You can now get eight of UA’s best plug-ins free, plus the free LUNA DAW

UAD Explore is a surprise. This is no “intro” or limited pack; eight stand-out Universal Audio plug-ins are available for free. That’s on top of the company’s free Luna DAW — though the plug-ins will also work in your DAW of choice, no special hardware required. For skill sharing or anyone lacking a budget now, that means access to some great tools.

Mudjaq TapeLeap, a freaky tape/lo-fi looper that can blink, be broken

It has a “broken” button and an eyelid that you can blink on and off. It lets you record or set feedback to 150%. It overdubs, it loops, it — does it in opposing directions. No, it’s not another tape delay/looper. Every single setting in TapeLeap from Mudjaq, for Max for Live, is bonkers and fantastic.

Peter Kirn - December 11, 2025

Mix and patch ChowDSP’s tape modeling for free in VCV Rack

No collection of DSP models for work, pleasure, and creative abuse would be complete without the Chowdbury DSP collection. You might know about the plug-in, but it’s also worth noting that these are available in VCV Rack and Cardinal, where you can patch them at will.

Peter Kirn - March 10, 2025

Spectral Plugins are now free as maker goes out of business

Peter Kirn - April 2, 2024

Lofi Oddity is a beautiful free “degradation toy box” plug-in

Peter Kirn - January 2, 2024