TRENCH — Free DJ Filter Plugin, One-Knob Performance Filter (VST3, Windows)
TRENCH is a free DJ filter plugin for Windows 10/11 (64-bit), available as a VST3 and a standalone app. It is one DJ-law CUTOFF knob: turn left to close a lowpass, turn right to open a highpass, and center is bit-perfect open. Resonance goes up to screaming, DRIVE sits before the filter so it screams louder, and MOTION sweeps the cutoff across one to eight bars in sync for build-ups without automation lanes. It is part of BSMT.DSP, the free suite by Dr.dawgOG from Anand, Gujarat.
What TRENCH does
Every DJ mixer has the same filter knob: one control that is a lowpass on the left, a highpass on the right and does nothing in the middle. It is the fastest way to build tension or pull energy out of a track, and producers borrow it constantly for intros, transitions and drops. TRENCH is that knob as a plugin, with the DJ law built in so the center position is bit-perfect, no coloration, no phase shift, nothing until you move it.
Resonance adds the peak at the cutoff, from a gentle emphasis to a scream. DRIVE sits before the filter, so pushing it into resonance produces the aggressive, saturated sweep rather than a polite one. MOTION is the part that saves automation lanes: choose a length from one to eight bars and TRENCH sweeps the cutoff in sync with the DAW, so a build-up into a drop is one setting instead of a hand-drawn curve.
Build-ups, transitions and beat switches
On a beat switch, put TRENCH on the beat bus, set MOTION to four bars closing the highpass, and let the low end fall away into the drop. For an intro, start with the lowpass closed and open it over eight bars. For a live feel, map CUTOFF to a knob on a MIDI controller and ride it by hand during the mixdown; the DJ law means the center stays clean when you let go.
It is also a quick tone tool: a touch of lowpass on a harsh sample loop or a highpass on a muddy vocal ad-lib, with the resonance down, works as a musical one-knob EQ. TRENCH runs as a VST3 in FL Studio, Ableton Live, Reaper, Studio One, Cubase and Bitwig on Windows, and the standalone app is fun for filtering a track live.
How to use TRENCH
- Insert TRENCH on the beat bus, a loop or any track you want to sweep.
- Turn CUTOFF left for lowpass, right for highpass; leave it centered for a bit-perfect bypass.
- Add resonance for the peak and DRIVE before the filter for a saturated, aggressive sweep.
- Set MOTION to one to eight bars for a synced sweep into a drop, or map CUTOFF to a MIDI knob and play it live.
TRENCH features
- One DJ-law CUTOFF knob: lowpass left, highpass right, bit-perfect center
- Resonance from gentle emphasis to screaming
- DRIVE before the filter for saturated sweeps
- MOTION: tempo-synced sweeps across one to eight bars, no automation lanes
- Built for build-ups, transitions, beat switches and live performance
- VST3 and standalone for Windows 10/11 64-bit, free with no signup
TRENCH vs the alternatives
How TRENCH compares with the free and paid performance filter plugins producers usually shortlist. The row for TRENCH is highlighted.
| Plugin | Price | Windows formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRENCH (BSMT.DSP) | Free, no signup | VST3, standalone | DJ-law one-knob filter with resonance, pre-filter DRIVE and synced MOTION sweeps |
| Xfer DJMFilter | Free | VST2 only | The classic free DJ filter, but VST2 only and no longer current |
| Platone Studio DJ Filter | Free | VST3 | Simple free one-knob filter from a small developer |
| Cableguys FilterShaper Core | Paid | VST2, VST3, AAX | Paid anchor: drawable filter modulation with more shapes and modes |
Formats listed for Windows only, as published by each vendor in August 2026.
TRENCH specs
| Plugin | TRENCH (performance filter) |
| Category | EQ & FILTERS |
| Price | Free. No account, no email, no trial, no watermark. |
| Formats | VST3 (64-bit) and a standalone app |
| Operating system | Windows 10 / Windows 11, 64-bit. macOS build in progress (the download button switches when it ships). |
| Works in | FL Studio, Ableton Live, Reaper, Studio One, Cubase, Bitwig and any other VST3 host on Windows |
| Installer | One BSMT.DSP installer for all 27 plugins; tick the ones you want. It detects and updates older versions in place. |
| Version | Shown on the download button, fetched live from the releases repository. |
| Developer | Dr.dawgOG (BSMT.DSP), Anand, Gujarat, India |
| Support the project | buymeacoffee.com/dawgog (optional) |
TRENCH FAQ
What is a DJ filter plugin?
A single-knob filter copied from DJ mixers: lowpass to the left of center, highpass to the right, and nothing at all in the middle. TRENCH is that filter as a free VST3 for Windows, with resonance, drive and tempo-synced motion added.
How do I make a build-up sweep without automation?
Set TRENCH's MOTION to the length of the build, say four or eight bars, and pick the direction. The cutoff sweeps in sync with the DAW every time that section plays, with no automation lane to draw.
Is DJMFilter still the best free DJ filter?
Xfer's DJMFilter is a classic, but it is VST2 only, which many current DAWs no longer load. TRENCH covers the same one-knob job as a modern VST3 and adds MOTION, DRIVE and a standalone build.
Is TRENCH really free?
Yes. Completely free, no account, no email gate, no trial. It ships inside the BSMT.DSP installer on GitHub Releases, and you can install just TRENCH.
Does TRENCH work in FL Studio, Ableton Live and Reaper?
It does. TRENCH is a 64-bit VST3 for Windows 10/11, so it loads in FL Studio, Ableton Live, Reaper, Studio One, Cubase, Bitwig and any other VST3 host on Windows.
Install, SmartScreen and Mac questions are answered on the BSMT.DSP suite FAQ.
More from BSMT.DSP
See all 27 free BSMT.DSP plugins, the guide to mixing rap vocals with free plugins, and the list of free alternatives to paid vocal plugins. Need the vocal mixed by the person who built these? Mixing and mastering is open.