BFD Audio releases BFD Player, a free drum VST plugin featuring 5GB of acoustic drum sounds.
BFD Player delivers the performance of the multi-award-winning Big Fat Drums software in a free and easy-to-use package.
The plugin comes with a pretty impressive 5GB library with various expansion packs available for purchase. The Core Library features an eclectic selection of drum kits, including 80s Lover (Classic 80s gated reverb drums) and Ramen Breaks (dry, dark, and thuddy drums).
The thing that’s more impressive than the number and selection of drum kits available is that the Core Library isn’t restricted to fewer velocity layers or channels available than paid expansion packs.
MODO Drum by IK Multimedia is the virtual drum software I have the most experience with, and it’s outstanding but not cheap. MODO Drum CS is available as a free download but features just one kit, so BFD Player’s wide range of kits is a welcome addition to the freebie market.
The sound quality is epic by any standard, free or paid.
Virtual instruments are often the difference between finishing a project and putting it back on the shelf because the cost or logistics of using real instruments or bringing in other musicians is beyond the scope of the project.
It’s especially true with instruments like drums because the average bedroom studio doesn’t have space for a full-size kit.
If you have an electronic kit, you can use it to trigger BFD Player, adding a more authentic sound. And if you don’t play drums, you can use keys, pads, or any of the 340 ready-to-go drum patterns included with the free player.
BFD Player has a built-in mixer that makes it easy to get the balance of your drums just right manually or via a collection of production-ready presets. The mixer also allows you to route the drum outputs separately for processing.
BFD Player uses a 3D kit view, like some alternative players/plugins. The 3D view allows you to switch out specific drums in a more musical and tactile way.
Few things let a track down more than terrible drums because there’s no place to hide. I think a lot of people will benefit from this freebie; it’s awesome.
Don’t forget to check out October’s free gift from Plugin Boutique: Sonible’s Pure:Limit.
BFD Player is available in AU, VST2, VST3, and AAX formats for macOS (10.13 – 13) and Windows (10 version 1909 upwards).
Download: BFD Player (FREE)
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