Best free synth VST plugins
If you're looking to make your audio tracksmore appealing and interesting, then you really need to use the free synth VSTplugins. Synths are offering you a cool way to make your music even better andmore interesting. While analogue synths are expensive, synth plugins are ratheraffordable, and you can find many free of charge.
When looking at free VST synths, first we have Surge from Vemember audio. Surge actually used to be a paid plugin but it's now Free, and also fully open source. This in my opinion represents one of the best. Free TB-303 VST Emulation The Creakbox Bassline plugin by bioroid (Bad Boys extension) is an old and almost forgotten little gem. It is, in fact, the best free Roland TB-303 VST emulation ever made! The most famous FM synth sound is probably the cheesy E-Piano sound, used in countless 80's hits. Dexed is a free emulation of the famous DX7. It can be tricky to figure out, but works well for the classic DX7 E-Piano sound. Here's a 'Dexed' version of the DX7 E-Piano from Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You'.
ZebraletteZebralette sounds amazing and the best partabout it is that this is just an oscillator set from Zebra2. That being said,it does have a great array of features like oscillator waveform editing withspectroblend, geomorph, geoblend and spectromorph modes. It also includes 24spectral effects, a stereo VCA with volume and pan modulation! All in all, it'san amazing free synth VST plugin and one that works great specifically forelectronic and EDM music in particular. However, you can use it in most genreswith a bit of creativity!
FREE Synth Plug-ins. If you are looking for some FREE synth plug-ins, then here's the list. It features FREE synth plug-ins in most major formats and is updated regularly. If you think we've missed one then please let us know. This is a searchable database; you can search for free synth plug-ins in various ways. If you want to make EDM or other genres of electronic music but can't afford to get plugins like Nexus, Serum, or Sylenth, this video is just the thing you need. This blog post will show you the best free synthesizers to make music with and you can find a demo of each in the video below.
ThumpWith Thump you are able to synthesize lowfrequency audio. Either that, or you can add a new set of sounds if you want.This is a great VST plugin if you want to bring in an old school synth drumsound. Plus, you have two independent oscillators, not to mention there arethings like 12+ presets detailed metering and complete control if you want tomix the synthesized sound with the overall source as well.
T-Force Alpha PlusT-Force Alpha Plus brings in someinteresting features like new synthesis, new Mod Envelopes, revised oscillatorsand so on. It also has 3 free running multiwave oscillators, 1 noise oscillatorand subtractive/FM support. It's a product that delivers a tremendous value formoney, so we recommend you to give it a try, especially if you need a dedicatedsidechain FX system. We guarantee that you will not be disappointed with it!
CharlatanCharlatan's main benefit is that it focuseson ease of use and sound quality. It's a subtractive and polyphonic analogsynth plugin. It makes it easy for you to learn how to adapt sounds so youdon't have to rely on presets all the time. It's great for experimentalnoises, but it also offers a way tocreate classic synth vibes which are a pleasure to use. There's a stereo noisegenerator here, 2 oscillators that support shape modulation, as well as 2 ADSRenvelope generators and an LFO that has host tempo sync.
ScorpiusScorpius is a great free synth VST pluginthat offers you some amazing psychedelic sounds. The interface is not the mostintuitive, however it has a vast range of different features for you toexplore. It has a ring modulator, flanger, stereo delay, routing options, 2filters, 3 oscillators and many others. It's definitely one of the coolest VSTplugins for a different, rewarding sound.
PG-8XEven if PG-8X is inspired by an old school program,it does have a great analogue synth experience. The bass sounds are veryimpressive, you also have cool pads and string ensembles. Some of the featuresprovided by PG-8X include a 3-stage HP filter, stereo chorus, hard sync, 24 dBresonant LP filter and 12-voice polyphony among others.
Tal-NoiseMakerTal-NoiseMaker is quite simple, intuitiveand easy to use. It also has features like a bit chrusher, chorus and reverb.With 256 presets you will get a really good experience, and the reality is thatall these presets are working super nicely. We encourage you to test itespecially if you want to use the great 3 oscillators. It's a fullycustomizable synth VST plugin with lots of versatility and value.
PodolskiWhile Podolski is not the most complex VSTplugin, it's very convenient and CPU efficient. It has an oscillator withvaried symmetry, multiple modes like legato, mono or polyphonic, as well as 4envelope modes, a multimode filter and more than 520 factory presets. That goesto show the great value you can get from it, not to mention there are somedelay effects you can use as needed.
HelmMatt Tyrell's Helm is a polyphonic synththat can also be used as a standalone. It has a 64 and 32 bit version too.Unlike other synth VST plugin options in this list, this one actually has agreat interface and you won't have a problem identifying and adapting stuff asyou go along. Even if it might seem a bit intimidating in the beginning, itlooks really well and that's what really makes it worth the effort.
MiniSpillageMiniSpillage is one of the most interestingdrum synths you can find out there. It brings you a set of synthesis algorithmscreated for electronic percussion and it also has a high resolution 64-bit DSPprocessing engine. The interface is great, it also has ADSR envelopes andcustom algorithms that really make it stand out of the crowd and very powerful.
With Thump you are able to synthesize lowfrequency audio. Either that, or you can add a new set of sounds if you want.This is a great VST plugin if you want to bring in an old school synth drumsound. Plus, you have two independent oscillators, not to mention there arethings like 12+ presets detailed metering and complete control if you want tomix the synthesized sound with the overall source as well.
T-Force Alpha PlusT-Force Alpha Plus brings in someinteresting features like new synthesis, new Mod Envelopes, revised oscillatorsand so on. It also has 3 free running multiwave oscillators, 1 noise oscillatorand subtractive/FM support. It's a product that delivers a tremendous value formoney, so we recommend you to give it a try, especially if you need a dedicatedsidechain FX system. We guarantee that you will not be disappointed with it!
CharlatanCharlatan's main benefit is that it focuseson ease of use and sound quality. It's a subtractive and polyphonic analogsynth plugin. It makes it easy for you to learn how to adapt sounds so youdon't have to rely on presets all the time. It's great for experimentalnoises, but it also offers a way tocreate classic synth vibes which are a pleasure to use. There's a stereo noisegenerator here, 2 oscillators that support shape modulation, as well as 2 ADSRenvelope generators and an LFO that has host tempo sync.
ScorpiusScorpius is a great free synth VST pluginthat offers you some amazing psychedelic sounds. The interface is not the mostintuitive, however it has a vast range of different features for you toexplore. It has a ring modulator, flanger, stereo delay, routing options, 2filters, 3 oscillators and many others. It's definitely one of the coolest VSTplugins for a different, rewarding sound.
PG-8XEven if PG-8X is inspired by an old school program,it does have a great analogue synth experience. The bass sounds are veryimpressive, you also have cool pads and string ensembles. Some of the featuresprovided by PG-8X include a 3-stage HP filter, stereo chorus, hard sync, 24 dBresonant LP filter and 12-voice polyphony among others.
Tal-NoiseMakerTal-NoiseMaker is quite simple, intuitiveand easy to use. It also has features like a bit chrusher, chorus and reverb.With 256 presets you will get a really good experience, and the reality is thatall these presets are working super nicely. We encourage you to test itespecially if you want to use the great 3 oscillators. It's a fullycustomizable synth VST plugin with lots of versatility and value.
PodolskiWhile Podolski is not the most complex VSTplugin, it's very convenient and CPU efficient. It has an oscillator withvaried symmetry, multiple modes like legato, mono or polyphonic, as well as 4envelope modes, a multimode filter and more than 520 factory presets. That goesto show the great value you can get from it, not to mention there are somedelay effects you can use as needed.
HelmMatt Tyrell's Helm is a polyphonic synththat can also be used as a standalone. It has a 64 and 32 bit version too.Unlike other synth VST plugin options in this list, this one actually has agreat interface and you won't have a problem identifying and adapting stuff asyou go along. Even if it might seem a bit intimidating in the beginning, itlooks really well and that's what really makes it worth the effort.
MiniSpillageMiniSpillage is one of the most interestingdrum synths you can find out there. It brings you a set of synthesis algorithmscreated for electronic percussion and it also has a high resolution 64-bit DSPprocessing engine. The interface is great, it also has ADSR envelopes andcustom algorithms that really make it stand out of the crowd and very powerful.
LokomotivLokomotiv's main focus is to create a verygood analog retro synth sound. This sounds really well and it has a simpleinterface too. What we like about Lokomotivis the fact that it has a lot offeatures. It comes with an oscillator, filter, modulator and specificationtools. Since it's not overwhelming, it will offer you a great experience whilestill making it easy to create impressive sounds very fast and easy.
DigitsIf you need a good phase distortion synthplugin, then Digits might be able to help. Its interface is quite unique and itdelivers 100 presets. These have things like brass sounds, realisticinstruments, pads, leads, basses and many others. You even get access to aharmonic bit crush, flanger, realistic instruments and other great tools. It'scertainly worth it so you should give it a try for yourself. It works supernicely and the best part is that the interface is very good especially forbeginners. Changing the audio parameters might make things crack a little. Yetif you get past that, it's actually a nice plugin.
Crystal SynthCrystal Synth comes as a semi-modularsoftware synth. It has both frequency modulation as well as subtractivesynthesis. You have more than 90+ parameters to work with, tempo sync,dedicated effects, a band splitter and wave sequencing. They also integrated granularsynthesis, and multi-stage envelopes with graphic editing. The problem for a lotof people is the interface is not the best, it can become rather overwhelming.But if you get past that, you will find it pretty interesting to use. It justtakes time to get used to the features and the overall interface alignment.
Tal-BasslineThe name clearly shows that this is asynthesizer created for bass and it does a very good job at it. With its helpyou can get effects and acid tones that you can't get anywhere else. You canuse this for EDM, trap and even dance music where you use bass a lot. It'sactually going to help you a lot with its numerous presets, the MIDIautomation, great panic button, sub-oscillator and bandlimited oscillators.Overall, it's a great tool to use and you will find it incredibly impressiveand a pleasure to use.
Muon Tau BasslineThis monophonic bassline synth is very similar to the Roland 303 synth, a very popular unit. What they did very well here is the interface. Instead of going the overly complicated route, they did the opposite and that means offering a better experience to customers and the results are incredible because of that. It's a good tool especially for beginners. But despite the focus on beginners, everyone can use it without issues. There are things like an 18 db lowpass resonant filter, complete MIDI control or the great 64-bit waveform oscillator that really make the difference. You will find it incredibly different when compared to other free synth VST plugins and that's for the best.
HelixHelix is very flexible, easy to adapt toyour needs. They have a lot of built-in sounds and presets. You can pay for alicense, but the free trial is fully functional. It has more than 1000 presetsyou can use, 10 different distortion types, 17 filters as well as deepmodulation. It's very powerful, dependable and you will certainly find it apleasure to use and adapt to your needs. It's well worth your time, especiallyif you are into creating great music.
Combo Model FYou must use Combo Model F if you want anorgan synth. As you can imagine, it's very simple but you can adapt it to yourneeds without a problem. One thing to note is that it has a great harmonicrange, a volume pedal, bass voice, a knee lever control and full automation.It's certainly worth your time and if you check it out this will be a very goodtool to use.
Conclusion
You don't have to pay a lot of money for synth VST plugins. There are many free options that will work just as well. If you take your time and study the market, you will find that there are free alternatives to just about any synth plugin, so don't hesitate and give these a try. You will be very impressed with the value and versatility provided by these great VST plugins!
My name is Shane Beat, I'm a record producer, DJ, and songwriter. I'm from Canada, I worked with many biggest rappers from United states and Canada like Smoke purpp, Ski Mask the Slump God, k-os, I'm here to help you to develop your skills with new and best plugins in the world.
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Best Free Software Synths
Don't you just love synths? We all do! Synths have been at the forefront of today's modern music, as well as film and game scoring. We see more and more modern types of scores done with synths alone. Software synths do a pretty great job nowadays, almost as good as hardware ones. That comes at a price of course, but when on a tight budget freeware can do some great stuff. I've met many people who use freeware synths on their day-to-day projects. So here is our round up of the best and most interesting freeware synths currently available for you to try out.
1. Dexed
This is a Yamaha DX7 embodiment in software. Basically the creators of ‘Dexed' analyzed the actual DX7 chips and created a software version of it. And the great thing is that ‘Dexed' can easily load and save sysex files from a hardware DX7. So if you own a DX7 then you know the ordeal of creating sounds with it from scratch. ‘Dexed' makes it a lot easier to create your own sounds. If you are a fan of FM synthesis, this one is for you.
2. TAL-NoiseMaker
Best Free Synths 2019
This synth is a great tool if you are just starting your synth discovery journey. The interface is pretty straightforward and accessible, and let's not forget the beefy sound it produces. This is a great analog sounding software synth, with two oscillators, 2LFOs, a filter and envelope section, mix section and a great set of built-in effects. Currently it's one of our favorite free synths out there.
3. OB-XD 2.1
This one is a software emulation of one of the greatest analog synths out there, the Oberheim OB-X. The famous intro to Van Halen's ‘Jump' is the OB-X, and you can have this amazing software emulation for $0. The ‘OB-XD 2.1' is a faithful reproduction of this rich-sounding synth, implementing randomized micro-tuning to achieve similar tones. The dual-oscillator plugin features some modern additions in order to expand on the sound-shaping possibilities of the original hardware synth, and it includes a bendable multimode filter. You can't go wrong with this one.
4. Daichi Synth 1
This one is for all you 16-bit era SEGA fans out there. Even though the interface is not eye-candy, the sounds it produces are great if you are creating retro music for games. Kind of a strange thing, because the designers claim it was modeled after the Nord Lead 2 and the arpegiator seems interesting for fiddling around with. There are cool presets, but it is also fairly easy to dial in your own sound.
5. VCV Rack
A must-have for any modular enthusiast out there! Modular synths are a whole different universe and the patching possibilities you have are almost endless. That is, if you are brave enough to dive into the world of modular. Luckily, to save your budget from a modular shopping spree, there's the ‘VCV Rack' which is a perfect training tool for an upstarting modular enthusiast. Open adobe reader.
This is a freeware virtual Eurorack environment which allows you to hook up a plethora of virtual modules and create some truly otherworldly and weird sounds. Aside from hooking up the thing inside the box, ‘VCV Rack' offers an option for MIDI output which enables you to control your actual hardware with CV gate, CV midi and CV cc modules. Of course some additional modules come at a price but the standard version of ‘VCV Rack' is totally free for the taking.
6. Helm
Best Free Synths 2020
‘Helm' is an amazing open-source polysynth that sounds as great as it looks. The GUI is really modern and easy to understand so newcomers won't have any issues with understanding the controls and what they do. There are loads of great presets as well as some really cool effects like stutter and formant. What's great and unique about this synth is that it runs on almost every OS out there, be it OSX, Windows or Linux and it's a 32bit and 64bit software as well. You can modify the source code if you're crafty enough and create your very own synth out of it.
Best Free Synths Reddit
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