Yesterday I posted an article with some tips on how to mix guitars when using amp simulators. One of the more common tricks to get better tone involves adding an equalizer with high pass and low pass filters to the end of the guitar FX chain.
I’ve been testing the free EQ plugins referenced in the article. So far the simplicity and effectiveness of ReaEQ stands out the most. The UI is a bit outdated but everything is laid out visually and it’s easy to learn how things work—it’s not nearly as complicated as some other EQs.
The ReaEQ is part of a package of free plugins from Reaper (the DAW, not the harvester of death). You don’t have to use Reaper or register anything; you can just download the plugins for free and start using them.
The plugin package is called ReaPlugs VST FX Suite (yep, get ready for a whole lot more Rea’s with the Reaper tie-in). It’s only available in VST format and supports Windows and Wine (Windows 8 isn’t listed but they work fine with W8).
There are nine free plugins in the ReaPlugs FX Suite. One good thing about them is they are low on CPU and RAM use. You can choose which ones you want to install; you don’t have to install the stuff you’ll never use.
Free ReaPlugs FX Suite
ReaComp – A highly-configurable compressor plugin with soft knee support, sidechain filters, sidechain inputs, feedback compression mode, and more.
ReaXcomp – An unlimited band compressor with controls for ratio, threshold, knee, attack, release, makeup, program dependent release, feedback detector, RMS size, and more.
ReaDelay – Multi-tap delay plugin with lots of settings and parameters.
ReaEQ – An unlimited band IIR based equalizer with several filters, including a frequency response and phase response display.
ReaFIR – A FFT based dynamics processor with support for defining response curves both using points or freehand by mouse.
ReaGate – A highly-configurable gate plugin with sidechain filters, sidechain input, variable RMS size, etc.
ReaStream – Supports streaming from host to host of audio and/or MIDI over a LAN segment.
ReaJS – Realtime user-editable effects processor with hundreds of included effects, such as delays, compressors, limiters, convolution, distortion, spectral noise editors, analyzers, loop samplers, creative effects.
ReaControlMIDI – Flexible MIDI controls in VST format; automate CC envelopes and bank/program selection, as FX parameters.