These are the best free percussion VST plugins online that can be used with FL Studio, Reason, Ableton Live, and other VST-supported music apps.
This roundup of free percussion plugins includes features, screenshots, and online videos.
What Is A Percussion VST Plugin? A percussion VST plugin is a virtual instrument that provides musicians with the ability to create and edit the sounds of percussion instruments. The most common types of percussion plugins are those for drums. Some plugins are more specific and provide sounds for only one kind of drum.
Best Percussion VST Plugins
- Line of Legends
- Labs Percussion VST Plugin
- VSCO2 Percussion
- MagicDrum Lite
- Latin Set
- Sonatina Percussion
- The Amen
- T-Rex 606
- Royotoms
- eXylo
- Kettle Drum
- Black Noh Snare
- Excite Snare Drum
- Snare
- Sonatina Xylophone
- Clap Machine
- VS Conga
- DPinga Congas
- BellsEbuth
- More Percussion Plugins
Percussion VST plugins can be used to create realistic or synthesized drum beats and other percussive rhythms.
I’ve sampled hundreds of free VST plugins, and these are some of the top free percussion ones I’ve discovered. Tutorial: How to Install VST Plugins
Instructions: Click the links below to visit each percussion VST plugin. Look around each website for the download link or button. Do not install any suspicious software.
1. Line of Legends
Line of Legends is a hip-hop drum kit. The interface is divided into eight sections: Kick, Snare, Clap, Snap, Toms, Hi-hat, Ride, and Crash.
Each section uses its output for easier handling in a productive environment. This ranks as one of my favorite percussion VST plugins due to its sleek user interface and extensive feature set.
Features:
- Hip-hop drum kit
- 8 Individual outputs
- Release and Pan knobs
- 47 high-quality samples
- Individual outputs for sections
- Punch, Release, and Pan knobs
Pros:
- High-quality drum sounds
- Drum and percussion sounds
- Multiple instruments offered
- Offers Many Instruments
- Good for hip-hop music
- Positive user reviews
- Percussive Instruments
Cons:
- Compatibility issues with some DAWs
- Requires manual setup for outputs
- Some users report installation issues
Line of Legends | PC & Mac
2. Labs Percussion VST Plugin
Free percussion VST by Spitfire Audio includes shakers, cowbells, timbales, congas, and other percussive instruments.
Labs | PC & Mac Os
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3. VSCO2 Percussion
If you’re looking for realistic percussion sounds, VSCO2 Percussion is a perfect choice. It’s a sample library that provides realistic, high-quality percussion samples for your orchestral projects.
- High-quality samples
- Realistic percussion sounds
- Straightforward interface
- Orchestral Percussion
VSCO2 | PC & Mac
4. MagicDrum Lite
MagicDrum Lite is a free multi-sampled Steel Tongue Drum with five presets.
The program is designed for playing with a QWERTY keyboard, which makes it ideal for those who want to experiment with a new type of percussion instrument.
- Multi-sampled steel tongue and tank drum sounds
- Five presets
- High-pass and low-pass filters
- LFO and ADSR controls
- Playing with QWERTY keyboards
MagicDrum Lite | PC & Mac
5. Latin Set
Latin Set is a virtual instrument that recreates the sound of Latin percussion instruments. It comes with 16 samples recorded from the Roland TR707 and TR505 drum machines.
The samples have been processed with an LP filter, distortion, chorus, and synch delay to give them a unique sound.
- 16 samples
- LP filter
- Distortion
- Chorus
- Synch delay
- Percussion Instruments
Latin Set | PC
6. Sonatina Percussion
Sonatina Percussion is an easy-to-use, sampled classical percussion library. It comes with a wide range of percussion instruments, including drums, cymbals, and bells.
With various percussion sounds to choose from, you can create realistic percussion tracks in no time. Check out the other Sonatina libraries for more excellent free instruments.
- A wide variety of percussion sounds
Sonatina Percussion | PC & Mac
7. The Amen
The Amen is the legendary Amen Break, packed in a powerful percussion Plugin. No more wasting Your time slicing and re-arranging your Amen Break wave file. Just play your MIDI, turn some knobs, and make beats.
The Amen Break is already sliced up into its single drum hits, enabling each slice to be triggered by its own MIDI note, allowing it to be rearranged with no limits so that you can produce the “Amen” beat of your choice.
This plugin has two types of amp envelopes, one main envelope, which affects all slices, and one for every slice, for more versatility.
It has a multi-mode filter, an ADSR filter envelope, two LFOs, and an effects section with a phaser, bit crusher, distortion, and reverb. The slices can be played forward and reversed by velocity strength.
The Amen | PC
8. T-Rex 606
T-Rex 606 is a rompler made from a Roland TR-606 drum machine.
- 7 samples.
- Master volume.
- Reverb.
T-Rex 606 | PC & Mac
9. Royotoms
This plugin is a perfect choice for percussionists looking for sampled rototom sounds. Its three velocity layers and two round-robin samples ensure realistic and dynamic performances.
The 48 mono and stereo 44.1Khz/24-bit dry and reverb samples provide plenty of options for crafting the perfect sound.
- Three velocity layers
- 2 round robin samples
- 48 mono and stereo samples
- 44.1Khz/24-bit audio quality
- Dry and reverb samples
Royotoms | PC & Mac
10. eXylo
This is a sampled xylophone with 88 stereo 24-bit samples. It includes two velocity layers and a release time control. This plugin also features a dynamic range control and the main volume.
You can create some very natural and realistic xylophone sounds with this plugin.
- 24-bit stereo samples
- Two velocity layers
- Release time control
- Dynamic range
- Main volume
eXylo | PC & Mac
11. Kettle Drum
The Kettle Drum is an easy-to-use timpani orchestral percussion.
- Simple and easy-to-use interface
- All the control you need to create complex percussion tracks
- Great sounding timpani samples
Kettle | PC
12. Black Noh Snare
Black Noh Snare is a sampled snare drum with nine velocity layers. Every velocity layer has eight random-robin samples, making the sound more realistic and natural.
Additionally, the plugin is straightforward to use, and it has a MIDI note feature that allows you to play the drum with your keyboard.
- Nine velocity layers
- Eight random-robin samples per layer
- MIDI note feature
- Easy to use
Black Noh Snare | PC & Mac
13. Excite Snare Drum
This plugin uses physical modeling algorithms to give you an ultra-realistic sound. These algorithms are tuned by ear, so you can choose from different sizes and tip hardness to create the perfect snare drum sound.
You can also adjust the snare rattle to get the ideal sound.
- Ultra-realistic sound
- Physical modeling algorithms
- Tuned by ear
- Different sizes and tip hardness
- Snare rattle
Excite | PC / Mac / Linux
14. Snare
This plugin is an easy-to-use program with a straightforward interface.
It helps you create realistic snare drum sounds with a waveguide-based drum model. With four snare vectors, you can create a wide range of snare drums.
- Waveguide-based drum model
- Four snare vectors
- Straightforward interface
Snare | PC
15. Sonatina Xylophone
Sonatina Xylophone is a sampled xylophone from the Sonatina Orchestra public domain library.
- Clear and realistic xylophone sound
- User-friendly interface
Sonatina Plugin | PC & Mac
16. Clap Machine
If you want to add some hand-clap sounds to your music, look no further because Clap Machine is here. This plugin is a great way to add natural-sounding claps to your music.
It features samples of real handclaps, giving you access to a wide range of clap sounds.
You can use these claps in rhythmic sequences or create some natural-sounding group claps.
- Samples of real handclaps
- A wide range of clap sounds
- The ability to create rhythmic sequences
- Natural-sounding group claps
Clap Machine | PC & Mac
17. VS Conga
Look no further than VS Conga if you’re looking to add some conga flavor to your music. This sampled conga set is perfect for giving your tracks a boost of Latin flavor.
You can create realistic and nuanced percussion tracks with two-shot technique options and round-robin samples. It also includes up to four velocity layers to add some dynamics to your playing.
With 34 samples included, you’ll have plenty of options. So give VS Conga a try; you might find your new favorite percussion plugin.
- Two hit technique options
- Two round-robin samples
- Four velocity layers
- 34 samples included
VS Conga | PC & Mac
18. DPinga Congas
DPinga Congas is a set of three conga drums that sound great for Afro Cuban/salsa music. There are 12 sounds for each drum and up to 8 velocity layers. You can also adjust each drum’s gain, tuning, and pan.
There’s an envelope that you can adjust. You can also play congas light, including 15 selected sounds for easy playability.
- Set of three congas
- Twelve sounds for each drum, with up to 8 velocity layers
- Gain, tuning, and pan controls for each drum
- Adjustable envelope control
DPinga Congas | PC & Mac
19. BellsEbuth
BellsEbuth is a sampled orchestral bell (modern glockenspiel). It comes with 40 stereo 24-bit samples, release time, sustain level, dynamic range control, and main volume.
These features make it a versatile and powerful instrument perfect for any musician looking to add some unique and beautiful bell sounds to their music.
- 40 stereo 24-bit samples
- Release time
- Sustain level
- Dynamic range
- Main volume
BellsEbuth | PC & Mac
20. Sonatina Timpani
Sonatina Timpani is an easy-to-use sampled timpani from the Sonatina Orchestra public domain library.
The samples are of high quality, and the interface is very user-friendly.
- High-quality, realistic samples
- Easy-to-use interface
- Suitable for beginners and pros alike
Sonatina Timpani | PC & Mac
21. Thai Gongs
Thai Gongs provides a range of traditional Thai gongs. Each has three velocity layers and adjustable release time.
This allows you to easily adjust the dynamics of the gongs to create a more realistic performance.
With the ability to control the amplitude dynamic range and master volume, you can ensure that your gongs sound exactly as you want them to.
- Three velocity layers
- Release time control
- Dynamic range
- Master volume control
Thai Gongs | PC & Mac
22. Cherry Snare
With 208 samples, 24-bit / 44100 Hz quality, and up to 5 round-robin samples by layer, it will provide you with realistic and natural-sounding snare drum beats.
With the ability to customize the stroke techniques and velocity layers, you can create your unique snare sound.
- Realistic acoustic snare drum sounds
- 24-bit / 44100 Hz quality
- Up to 5 round-robin samples by layer
Cherry Snare | PC & Mac
23. Cymbalistic
Cymbalistic is a sampled cymbal set. It contains 68 stereo 24-bit samples from the University of Iowa Electronic Music Studios public domain library.
This program includes one hi-hat, one ride cymbal, four crash cymbals, and 2 Chinese cymbals.
Each of the cymbals has its own release time, volume, and pan controls. With the amplitude dynamic range control, you can choose how softly or loudly each cymbal plays.
- 68 stereo 24-bit samples
- Release time, volume, and pan controls
- Dynamic range
- Suitable for beginners and experienced percussionists alike
Cymbalistic | PC & Mac
24. Dark VX Kick
This plugin features four velocity layers, round robins, and a lot of flexibility. The sub-kick channel allows you to filter the low-end frequencies for added punch. With just a few clicks, you can achieve the perfect kick sound for your music.
- Round robin sampling
- Composed channel
- Sub kick channel
Dark VX Kick | PC & Mac
25. BPB Analog Kicks
If you’re looking to add some analog punch to your kicks, BPB Analog Kicks has you covered. With 200 samples from six iconic analog synthesizers and drum machines, this free plugin can add serious warmth and power to your drum tracks. It also includes a set of longer-decaying sounds that can be used as bass synths or 808-style kick drums.
- 200 analog samples from iconic synthesizers and drum machines
- Simple, easy-to-use interface
- Warmth and power for your drum sounds and bass synths
BPB Analog Kicks | PC
26. SnareBuzz
SnareBuzz is an audio effect plugin that emulates the buzzing sound of wires on a snare drum. It has attack and release controls to help you customize the buzzing sound.
It also features high-pass and low-pass filters, allowing you to shape your sound further.
This plugin brings a new dimension to your snare drum sound, adding exciting and creative effects in real time.
- Emulates the buzzing sound of wires on a snare drum
- Adjustable attack and release controls
- High-pass and low-pass filters
SnareBuzz | PC & Mac
27. SnareBuzz 2
This VST can add natural sympathetic resonances to your tracks with ease. This free percussion VST plugin simulates the sympathetic vibrations produced naturally by the wires of a snare drum, bringing a new level of realism to your music.
Featuring a simple and intuitive interface, SnareBuzz 2 allows you to experiment easily with different settings and find the perfect sound for your tracks.
- Sympathetic resonance simulator
- Intuitive interface
- Easy to use
SnareBuzz 2 | PC & Mac
28. Sample Science Gong
Sample Science Gong is a unique percussion VST plugin that allows you to create realistic gong sounds quickly.
It comes with four different velocity layers for each articulation. So you can easily create a wide variety of gong sounds.
- Four different velocity layers for each articulation
- High-quality 24-bit 96 kHz recordings
Sample Science Gong | PC & Mac
29. Hand Crash
This plugin comes with five different cymbal samples that are all stereo 24-bit samples. You also have control over the release time and volume, giving you complete flexibility in creating the exact sound you want.
With the dynamic range control, you can dial in the perfect sound for your percussion needs.
- 24-bit stereo samples of 5 different cymbal sounds
- Release time and volume control for each sample
- Dynamic range
Hand Crash | PC & Mac
30. Miscellania II: Holiday Bells
This festive plugin provides six whole octaves of sound, including bells, triangles, tambourines, finger cymbals, etc.
Whether you’re looking to add some festive flair to your music or have some fun, this plug-in has everything you need for a holiday treat.
- 6 octaves of sound
- Bells, triangles, tambourines, finger cymbals, and more
Miscellania II | PC & Mac
31. Shaker Maker
You can turn any rhythmic content into a convincing natural shaker rhythm with Shaker Maker.
With 16 prepared shaker sounds or the ability to shape your shaker, you can easily create a realistic-sounding shaker pattern from any rhythmic content.
- 16 prepared shaker sounds
- Shape your shaker sound
- Connect a microphone
Shaker Maker | PC
32. Clog Boxes
Clog Boxes is a sampled woodblock set that includes five different blocks. Each has two velocity layers for a realistic sound. You can control the panning and volume of each block and the room ambiance with the reverb.
The dynamic range is also adjustable.
- Five different woodblocks
- Two velocity layers
- Panning and volume control for each block
- Reverb control
- Dynamic range
Clog Boxes | PC & Mac
33. VibroMaster
VibroMaster is a sampled vibraphone that offers control over the sound through various parameters. You can adjust the volume release time and sustain the level of each group of samples. The plugin also allows you to control the dynamic range of the sound, making it perfect for creating both soft and loud vibraphone sounds.
- Sampled vibraphone
- Various parameters for sound control
- Dynamic range
VibroMaster | PC & Mac
34. Cloudrum
Cloudrum is a unique steel tongue drum that produces lovely tones. It has a range of 3 octaves and can be used to add color and a notable moderation to your music, no matter the genre.
This plugin comes with four different articulations: Open, Mute, Opened Release, and Muted Release.
It also features a CPC (Customized Parameters Control), which allows you to control any MIDI CC or Automation controller.
Features
- Unique steel tongue drum
- Range of 3 octaves
- Four different articulations
- Customized Parameters Control
Cloudrum | PC & Mac
35. Percumat 2
Percumat 2 is a versatile Rhythm machine for backing drums percussion that also features six instrument parts/slots, with 512 inbuilt drums & percussion sounds to choose from.
There are two-step sequencers, one for setting up the beat steps in groups of 4 x 8 steps, and the 2nd sequencer on the left allows you to control a sequence of the 8-step beat groups in 16 steps.
Plugin | PC
36. Cassette Drums
Cassette Drums is a freeware VST and AU plugin bundle consisting of three individual plugins: Cassette 606 VST, Cassette 808 VST, and Cassette 909 VST.
The plugins were designed and developed by Crimson Merry, whose work can be followed on Instagram and Twitter.
The included plugins are compatible with any PC and Mac-based digital audio workstation capable of hosting VST or AU plugins. Both 32-bit and 64-bit systems are supported.
The instruments are based on our free Cassette 606, Cassette 808, and Cassette 909 sample packs, featuring the sounds provided by Edgar Maguyon, Gregor Zemljic, and Reddit user Anderson303.
Each plugin comes with three drum kits: Clean, Warm, and Hot.
The Clean kits are based on the raw, unprocessed recordings of these iconic analog drum machines, whereas the Warm and Hot kits feature the saturated drum hits that were re-sampled from an audio cassette deck.
Cassette Drums | PC & Mac
37. Bazz Murda
Bazz Murda Free (formerly Bassdrum: Murda) is an AU plugin and VST bass/kick synthesizer. It is aimed at hard electronic music like hardcore, gabber, drum & bass, and dub-step.
Bazz Murda | PC & Mac
38. The Drum Source
The Drum Source is a sample-based drum machine VST instrument with a sequencer. It looks and feels like a classic hardware drum machine.
The built-in sample browser makes it very easy to navigate through your samples. You can quickly change a sample with the previous and next sample buttons.
The Drum Source | PC
39. Nasty Looper
Nasty Looper is a free drum machine plugin that you can use either in your studio or for a live performance for creative loop and beat making.
Primarily, it is suitable for making hip-hop, house, and other EDM-based genres.
The people created it over at Beat Assist as one of their free plugins, and I have to say, it’s very impressive. The plugin offers a lot of creative potential.
It’s fun to use and has the potential to create high-quality beats and loops.
Nasty Looper | PC
40. Drum Pro
Drum Pro is a drum kit rompler that includes some sampled vintage units.
Features
- 20 drum kits
- Global ADSR / reverb
- 12 pads
- Volume and pan for each pad
Drum Pro | PC & Mac
41. MT Power Drum Kit
This free drum sampler features the sounds of a genuine acoustic drum kit.
Each of the samples was recorded and processed specifically to be used in pop, rock, and metal productions.
Great free alternative for Addictive Drums 2 by XLN Audio, Superior Drummer by Toontrack, and the Percussion Library for Kontakt Player by Native Instruments.
MT Power Drum Kit | PC & Mac
42. Steven Slate Drums
You should check out Steven Slate Drums if you want an extremely flexible drum kit plugin that can be used for various music genres.
It has 135 snares, 58 toms, 112 kicks, 14 crashes, six rides, 11 hi-hats, four splashes, and three chinas.
Plugin | PC & Mac
Free Percussion Sounds
- 99 Sounds – Download 89 free percussion samples in 24-bit WAV format from this link.
In conclusion, for any music producer or sound designer looking to add high-quality percussion instruments to their library, many amazing free percussion VST plugins are available.
These plugins include a range of percussive instruments, from traditional orchestral percussion to bass drums, hi-hats, and more.
They are great for creating everything from pop music to cinematic soundtracks.
With their many instruments and percussion libraries, these virtual instruments sound great.
They offer amazing sound quality, making them the best option for any music producer or sound designer on a budget.
I hope you enjoy these free percussion VST plugins.
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