Music Production Forum

Below is a list of some of the best software synths & virtual pianos (free & paid). Please reply to this post if you recommended any others There are a huge number of plugins available, here are some other lists I've created for products I recommend https://jamesm.blog/music-production/my-hardware-software/ https://jamesm.blog/music-production/my-hardware-software-wishlist/ https://jamesm.blog/music-production/physical-modeling-synths/ Synths (Free) Vendor Plugin Name Key Features Blamsoft VK-1 Viking Synthesizer Moog Voyager emulation, strong basses Digital Suburban Dexed Yamaha DX7 emulation, FM synthesis discoDSP OB-Xd Oberheim OB-X emulation, analog sounds M…

From @synthandsoftware - It’s an ambient effect processor inspired by the ocean Arturia’s succinct release below pretty much nails this effect. One relatively rare feature that stands out for us is its ability to set the decay to infinity – meaning that it’ll keep going until you stop it. Tidal reverb Rev OCEAN brings depth, drift, and evolving […] The post Arturia Rev OCEAN – a Big, Evolving Reverb Ambience Processor appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

It runs updated software, derived from the original source code, and dramatically improves speed, reliability, storage and usability of the instrument. … Read More Fairlight CMI Gets Modern, Quad-Core Brain, WiFi, USB & MoreView the full article

Faded Instruments has introduced Harmonal Binaurics 2, a new "mind control drone synth". … Read More Harmonal Binaurics 2 Promises to ‘Hijack Your Brainwaves’View the full article

Noisferatu offers 45 algorithms across 5 banks, producing crackling textures, noisy scapes, evolving drones, harmonic blips and digital chaos.… Read More Noiseferatu Generative Texture Synthesizer Now AvailableView the full article

Version 2 is a major update that adds four new effects, unlimited modulation, and more ways to "destroy your audio."… Read More Tape Fiasco 2 Gives You Four New Ways To Mangle Your AudioView the full article

From developer Dusty Plugins comes Dusty Tube 2, a free guitar & bass amp sim for Windows. We covered the original Dusty Tube plugin in early 2025, and for anyone who missed it, it’s an amp simulator built on the Neural Amp Modeler (NAM). Dusty Tube 2, as you’d expect, is the same thing with [...] View post: Dusty Plugins releases Dusty Tube 2, a FREE guitar/bass amp sim for Windows View the full article

Safari Pedals is giving away 10,000 free Gorilla Drive licenses exclusively to BPB readers. Gorilla Drive normally costs $39.99, but you can get it for free at checkout with the coupon code BPB-Gorilla100. The offer is limited to 10,000 copies, so it is absolutely worth grabbing sooner rather than later if you want it. Gorilla [...] View post: Safari Pedals gives away 10,000 Gorilla Drive licenses to BPB readers View the full article

noshigeSound has released ENHANCER VINTAGE-73, a free one-knob high-shelf enhancer plugin for macOS and Windows. The plugin models the high-shelf section of a legendary British preamp EQ. noshigeSound does not name the original hardware directly, and I’m no Sherlock Holmes, but the Vintage-73 name and the description make the 1073-style reference pretty clear. ENHANCER VINTAGE-73 [...] View post: noshigeSound releases FREE 1073-style analog enhancer plugin View the full article

Darkpalace Studio has released PIRANHA, a multi-band waveshaper and clipper plugin for macOS, Windows, and Linux. We’re taking a closer look below and giving away one free copy to one lucky BPB reader. You might remember Darkpalace Studio from CATERPILLAR, the free stereo enhancer we featured on BPB before. PIRANHA is a more aggressive tool than [...] View post: Darkpalace Studio releases PIRANHA multi-band waveshaper and clipper (GIVEAWAY) View the full article

Jeesonic has released EQ Pro, a free dynamic equalizer plugin for macOS and Windows. EQ Pro is a surgical EQ with up to 24 dynamic bands, per-band stereo routing, selectable phase modes, and a real-time analyzer. That’s still crazy for a free plugin, if you ask me, even though I recently wrote that ZL Equalizer [...] View post: Jeesonic releases EQ Pro, a FREE 24-band dynamic EQ plugin View the full article

The H9 Harmonizer is designed to take everything that made the original a classic and push it further. It offers the complete H90 algorithm lineup, modern ARM processing, and an enhanced workflow.… Read More Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 Hands-On DemoView the full article

This free sound bank turns your Novation Peak (or Summit) into a drum synthesizer, drum machine or even a groovebox.… Read More Free Soundbank Turns Novation Peak Into A Drum MachineView the full article

Sampleson has introduced Aeronaut, a new audio effect for macOS & Windows that they say can make anything sound cinematic.… Read More Aeronaut Cinematic Texture Generator Now AvailableView the full article

Miltone has announced that the 4Exp - a four-voice expansion module designed as a companion to the legendary Oberheim FVS-1 synthesizer.… Read More Miltone 4Exp Synthesizer Now Available To Pre-OrderView the full article

Anukari Music has released Anukari, a physical modeling synthesizer and effects processor for macOS & Windows that’s based on visually modeling a network of small masses, connected by springs. The masses can be vibrated by striking them via MIDI input, or they can be vibrated directly via audio input, so it can act as an… Read More Anukari 3D Physics Synthesizer Now AvailableView the full article

AudioKit Pro has released Viral Synth 2, a major free update for the virtual analog synth for iPhone, iPad, and AUv3 hosts.… Read More Viral Synth Gets Major Free UpgradeView the full article

Speight Audio has released Waved Studio, a free browser-native wavetable editor for producers and sound designers. I wasn’t expecting too much when the developer first sent this over (I’ve seen quite a few lackluster browser-based tools for music producers), but Waved Studio is far more advanced than a quick browser toy. I’m not sure how [...] View post: Waved Studio is a FREE browser-based wavetable editor View the full article

Minimal Audio has released Memory Rites, a new instrument and Current preset expansion made in collaboration with EPROM. The release is interesting for two reasons. First, it gives you 60 custom-designed EPROM presets built in Minimal Audio’s Current synth. Second, it introduces Current Expansion Player, a new plugin format that lets you play artist-built Current [...] View post: Minimal Audio launches Current Expansion Player with EPROM Memory Rites View the full article

Audiolatry has released Apus, a free/pay-what-you-want lo-fi virtual instrument for macOS and Windows. I haven’t seen anything new from Audiolatry for a while, so I was happy to get an email about this one. We’ve featured quite a few Audiolatry releases on BPB in the past, including LoQuest last year and Easy Strings in 2023. [...] View post: Audiolatry releases Apus, a FREE lo-fi virtual instrument View the full article

Hell Yes Loop Lab has released Burning Stones, a free/pay-what-you-want guitar amp plugin for macOS and Windows. Ricardo from Hell Yes Loop Lab sent this one over after we recently covered HYLL Pressure, the developer’s free soft clipper. I liked the quirky visual design of that plugin, and Burning Stones continues in a similar direction. [...] View post: Hell Yes Loop Lab releases FREE Burning Stones desert amp plugin View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Did you miss the original 40 years ago? If you were around in 1986, chances are good that you drooled over the Ensoniq ESQ-1 when you read about it in all the music magazines you subscribed to. And look where we are today, thanks to Cherry Audio: $69 gets you not just one, but as […] The post Cherry Audio Releases an Ensoniq ESQ-1 Synth in Software (updated with 2026 features) appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Plugin Boutique is offering 50% off KORG Collection 6, dropping the software instrument bundle from $399 to $199 until July 21st. KORG Collection 6 is a huge bundle of official KORG software instruments and effects. It covers A LOT of stuff, including analog classics, digital workstations, physical modeling, pianos, organs, grooveboxes, and effects. If you [...] View post: KORG Collection 6 is 50% OFF at Plugin Boutique View the full article

Mike Sorrentino has released DNA Track Purifier, a free Trackspacer-style sidechain dynamic processor designed to reduce frequency masking between competing tracks. Mike is a musician, composer, producer, and solo developer from Rome, Italy. DNA Track Purifier is his first software release, and it comes as a free plugin with an optional paid PRO version. The [...] View post: DNA Track Purifier is a FREE Trackspacer-style plugin for Windows View the full article

AngelicVibes has released AV Pitchshifter, a free pitch-shifting plugin for macOS and Windows. We’ve covered a few AngelicVibes freebies on BPB over the years, including Basshead Mini in 2025 and the Free Ambient Female Vocals sample pack back in 2020. AV Pitchshifter is the first release in the developer’s AV Essentials FX series. I’m wondering [...] View post: AngelicVibes releases AV Pitchshifter, a FREE pitch-shifting plugin View the full article

At WWDC 2026, Apple introduced the Music Understanding framework, an on-device audio analysis tool for Apple platforms. … Read More Apple Intros Music Understanding Framework At WWDCView the full article

Orra Audio has released Orra Pump, a free (pay-what-you-can) tempo-synced modulation filter for macOS and Windows. David from Orra Audio reached out to let me know about the new release, and I was very happy to see another freebie from their team. We covered Orra Audio’s Tone Zone in April, and that one got a [...] View post: Orra Audio releases Orra Pump, a FREE tempo-synced modulation filter View the full article

Thomann has taken legal action against Fender, adding another chapter to the Stratocaster copyright story. Until now, this has mostly looked like Fender sending cease-and-desist letters and smaller guitar makers trying to figure out how much legal firepower they could afford. Now Thomann, one of the biggest names in music retail, is stepping in, and [...] View post: Thomann Is Taking Fender’s Stratocaster Fight to Court View the full article

Loop 2 Kit automatically slices, groups, and creates round robins from your audio, unlocking new workflows for making music with loops.… Read More New App, Loop 2 Kit, Turns Any Loop Into A Playable KitView the full article

Session Pro offers a multi-threaded audio engine, Session Mix performer's view, backing track playback and flexible file-based projects. … Read More New App, Session Pro, Promises To Make Your Computer A ‘DAW-less’ HubView the full article