Sonalksis FreeG [Freeware]

FreeG is Sonalksis’ master fader plug-in. It features all the essentials of a channel fader, such as mute, pan and peak, and RMS readout, with the quality, precision, and accuracy found throughout the company’s products.

The great news about the FreeG is that you can download and use it completely free. Yes, this one is on Sonalksis. Get yours on their website.

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As we all know, not all great things in life have to cost money, and FreeG, despite not being an extremely essential type of plug-in for one’s recording endeavors, is definitely a very handy tool for tracking, mixing, and mastering. Most of the DAWs on the market don’t offer the precision of metering on their channel faders. The FreeG does. There is even an option (Fine) that allows you to have the fader’s readout stretched out for even more precision on level. Peak and RMS readouts also help assure your accurate metering. Once installed, the FreeG also comes in a Mono version, which can be of great use in tracking

The only detail missing here for me, unfortunately, is a Solo button. What a miss guys. I’m not a software engineer but I’m sure a Solo button could have become a complicated task to accomplish since it would have to make the plug-in control the DAW, and that’s not how things work. But beggars can’t be choosy, and either way it is free, works great and is useful. I guess we shouldn’t complain about this one.

I’m always crazy about how Sonalksis’ knobs, faders and switches give this impression of solid precision, even though you sometimes are manipulating them with a crappy mouse. This plug-in, as with other Sonalksis products, functions with zero latency.

Looking for more precision for metering and manipulation on your DAW’s faders and you don’t have to spend a penny for it? Sonalksis FreeG is the answer. A simple, useful and solid product. If you record, mix or master music using a computer, I’m sure you will see FreeG as a valuable tool for your studio.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Sonalksis' FreeG is a free plug-in that is essentially an in depth master fader. You can also use it on individual tracks, as it gives you the feel and features of a large format console fader. The plug-in is downloadable straight from Sonalksis' website, and for me the whole process of downloading and installing the plug-in took a really short amount of time. The plug is available for both Windows and Mac and can be used as either an RTAS, VST, or AU plug-in. The interface of the plug-in is basically a large fader along with a series of buttons and parameters that include knobs for trim and pan, as well as buttons for phase flip, bypass, mute, and fine. It also has peak and RMS metering, essentially giving you everything you'd get in a Pro Tools channel and then some. A manual shouldn't be necessary, nor have I seen one for this plug-in at all.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I recently downloaded and installed the Sonalksis FreeG plug-in, grabbing the RTAS version for Mac as to make it compatible with Pro Tools. I'm running it on a Mac Book Pro that has a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB of RAM, while I run Pro Tools LE 8 with a Digidesign Digi 002R audio interface. I've been able to get one of these up on every track in a session without a problem. That said, it was a sixteen track session with no effects yet. Of course if you use this as a master fader it will take up even less processing power...

OVERALL OPINION

For those who don't have the Sonalksis FreeG fader, do yourself a favor and get it right now! It's really a great little plug-in to have around for a number of reasons, and even if you don't end up using it there's really no harm in having it around just in case. It isn't going to affect your sound at all beyond what you set on it, so it can really only help you. If you are used to large console, it might definitely be helpful to have this in there as it gives your DAW an overall more realistic feel. The FreeG is definitely worth more than what they're asking!!

Downloaded from the manufacturer's website for free (demo). It is obviously necessary to register ahead and install the management tool manufacturer. Everything worked smoothly.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Personally, I'm working on a pc 2x2GHz 3GB of memory. In Studio One, everything works and resource level working in 48Khz, it works well. Why I say this, because this is where the trouble begins with the VST. I put on all my audio tracks and VSTi to adjust levels (RMS) before I start mixing.
Small note, I not seen the same results-meter runways and one of my vst before the gain setting, weird, but ...
I work very telling to have a simple and complete VST, and now, at the end of a time my processor saturated. I raise Studio One, then everything works after 5 min of work, the CPU spike 100%. I say that, but it does not happen as quickly. I use the VST FreeG for 1 week.
And watching loads processors in Studio One, FreeG is very heavy for what it brings, heavier than VST reverb. I removed all my tracks FreeG and surprise, the processor drops to 48% utilization.

OVERALL OPINION

Actually, I deleted my machine. I think it can be useful, but for processor load, I go my way. And little info, it may be an impression, but once FreeG removed all my tracks, and gains re-calibrated, I find the sound a little clearer.
This is very good and complete devised in use, it's a shame.