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s | Asthe name of the site says, you will find here a list mainlydevoted to synthesizers, but you will find also virtual instruments ofother types, much fewer..
Thislist of freeware is not like the others that pullulate on the web andhas something special : it gives to you links for only the best freevirtual instruments(for Windows),and is the result of many and longresearches, after testing around one thousand intruments.My purpose isto avoid you getting stuck with the same job.. Allinstruments are classified, but in an approximative way.. When available, versions for other OS and formats are mentionned.
Youwill probably think that some instruments, that you like to use in your music, are missing, but there is a reason for that: the only criterion of this list isthe musical quality, the beauty of sound, and not technical abilitiesor specific uses.Many virtual instruments made by renown developers of free software areappreciated for their usefulness in specific styles of music, but I didnot put them in this list because they do not sound really good bythemselves.. Anyway, this list is the result of my own choice, necessarily subjectice, and open tocriticism, like anyone's list.. But it remains a unique list, because I hope that the level of quality is high..
Inthe left column of each page, by clicking on vignettes, you can see theinterface of the full-scale instruments. Sometimes,in the right column of the page, you will findlinks to download sound examples which allow you to get a precise ideaaboutqualities and possibilities of these instruments. They are not songsbut sounds made with original presets and patches of theinstruments, without additional effects. These demos were initially made for a rubric on the forumof the siteInstruments Virtuels, there,in Oggaudio format. If you do not know what is neededto play this format, You can do it easily with the very good freeplayers (better than Windows'one), MediaPlayer Classic or VLC. Doppler effect vst free download. If the car passes right by you it will be high as it gets closer and then low as it gets farther. Doppler Dome is a VST plug-in based on the Doppler effect. Explained simply, the Doppler effect is something that happens to sound when the listener and the sound source are getting closer together or farther appart. Doppler dome lets you adjust the amount of the pitch effect as well as pan and volume based on distance. For example, a car sound when you are in the car might have a particular frequency, but the frequency will be lower if the car is moving away from you, and will be like a record played at a lower speed.
Forthose who begin with vsti : as most of these instrumentsare not standalone, but require to be opened in a sequencer or a vsthost, I recommend you to download Minihost,by TobyBear, a very complete, stable and easy to use vst host.. It isdonationware. CantabileLite, the free version of Cantabile, is excellent too..
Attention: the number of references (more than 170 !) will get you sick,becausethe world of freeware is very rich in musical instruments, especiallygood quality synths. So, take your time, and come back to thislist, because it is often updated. |
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Monosynths for leads and bass lines
Stringsynths for pads
Page 2
Analoguesounding polysynths
Page 3
Synthswith techno/trance sounds
Synthsfor soundesign/ambient/atmosphere
Coldand metallic sounding synths
FMsynths
Hybridsynths that are not in other categories
Wavetablesynths
Phasedistorsion synths
Phase modulation synths
Phase morphing synths
Physicalmodeling synths
Page 5
Stepsequencers
Synthsfor noise
Workstations | Absurdmachines
Page 6
Emulationsof acoustic and electric instruments :
- Electronic organ
-Electric piano
- Theremin
Sample based emulations :
-Acoustic piano
- Mellotron
- Traditional instruments
-Various intruments
Page 7
Bundles
- Elektrostudio
Page 8
Commercialvirtual instrument bargains
-Synthesizers
- Soundbanks
- Virtual drummers andbassists
Magazineware
- The CM studio |
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| Synthesizers
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| Mono synths for leads and basslines |
| MinimogueLUXUS, by Gunnar Ekornas(Voltkitchen group),is a rather successful emulation of the famous MiniMoog, made withsynthedit. Though it is not as good as Arturia's Minimoog V, nor thealmost perfect GForce Minimonsta, it has an analogicalsound quality that gives big, swinging and juicy leads. With a niceclose-to-the-original instrument interface, it adds to this one astep sequencer, anarpeggiator, independent pan adjustment for eachOsc, and..polyphony (!), but I put it there because of the original machine. Indispensable.
http://www.home.no/gunnare/downloads.htm | Rezby Ugohas been updated and got a much nicer GUI, in two flavours (yellow or black), and itis an excellent mono synth that sounds beautiful to my ears. With asimple but very good arpeggiator and nice sounding dual delay, it givesgoodanalogleads and sequences. Easy to use and set, it is one of the very bestsounding free monosynths. Very melodious, it is one of my favourites. Amust-have.
http://www.ugoaudio.com/ | TriangleI by Rgcaudio,a mono synth with 2 Osc and an efficient delay, is good for clear andmelodious 70's leads. Good looking interface, easy to use andintuitive parameters..
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/RGCaudio-triangle1.10.rar
| TriangleII by Rgcaudiotoo, better than Triangle I because of its versatility, is a beautifulmono synth, very good for leads, rich in possibilities and parameters,able to sound fat and varied. Forthis must-have, you will find many presets on the web:
http://www.cakewalk.com/products/triangle/
| AngularMomentum's Analog Warfare 3has a very nice interface, with many components (3 Osc, 3 24 dB VCF, 4LFO, 2 delays, ADSRLenvelopes and many other things, like an arpeggiator, a step sequencer,anda separate chorus for each channel, midi learn).. It sounds very big,fat,granular, cheezy or sweepy, butnot varied (the sound possibilities are not large).. A goodsynth, especially for techno. The demo sounds were made with theprevious version, Analog Warfare 2.
http://www.amvst.com/node/15 | Pure-Pone by TubeOhmis the mono version of the commercial Pure-Pten. It is a full fetauredanalogue substractive synth, with 3 Osc and 20 waveforms, a bit of FM,1 noise generator, 1 LFO, 1multimodefilter, 1 ring modulator, 2 envelopes, 1 mixer, 1 arpeggiator,2 modulation busses, 1 chorus and 1 delay, 1 distortion, midi learnetc.. The sounding qualities are rich and various, between some clearFM sounds, analogue basses and leads, acid and agressive technosequences.. A very good synth. Do not care about 'buy'button nor 'poly' one, unusable here.. At Plugindex :
http://www.tubeohm.com/TubeOhm/FREEWARE.html
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| Vintager by Togu AudioLine,classic vintage analog mono synth, with 3 Osc, a non linear 24dBlowpass filter (after a moog one), 2 Lfo, 2 envelopes, and midilearn,which is useful for controling the synth with hardware. It sounds good,rather deep, dense, thick. You can try also U-NO-60, an honestemulation of the famous Juno 6. win / mac
http://www.kunz.corrupt.ch/?Products:VST_Vintager:Download
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| Bassline by Togu AudioLinetoo, has the same sound qualities as Vintager and, as its name says, itis made for basses. Simple but efficient, it sounds solid, fat, thick,deep and warm, typically analogue substractive. The interface is clearly inspired by the Roland SH-101. win / mac
http://kunz.corrupt.ch/products/tal-bassline
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| reFXClawis a simple mono synth, with only one Osc,but it sounds punchy, sharp, incisive, and can be agressive, forexpressive leads and basslines. A very good one in this category. Asit will be replaced by a new and better ReFXfreeware, Scout, it is no more available.The direct download link still works :
http://www.refx.com/downloads/Claw/Claw_1.0.zip
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| TheNK 1001 is aversatile 2 oscillators monosynththat sounds clean and fine, not punchy, thick or agressive,butpowerful, varied, nice and elegant. A chorus and a stereo delay make itcomplete.And, like almost GTG products, it has a nice interface. http://www.gtgsynths.com/plugins.htm |
| Maestro by Istvan Kaldorwill not please everyone, because of its dirty sound (Kaldor like it,see 'Dirtbag'), and its GUI is something special, but it is a very goodmono synthmade with synthedit. With its 2 Osc, its modulation matrix,andits added effects (delay and autopan), it produces expressive, juicy,fat analogical leads, as good as Minimogue or Claw ones. A very goodinstrument.
http://www.ianweb.dial.pipex.com/ikaldor/maestro.htm |
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| Taurus,by Antti for Smartelectronics,is a good bass synth, an emulation of the 'Taurus' bass pedals made byMoog. Simple but good sounding, efficient, it gives deep, fat, analoguebasses. On the same page than the excellent ASynth.Donationware but without limitations..
http://antti.smartelectronix.com/
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| Iblit by Andreas Erssonis a very good free synth too, which is one of the most renownedanalogical mono synths. With 3 Osc, 2Lfo and 2 ADSR envelopes, but without added effects, it comes raw. Soyou must imagine its sounds in a mix and with externaleffects.There are better free raw analogical synths (Antti's Asynth or JX10)that have a more granular and analogical texture, but this one isreally good.
PolyIblitis of course the polyphonic version, and it has more features..
http://www.bostreammail.net/ers/iblit.html
| Rogue by Noslogan,is a classic analog mono synth with a rather dirty and nasal sound, asthey say on the site : 'raspy, fried transistor, dropped on the grounda couple of times'. Nice.
http://www.noslogan.com/VST/Rogue/Rogue.html |
| BB303i by Buzzroomis a simple mono synth that is good for clean thick leads and basslines. Its name reminds the famous TB-303, of course.. It is ratherbasic, and is not supposed to produce complex and composite sounds, butit is efficient, and sounds analogical, fat and deep. Easy to use. See 'Download OLD buzzroom VST Plugins Pack' at the bottom of the page :
http://www.x-buz.com/Products.html |
| Alieno by Acrobatics Softwareis a Sci-Fi look-like engine, but this mono synth is not a toy. Itsounds well for leads and sequences with its 16 step pattern Lfo. Ithas 6 Osc divided in 3 modules, 1 multimode filter, effects likereverb,delay, vibrato and pan/tremolo. Last three effects and the Lfo aretempo sync, and all paramaters can be automated. Several useless colorsof skins are available..
http://www.blank-media.it/acrobatics/ |
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| String synths for pads |
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| CrazyDiamonds by RumpelrauschTaïps,is a stringsynth that produces string ensemble pads, not varied butefficient and good sounding. To understand why it is called 'CrazyDiamonds', click on the 'warranty void' label and listen theintro pad of 'Shine on you crazy diamond' in'Wishyou were here' (Pink Floyd of course) that this instrument emulatesperfectly.
Search by yourself and find better sounds than the factory presets. win / mac
http://untermkittel.de/rumpelrausch/?PLUGINS
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| Stringsynth by Algomusicis a rare emulation of Solina-like string synths. It is an old thingand does not sound the best, but, although its sound is a bit close andthin, it is useful and fine.
http://www.algomusic.net/freeware.htm
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| Orchestral Stringsby Uncuthas not a nice UI, but it is a good stringsynth that sounds rather likeold 70's renowned machines, with its 6 saw Osc, finetuning for 4 of them, mix 1&2, mix 3&4 vol for each pair, 2 12/24 dB multimode filters, 1envelope, and useful effects for phased string pads : a 2 voiceschorus, 1 reverb and a welcome stereo width adjustement. Not versatilebut efficient. The site is down, so take it there :
http://lesitedeburnie.free.fr/Host/Uncut-Orch-Strings.zip
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| S3B by Krakliis my prefered of the S3 series, because of its original sounds and itsability to produce rythmic effects with its pulse module and itsarpeggiator. Good looking, it has one osc with many waveforms (sine, square, triangle, saw, soft ramp, peak ramp, ramp, peak, octava, cluster 1, cluster 2),1 noise, 1 envelope,1 vibrato with delay, 1 phazer (which is necessary and efficientfor that sort of sounds), 1 'ensemble', 1 echo, 1 EQ.. Its sounds areinteresting, not the fatest nor the brightest, a bit nasal, but theyhave a special nice colour..
http://krakli.wordpress.com/krakli-free-synths/ |
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| The List :page2 - page3 - page4 - page5-page 6- page 7 -page 8 |
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Continuing the theme of free synths based on classics, here’s one based on one of the best of all – the Minimoog. And when this synth sticks to its guns, producing those original sounds, it scores highly. Basses are deep, leads piercing and, all told, it’s hard to believe it’s free.
Ever since the VST first made its way into the music production world, VST instruments dramatically increased the capabilities of DAWs.
It’s truly incredible how this technology that remains relatively unchanged from its first versions in the late 90s, continues to shape modern music production as we know.
There are 1000s of VST instruments on the market today, including some great free ones.
But freeware plugins can only take you so far. The top tone tools for music production are still commercial products that come with a price tag.
When it comes to paid synth plugins, knowing where to put your money is hard. Which is why LANDR now offers rent-to-own plugins—to bring you the tools you need at affordable prices.
With all the options out there, it doesn’t have to be scary or expensive if you’re able to pick the best synth plugin that’s right for your music production needs.
Let’s take a look at VST instruments that are responsible for iconic tracks and sounds you can’t get anywhere else.
Here’s the essential list of the best VST instruments and synth plugins
- Lethal Audio
- Spectrasonics Omnisphere
- Xfer Serum
- Native Instruments Massive
- Native Instruments FM8
- Arturia V Collection
- Native Instruments Kontakt 6
- Reveal Sound Spire
- u-he Hive
- REFX Nexus 2
Use this list to choose the best synth plugins from the cream of the crop.
1. Lethal Audio Lethal
Price: $199
Lethal by Lethal Audio is a ROM based powerhouse that includes thousands of sounds and presets and 24 genre-specific expansions.
It’s also the first rent-to-own plugin from LANDR…
We know, we know: we’re a bit biased. But we had to put it first on this list because we’ve been enjoying it so much in our own productions lately.
Lethal by Lethal Audio is a ROM based powerhouse that includes thousands of sounds and presets 24 genre-specific expansions.
This soft synth puts some of the most in-demand tones in modern production right at your fingertips with it’s easy to use preset browser.
From there’s plenty of room to sculpt them with effects and powerful synthesis features.
Plus its light enough on your processor that you can create an entire track using just Lethal.
If you’re looking for simplicity and great value, Lethal is the perfect synth for you.
2. Spectrasonics Omnisphere
Price: $499 USD
Report malware It comes in two versions, VOCEQPRO and VOCEQPRO-C, which includes a compressor effect. The VocEQPro plugin was designed to be a special vocal equalizer. It comes in two versions. FabFilter Pro-Q 3. Mac/PC VST/AU/AAX £134. Having become an industry standard over the last. https://omgdenver.netlify.app/voc-eq-pro-vst-plugin.html.
Spectrasonics Omnisphere is one of the biggest names in software synthesizers. This massively powerful instrument packs an almost overwhelming amount of functionality.
There’s so much going on under the hood in Omnisphere that it might be a little intimidating to new users.
But there’s a super helpful community around this synth to guide you on your journey—and plenty of resources available if you’re feeling stuck.
If all else fails you could get lost in the sheer number of presets and discover some incredible sounds without ever once needing to do any tweaking.
Omnisphere is a powerful experience!
Omnisphere is a powerful experience!
3. Xfer Serum
Price: $189 USD
Xfer Serum is usually next on the list of the most essential soft synths.
Serum is a wavetable synthesizer. Unlike the hardware synths of the past that rely on wavetable technology, Serum has no processing limitations—and it shows.
Serum’s wavetable tech is incredibly powerful. Even for simple waveforms, its expertly implemented wavetables sound ultra-clear and clean.
This gives the synth a crisp and clean sound that can be quite intense!
4. Native Instruments Massive
Price: $149 USD
Native Instruments’ Massive has been around since the early days of softsynths, but it’s an all-time favourite for a reason.
This synth is designed to make basses. Massive basses—and it works.
Its easy to use virtual-analog subtractive design will seem familiar and intuitive, even to new users.
Best Free Vst For Dungeon Synthesizer
Its extremely fat sound has defined a generation of producers and continues to be a great option for plugin synthesis.
Hot Tip: Massive has just received a significant update with NI Massive X.
Massive X is an entirely new synth plugin reimagined from the ground up to bring the classic VST into the modern era of music production. It just might end up being more legendary than the original!
5. Native Instruments FM8
Price: $149 USD
Native Instruments FM8 is another longtime favourite soft synth from the classic plugin manufacturer.
FM8 uses frequency modulation synthesis like the iconic Yamaha DX-7 that defined the sound of the 80s.
FM8 uses frequency modulation synthesis like the iconic Yamaha DX-7 that defined the sound of the 80s.
This method can seem complicated, but FM8 focuses on putting all the control you need at your fingertips.
Free Piano Vst Plugins: Keyzone: Tweet. Read more / download: Keyzone is a layered sample based piano and accordion. Presets: Grand piano wet, Grand piano dry, Sad pad, Pitched grand 1, Pitched grand 2, Grand small, Grand medium, Rhodes piano1, Rhodes piano 2, Accordion.Hammond B3, My good angel. The free sad guitar loops, samples and sounds listed here have been kindly uploaded by other users. If you use any of these sad guitar loops please leave your comments. Read the loops section of the help area and our terms and conditions for more information on how you can use the loops. Dexed is a multi-format and multi-platform free VST Plugin which has been created on the lines of Yamaha DX7. It had begun as a tool that could be used with the original synth, but they created something so spectacular that it has created an identity of its own. You will find various old day favorite songs included as presets in this software. Free VST Plugins are one of the most exciting things about mixing. In the past it was impossible to imagine that so many quality tools could be available at no cost. Today there are more great free plugins than ever before, but the freeware scene is always changing. Wavosaur VST Speak. Searching for the best vocal VST? Well the Wavosaur VST Speak might not be the best, but it’s certainly the most interesting. This spell-and-speak plugin reads back anything you type into it. All in a tweakable voice capable of some pretty strange sounds. So put it in your DAW and say hello to VST Speak. Then make it say. https://omgdenver.netlify.app/sad-vst-plugin.html.
Plus, FM8 takes FM synthesis much further than classic hardware.
All the delicate, crystalline bells and keys you might associate with FM are there, along with all kinds of inspiring new sounds and textures—FM is cool!
6. Arturia V Collection
Price: 499$
The Arturia V Collection is truly incredible because it gives you access to a library of legendary vintage synths.
It’s hard to express just how incredible it is that you can download and emulate genre-defining synths like the CS-80 or the ARP 2600.
Having access to a literal library of classic synths opens up your production capabilities to levels that producers of eras past could only dream about. Sega genesis ym2612 vst plugins trefi.
7. Native Instruments Kontakt 6
Price: $519
Kontakt 6 is a collection of sample-based instruments from Native Instruments.
It’s essentially a platform that plugs into your DAW and gives you access to its three Play Series synths, Retro Machines MK2 and its original Factory Library.
The Play Series synths come with three synth engines—Analog Dreams for classic analog-style synths, Ethereal Earth for atmospheric pads and Hybrid Keys for interesting Rhodes style sounds.
Retro Machines is Native Intstruments’ retro synth offering that gives access to 16 re-creations of classic vintage hardware.
And of course, the Factory Libary comes with 1000s of stock samples you can freely use in your tracks.
8. Reveal Sound Spire
Price: $189 USD
Reveal Sound Spire is a hybrid synthesizer that covers everything from analog modelling to “HardFM.”
Spire’s powerful unison modes allow for up to 9 unison voices per oscillator
And its internal effects system is like a built-in sound design tool, complete with its own LFOs and matrix slots.
Onboard mixing tools like EQ and compression make Spire a one-stop-shop for designing tones that work great in a mix.
9. u-he Hive
Price: €149 Euro
u-he Hive is a sleek and lightweight multipurpose synth with tons of functionality. Hive’s effective workflow can get you started creating great sounding patches right away.
It’s ability to support microtunings and unique mix of synthesis styles makes it unique and it’s extensive modulation matrix and function generators make it flexible.
But at heart Hive is a two oscillator subtractive synth. That means that even if you’re still getting comfortable with the basics of synthesis, there’s nothing here you can’t handle.
10. REFX Nexus2
Price: $249 USD
REFX Nexus2 is another ROM based plugin with an extensive library that’s fully loaded for EDM production.
Nexus has made its way into the studios of some pretty big names, but the sound quality speaks for itself.
VST 4 FREE - Free Audio Plug-ins and Archives Free audio plugins archive - Instruments and effects for audio software. Plugins for Cubase, FL studio, Reaper, Ableton and other VST/AU platforms. Software Plugins For more than 50 years, Neve England has been regarded as one of the most respected names in audio recording equipment, among veterans of both the music and film industries. Universal Audio is proud to offer the most accurate — and notably, the only fully licensed and endorsed — software emulations of some of Neve’s most. The Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5033 is a high-quality 5-band parametrical equalizer that brings the legendary Neve sound to the world of digital music production. Utilizing Yamaha’s unique VCM technology, this plug-in exactly reproduces the analog warmth and sonic finesse of its acclaimed hardware counterpart. Neve vst plugins. Vintage Neve 1073 preamps sound amazing, but their limited feature set and astronomical price tag push many engineers towards digital alternatives. In this roundup, we’ll break down the top five plugins based on the Neve 1073 to help you figure out which one is right for you. The original 1073 preamps utilize a very streamlined.
Nexus has made its way into the studios of some pretty big names, but the sound quality speaks for itself.
Nexus is expandable via a huge amount of downloadable content and expansions on REFX for every style of music.
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