5 Lofi Plug Ins we use in the Studio

We have decided to start sharing some of the actual plug-ins we use in our day-to-day studio life. This time around we will look at 5 tools that you can use to get that instant lofi feel.

Cassette by Waves Factory

This may be the most used plug-in in the studio. Soon as someone wants something more lofi, warm or raw, Cassette is thrown on the track. You get the instant lofi feel.  We used to use old tape machines but the hassle of getting the sound we wanted took decades. 

Here is an example of before and after on a lofi house track from Hawick Kite Flyers. 

We used the presets lofi drums on the drums, 808 coloured on the bass, fuzzy vocals on the vocals and music loops (pads, keys) and on the master the Tascam and dirty tape. It's worth noting that each preset was adjusted to taste and saved for later use. 

Vinyl by Izotope

This plug-in is great if you quickly want to cut the low and high end and make the sound lofi at the same point. You can also add some real grit, crackle and noise to help add texture. 

To help gel elements together we use it on a range of loops, from tops, keys, synth pads and leads. It can quickly get rid of a lot of unnecessary harmonics without losing the key elements. 

In this example, we have used vinyl to gel in the top and break loop, this gives the other elements more room to breath

Guitar Rig (tube compressor) by Native Instruments 

Whether we are looking to mangle, wrap or beef up a loop, a guitar rig is a go-to for us. In terms of getting this lofi but beefy simultaneously, we love using the dynamic tube compressor. It can add drive and character to a sound. 

In this example, we have taken a relatively tame track and by adding the tube to each buss we have added some spice. 

For more lofi vibes try the distortion, cabinets and amps. There is a lot of experimentation to be had. 

Inphonik RX950

We were turned on to this via Gareth Cox who is also a lover of all things lofi. Its an emulation of the Akai S950 which if you have ever used is lush, warm and gritty all at the same time. We use this to drive the harmonics or to use the audio bandwidth to dull out a sound.

Sound Toys Devil Lock

Even subtle amounts can just make a digital sound real, more analogue sounding. It’s also very useful as a drum buss to help gel the loop together.

In this example, we have taken a simple pad/keys loop and run it through the devil lock to get some real dirt into the sound.

Not everything has to be super clean and polished to be good sounding. Lofi plug-ins can help add real character to your productions, we use these 5 plug-ins on a daily basis to help achieve sounds that would normally take hours to achieve with outboard gear. So if your looking to inject some grit into your sounds we recommend these 5 plug-ins.