When your mix feels flat or lacks sparkle, Fresh Air by Slate Digital is one of the quickest ways to bring it to life.
Released as a free plugin, Fresh Air has gained a reputation as a “secret weapon” exciter — delivering smooth high-end lift, airy presence, and modern sheen without the harshness that EQ boosts can sometimes add.
Instead of traditional EQ, it uses a combination of vintage exciter circuits and modern processing to add top-end clarity and detail. Just a couple of dials can take dull vocals, muddy mixes, or lifeless instruments and make them shine.
Whether you’re working on pop, EDM, hip-hop, or acoustic tracks, it’s a must-have tool for adding polish and professional brightness in seconds.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10/10) • Free
Interface & Workflow
Fresh Air keeps things dead simple: just two knobs, Mid Air and High Air.
- Mid Air boosts upper midrange presence, helping vocals and instruments cut through.
- High Air opens up the “air band,” adding brilliance and sparkle to the top end.
There are no menus, no hidden pages, and no clutter — just instant, intuitive results. This simplicity makes it ideal for beginners, but pros love it too for its speed and effectiveness.
You can push it gently for subtle clarity or crank it for aggressive top-end shine. And thanks to its smart DSP design, it stays smooth even when pushed hard.
Features
- Two intuitive controls: Mid Air (upper mids) and High Air (brilliance)
- Unique processing that blends vintage exciter tone with modern clarity
- Works great on vocals, drums, guitars, synths, and full mixes
- Lightweight CPU usage with zero-latency operation
- 100% free from Slate Digital
Price & Value
Like Valhalla Supermassive, Fresh Air is completely free — no catch. Similar exciters can cost $50–$150, but Slate made this available for everyone.
Considering how often it ends up on vocal chains, drum buses, and masters, the value here is massive.
Pros
- Free with no limitations
- Instantly adds clarity, sheen, and polish
- Simple two-knob interface, easy to dial in
- Works on almost any source — vocals, drums, synths, full mixes
- Smooth top end without harshness
Cons
- No detailed control beyond two knobs
- Can be overused, leading to overly bright mixes
- Not a replacement for surgical EQ or dynamic processing
Verdict
Slate Digital Fresh Air is one of the best free plugins available today. Its ability to add instant clarity and shine makes it a staple for producers of all genres.
It’s not meant to replace EQ or saturation plugins, but as a finishing touch or quick enhancer, it’s unbeatable. For anyone mixing in 2025, Fresh Air belongs in your toolkit.
Rating: 9.8/10 — A free, must-have exciter that instantly makes mixes sound more polished and professional.
FAQ
What does Fresh Air do?
It enhances the upper mids and highs, adding brightness and presence without harshness.
Is Fresh Air really free?
Yes — Slate Digital offers it completely free, no subscriptions or licenses required.
Can it be used on the master bus?
Absolutely — but use with care. A little goes a long way, especially on full mixes.
Does Fresh Air work in all DAWs?
Yes — it supports VST, AU, and AAX formats.
What’s the difference between Mid Air and High Air?
- High Air adds sparkle and brilliance at the very top end.
- Mid Air adds presence in the upper mids (great for vocals).
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