For those working in folk music, Americana, singer/songwriter genres, and other mellow styles, finding the right drum sounds can be a challenge. Many commercially available drum libraries are too harsh or punchy, which can be a problem when blending them into a more subtle production. This is similar to how certain synth presets sound great on their own but clash once more elements are added.
That’s where Soft Drums Lite by Somerville Sounds steps in. A free plugin based on the developer’s original Soft Drums Kontakt library, it provides a drum kit played with broomsticks—delivering that unique “in-between” sound that sits comfortably between sticks and brushes.
Soft Drums Lite includes basic sound-shaping options such as filter, saturation, and room microphones. Additionally, it features a Slam button for a more compressed and saturated sound when needed.
Available on a pay-what-you-want basis, Soft Drums Lite is compatible with macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats.
Next up is LS-1173, a free EQ and preamp plugin from Lotus Sound, modeled after classic API hardware. The developer claims it faithfully recreates the “warmth and richness” of the original gear.
The EQ section offers three semi-parametric bands with adjustable center frequencies, while the low and high bands can toggle between bell and shelf characteristics. In the preamp section, the drive knob adds iconic coloration, and there’s also an output level control.
LS-1173 is available for both macOS and Windows in VST, VST3, and AU formats.
Lastly, Honest Overdrive by Wire Grind is a simple yet effective overdrive/distortion plugin. Instead of a traditional drive control, it features a Clipping Threshold knob to set the level at which clipping starts. The Softness Amount control lets you adjust between soft and hard clipping. Two indicators—“Overdriven” and “Maximum Saturation”—help you monitor the distortion’s impact.
Honest Overdrive is available as a VST3 plugin for Windows.
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