synthInitial Audio
808 Studio 2
A dedicated 808 bass synthesizer with pitch-glide, distortion, and a built-in EQ. Produces the melodic sliding 808s at the heart of trap and drill production.
Best Drum & Bass VST Plugins
Engineered for 170 BPM: the reese basses, breakbeat tools and surgical processors behind drum & bass and neurofunk.
PlugPick is reader-supported. We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
synth
samplerNative Instruments
Battery 4
A kit-based drum sampler built for detailed, playable kits: up to 128 layered cells, round robins, layering and per-cell effects, plus a large library of curated, ready-to-go kits across every genre.
effectSoundtoys
Decapitator
Five analog saturation models, from subtle tube warmth to all-out distortion, with a one-knob drive and the famous Punish button. The go-to for adding analog character to anything.
effectSoundtoys
Devil-Loc Deluxe
An extreme compressor and limiter modelled on the Shure Level-Loc, built for aggressive drum crush and parallel smash. Slam transients and add grit that cuts through a dense mix.
effectFabFilter
FabFilter Saturn 2
A multiband saturation and distortion powerhouse: up to six bands, 28 styles from subtle tube to bit-crush, plus a deep modulation system. The flexible counterpart to a one-knob saturator.
synthNative Instruments
Massive X
NI's next-generation wavetable synth. Phase modulation, a dual-filter path, and a modulation system built for complex, evolving textures and hard-hitting bass.
effectXfer Records
OTT
The free multiband upward/downward compressor that defined the Skrillex-era EDM sound. A single knob for depth, from subtle glue to aggressive smash.
synthXfer Records
Serum 2
The industry-standard wavetable synthesizer. Drag-and-drop wavetable editing, a world-class effects rack, and a modulation system that makes complex patches intuitive.
effectCableguys
ShaperBox 3
Eleven drawable multiband effects, Volume, Time, Drive, Filter, Crush, Pan, Width, Liquid, Reverb, Pitch and Noise, in one visual plugin. The go-to for rhythmic sidechain, stutters and movement.
synthSurge Synth Team
Surge XT
A free, open-source hybrid synthesizer, subtractive, wavetable, FM and additive across dual scenes, with 2800+ patches and 27 effect types. Astonishingly deep for nothing.
effectTokyo Dawn Records
TDR Nova
A free parallel dynamic equalizer, four fully dynamic bands that work as EQ and multiband compressor in one. The budget answer to surgical, transparent tonal control beside Soothe and Gullfoss.
effectOutput
Thermal
A multi-stage distortion effect with eight distortion engines in series. Goes from subtle harmonic saturation to total destruction, all with a single wet/dry knob.
synthVital Audio
Vital
A spectral-warping wavetable synthesizer with a fluid, modern modulation workflow, drag any control onto any parameter to modulate it. The free tier is the full engine; paid tiers only add wavetables and presets. The go-to free Serum alternative.
synthVengeance Sound
VPS Avenger 2
A flagship polyphonic synth with wavetable, FM, granular and spectral engines, deep modulation, a huge effects rack and built-in drum sequencing.
14 curated Drum & Bass plugins.