RTers who record and mix : Excellent sounding free plug-ins alert!

[DanTravis62]

I was today years old when I realized the Kiive tube eq and distressor plug-ins are free - if any of you knew about this already, feel free to mock me

https://www.kiiveaudio.com/

They both sound fucking fantastic - for free plugins these are incredibly legit

I am not in anyway associated with this software company, etc etc, you just gotta give them your email for download links and such.

But holy crap the distressor sounds very, very good for a plug-in, which is really difficult to get that saturation thing right. And the tube EQ is excellent as well.

For some examples, here is some drum machine with my stock template of scheps omni, some simple, light JS verbs, and clipping/limiting that I normally use



And here is that exact same drum machine loop with the free (!) distressor plugin on the snare and kick, and the tube EQ on the snare and toms.




Especially on the programmed kick drum, that is a ton more beef and it sounds way more "alive" and natural.


And did i mention it's FREE

 

[LeftOurEyes]

Kiive makes some good plugins. They have a full distressor plugin that you can only get through plugin alliance that is very good. I got it during a sale for $10.

 

[DanTravis62]

Kiive makes some good plugins. They have a full distressor plugin that you can only get through plugin alliance that is very good. I got it during a sale for $10.

Yeah I was shocked at how usable the free ones are - they must be banking on people to do a "holy shit that sounds great, I wonder how great the paid plug ins are?"

Which if so, that's a great strategy

 

[VonBonfire]

You get a 14 day trial for free according to the website. Maybe they are worth a shot. I like the shadow hill mastering compressor quite a bit and was planning on using it again on my next batch of recordings.

 

[DanTravis62]

You get a 14 day trial for free according to the website. Maybe they are worth a shot. I like the shadow hill mastering compressor quite a bit and was planning on using it again on my next batch of recordings.

The 14 day trial is for the full version

The nuke version (which is the full saturation setting thats one of the main reasons people use a distressor) is completely free

 

[VonBonfire]

The 14 day trial is for the full version

The nuke version (which is the full saturation setting thats one of the main reasons people use a distressor) is completely free

What's the difference between the two?

Tbh when I looked up "distressor"....I realized I have never used anything like that. Seems sort of like a comp. Any insight there?

 

[DanTravis62]

What's the difference between the two?

Tbh when I looked up "distressor"....I realized I have never used anything like that. Seems sort of like a comp. Any insight there?

So the real empirical labs distressor is a compressor, yes

and the full version of this software would have that functionality too

but that's not why this is so cool; the free version (the nuke) is just the saturation part of the distressor without the compressor - there's already a million excellent compressors you can get for free

the saturation is why the kick and snare have so much more beef and life in those clips

 

[VonBonfire]

So the real empirical labs distressor is a compressor, yes

and the full version of this software would have that functionality too

but that's not why this is so cool; the free version (the nuke) is just the saturation part of the distressor without the compressor - there's already a million excellent compressors you can get for free

the saturation is why the kick and snare have so much more beef and life in those clips

Saturation...like tube saturation?

 

[DanTravis62]

Saturation...like tube saturation?

Yes - it's non-linear distortion that is used to emulate how analog gear reacts to audio - it enhances harmonics and transients. There are multiple different types of saturation and tube saturation is one of many.

The EL Distressor is one of the most commonly used compressors because of it's excellent sounding saturation effects (much moreso than the actual compression)

 

[LeftOurEyes]

The distressor is a compressor but it can be used in different ways. It can be set up kinda slow like an opto compressor or fast like an 1176. It also has saturation modes and a "nuke" setting that people use on drums for more energy like parallel compression gives.

 

[RaceU4her]

Nice, I’ll check it out

 

[DanTravis62]

The distressor is a compressor but it can be used in different ways. It can be set up kinda slow like an opto compressor or fast like an 1176. It also has saturation modes and a "nuke" setting that people use on drums for more energy like parallel compression gives.

Yep, the nuke setting is the version they are giving away for free, which is incredibly useful for anyone doing drums in a home studio

 

[DanTravis62]

Nice, I’ll check it out

You are 100% going to want that nuke plugin if you don't already have a distressor plug-in for your drum recordings

 

[VonBonfire]

Yes - it's non-linear distortion that is used to emulate how analog gear reacts to audio - it enhances harmonics and transients. There are multiple different types of saturation and tube saturation is one of many.

The EL Distressor is one of the most commonly used compressors because of it's excellent sounding saturation effects (much moreso than the actual compression)

That sounds a lot like the Shadow Hills Mastering comp...

I used it on damn near everything.

 

[DanTravis62]

That sounds a lot like the Shadow Hills Mastering comp...

I used it on damn near everything.

Yep those are legendary for a reason - that's more of a "can be used for everything" compressor though, where a distressor can be used on almost anything, it's prolly most famous for it's uses on drums on the "nuke" setting

 

[japetus]

I am looking up videos about running roland drums in stereo and compressors, this could be a cool thing

 

[VonBonfire]

Yep those are legendary for a reason - that's more of a "can be used for everything" compressor though, where a distressor can be used on almost anything, it's prolly most famous for it's uses on drums on the "nuke" setting

Cool, thanks Dan! My son has a bunch of sweet plug ins on his 'puter, I'll let him know this is probably worth adding to the tool box. I was skeptical about the Shadow Hills cause I actually used the rack unit on a few tracks I did in '15 but the plug-in version is pretty true to the real deal but the class A version wasn't cheap. I did a thread about it somewhere....here it is:

V

Thread 'Anybody use the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor plug-in on their tracks?'

Jun 13, 2025

I've got the chance to use the real deal in the past but today I'm using the plug in on a bunch of various tracks we are mixing down. I love that piece of gear. It can really make your guitar or other instrument pop. Nice tone shaping, giving the lead guitar a nice bite that makes harmonics jump from the mix. Getting that Marley era Tosh tone on the rhythm guitar. Pretty versatile piece of gear. I know a lot of guys play heavier stuff but it might be something worth looking into. I've had good luck with it every time!!!

• VonBonfire
• Replies: 12
• Forum: Rig-Talk

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[DanTravis62]

I am looking up videos about running roland drums in stereo and compressors, this could be a cool thing

Yep this is 100% something to add to your 808 side chain that would be tits

 

[japetus]

Yep this is 100% something to add to your 808 side chain that would be tits

Lol 808's. It does have 808's and I shant lie...I love doing rap beats on the higher end pads

 

[VonBonfire]

Lol 808's. It does have 808's and I shant lie...I love doing rap beats on the higher end pads

I'm reporting this post to the mods.