Best free Fairchild plugins: Get that classic sound without spending a penny

As far as legendary compressors go, few stand in myth and mystique like the venerable Fairchild.

When it comes to compressor plugins that emulate specific hardware, there are very few freeware options for the Fairchild or Vari-mu compressor design. But the ones that do exist are pretty damn good.

We’ve covered the best free LA2A plugins and the 1176, so let’s explore the best free Fairchild plugins.

Best free Fairchild plugin overall: Analog Obsession VariMoon

Analog Obsession is renowned for creating some of the best freeware compressors that are designed to emulate the most legendary compressors in history.

And you might say they created the best of the free Fairchild plugins. The “circuit” is based on the 660, but the interface is entirely novel. As for the time constants it has a 10ms fixed attack with variable release and two auto modes.

Perhaps the most useful feature is the variable input. The Input Attenuation control lets you swing the input drive from -18 to +18dB so that you can drive it into saturation. It has a 4x oversampling option as well.

There’s a high-pass filter that offers a range of 20Hz to 500Hz. Threshold operates on a ratio control over the DC threshold as well as an AC threshold that provides a range of 50dB.

This means you can achieve compression ranging from clean to saturation and everything in between.

Most versatile free Fairchild plugin: TDR VladG Molot

Just like the original, Molot is not designed to be transparent at all, and that’s the point. It’s basically designed to provide multiple flavors of color whether it’s through saturation, dynamics, or EQ.

The interface is a little complex but that’s mainly because it can do so much. There are eight ratio options, knee, wet/dry mix, up to 8x oversampling, a midrange scoop, seven different stereo mode options, and a limiter.

An input filter lets you high-pass the incoming signal with a range of 40-260Hz. Two attack modes (Alpha and Sigma) alter the reaction after the attack time is met.

Alpha is very aggressive and better at taming transients, while Sigma has a much more relaxed response.

Molot is also cross-platform. It runs on Windows 64/32-bit and Mac OS 64-bit in VST2 and AU formats.

Easiest free Fairchild plugin to dial in: Klanghelm MJUC Jr.

A lot of vari-mu compressors feature intricate GUIs, but that is not the case with the MJUC Jr. Based on the familiar transformer and tube-based compression just three simple controls give you everything you need.

These include Compress, Time Constants (with fast, slow, and auto options) and Make-up Gain. The coolest feature might be the Slew Control which alters how the transformers behave and thus lets you introduce saturation.

Like all Klanghelm software it is cross-platform for Windows and Mac. It’s available in VST2/3, AAX, and AU formats.

Best stereo free Fairchild plugin: Variety of Sound Density MKIII

Look at any “free plugins” list and invariably Variety of Sound will have at least one entry. Density is not a direct translation of the classic Vari-Mu topology. But it is similar in concept and layout.

It’s designed for stereo sources with options to compress the stereo channels, L/R, and M/S. By providing a smooth sound to source material, it’s not quite as colorful as a true Fairchild, but it’s not totally clean either.

The side-chain control lets you set it to operate on the incoming source signal or an external source. Range sets the maximum amount of compression, and six timing constant modes give you a number of options depending on the nature of the source you’re compressing.

Best legacy free Fairchild plugin: Antress Modern Fire Chainer

Another free Fairchild plugin based on the 660 model, Fire Chainer is the original freeware Fairchild emulation. It’s pretty basic, and to be honest a little outdated, but still worth a look.

Controls over input and output set the gain staging, Threshold offers 0 to 30dB, and there are 6 time constants to choose from. It can do compression or limiting, and offers ratio settings from 1:1 up to 20:1.

The biggest downside is that it’s only available in 32-bit VST. It’s old-school, but still a decent option.

FAQ

What is a Fairchild compressor, and why is it so revered?

The Fairchild 660 and 670 are legendary tube-based compressors known for their warm, smooth sound and musical compression. They were widely used during the golden age of recording and remain iconic for character and color they add to tracks.

When you hear about using compressors to “glue” tracks together, the Fairchild is absolutely one of the best. The hardware units are rare and expensive, but software emulations do a good job to capture their essence.

Why use a free Fairchild plugin?

Free Fairchild plugins provide a cost-effective way to access the sonic qualities of these legendary compressors. They’re ideal for producers and engineers who want the vibe of a Fairchild without spending money on premium software or hardware emulations.

Can free Fairchild plugins replace hardware?

Free plugins emulate the tone and behavior of hardware Fairchild compressors, but they may not fully replicate the depth and nuance of the original analog units.