimum latency:
http://www.asio4all.de/

The VST host I used in the demo is the excellent VST Host:
http://www.plugins4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=VSTHost&id=898
There's a manual on how to use it at:
https://www.hermannseib.com/documents/VSTHost.pdf

I used a couple of reverbs just to enhance the sounds:

Voxengo OldSkoolVerb:
http://www.plugins4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=OldSkoolVerb&id=460

Smartelectronix Ambience:
http://www.plugins4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=Ambience&id=568

And so to the VSTs themselves:

00:00 Artifakes Redtron:
http://www.plugins4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=Redtron_SE&id=2452
Nearly a third of this demo is given over to this excellent Mellotron emulator. There are just so many instantly usable sounds bundled with it, together with some truly wonderful atmospheres and effects. Just amazing for a freebie. Highlights: Strawberry Fields 0:00, Classic Mellotron strings at 1:23, choir at 2:15, Ligeti atmosphere at 3:20, Keef's Purple Forest at 3:56, classic flute at 6:05.

06:52 Elektrostudio ESLine:
http://www.plugins4free.com/free_vst.php?id=792
Classic string machine - instant 70s! Nice swirly phased strings at 08:19.

08:46 GSi Mr Ray:
http://www.plugins4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=Mr_Ray&id=273
Some really good electric piano sounds here. Phased piano at 9:12, super chorused and phased piano at 10:52.

11:54 Big Tick Ticky Clav:
http://www.plugins4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=Ticky_Clav&id=276
To be honest, I found it difficult to find a really great clav for free; if you find one, let me know! This is passable, though.

12:45 GSi ORGANized Trio:
http://www.plugins4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=ORGANized_Trio&id=283
Really pretty good Hammond emulator.

15:14 Glen Stegler MinimogueVA:
http://www.plugins4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=MiniMogueVA&id=405
There are loads of Minimoog emulators out there. This one just had some of the best presets, and was easy to use. It moves away from truly faithful sonic reproduction with some of the poly pad sounds towards the end of the demo. It also has a great little arpeggiator. The out-of-control vibrato on some of the sounds was down to an over-sensitive aftertouch response and heavy-handed playing, rather than dodgy programs! Wakeman Journey 15:40 , Emerson Tarkus 15:51, Abaddon's Lead 16:04, Lucky Lead 17:50. Polyphonic pads 18:24. Basses 19:02.

Видео Best Free VSTs/VSTis - Classic 70s Prog Rock Keyboards канала Bill Blair