Virtual Analog Vst Synthesizer

  1. A three-oscillator synth with superb built-in effects, arpeggiation and sequencing, Dune’s two headline features are the ability to independently set Oscillators 1 and 2 to Virtual Analogue, Wavetable or (rather basic) FM mode, and the incredible number of unison voices it’s capable of generating: up to 8320 when running 32 stacked oscillators each in the Oscillator 1 and 2 blocks, and eight global unison voices, at 16-voice polyphony.
  2. Download the Best Free Synth Audio Plugins. Just click and download.

It’s been a while since I surveyed the market for free software synths, so I thought I’d give it go and see what’s new and what has stood the test of time. Some of these instruments were released as prototypes or were the early experiments of developers just entering the market.

Virtual Studio Technology (VST) is an audio plug-in software interface that integrates software synthesizer and effects in digital audio workstations.VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware in software. Thousands of plugins exist, both commercial and freeware, and many audio applications support VST under license from its.

If you get it for free this week via Plugin Boutique, you will also receive the Expose software by Mastering The Mix as a free download. Both 32-bit and 64-bit plugin hosts are supported.In celebration of the forthcoming Ozone 9 software release, iZotope is offering Ozone 8 Elements as a completely free download. Izotope 8 download pc.

Arturia managed to create a great virtual synth that emulates sound, feeling, look and entire experience that Moog Modular can offer you. The Modulav V VST synthesizer plugin was developed in close collaboration with Bob Moog himself to insure an accurate recreation of his awesome synth. More Details: Modular V Arturia. Diva by U-he. Free Virtual Analog Synthesizer Plugin by BlauKraut Engineering. Charlatan is a polyphonic, subtractive virtual analog (VA) synthesizer plugin with focus on sound quality and easy usability. It comes with a flexible, yet not overwhelming feature set which encourages artists to start tweaking instead of just relying on presets.

Free stuff is not always actually free. Often you will follow a link only to find out that it’s a free “demo”. Aren’t all demos supposed to be free?? In other cases, free software is dangled like a carrot in order to get your email address or to entice you into buying other products, preset libraries, add-ons, etc.

Well, business is business, and I suppose everyone needs to make a buck. I really don’t mind spending a few dollars for some shareware now and again to support a budding developer. But it behooves even the most experienced consumer to proceed with caution when the word free is thrown around.

What follows are some awesome sounding instruments in no particular order that are indeed free with very few strings attached. And if you can stomach a little extra spam, some of these may prove valuable additions to your stockpile of synths.

1. TyrellN6 by u-he

  • Virtual analog with classic architecture, plus extras.
  • Two oscillators, noise, ring modulator.
  • Two LFOs with eight waveforms that are host-syncable.
  • Audio source mixer with authentic overdrive and filter feedback.
  • Twin filter related to Diva (early model).
  • Unison with up to eight voices.
  • Analog-type ADSR envelopes, loopable or LFO-triggered.
  • Small modulation matrix with depth modulation from a second source.
  • Chorus effect with three modes.
  • MIDI learn / unlearn for hardware control.
  • Resizable UI from 70% to 200%.
  • Skinnable UI.
  • Over 580 factory presets.

Izotope rx 6 serial. This thing is responsive as hell and sounds sweet! I love the stained and grungy aesthetic of the interface. It’s really hard to believe it’s free. But it serves its purpose I suppose because it truly whets the appetite for more stuff from u-he.

2. Dexed

Dexed is an emulation of the classic FM synth: Yamaha DX7.

From the Github page:

“Dexed is a multi-platform, multi-format plugin synth that is closely modeled on the Yamaha DX7. Dexed is also a midi cartridge librarian/manager for the DX7. Do not expect this to be a perfect clone of a DX7 since this will take years in the open source world and multiple collaborators before getting there … Since Dexed is modeled on the DX7, the Yamaha DX7 Operating Manual can be used as a reference documentation.”

The interface is a little cluttered and is more functional than it is aesthetically pleasing, but there are a ton of sonic possibilities with this for those willing to dig in.

3. MiniSpillage

“MiniSpillage is a free professional quality drum synthesizer plugin featuring high-resolution 64-bit DSP processing.
MiniSpillage includes three exclusive drum synthesis algorithms along with distortion effects and resonant filters.”

  • Bass Drum – Single oscillator bass drum synth with pitch sweep, internal FM and harmonic controls.
  • Wood Drum – Flexible wooden drum model synthesizes natural and synthetic timbres from log drums to toms.
  • Hi-Hat – Six oscillators closed and open hi-hat generator with a noise source and dual resonant filters.

This is a great free option for those that want to create their own drum sounds with modulation, filtering and distortion effects.

4. Crystal Synth by Green Oak

This is one is a bit frustrating and takes a while to get anything remotely usable. The interface is on the clunky side. But a little patience can be rewarding.

5. Lokomotiv

Lokomotiv is an analog retro synthesizer that is impressive from the first launch. Its austere interface is surprisingly responsive and sounds immediately great.

Oscillator:

  • Mathematically generated high definition Oscillator without using wavetable or interpolation.
  • Silky smooth 9X detuned sawtooth wave.
  • Pulse wave with self PWM.
  • Shape morphing sub-oscillator.

Filter:

  • MG ladder modeling multimode filter featuring Zero Delay Feedback technology.
  • Routable filter Drive (Pre/Post).

Modulator:

  • Natural Curved ADSR Envelope generator.
  • One-shot LFO which can be used as envelope.

Specification:

  • 1X OSC (Saw+ Pulse) + One Sub OSC, Noise Generator.
  • 1X multimode Filter with Drive.
  • 1X LFO, 1X Envelope Generator.
  • Eight polyphonic voices, Mono and Legato mode supported.
  • 64 Factory presets included.
  • Native 64-bit, Mac and Windows OS supported.

6. Digits from Extent of the Jam

This one sports a subdued color palette with beefy growls, preset chords and brass sounds. A bit of crackling when parameters are modified, but worth the time to download for sure.

7. Spitfire Audio – LABS

Not long ago, Spitfire Audio released an ongoing series of completely free instruments called LABS. These are very, very simple sampled instruments with just a handful of controls and they sound really, really good. So far the collection includes:

  • Charango
  • Electric Piano
  • Amplified Electric Cello Quartet
  • Drums
  • Strings
  • Soft Piano

If you’ve used any of the Spitfire Sample Libraries before, you know how well they’re recorded, and these instruments are no exception. While you won’t get the flexibility or deep sampled variety of a full-scale library, you will get a great sound that can be slightly varied to taste. While these are sampled instruments as opposed to synths, they’re free and so good that I felt they warranted inclusion.

8. TAL NoiseMaker

This is one my of favorite choices. The interface is accessible, clean and to the point and thick, beefy sounds are possible from the get-go. Really nice!

From the developer: “TAL NoiseMaker is an improved version of TAL-Elek7ro and has a completely new synth engine and a lot of improvements in sound and usability. The synth also includes a small effect section with a reverb, chorus and a simple bit crusher effect. A display shows the knob and slider values. This allows more control over the synth. A ring modulator and a syncable triangle are also part of this synth.”

TAL NoiseMaker includes new filter types and the self-resonating 6 dB low pass and notch filter. Its improved amplitude ADSR is very suitable for slow pads and for really fast envelopes. 128 factory presets included, 80 made by Frank “Xenox” Neumann.

Features:

  • Three Oscillators. Osc 1, +/- 24 semitones, fine tune, phase control (saw, pulse, noise). Osc 2, +/- 24 semitones, fine tune, phase control (saw, rectangle, triangle, sine). Sub Osc (rectangle).
  • Osc 1 PM for pulse waveform.
  • Osc 2 FM controlled by Osc 1.
  • Osc 1 & Osc 2 sync to sub osc (saw, pulse, rectangle, triangle (bipolar sync)).
  • Adjustable master tune and transpose.
  • Up to six voices.
  • Portamento in mono and poly mode (off, auto, on).
  • Ringmod modulates Osc 1 with Osc 2.
  • Self resonating 4x oversampled filters (24 dB LP, 18 dB LP, 12 dB LP, 6 dB LP, 12 dB HP, 12 dB BP, Notch).
  • Filter ADSR (negative and positive).
  • Volume ADSR
  • Routable ADSR, modulates Filter, Osc 1, Osc 2, PW, FM (negative and positive)
  • Two LFO’s with different running modes: free, sync to host, triggered by note. Modulates filter, Osc 1, Osc 2, FM, PW, LFO rate, Panorama and Volume. Sine, Triangle, Saw Square, S&H, Noise. Positive and Negative modulation. Phase control.
  • Adjustable Velocity-dependent control over volume filter contour and cutoff.
  • Adjustable Pitch Wheel control over Cutoff and Pitch.
  • One pole HP filter.
  • Detune, detunes notes randomly.
  • Juno chorus with different modes.
  • A built-in reverb and delay.
  • Adjustable filter drive.
  • Bitcrusher affects Osc 1 and Osc 2. It’s a pre-filter stage effect.
  • MIDI Learn for all knobs.
  • Panic button.
  • Easy to use, no hidden panels.
  • 256 great presets (Presets by Frank “Xenox” Neumann, The Unshushable Coktor, Alexandra Sendy, TAL, Patrick Kunz).

9. Thump by Metric Halo

Thump is a unique audio processor that allows you to synthesize low-frequency audio to add low end to a track or generate another sound entirely. Thump looks at the pitch and dynamics of its audio input and uses this information to control its oscillators. You can add low end to drums, augment a bass or even create synthetic drones.

Thump is ideal for beefing up a kick drum, adding low end to percussive tracks, recreating classic drum synth sounds and more. You can use Thump’s envelope driven, percussive sub-harmonic synth for the following things (among others):

  • Build low-octave support for bass drum, tom, snare and other percussive tracks.
  • Create kettle drum sounds from regular drum tracks.
  • Recreate the sounds of classic drum synths like the TR-808.

The effect of Thump is similar to generating a sine wave or other waveform on a gated track that is side-chained to a transient on another track such as a kick. But Thump allows more control, two oscillators that can be changed on the fly and more pitch specific envelope control. If you like kicks that are thick as hell and challenge the range of human hearing, you will like Thump a lot.

NOTE: the instrument requires a transient input to be activated so you would use it like an insert rather than a standalone synth.

10. Synth 1 by Daichi Laboratory

While the interface is a bit nasty and pixelated, Synth 1 by Ichiro Toda is modeled after the Nord Lead 2 Red Synth and sounds decent. It doesn’t take long to get a few usable sounds and the onboard arpeggiator is great for experimenting. (Manual)

11. PG-8X by Martin Lüder

“The PG-8X is a virtual synthesizer, inspired by the Roland JX-8P with the PG-800 programmer. The synth architecture is a standard 2-oscillator -> Filter -> VCA design. These elements can be modulated by a common LFO and one of two envelopes. The PG-8X is patch compatible with the JX-8P and can read and write JX-8P Sysex data”. (Manual)

Conclusion

While these instruments may not be the best things in life — they are free. And it has been my experience that there is something to be learned from every piece of software, as there is from all types of music. Experimentation and exploration yield untold rewards for the adventurous, and freeware is a great place to start your journey or a means to unshackle yourself, at least temporarily, from the financial constraints that plague us all.

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Check out my other articles, reviews, interviews and my video tutorial series, Synthesis 101 available exclusively on The Pro Audio Files.

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In volume 4 of our free VST roundup series we’re gonna give you some soft synth magic. Why synths? Because they sound great and are fun-level infinity.

Soft synths are good for everything on your tracks: massive wall rattling lines, sneaky ambient chimes, or warm chords that lay you down for a tender sonic nap.

But though they may sound good, analogue synths are usually big, breakable and bank-bustingly expensive.

No worries. Just download these free VSTs, throw ’em in your DAW software and transport yourself away to synth heaven.

Here’s the 7 best free synth VST plugins around.

1. Dexed – FM Plugin Synth

Dexed is a superb frequency modulation synth. It’s closely modelled after the iconic Yamaha DX7.

The 6 operators are all easily modded on the simple to follow interface.

Perfect for making that blissed out synth voice you’ve been daydreaming about.

Download it here for free.

2. Helix

The download of Helix is a ‘trial’ but it’s basically fully functional.

The trial version sometimes generates some unwanted noise, or floats out of tune, but it’s still a free and powerful tool every synth lover should have.

The download page for Helix tells you that it gives you ‘Soaring leads, solid basses and glimmering pads.’

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Fire this beast up for some rewarding tweaking today.

Download it here for free

3. Combo Model F

Sometimes the secret ingredient to a banging track is the organ in your grandma’s basement.

Combo Model F is perfect for those times, and all the other times you need a fun little organ sound.

Take it for a rip and never look back.

Download it here for free

4. Tal-Bassline

This sleek unit will give you the big beefy bass you need.

TAL-Bassline gives you all those acid-twinged basslines you hear everywhere these days. Perfect for Trap, EDM or any other big bass needs you might have.

Use TAL-Bassline on your tracks for all your trunk thumping needs.

Download it here for free

5. SYNTH1

SYNTH1 is hosted on Geocities Japan. So get ready to take a walk down memory lane.

The download page is in Japanese so make sure you have a translator handy if you don’t speak Japanese.

But the VST itself provides the universal language of good synth sounds! So make it yours.

Download it here for free

6. Tunefish 4

No, not Tunafish. TUNEfish.

Tunefish 4 is a versatile free vst synth that can create just about anything: pads, leads, bass or any other tasty sound your track needs.

Virtual Analog Vst Synthesizer Keyboard

Think of it like your very own synthesizer swiss army knife. It has something for pretty much every synth situation.

Download it here for free

7. Muon Tau Bassline

The Muon Tau Bassline is modelled after the Roland 303.

This small but powerful VST synth gives you that sweet sweet 303 bass we all know and love.

Put it in your DAW and reap all the bass benefits from one of the most iconic pieces of analog gear known to music.

Download it here for free

Synth by Synth

Every music creator deserves and needs a good synth session every now and then.

Virtual Analog Synth Vst Free

So put these in your DAW and tweak, mod and record until you’ve scratched that synth itch we all get from time-to-time.

And let us know what your favourite free Synth plugins are.

Because we don’t want SOME synth plugins, we want ALL the synth plugins.