Here are the best free shaker VST plugins, shaker samples, and free shaker SoundFonts to use with your music projects. These are the best free shaker sounds we could find online.
What Is A Shaker VST Plugin?
A Shaker VST is a virtual instrument that can be used to create shaker sounds. Shakers are percussion instruments that produce a shaking sound when they are rattled or shaken.
Shakers come in many different shapes and sizes and are made from various materials such as wood, metal, gourds, and even plastic.
Shakers can be played by shaking them by hand, or they can be placed on a table or floor and shaken.
Shakers are often used in music to add rhythmic interest and texture. They are commonly used in rock, pop, hip hop, and Latin music genres. Shakers can also be used to create sound effects for film and television.
There are many different types of shakers, and each type has its own unique sound. The most common type of shaker is the maraca, a handheld instrument shaken by hand.
Other types of shakers include the cabasa, the claves, the guiros, and the shekeres.
Shaker plugins can emulate the sound of any type of shaker, and they can also be used to create new and unique sounds.
Explore our list of free VST plugins and instruments to elevate your music projects.
Related: Best Free Snare VST Plugins | Best Free Kick VST Plugins
Best Shaker VST Plugins
We have included Shaker plugins that work for Windows and Mac.
- Shaker Maker
- Stoq
- Miscellania II
- Shekrs
- Vintage Toy Tambourine ( Kontakt )
- B-2 Shake & Scrape
- CGC Shaker ( Kontakt )
- Free Shaker SoundFonts
- Free Shaker Samples
- Kid’s Percussion ( Kontakt )
- Rassel ( Bonus – iPhone )
Instructions: Click the links below to visit each shaker VST plugin. Look around each website for the download link or button. Do not install any suspicious software.
1. Shaker Maker
Shaker Maker can quickly turn any rhythmic content into a realistic and natural shaker rhythm.
Just load a drum loop or other audio file onto an audio track, choose one of the 16 prepared shaker sounds, and let Shaker Maker do its magic.
The plugin allows you to connect a microphone and use your own voice as the source for your shaker rhythm.
So whether you’re looking to add some extra percussive flavor to your music or create realistic and natural shaker rhythms for your next music project, Shaker Maker is worth checking out.
Shaker Maker | Windows
2. Stoq Shaker VST
Stoq is a synthesizer that excels at recreating the sound of maracas and shaker instruments inspired by the work of renowned sound designer Perry Cook.
The Stoq plugin offers a bandpass filter, LFO controls, and an ADSR amp envelope for shaping your sound. It also features pitch and sync controls, so you can get things sounding just right. And best of all, it’s easy to use.
- Bandpass Filter
- LFO Controls
- ADSR AMP
- Pitch & Sync
Stoq | Windows
3. MISCELLANIA II
The Miscellania II is a VSTi or AU that contains 130 samples. This library features a variety of ringing, rattling, and metallic shaking sounds that are perfect for any project.
The included sounds are Tambourines, Triangles, Spoons loop, Bell Tree, Nepalese Bells, Agogo Bells, Brake Drum, Roto Tom Rim, Sleighbells, and Wind Chimes.
Whether you’re creating a soundscape or adding some spice to your mix, these sounds will definitely add some flavor.
Best of all, they’re all released under the CC0 license, so you can freely use them in any project, including commercial works. So if you’re looking for some unique and exciting sounds, be sure to check out Miscellania II.
Included Sounds:
- Tambourines
- Triangles
- Spoons loop
- Bell Tree
- Nepalese Bells
- Agogo Bells
- Brake Drum
- Roto Tom Rim
- Sleighbells
- Wind Chimes
Miscellania II | Os: Windows / Mac
Miscellania II Preview
4. Shekrs
Shekrs is a unique percussion instrument to experiment with.
This instrument is helpful for those looking for something new and exciting to add to their musical repertoire based on loo-roll, yogurt pot, and paper cup shakers.
Shekrs | Windows
5. Vintage Toy Tambourine ( Kontakt )
The Vintage Toy Tambourine is excellent for locking to your song’s tempo, and it comes with tons of samples, single hits, mod-wheel shakes, unique hits, and special loops.
The samples are recorded from an antique tambourine that is made of thin metal with only three pairs of rusted jingles.
It offers a 3-band EQ and reverb for even more sound customization, and best of all, it’s free! This sound library may not work with the free Kontakt player.
Vintage Toy Tambourine | Windows / Mac
Vintage Toy Tambourine Preview
6. B-2 Shake & Scrape
The B-2 Shake & Scrape is a fun tool to experiment with for creating unique and realistic percussion sounds.
It can be used to simulate a wide variety of shaking and scraping noises, making it helpful for use in any musical genre.
B-2 Shake & Scrape | Windows
7. CGC Shaker ( Kontakt )
Immerse yourself in a world of sound with the CGC Shaker. This experimental percussion instrument is unlike any other, offering a unique and unforgettable sonic experience.
This shaker plugin is made from recordings of 4 different types of shakers, providing a wide range of sounds and textures to explore.
The Camping Gas Cartridges filled with sand and small rocks give the shaker its distinctive sound, one that is both unpredictable and mesmerizing.
Round robins are used to emulate the always-changing sound of the CGC Shaker, making each performance truly one of a kind.
Whether you’re a seasoned musician or simply looking for a new way to make music, the CGC Shaker is sure to inspire and delight.
You need to subscribe to the email list to not pay for the Native Instruments Kontakt Library.
CGC Shaker | Windows / Mac
8. Free Shaker SoundFonts
Since there is a limited supply of shaker VST plugins, you can also use free shaker SoundFonts.
You can download and install a free Soundfont Player and load the SoundFont files.
Free Shaker SoundFonts
- Ethan Winer – This website offers a wide variety of free SoundFonts to download and use with your music production projects. This includes free shaker SoundFonts, African Slit Drum, Bassoon, Cello Solo, and more.
- Musical Artifacts – Musical Artifacts is an online open-source community that shares free SoundFonts. Only one shaker-related file is available.
9. Free Shaker Samples & Shaker Sounds
Here are a few links to download free shaker and tambourine samples.
Free Shaker Samples
- Producer Feed – This link offers a free shaker sample pack with 50+ high-quality shaker samples in the WAV file format.
- Shake – A free collection of tambourine and shaker loops and samples. Includes three shakers, one tambourine, 48 audio loops, and 47 one-shot shaker samples.
- Loops – A free collection of free shaker loops and shaker samples.
- Black Swamp Tambourine – Free sample pack of a Black Swamp tambourine. Includes audio recordings at different Articulations and several velocity levels.
- Sample Focus – Sample focus has over 326 free shaker-related samples to download.
- Looper Man – Free shaker samples and loops to add to your music-making collection.
- Stay On Beat – Download over 40 shaker samples to use with FL Studio, Ableton, Garageband, and more.
10. Kid’s Percussion Shaker Instruments ( Kontakt )
This collection includes a one-octave steel xylophone, tambourine, wooden shaker, castanets, and maracas.
Each is expertly recorded on the triple condenser stereo microphone with an “A” class preamp for exceptional sound quality.
The controls for each instrument are easily accessible and allow you to adjust the volume and panning to create the perfect mix. The built-in FX of reverb gives your tracks added depth and dimension.
This library is made for the Kontact full version. It may not work with the free Kontakt Player by Native Instruments. Great free alternative to Shimmer Shake Strike 2.
Included Sounds:
- Xylophone
- Tambourine
- Maracas
- Castanets
- Shaker
Kid’s Percussion | Windows / Mac
11. Rassel Shaker Rhythm ( Bonus – iPhone )
Looking for a fun and easy way to add some flair to your music? Look no further than Rassel, the pocket shaker that transforms your iPhone into a shaken percussion instrument! Just pick up your device and shake it – it’s that simple.
Rassel comes with four different instruments – egg, shaker, tambourine, and bells – which you can switch between simply by swiping the screen.
Unlike similar apps, Rassel is based on a unique audio rendering engine that accounts for continuous velocity changes based on how the sampled instruments are agitated.
This means that any movement you make will sound just like a real instrument would. Plus, there’s a loudness boost setting to crank up the volume if needed.
So whether you’re looking to add some spice to your music or just want to have some fun, be sure to check out Rassel.
- Instruments: Egg, Shaker, Tambourine, Bells
- Loose & Tight Instrument Settings
- Endless Rattle Fun
Rassel | iPhone
How Do You Use a Shaker Instrument in Music Production?
There are a few ways to use a shaker instrument in music production. One way is to have the shaker playing the main melody or rhythm, while another is to use the shaker as an auxiliary percussion instrument – i.e., playing it along with other instruments to add some extra flair and texture.
In terms of recording technique, you can either record the shaker separately (in isolation) or record it together with other instruments in a “live” setting. If you’re going for that live sound, make sure you get a good take with everyone playing together in one take; that’ll give your track more energy and groove.
In conclusion, music producers and sound design enthusiasts can now elevate their compositions with these free shaker plugins and samples.
With multi-velocity layers, one-shots, and MIDI drag capabilities, creating custom shaker patterns has never been easier.
These shaker library options offer versatile shakers suitable for almost every genre, from tambourines to other instruments.
Users can also shake things up with included presets or shape their rhythm to fit any song. With these shaker VSTs, the possibilities are endless.
There’s a wide range of free shaker VST plugins available online, so it really depends on what you’re looking for in terms of sound and functionality.
We hope you found this list of free shaker VST plugins helpful.
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