Choosing the right 808 and bass sounds is crucial for music producers aiming to craft hard-hitting tracks. The demand for high-quality 808 and bass plugins is constant, but investing in paid plugins isn’t always necessary. There are numerous free alternatives that can offer professional-grade sound. In this article, we’ll go over the 10 best free 808 and bass VST plugins available in 2024. Whether you’re looking for sub-bass, synth-bass, or electric bass, these plugins have you covered.
Table of contents:
HUM 808 XL by Cali Beat
One of the most feature-rich free plugins is HUM 808 XL by Cali Beat. It’s known for being similar to the renowned SubLab in terms of features and sound quality. The plugin includes:
- Three oscillators
- Multiple LFOs and filters
- A comprehensive effects section
- Numerous presets
The plugin allows detailed control over the sound, offering waveform visualization and an EQ. The variety of sounds, from sub-bass to 808s and synth basses, makes it highly versatile.
Key Features:
- Advanced sound manipulation tools
- Built-in distortion and filters
- Visual EQ for precise control
X8 Lite by Thenatan
X8 Lite is another fantastic free bass plugin from Thenatan, offering over 80 presets. Although it’s a “lite” version, the variety and depth it provides are impressive. The plugin covers multiple bass styles, and the interface offers simple controls to fine-tune your sound.
Key Features:
- 80+ presets
- Easy-to-use controls for quick sound manipulation
- Great for both 808s and subs
Monster Bass by MonsterDaw
If you’re looking for versatility, Monster Bass is an excellent choice. It offers a wide range of bass types, including synth, electric, and acoustic. The plugin includes LFO controls, ADSR, cutoff filters, and even built-in reverb to sculpt your sound.
Key Features:
- Variety of bass types (synth, electric, acoustic)
- Customizable parameters (LFO, ADSR, filters)
- Clean, powerful bass tones
808 Bass Module 4 by Electronic Sound Labs
808 Bass Module 4 is a solid, free plugin that delivers aggressive bass sounds perfect for trap and hip-hop. It includes 15 presets and allows control over ADSR, LFO, distortion, and more. There’s also a paid version with an expanded preset library.
Key Features:
- 15 aggressive 808 presets
- ADSR and LFO control
- Built-in distortion for added punch
Sub Divine Lite by Diginoiz
For those looking for clean sub-bass sounds, Sub Divine Lite is a solid option. While it only comes with six presets, the sound quality is impressive. The plugin also includes overdrive controls, allowing for some extra grit if needed.
Key Features:
- Clean sub-bass sounds
- Simple yet effective controls
- Ideal for minimalist basslines
In addition to their excellent free VST plugin “Sub Divine Lite,” Diginoiz offers a wide range of high-quality drum sounds, including powerful 808 drums. Producers looking to enhance their beats can explore several of their standout libraries, such as “Insane Drum Loops Essentials,” “The Live Drums,” and “Live Drum Fills,” which provide exceptional versatility and sound quality for any production style.
Drum Sample Packs By Diginoiz
Insane Drum Loops Essentials
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This pack will solve all your drum problems and meet your every need! Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you what is likely the largest drum loop collection on the market—820 top-quality loops in one place! Dynamic, great-sounding, and most importantly, not overprocessed, so you can easily drop them into your mix.
The Live Drums
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Good feeling in a song usually come with well-played drums. It’s easy when you create your drum parts using digitally created one-shots, but a little more complicated when you opt for live drums. That’s where we come in – to assist you with live drums!
Ample Bass P Lite II
Ample Bass P Lite II is one of the best free bass guitar plugins available, offering realistic bass guitar sounds. This plugin is sampled from a Fender Precision Bass and offers multiple articulations and controls, making it perfect for genres requiring authentic bass guitar tones like lo-fi or jazz.
Key Features:
- Realistic bass guitar tones
- Multiple articulations (slap, finger, pick)
- Advanced control over bass sound details
Synsonic BD-808
Synsonic BD-808 is a simple yet effective 808 plugin. It provides a clean 808 tone that can be customized using basic parameters like level, accent, and decay. If you’re looking for a no-frills 808 sound to manipulate, this plugin is a great choice.
Key Features:
- Clean, unprocessed 808 sounds
- Simple and easy-to-use interface
- Great starting point for creating unique 808 tones
Camel Crusher
Though not an 808 or bass-specific plugin, Camel Crusher is a powerful distortion tool that can take your bass sounds to the next level. Adding distortion to 808s is a popular technique to give them more punch, and Camel Crusher does this exceptionally well.
Key Features:
- Free distortion plugin with multiple presets
- Great for adding grit to 808s and basslines
- Versatile tool for any sound design
HUM 808 by Cali Beat (Original Version)
The original HUM 808 offers a different range of sounds compared to the XL version. It includes presets like reese bass, wobble bass, and pluck bass. While the XL version offers more versatility, the original HUM 808 still holds its own, particularly with unique preset options.
Key Features:
- Different bass styles (pluck, wobble, reese)
- Simple interface with effective controls
- A great alternative to HUM 808 XL
Gorilla Bass by Samplescience
Gorilla Bass is a reese bass-focused plugin, offering a range of 15 reese bass presets. It also includes controls for LFO depth, rate, and cutoff filters, making it perfect for creating that rumbling, atmospheric bass found in genres like drum and bass.
Key Features:
- 15 reese bass presets
- Control over LFO, rate, and cutoff
- Built-in reverb for extra texture
808 Loops & One-Shots from Slooply
If none of the plugins above caught your attention or if you already have them and are looking for fresh inspiration, check out Slooply.com. They offer a massive selection of over 100,000 sounds, including 808 loops and one-shots. Each loop can be customized by tempo or key, allowing you to seamlessly integrate them into your tracks and explore new creative possibilities.
Conclusion
In 2024, the availability of high-quality free 808 and bass plugins is better than ever. Whether you’re looking for sub-bass, synth bass, or even realistic electric bass, these plugins provide everything you need to enhance your productions without breaking the bank. Each plugin offers a unique sound and set of features, giving producers plenty of options for any genre or style. Download a few of these plugins, experiment with their features, and find the one that fits your sound.
By exploring these plugins, you’re bound to find the perfect 808 or bass to take your music production to the next level.
