Below are a few freebies from Acustica Audio. (And Prime Studio who uses their technology)
Charly
https://primestudio.at/magento2/index.php/catalogsearch/result/?q=charly
(Tube-Tech SMC 2B Summing Amp.)
Acquavox
http://www.dontcrack.com/freeware/downloads.php/id/5844/software/AcquaVox/
(Manley Labs Vox-Box Tube Preamp)
EDIT: So it appears this isn’t available from Acustica anymore… That said if enough people are interested I can zip up the Audio Unit since it doesn’t require authorization. (Don’t have the windows version unfortunately.)
Tan Compressor
http://www.acustica-audio.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=160&category_id=50&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=189
(IGS Audio Multistage Multiband Compressor. (Single band, full bandwidth. Original unit is 3 bands.)
Red EQ
http://www.acustica-audio.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=103&category_id=50&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=189
(Joemeek Meekqualizer VC5. Mid band fixed around 1k.)
Ochre
http://www.acustica-audio.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=137&category_id=50&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=189
(Acustica Audio DIY equalizer based on Scientific Audio Electronics (SAE) 2800 equalizer.
There’s also a free version of their API EQ and Pre (Pink) by Computer Music Magazine. ““PinkCM””… Computer Music’s a hassle, you get a bunch of garbgey freeware, but there’s a few gems like this, the Lindell Preamp and a solid oscilloscope by Vengeance…
… Inexpensive Acustica Audio / Acqua Plugins …
Prime Studio Curve EQ
https://primestudio.at/magento2/index.php/plugins/primecurve.html
(Chandler Curve Bender ((Most Likely)). Fixed Low band, Variable Presence. ((Eco Disables saturation for reduced CPU.)
Prime Studio Caribou Filter
https://primestudio.at/magento2/index.php/plugins/prime-carflt.html
(Neve 1073 Preamp and filters. ((Low Cut at 45 adds some nice fatness, Saturation adds top end.))
Blue EQ
http://www.acustica-audio.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=104&category_id=52&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=189
(Chandler Germanium Tone Control)
Amethyst Channel Strip (plus individual modules)
http://www.acustica-audio.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=148&category_id=52&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=189
(Amek M2500 console equalizer + Amek 9098 compressor. ((Neve Designed))
…Acustica Audios Unique, Convolution-Based Emulation Technology…
Acquas Are just skinned versions of the same technology in Neubla.
"Nebula (and “Acqua”) uses a ‘brute force’ approach to emulation, so takes a lot of CPU power to run. It samples hardware rather than attempting to emulate it using algorithms. The technology used is called Vectorial Volterra Kernels, current types of hardware that can be sampled, with varying degrees of accuracy, include:
EQ’s
Preamps
Tubes
Tapes
Compressors
The most similar technology you may have experienced is convolution reverb. Programs like Altiverb work by sampling a snapshot of a real acoustic space, they use an impulse sound like a popping balloon. This impulse response is then loaded into your player software and you can use it to emulate the room you sampled.
Nebula (and Acqua) is not limited to reverbs, and it is far more advanced. Instead it takes multiple snapshots using its own test tones from its sampling software N.A.T.
The major technical advance in Nebula is that it takes many snapshots at different volumes, and can also sample and re-create distortion. This creates a dynamic model of the hardware including its distortion characteristics. The results are the closest software emulation of the original hardware available on the market today."
…THE REAL…
"Before we get to what is great about Nebula, lets talk about a few things that might put you off.
Other than the plug-in itself, Acustica Audio the company creates some controversy in the way it operates.
On initial use of the software and browsing their web forum, it would appear that the entire experience is designed to be confusing, annoying and counter productive. Its more like dealing with a group of cool underground hackers than a business. Developers are friendly and dedicated, but their focus is on the software, not on customer service.
There is no official documentation for half the features, no automatic email notifications of updates, it just seems a gigantic mess. It has been like this for years, and judging from the developers replies to forum posts, there seems no desire to change. (This is definitely true… The site and authorization is confusing enough to drive you nuts.)
On the plus side to the lack of official information, there is a very active, helpful and enthusiastic membership of the forum that are always keen to help you out.
High CPU use. This is due to the technology used, so it won’t be going down until you get a new computer.
The GUI is outdated and cumbersome.
At this point in its development, it can only emulate subtle saturation, so full on distortion effects are not yet possible.
Compression emulation is in its infancy, not recommended for now. (<-- This is no longer true. The last 3 years Acustica have gone to serious lengths to improve dynamics. Even psychos from gearslutz agree that they finally got dynamics right…)
I’ll be posting more below, including a list of sampled hardware…