German developer Wolfgang Krumme has launched WOKWave, a brand new website where most of his old (free and commercial) VST plugins for 32-bit Windows hosts are offered as freeware. An additional set of donationware packs is also available.
Wolfgang was present on the VST plugin scene as one of the most productive indie developers since 2006.
Over the years, he released dozens upon dozens of freeware and commercial VST plugins that were developed with SynthEdit. His products were often quite innovative in one way or another, or at least rather capable freeware alternatives to commercial software.
Many of them are included in our top freeware lists, the latest example being Instretch, which ranked as the #3 utility VST pick in 2014.
In early 2015, Wolfgang had to stop developing new plugins after his stepson got seriously ill. The plugins became donationware to try to fund his stepson’s medical care.
Even so, last Christmas, some of the plugins were offered as gifts for everyone who sent an email to this generous and talented developer. Over the years, it became somewhat of a tradition at KVR Audio to send a Christmas email to WOK in exchange for a top-notch VST plugin from his product arsenal.
Now, WOK’s awesome VST plugins return to the freeware scene once again on his new WOKWave website.
Most of the plugins are offered as free downloads, with a bonus set of donationware plugins. The products are sorted into three categories (effects, instruments, and MIDI tools), and each category has its own Free and Extra (donationware) collection.
The amount of free content available on WOK’s new website is nothing short of jaw-dropping (for example, the free FX pack is a 227 MB download containing 51 VST plugins in total, a large number of which were previously commercial software), and you’re more than likely to find some useful freeware tools for your studio, as long as you’re running a 32-bit digital audio workstation on Windows, or own a tool like jBridge or 32 Lives.
It’s sad that brilliant developers like WOK and de la Mancha are no longer part of the freeware scene as they once were. But I am very thankful for their previous work and I’m wishing the best to them and their families. If you appreciate WOK’s plugins, do consider sending him a donation as a sign of support and appreciation of his generosity and talent.
More info: WOKWave