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…

Featured in the magazine “Electronic & Music Maker,” the E&MM SPECTRUM SYNTHESISER was sold as a kit in 1981 and 1982: all electronic and hardware components, including the front panel… Read More The post E&MM SPECTRUM – vintage DIY-synth with cult status appeared first on GreatSynthesizers. View the full article

Behringer today shared this video intro for the JT-2, a new Euro-format rack monosynth, based on the voice and look of the Roland Jupiter-8.… Read More Behringer JT-2 Synthesizer Sound DemoView the full article

fedDSP has released fedZEP, a new guitar amp plugin built around two original amp designs, three preamp pedals, a dual-cab section, and a full FX rack. fedDSP is a small team from Sheffield, UK, led by producer and engineer Federico Telesca. Over the past few weeks, we’ve covered their first three plugin releases: the MORSO [...] View post: fedDSP releases fedZEP guitar amp plugin with two original amps, three pedals, and a full FX rack View the full article

Intermod is a new audio plugin from Phantom Sounds, the developer behind Orbit (spatial reverb) and 56K (digital decay). We covered Orbit earlier this year, and if you missed it the first time around, it’s worth checking out. Intermod offers something a little different; it’s a self-intermodulation effect that multiplies the strongest components in your [...] View post: Phantom Sounds releases Intermod, a FREE spectral modulation effect View the full article

Filament is a new MIDI orchestration plugin from Forma Labs Audio, and it’s currently in the free public beta stage. If you sign up to be one of the beta testers, you’ll get to play a part in shaping the final product, and you’ll receive the full v1.0 release at launch. There are limited beta-tester [...] View post: Forma Labs Audio releases Filament, a real-time MIDI orchestration plugin (free public beta) View the full article

Scottish electronic duo Boards Of Canada shared this music video, teasing their first new music in more than a decade, Tape 05. … Read More New Music From Boards Of Canada – ‘Tape 05’View the full article

Synapse Audio Software has updated The Legend HZ, their software synth created in collaboration with Hans Zimmer & Kevin Schroeder. Here's what's new! … Read More Synapse Audio Legend HZ v2.1 Adds New Equalizer, Microtuning SupportView the full article

The Alkove is a stereo multitimbral hybrid synthesizer, that combines analog VCA dynamics, formant and subtractive synthesis with real-time DSP.… Read More Pylobolus Debuts Unique Alkove 12-Voice Binaural Hybrid SynthesizerView the full article

The collection includes six standalone instruments, CZ, FZ, VZ, HZ, CTK, and RZ, each with its own character and history.… Read More UVI Vintage Casio Legacy Features 6 Virtual InstrumentsView the full article

The developers say that the PPG Modular 300 is a faithful recreation of the original, developed by Wolfgang Palm in Hamburg starting in 1975.… Read More PPG Modular System 300 Reissue Debuts At SynthFest FranceView the full article

The New England Synthesizer Festival returns Saturday, May 2, 2026, Noon – 6 PM at Northeastern University, Boston, MA.… Read More New England Synth Fest Set Coming To Northeastern University, Saturday, May 2 2026View the full article

Elementary Sounds has released TSUD, a free sample-based kalimba instrument for macOS and Windows. This is Elementary Sounds’ first free release and their first new product after roughly a year of silence. I was a bit surprised I hadn’t heard of them before, since their paid stuff looks pretty cool. They have a handful of [...] View post: Elementary Sounds releases TSUD, a FREE sample-based kalimba instrument View the full article

Universal Audio has launched UAD Explore FREE, a bundle of eight UAD plugins and the LUNA DAW available at no cost and with no UA hardware required. If you’ve been following UA’s promotional giveaways in our news section over the past few years, most of these plugins will look familiar. The 1176 was free for [...] View post: Universal Audio launches UAD Explore FREE plugin bundle with 8 plugins and the LUNA DAW View the full article

Moog Music has introduced the Minimoog Model D Bob Moog Tribute Edition, a limited-edition version of the classic Minimoog reissue that not only honors synth pioneer Bob Moog, but supports The Bob Moog Foundation. … Read More Moog Intros Minimoog Model D Bob Moog Tribute EditionView the full article

The Slim 21 Continuum offers the full engine and capabilities of their flagship Continuum expressive instrument, but with a smaller 21-note range.… Read More Haken Continuum Intros Slim 21 Compact Continuum SynthesizerView the full article

From @synthandsoftware - The 2026 date will mark the ten year anniversary of the SUPERBOOTH as an independent festival and trade fair for electronic musical instrument. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Reflecting back on this year’s SUPERBOOTH25, the SUPERBOOTH is happy to report that this year’s edition was again a big success overall that brought together more guests and exhibitors than […] The post Happy 10th! SUPERBOOTH26, May 7th to the 9th in Berlin appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Armada empowers your favorite plug-ins to creatively handle multichannel audio with ease. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Fiedler Audio unveiled armada, a powerful new plug-in wrapper that brings full VST3 processing to Dolby Atmos and other immersive audio formats. Designed for modern mixing and mastering workflows, armada enables audio professionals to utilize their favorite VST3 plug-ins across virtually […] The post Fiedler Audio Armada Wraps VST3 Plug-Ins for any Immersive Format appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Objeq Delay 2 reimagines delay by merging classic techniques with acoustic resonance. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Four delay topologies range from elegantly simple to intricately novel, with select modes featuring immersive psychoacoustic panning. Dual modulators provide LFOs, dynamics-based controls, and pitch tracking, enabling evolving and responsive effects. AAS’s morphable acoustic filter weaves through it all, transforming these […] The post New Objeq Delay 2 from AAS – Creative Delay Effect appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Tonalic is the plug-in from Celemony, creators of Melodyne, that brings real performances by world-class studio musicians directly into the DAW. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Celemony’s Tonalic plug-in brings real performances by world-class studio musicians directly into the DAW, adapting them musically to your own chords, tempo, and groove, with the sound, the feel, and all the […] The post Julian Coryell Brings New Flavors of Flamenco, Gypsy, Latin and Jazz to the Tonalic Library appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

United Plugins has launched the UnitedFreeBundle, a collection of professional audio plugins, and it’s free! The one caveat with the free collection is that the plugins feature an ad banner that displays United Plugins deals or products. The advertisements don’t restrict your view of any plugin or its controls. I know we see ads everywhere, [...] View post: United Plugins offers the UnitedFreeBundle with 10 plugins at no cost View the full article

Okay Synthesizer has released Okay Distortion, a free distortion plugin with six layered engines in a single reorderable signal chain. I’m all for fun and creative distortion plugins (check out our free BPB Dirty Filter if you like this kind of stuff), so I’m always looking forward to testing another one. The cool thing here [...] View post: Okay Synthesizer releases Okay Distortion, a FREE plugin with 6 layered distortion engines View the full article

Softube’s Model 82 Sequencing Mono Synth is currently 70% off at Plugin Boutique, which brings the price down from $99 to $29 until April 19th. We actually have two excellent deals in this article, but let’s take a look at Softube’s acid monster first. Softube Model 82 Model 82 is Softube’s take on the Roland [...] View post: Softube Model 82 SH-101 emulation is 70% OFF at Plugin Boutique ($29) View the full article

From developer Timerift Audio comes Oh My Grain, a free granular delay for macOS, Windows, and Linux. We’ve seen a few creative delay plugins appear in recent weeks, and one standout is Sirial by TiagoLR (TiagoLR is responsible for some of the best freeware plugins around, so check out the entire range). This time, we’re [...] View post: Timerift Audio releases Oh My Grain, a FREE granular delay plugin View the full article

Many people consider 8DIO to be the masters of deep sampling, and that reputation has led to collaborations with iconic manufacturers like Sequential (Prophet X). Now, you can get Synthetic Shadows, their cinematic synth orchestra for Kontakt, for free for a limited time. The downside of that stellar reputation, for the average bedroom producer, is [...] View post: 8DIO Synthetic Shadows cinematic synth orchestra for Kontakt is FREE for a limited time View the full article

Glitch Boy is a compact audiovisual instrument for glitch artists, musicians, and experimental image makers.… Read More Glitch Boy 8-bit Video Instrument & Chiptune Synth Now Available to Pre-OrderView the full article

Orra Audio has released Tone Zone, a free (pay-what-you-can) tonal curve corrector plugin for macOS and Windows. If you’ve used iZotope’s Tonal Balance Control, this freebie from Orra Audio will look familiar. And it’s one of the best freebies for use on the master bus that I’ve seen so far this year. Tone Zone shows [...] View post: Orra Audio releases Tone Zone, a FREE tonal curve corrector plugin View the full article

Universal Audio’s Sound City Studios reverb plugin is currently 84% off at Plugin Boutique, bringing the price down from $249 to $39 until April 30th. If you’re looking for a natural-sounding reverb plugin, especially for rock and pop, this is a great pick. UAD Sound City Studios is more than a reverb, though. It’s basically [...] View post: UAD Sound City Studios plugin is 84% OFF at Plugin Boutique ($39) View the full article

Developer Samuel Ferraz-Leite has released RVRSE, a free plugin that turns any one-shot sample into a tempo-synced reverse reverb riser. If you’ve ever built a reverse reverb riser manually in your DAW, you know the drill. You copy the sample, slap a huge reverb on it, render, reverse, and then fiddle with crossfades until it [...] View post: RVRSE is a FREE open-source reverse reverb riser plugin View the full article

Is The Shit Synth "The Shit" - or just another crappy virtual instrument? Check out the demo video let us know what you think!… Read More Is The Shit Synth Actually ‘The Shit’, Or Just Another Crappy Virtual Instrument?View the full article