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  1. Free Plugins For Waveform
  2. Best Wavetable Synth
  3. Wavetable Synthesizer Free

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.

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.

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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.

Free VST downloads: TN-5 (Yamaha CS-5 emulation by TN Audio) - Transcendental 2000 (Powertran Transcendent replica by TN Audio) - Syncla-X (Synclavier FM emulation by Digital Systemic Emulations) - Odyssey (ARP Odyssey emulation by Synth School) - Supersaw OSC (Roland Supersaw osc synth by CFA-Sound) - easy-pro-six (SC Prophet based synth. Free VST downloads: Harmonaut (Drawable waveform harmonics by ToneBytes) - easy-V-syn o1 (Vintage wavetable synth by easytoolz) - Swamp XT (Timbre modulation synth by HG Fortune) - Noisy (3 osc waveforms synth by Odosynths) - Swamp (Timbre modulation synth by HG Fortune) - Isis (Multiwave synth by EVM Synths) - BlueZ (Wavedrawable oscillators.

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

Table Synth by Angular Momentum is an additive wavetable synthesizer with separate control of the harmonics of the sound. This free VST plug-in features 2 oscillators each with its own overtone scaler, amplitude envelope, filter envelope, and filter step sequencer. The best free VST synth plugins 2020: wavetable, FM, virtual analogue and more musicradar.com - Si Truss. For computer musicians, a good synth plugin is likely to be the beating heart of any software-based studio setup.

  • 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.

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:

Free Plugins For Waveform

“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.”

Best Wavetable 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.

—–

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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Synthesis 101: 4+ Hours of In-Depth Synth Training

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. Free stuff is not al

3 FREE Max for Live Devices

Download three free Max for Live Devices from Phil Mantione.

Vital is a wavetable synthesizer plugin for everyone: it’s free and packs a warping harmonics & waveforms engine into a fully-responsive interface.

Wavetable synthesizers are popular and trendy. In the last few months/years, many manufacturers brought their interpretation of wavetable synthesis, initially developed by Wolfgang Palm (PPG…) on the market. Many with great success, many with less. Features, price,… there are many reasons why a plugin can fail. I think the wavetable market is oversaturated and it’s time to come up with new synthesis ideas.

Matt Tytel, the developer of the free HELM Synthesizer, shows us Vital, a new free synth that offers a wavetable engine with a twist. Instead of traveling through classic wavetables, Vital relies on a warping concept. This means you can mangle the harmonic content of each wavetable in different ways.

Vital

free download game conflict vietnam for pc Vital is a free plugin but only in the basic version. This is fully functional, has the same features, and has no limits. I’ll go into the differences later. It features three high-quality wavetable oscillators each with frequency warpers and waveshapers. The built-in wavetable editor let you dive deep into the depth of the tables. Right-clicking on the wavetable opens up two exciting functions. For one, text can turn into wavetables. This algorithm is smart, it even recognizes different languages. On the other hand, you can transform presets into wavetables, which can also lead to interesting ideas.

If that’s not enough flexibility, as already mentioned, two shaping sections with different algorithms are available. Harmonic/inharmonic stretch, Shepard tone, spectral time, screw, in the spectral domain, and FM, RM, Sync in the wave morphing to name only a few. For example, Serum doesn’t offer mangling options that go to the core of the harmonics, just for the waveforms. Point for Vital. In addition to the three over-flexible wavetable oscillators, you can also activate a sample slot, for example for noise.

Modulation Powerhorse

Wavetable Synthesizer Free

All 4 signals (3 Osc + sample) can then be routed individually or together in one or two filters, each of which has 32 different filter types and drive control. From analog, digital up to filter types with continuous blending, there is a filter for every sound taste. Vital is a true stereo modulation powerhorse. 3 envelopes, 4 audio-rate LFOs, two randomizers, and more can easily be assigned to parameters using drag & drop. In Matt Tytel’s new free synth, the randomizer isn’t classic either. It comes with a wide range of different random mod sources including Perlin, Lorenz Attractor, S&H, and sine interpolation. Each with stereo options.

In the dedicated mod matrix, you have not only a perfect overview of all assigned modulation but also further shaping opinions. All this is rounded up by nice animated graphical displays.

It features 8 versatile effects ranging from a multiband compressor, delay, phaser, reverb, and more to finalize the sounds. You can play the plugin inside your DAW with a classic keyboard including microtonal file support or with an MPE controller.

Basic, Plus, Pro & Subscription, The Differences

Vital is free for everyone, has the same features, no limitation, and is the perfect Black Friday deal. Even for musicians who are not in the mood for a new soft synth. However, if you like more sounds, wavetables, and personal support, you get opt for one of the commercial licenses.

  • Basic (free): 75 presets and 25 wavetables
  • Plus ($25): 250 presets and 70 wavetables
  • Pro: ($80): 400+ presets, 150 wavetables, unlimited text-to wavetables (a web service which is limited to 5 requests/day), exclusive Discord perk & prioritized support.
  • Subscription ($5 per month): $5/month credit in-store, (u

In summary, I can only congratulate Matt Tytel for his fantastic Synthesizer plugin. A real beast and real competition for Serum and co, I’m sure of that. Especially a no-brainer deal for those who love Serum but don’t want to spend the money on it. Vital is a great alternative, it offers a lot that Serum can but also a lot of new ideas.

This is probably the best Black Friday deal of this year. And please support Matt. Developing costs time and money. What he’s done here is great and that should be supported.

More information here: Vital Audio

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