Creating music is a blast and a good collection of VST plugins is essential for every modern producer. But there are more virtual instruments available now than ever before and the options can be overstimulating.
NYC Beat Making listed its favorite 7 free standalone VST synths in 2022 - from digital synths, oscillators, wavetable, FM to virtual analogue, and more fun stuff!
Whether you’re new to the world of digital audio or a seasoned producer - check it these great additions to your producer toolkit.
1. VITAL BASIC
Vital is a unique, new take on the visual synthesizer. Beyond the full excesses to all the wavetable features in the basic version - you can see and calibrate what exactly is happening behind the scenes, with animated controls, filter responses, waveforms, smooth LFOs, oscilloscopes, spectrograms, and shaping it as you go. The basic version includes 75 factory presets, and 25 factory wavetables all for free. Overall, we’ve found that Vital is a flexible and powerful stand-alone synthesizer, and can only hope that this approach to VSTs becomes more popular.
2. OB-XD
A VST take on the Oberheim OB-X synthesizer - classic synth captured the hearts of many musicians in the 1980s. It seems that OB-XD is fully simulating all features of the original OB-X synth, while using modern techniques and technology, adding some new complexity, interpretation, and quite a lot of character and charm to your sound.
3. PENDULATE
Pendulate adept at creating unfamiliar sounds of your own. It doesn't bore you with a classic subtractive synth architecture, but with a heartbeat of an adventurous new sound. With a double pendulum oscillator, At the Eventide website, they describe it as "a chaotic mono-synth." If you’re looking for a new sound, or just looking to do something a little different, Pendulate most definitely warrants a place on your list.
4. VCV RACK 2 FREE
Whether you’re a newcomer to modular synthesis, or have the Eurorack hardware equivalent at your studio, VCV Rack 2 Free is packed with plenty of features and tools and will allow users to make full use of the freebie plugins that come with it.
VCV Rack 2 gives free access to Modular synthesis, keeping you inspired and occupied with your virtual modular for many months to come.
FUN FACT: Only in the early 2000s, technology had advanced to a point where computers had sufficient processing power to run soft synths in real-time, on any home computer.
Native Instruments has a long history in the software world, developing iconic instruments and effect plugins over the years. REAKTOR PLAYER hosts built-in modular synths and effects called 'Blocks' as well as entire Rack presets. Both beginners and pro users will benefit from using REAKTOR because the visual nature of the Blocks makes it easier to understand how connections and modules work together. No matter how complex your patch, the GUI always remains clutter-free.
The TAL Noise Maker is a virtual analog synthesizer and is an improved version of Elek7ro which was already a very good synth. TAL Noise Maker sounds with very straightforward controls and has a lot of wavetable features to get the desired sound, fast. It has a great sound quality and comes with a nice set of presets.
Triple Cheese is a fun and creative synth, and there are no better words to describe it than ridiculously delicious. With so many new synths coming out each year, Triple Cheese can be overlooked as another free soft synth with a funny name. However, Triple Cheese is not a traditional virtual synth, for example - no subtractive, frequency modulation, or additive synthesis. It incorporates a range of techniques that can be used to synthesize a wide variety of sounds. With a huge range of features, Triple Cheese is a no-brainer for new producers and seasoned artists alike.
METROPOLIS 808S - DOWNLOAD
A FREE preset for Ableton Live's Wavetable Instrument, focused on urban, edgy, and tuned 808 kick drums. (Ableton Live Suite Version is required)
NYC BEAT MAKING is a music production online school that helps aspiring artists, musicians, and producers from all over the world reach their goals faster and more thoroughly. Our instructors are masters of their craft and bring years of industry experience to the table.
You are welcome to book your 1:1 music production online class - to improve your skills and take your music goals to the next level.
COMING SOON:
Top 5 Free VST plugins (and bundles) every emerging music producer must have!
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