Soundtoys alternatives, plugin by plugin
For Little AlterBoy: Graillon (free edition) or MAutoPitch. For Radiator and Decapitator: Klanghelm IVGI, Softube Saturation Knob or Chow Tape. For Crystallizer: Backmask (pay what you want) or Kilohearts' free Reverser plus Pitch Shifter. All free or close to it.
Soundtoys plugins have a sound, and the full bundle is a real expense. Most people only reach for two or three of them, so it makes more sense to replace them one at a time. Here is what to use instead of each.
I make Siesta Audio plugins, and mine are on this list, marked as mine. Everything else is here because people actually recommend it. Prices are rough list prices and change often, so check before you buy.
| Plugin | Price | Formats | What it replaces, and how |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graillon 3 (free edition)Auburn Sounds | Free | VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, LV2Mac, Win, Linux | Replaces Little AlterBoy: pitch correction, pitch shifting and formant shifting for voices. |
| MAutoPitchMeldaProduction | Free | VST2, VST3, AU, AAXMac, Win | Replaces Little AlterBoy: fast pitch correction with formant shift. |
| IVGIKlanghelm | Free | VST2, VST3, AU, AAXMac, Win | Replaces Radiator and Decapitator: saturation from subtle console warmth to heavy drive. |
| Saturation KnobSoftube | Free | VST3, AU, AAXMac, Win | Replaces quick Decapitator moves: one-knob saturation that can keep the lows or the highs. |
| Chow Tape ModelChowDSP (open source) | Free | VST3, AU, AAX, CLAP, LV2Mac, Win, Linux | Physical model of an analog reel-to-reel tape machine. |
| BackmaskFreakshow Industries | Pay what you want | VST2, VST3, AU, AAXMac, Win | Replaces Crystallizer's reverse side: reverses chunks of audio by time, tempo or level. |
| Kilohearts EssentialsKilohearts | Free | VST, AU, AAXMac, Win | For Crystallizer: chain Reverser, Pitch Shifter and Delay to approximate its reverse pitched echoes. |
| Memory Station '03 (mine)Siesta Audio | Free | VST3, AU, StandaloneMac, Win, Linux | Lo-fi haze where the presets are moods: tape haze, static, chorus, lowpass fog and slowed float in one pick. |
Instead of Little AlterBoy
Graillon's free edition does pitch and formant shifting and runs on Linux. MAutoPitch is free in Melda's free bundle and adds pitch correction. Either covers the "make the vocal deeper, higher or robotic" job most people use AlterBoy for.
Instead of Radiator and Decapitator
IVGI is the closest free match for Radiator's warm tube color, and it can push into Decapitator territory. Saturation Knob is the one-move version. Chow Tape Model adds tape saturation and wobble, which neither Soundtoys plugin does.
Instead of Crystallizer
Crystallizer's reverse, pitched, granular echoes are the hardest to replace for free. Backmask handles the reversing, and Kilohearts' free Reverser, Pitch Shifter and Delay chained together get close to the shimmer.
For the lo-fi, nostalgic side
If you were using Soundtoys to make things sound old and hazy (EchoBoy's tape modes, Radiator on a loop), my free Memory Station does that whole job from one mood preset. It does not replace any one Soundtoys plugin; it replaces the stack. For more of that, see RC-20 alternatives and the best free lo-fi plugins.
Quick answers
What is a free alternative to Little AlterBoy?
Auburn Sounds Graillon (free edition) and MeldaProduction MAutoPitch both do pitch and formant shifting for free.
What is a free alternative to Soundtoys Radiator?
Klanghelm IVGI is the closest free match for Radiator's warm tube saturation. Softube Saturation Knob is a simpler one-knob option.
What is a free alternative to Crystallizer?
Freakshow Industries Backmask (pay what you want) covers the reverse echoes, and Kilohearts' free Reverser, Pitch Shifter and Delay can be chained to approximate the rest.
Is Soundtoys worth it?
If you use EchoBoy, Decapitator and a few others every day, the bundle earns its keep. If you use one or two, free alternatives cover them.