Reply To: 🆓 Epica Audio introduces Lo-Fi audio degradation plugin, FREE until Nov 30

[LinkedMusicians]

On pseudopop said

Does it count as a free plugin if it’s free only for a limited time?

As far as the free lists at LinkedMusicians, no. Those are only for permanently free sample libraries and plugins. I’ve taken the approach that if something is new, likely to appeal to a large portion of our members, and permanently free, it’s good to announce it here so that people are aware of it and after that, if it’s good enough to make one of our lists, it goes on there. But there is a lot of free stuff released that’s not at the standard where I would put it on our lists.

I have developer friends (and okay, most of these folks are more acquaintances, to be candid) who have free sample libraries that aren’t on the LM best lists,  and not necessarily because their work isn’t very good. It’s relative to how good everything else is in the category. For example, when it comes to free Kontakt pianos, there are two superb ones. One is 8Dio with a piano sample library that once sold for $250 — a very highly praised library they could have chosen to keep selling – and it’s one of my favorite grand piano sample libraries too. It has something like 12 velocity layers, pedal up and down samples (no other free piano has that) and stuff you only find in the most detailed libraries. Most importantly, it sounds great and there’s no other free piano sample library by any other developer with that level of quality and detail. The closest thing is SonicCouture’s Hammersmith Grand Free, which is also on the list. So, those two set a super high bar for free piano sample libraries that no other developer is matching. Melda makes great effects, but their free piano sample library is simply not in the same league as those two (and I’m a Melda affilaite, but I always will state my true opinions). I look at the free effects list the same way, but am more dependent on others who are more knowledgeable at assessing effects than I am.

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