How to Level Up Your Mixes Without Spending a Dime (Free Plugins Guide)

Can You Really Mix Like a Pro Without Spending a Dime?

If you’ve ever felt frustrated trying to get a polished, professional mix but don’t have the budget for high-end plugins, I’ve got good news for you. There’s a free plugin bundle that delivers the essential tools you need to shape your sound—and it’s surprisingly powerful. This is perfect for you if you want something else than the stock plugins in your DAW. 

The Kilohearts Essentials Bundle is a collection of 32 mixing and sound-shaping plugins, including reverb, delay, compression, EQ, distortion, and more. And it’s completely free.

In this article, II’ll break down how these plugins work, how they compare to paid alternatives, and how you can use them to level up your mixes without breaking the bank.

This article is in no way affiliated or sponsored by Kilohearts. I just love their vibe and felt like like praising them a bit. 

Let’s dive in.

What’s Inside the Kilohearts Essentials Bundle?

This bundle includes 32 free plugins, covering all the essentials for mixing and creative sound design. Some highlights include:

• EQ: A straightforward 3-band EQ with built-in presets for quick adjustments.
• Compression: Multiple compressor types, including punchy drum compression and parallel compression.
• Reverb & Delay: Classic effects with easy-to-use presets and tweakable settings.
• Distortion & Filters: Tools for adding grit, warmth, and movement to your sound.
• Creative FX: Reverse effects, tape stop, chorus, ensemble, and more.

Now, let’s go through some of the key tools in action.

1. EQ: Simple Yet Effective

Mixing starts with EQ, and the Kilohearts 3-band EQ makes quick adjustments easy. It’s not packed with character, but it gets the job done for shaping frequencies.

Pro Tip: Use the built-in presets as a starting point. They’re well-labeled and help speed up your workflow.

2. Compression: Making Drums Punch

The Kilohearts Compressor includes tailored settings like Drums Punch and Drums Smack to bring out transients and add impact.

• The attack time is set to 9ms, ensuring sharp transients.
• The mix knob allows you to blend in parallel compression without extra routing.
• The sidechain function makes it easy to duck the bass under the kick for cleaner low-end.

Pro Tip: Use the Dynamics module for extreme parallel compression and the Limiter for extra control over peaks.

3. Reverb & Delay: Simple, But Useful

The reverb and delay effects in the bundle are easy to use, with categorized presets to quickly dial in a sound.

• The reverb is clean and neutral, perfect for blending into the mix.
• The delay includes mono, ping-pong, and ducking modes for added depth and space.

Creative Tip: Add distortion or filtering after the reverb for unique textures.

4. Creative FX: Reverse, Tape Stop & More

For producers looking for extra ear candy, this bundle includes Reverse FX, Tape Stop, and Pitch Shifting tools that add movement and dynamics.

• Reverse FX: Great for transitions and sound design.
• Tape Stop: A simple way to create slow-down effects without third-party plugins.
• Pitch Shifter: Works on vocals, instruments, or full mixes to add variation.

Pro Tip: Use the grain size adjustment on the Pitch Shifter for glitchy textures.

How Do These Free Plugins Compare to Paid Ones?

You might be wondering—how do these free plugins stack up against paid alternatives?

The Good:

• They are lightweight on CPU and easy to use.
• They cover all essential mixing needs (EQ, compression, reverb, delay, etc.).
• The interface is clean and resizable, making them accessible on any screen.

The Limitations:

• They don’t offer the same coloration or analog warmth as premium plugins.
• Fewer advanced features compared to paid options like FabFilter or Soundtoys.

That said, if you’re mixing on a budget, this bundle is an incredible starting point. It could very well be your first step into the vast world of third party plugins. 

Want to Speed Up Your Mixing Workflow?

To help you get pro results faster, I’ve put together 6 free Logic Pro mixing templates you can download today.

🔥 Grab them here: subphotic.com/logic

These templates will save you hours by setting up your mix with pre-routed effects, buses, and levels so you can focus on creative decisions.

Final Thoughts: Are These Free Plugins Worth It?

If you’re serious about improving your mixes without spending money, the Kilohearts Essentials Bundle is a must-have. It provides all the core mixing tools for free, with no compromises on usability.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking for extra tools to complement your paid plugins, this bundle delivers everything you need to shape your sound.

What Do You Think?

Have you tried the Kilohearts Essentials Bundle? Let me know in the comments—what’s your favorite plugin from the collection?

And if you want to see me mix a beat from start to finish using only these free plugins, check out this video: 

Thanks for reading—happy mixing!