Best LFO Tool Alternatives (Free & Paid Options)

• Looking for a cheaper LFO shaper VST? 
• Discover which VST is best for your production
• Here are our top 5 LFO tool Alternatives!

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An LFO tool is a very easy and powerful tool to add sidechain compression and tremolo-style effects to your track.

Artists like Flume and Floating Points are great examples of this production technique. LFO tool is one of the best filtering tools money can buy to achieve this effect.

However, if you’re looking for a cheaper or free alternative, read on to find some of our top picks that give Xfer a run for its money.

What Are The Best LFO Tool Alternatives?

Midishaper is incredibly versatile with many parameters, which is a great alternative at half the price of the LFO tool.

If you’re looking for an LFO Tool free alternative Flux mini 2 is very intuitive and easy to use, ideal for newer producers looking to achieve this sound.

Below we’ve listed 5 of the best LFO Tool alternatives you can add to your VST library. We’ve highlighted some pros, some cons, and our experience with the tools to help you decide which will be best for your production.

1. Midishaper (Our Pick)
2. ZEEK STFU
3. Flux Mini 2 (Best Free Alternative)
4. Tal Filter
5. MTremlo 

1. Midishaper by Cableguys

Midishaper is THE alternative option to the Xfer LFO Tool. Using the modulation matrix, you can control any parameter or effect.

Which can control up to 6 selected external parameters at one time.

Midishaper also allows you to create ten custom waveforms that you can use to customize your modulation.

In addition, you have a combination of 4 waveforms affecting the audio. A great tool for producers and sound designers alike.

Features

• 4 LFOs generators
• 4 envelope generators
• 10 user-custom waveshapes
• Modulation matrix
• External MIDI control
  

Review

Midishaper is a close second to LFO Tool and is certainly the best alternate option.

Midishaper may seem intimidating at first for beginner and intermediate producers. Especially when it comes to the in-depth modulation matrix and routing.

However, given the chance, this is an incredibly versatile tool that adds a lot more depth to your music production.

Additionally, the UI is designed to help you learn the software providing helpful information as you hover over each section of the UI.

With the ability to add simple sidechain effects to complex sound design modulation, this is a great option for $29 (USD).

One downside of the VST is the routing, as it may be problematic within some DAWs like Apple’s Logix Pro X.

Luckily, Cableguys offers a free demo allowing you to try and see if this plugin is for you.

2. STFU by ZEEK

STFU is a very simple but effective volume shaper tool. You can have as few or as many points on the graph as you want to design your wave shape.

The VST can use either audio or MIDI as a trigger, you are not limited as to what you can use this plugin on.

Features

• 2 envelopes to blend between 

Review

I often use this plugin as it’s very fast and extremely intuitive. When I’m in the early stages of a track, this is an excellent tool to produce a good idea of what I want it to sound like.

It’s also very friendly UI, although it is basic and lacks some key features that I would want, like a wet/dry mix.

You can achieve this by using the second envelope with no filter, but this removes the point of being able to blend them both.

As a free volume shaper VST, it’s great, but that’s all it is, as you can’t control any other parameters.

Compared to LFO Tool and Midishaper, it lacks the features to make it a top contender.

3. Flux Mini 2 by Caelum Audio

The little brother to Flux Pro, Flux Mini 2 has all of the main features you would expect from this tool.

The graph and waveshaper are very accurate and allow for pinpoint sidechaining. Included are 20 presets, providing ample opportunity to experiment with the plugin.

With a very polished UI, this VST is suitable for professional and amateur producers.

Features

• Low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass filter options
• Can control resonance, cutoff amp, and mix with envelope

Review

Flux Mini 2 has all the additional control and features I was looking for in ZEEKS STFU.

More features like its filter cutoff, resonance, and a wet/dry mix make this a far better sound design tool.

With this VST, you also have far more control over designing the shape of the envelope.

Which, in addition, can control resonance, cutoff, amp, and mix. This is certainly the best LFO tool free alternative on our list.

One thing I would say is missing from this plugin is an additional few envelopes to provide more design possibilities.

4. TAL-FILTER 2 by TAL Software

This filter has a plethora of modulations for the user to design their waveform.

Accompanied by the imaging, stereo and depth effects allow for creating both tremolo and gated style effects. 

Features

• Low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, pan, and volume modulation modes
• Depth, resonance, and stereo control

Review

This is a great little VST and is fun to use on tracks, especially with the different modulation modes and effects.

I’ve found the best results using the panning modulation, this can create some cool movement in a track and sounds great on drums.

However, the TAL-FILTER seems to lack clarity and accuracy when compared to Midishaper and Flux mini 2.

5. MTremolo by MeldaProductions

MTremolo

MTremolo provides a definitive tremolo sound with an adjustable shape, including editable waveforms and harmonics. 

Why We Love It:

• Great for experimentation with random feature
• Brilliant tremolo effect

View Price On Melda Production

MTremolo is slightly different from the rest on our list as it has been designed as a volume shaper with a sequencer.

You are also able to split the effect into 2 bands, and it includes a visual UI to help pinpoint the frequencies you want to isolate.

Features

• Sequencer-style waveshaper
• Smart randomization tool

Review

I like this VST, especially the control and UI used for controlling each frequency band.

The step sequencer is also a great addition to this plugin and is VERY similar to the step sequencer in Native Instruments Massive, which isn’t a bad thing.

However, unlike our other picks, drawing the shape you’re looking for in the graph is far harder.

So if you’re looking for a more accurate tool, one of our other picks will be best for you.

FAQ

What does LFO Tool do?

LFO Tool is a VST that allows you to create side-chain and wobble effects on your audio and midi tracks.

A prominent effect often found within the drum and bass and dance genres.

What does LFO stand for?

LFO stands for low-frequency oscillator.

Why do I need an LFO shaper like LFO Tool?

Some LFO filters within synths can be a bit lackluster.

Using an LFO shaper is a fast and easy way to add some filter modulation to your tracks.