Blue Cat Audio is a maker that releases many plug-ins for DAWs (the software you record and produce in). Besides its paid products, its official site has a freeware category (software you can use at no cost). Among these, “Freeware Plug-ins Pack II” is a bundle of the standard ones. It includes a chorus, flanger, phaser, EQ, spectrum analyzer and more. This page covers how to get it, the features of the plug-ins inside and where they might fit.
Disclosure: this site uses affiliate programs. Whether the plug-ins are free, and their features and supported formats, were checked on the maker’s official pages around 2026-10-16. Terms of distribution can change, so please check the official page before you download.
How to get Blue Cat’s free plug-ins
- Open the Freeware Plug-ins Pack II official page (free).
- From “DOWNLOAD” on the page, choose the one that matches your operating system and format. For Mac, App, AAX, AU, VST and VST3 are listed; for 64-bit Windows, App, AAX, VST and VST3.
- Run the installer you downloaded.
- Open your DAW and rescan for plug-ins.
- Load the plug-in you want to use as an effect on a track.
The maker says of this pack that “no dongle (an authentication device), no registration and no mandatory newsletter subscription” is required.
What is in Freeware Plug-ins Pack II
According to the official page, the pack contains 8 products. Each is introduced below based on the maker’s descriptions.
- Blue Cat’s Chorus: an effect the maker calls a “free vintage chorus”. The maker explains that it can create anything from a light ensemble feel to deep modulation. The stereo version has a Spread control for adjusting the width.
- Blue Cat’s Flanger: a flanger (an effect that layers a slightly delayed copy of the sound to create a swirl) of the kind widely used in the 70s and 80s. The maker says it can be used on drums, voice, synths, guitar and more, from a subtle effect to a deep one.
- Blue Cat’s Phaser: a phaser (an effect that shifts phase to make the sound sway) modelled on the circuits of old analog phasers.
- Blue Cat’s Free Amp: an amp simulator for guitar and bass. The maker explains that it contains 4 amp models.
- Blue Cat’s Triple EQ: a 3-band semi-parametric EQ. It is described as being designed so that it can be operated like a single filter, and the shape of the curve can also be changed.
- Blue Cat’s FreqAnalyst: a spectrum analyzer (a meter that shows the frequency content of a sound in real time). It lets you see by eye the state of bands that are hard to judge by listening alone.
- Blue Cat’s Gain Suite: a gain utility for controlling the volume of one or several tracks at the same time.
- Blue Cat’s Freeceiver: a plug-in and app for receiving audio and MIDI sent over a network from Blue Cat Audio’s other products “Connector” and “Fader Hub”.
Features of Blue Cat’s free plug-ins
- Wide format support (per the manufacturer): the maker says the VST, VST3, AAX and AU formats can be used on both Mac and Windows. Freeceiver can also be used as a standalone app.
- Automation and MIDI control (per the manufacturer): the Chorus update history says that all parameters can be controlled by MIDI notes, pitch bend, aftertouch and so on (the update of 2026-10-02). The other plug-ins were also updated on the same day.
- Comments from users of the pack (published by the maker): the official page carries user comments and magazine reviews. These were chosen by the seller, however, so it seems best to read them as part of the maker’s own description.
- PDF manual and basic presets (published by the maker): reviews quoted on the official page mention that these are included.
Who Blue Cat’s free plug-ins might suit
- People who want to collect modulation effects such as chorus, flanger and phaser at no cost
- People who find their DAW’s built-in effects lacking and are looking for alternatives
- People who want to try guitar or bass through an amp simulator with little effort
- People who want to check the frequency balance of a mix by eye with a spectrum analyzer
- People who want to use the same plug-ins in various formats such as VST, AU and AAX
On the other hand, people looking for the latest high-spec EQs or compressors might be better off comparing paid higher-end products. The official site also lists Blue Cat’s paid products.
Tips for using Blue Cat’s free plug-ins
- Modulation effects (chorus, flanger, phaser) tend to sound unnatural when overdone. At first, it is the safe choice to try them with the mix with the original sound kept low.
- With FreqAnalyst, you can check by both ear and eye how the bands have changed after cutting with an EQ.
- Free Amp looks usable when you want to add an amp tone to a track in your DAW. Switch between the 4 models and compare them.
- If you already know which plug-in you want, the individual official page may also have a download button. You can tell that it is included in the Free Pack from the “Also in Bundle” display on the individual page.
Things to check before you get it
- Supported operating systems: on the official Blue Cat’s Chorus page, Mac is listed as “an Intel or Apple Silicon processor, Mac OS 10.9 or later, a VST/AU/AAX host supporting 64-bit”, and Windows as “a processor with SSE2, Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10 or 11, a VST/AAX host (32 or 64-bit)”. For the requirements of the other plug-ins in the pack, please check each plug-in’s official page.
- For older Windows: the pack’s download section also lists 32-bit (legacy) versions.
- Format differences: an AU version for Windows does not appear in the official list. On Windows, VST, VST3 and AAX are the basics.
- Always get the files from the official site.
FAQ
Q. Is it really free?
The official page for the pack says “100% free!” and “Price: Freeware”. However, the official Blue Cat Audio site also has paid products. Before downloading, it is reassuring to check that the “Price” shown on the page is Freeware.
Q. Are there other free plug-ins?
The official category list shows 9 under Freeware. Some are separate from the 8 in this pack, so please check the “Freeware” list on the official site.
Blue Cat Audio’s free plug-ins are available from the Freeware Plug-ins Pack II official page (free).
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