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…

The Bob Moog Foundation has announced their winter fundraising raffle. The grand prize, a custom-built Eurorack modular synthesizer system housed in a handcrafted 15U (126 hp), is themed around the question, "What Would Bob Do?". Valued at $24,000, the system includes 50 Eurorack modules, 11 controllers, and components from 52 companies across 17 countries.… Read More Bob Moog Foundation Announces ‘What Would Bob Do?’ Fundraising Raffle for a Custom Eurorack ModularView the full article

Guy Mantzur and Chicola have always treated collaboration like a conversation between worlds. Their new EP, Neon Bible, released on Sasha’s label Last Night on Earth, captures that dialogue perfectly. It’s deep, hypnotic, and emotionally charged without losing its precision. Central to that sound is their use of Raum and Replika XT, two tools that gave the track its shape and sense of movement. Both producers have built careers on control and atmosphere, and those instincts come through clearly here. Raum helped carve out a spatial identity for the synths, allowing melodies to drift but never blur, while Replika XT added a rhythmic pulse that kept the reverb alive inside …

Synth-shopping is one of those delightful rabbit holes where technology, creativity, and philosophy collide. Yamaha’s MODX M8 and Montage M8X share the same genetic code — three powerful sound engines — but they live in different worlds when it comes to feel, performance depth, and long-term ambition. If you’re torn between them, this breakdown should make your choice a whole lot easier.... https://jamesm.blog/music-production/modx-m8-vs-montage-m8x/ Choose MODX M8 if… You want a powerful, modern workstation. You want most of the Montage’s sound engines at a lower cost (~ £1,593). You prefer something lighter for gigging or home use. Choose Montage M8X if… You care about …

Cyber Monday might be over, but there are still a number of music technology deals worth grabbing – including AIR Music Tech’s Tape Double Track plugin, which usually costs $99 and is available for free until Monday, 8 December... The post Say goodbye to Cyber Week with AIR Music Tech’s $99 Tape Double Track plugin – now available for free! appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Audio hardware is having a renaissance this decade. The 2010s were dominated by vapid, redundant ‘analogue vs digital’ debates, an unstoppable avalanche of iOS apps and innovative plugins, and countless new MIDI controllers. In the 2020s, however — despite the furious noise around artificial intelligence — we’re seeing tactility and analogue circuitry back at the forefront. In the past five years alone, historic brands like Oberheim, Sequential and Moog reprised their leviathan synth roots, Behringer led the charge on affordable analogue hardware, boutique rotary mixers have become the centrepiece of many hi-fi DJ booths, and brands like Warm Audio have put valve mics fir…

Xilentch has been busy over the past few months, and after releasing XMLimiter V2 and XMTape&Clip, the developer has added another plugin to the XM series: XMTubePre. XMTubePre follows the same design philosophy as previous releases; the intention is to recreate the feeling of expensive hardware in a free, simple plugin. In this case, Xilentch [...] View post: Xilentch releases XMTubePre, a FREE mastering tube preamp plugin View the full article

Developer Variety of Sound has just released FerricTDS mkIII, a free tape saturation effect for Windows. FerricTDS has had a long and storied journey, going back over fifteen years when it won the KVR Developer Challenge way back in 2009. We’re used to applauding Variety of Sound plugins (even me, as a bystander with my [...] View post: Variety of Sound releases FerricTDS mkIII, a FREE tape saturation effect for Windows View the full article

Since studying piano and electronic music from a young age, Kelly Moran’s journey has seen her perfect the art of preparing pianos — placing objects on the strings to radically alter the sonic character of the instrument. A series of experimental releases helped her get signed to the legendary Warp imprint, and then the pandemic intervened, leading her to rethink her approach to creating tracks. On her new album Don’t Trust Mirrors, Kelly Moran transforms her prepared piano recordings into hypnotic, loop-driven compositions, blended with rich analogue synthesis. We discuss her unconventional approach to processing, why she sampled every note of her piano into a VST, and w…

From @synthandsoftware - Modulation changes everything when you route control signals from sources to destinations. Original lesson from December 2019 Turning knobs by hand while a synthesizer is producing a tone is a great way to add expression to your music. Most of us have only two hands, however, and quite often one or both of them will […] The post A Lesson From Christmas Past…Jim Aikin’s Modular Synthesis: Modulation appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

SynTesla has announced that their online store is now live.… Read More SynTesla Store Now Live, So Now You Can Buy Synths Like Hans ZimmerView the full article

Valhalla DSP has released Valhalla Supermassive 5.0, a major update to their free reverb effect plugin. … Read More Free Valhalla Supermassive Plugin Gets Sirius UpdateView the full article

Wave Alchemy has unleashed a massive deal on its Reverb Bundle, which is now just $20 at Plugin Boutique until December 7. I was blown away (much like everyone else) with Wave Alchemy’s free Magic7 reverb. It’s a fantastic emulation of the legendary Bricasti M7 reverb and an absolute killer freebie. If you liked that [...] View post: Get the Wave Alchemy Reverb Bundle for only $20 until December 7 View the full article

Officially, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are in the rear-view mirror, but as retailers try to outcompete each other for how long they can drag out their sales, that’s where you can jump in, take advantage and bag yourself a killer deal in the Cyber Weekend aftermath. If you’re in the market for a new pair of studio headphones – either just a spare pair, or a replacement after the earcup cushions in yours started flaking (a curse I am currently afflicted with) – these AKG K92 closed-back studio headphones might just be the ticket... The post Get these solid closed-back studio headphones for just $49 in this lingering Cyber Monday deal at zZounds appeared first on MusicTec…

WideFire is an analogue-style saturation plugin by JMG Sound/United Plugins that takes an interesting approach to audio widening, and now you can get it for 90% off at AudioDeluxe! The WideFire plugin typically sells for $29, but with a 90% discount, you can pick it up for just $3 (I’m not sure how long the [...] View post: Get 90% off the United Plugins WideFire + get UVI Model D for FREE View the full article

Distropolis Goods has introduced the Prismatic Spray II 'bytebeat adventure synth', an updated version of their experimental desktop synthesizer. … Read More Distropolis Goods Intros Prismatic Spray II ‘Bytebeat Adventure Synth’View the full article

The Messenger is normally priced at $899 USD, and it's currently available for $699.… Read More MOOG Messenger Cyber Monday Deal – 20% OffView the full article

The instruments, which are normally priced at $269.99, are all substantially discounted.… Read More Roland AIRA Compact Synths On Sale For Cyber MondayView the full article

The developer says that the "MÕNAI delivers comprehensive synthesis capabilities without compromise."… Read More Void9 MÕNAI Portable Music Workstation (Sneak Preview)View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Rob Papen Inspiration Soundware announces DelGrain — thinking out of the box to extend its effect plug-in product line as a creative granular delay. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT DelGrain features fanciful routings, a distortion feature, and FILTER, while also featuring the same DISRUPT spherical slider shared by its DelSane (stereo delay demonstrating ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ […] The post Rob Papen Introduces, DelGrain appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - 20 effect engines, integrated Filter and Finisher sections, and quality, production-ready presets for creative texture and harmonic shaping. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT UJAM introduces UFX LOFI and UFX DISTORT as the latest additions to the UFX series, joining REVERB, DELAY, and FILTER. UFX LOFI focuses on degraded, character-rich textures inspired by tape wear and early digital artifacts, while […] The post UJAM Expands the UFX Series with LOFI and DISTORT appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Arturia struck gold with the KeyStep in 2016, with it quickly becoming a go-to compact keyboard controller for myriad bedroom producers. KeyStep Pro and KeyStep 37 followed in its wake, but it’s only now — nearly a decade on — that the Grenoble-based company has unveiled the mk2 version of the original, 32-key format. With a sleeker design, workflow refinements, and new generative features, mk2 makes a strong case but the miniature keybed remains an inherent limitation of such a small footprint... The post Arturia’s KeyStep mk2 is a refined and feature-packed MIDI controller keyboard appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

FL Studio 2025.2 landed just last week, and you can get your hands on this latest version for just $314 in this killer Cyber Monday deal over at zZounds. For a limited time you can save $135 on the All-Plugins Edition of FL Studio, which grants users the full works – everything Image-Line has “ever made” for FL Studio – including all its premium instruments and effects. Put simply, it’s billed as “the most flexible and complete version of FL Studio to date”... The post FL Studio 2025.2 has landed – and you can save $135 in this killer Cyber Monday deal appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Plugin Boutique has added the Moog MoogerFooger MF-103S 12-Stage Phaser as a new free-with-purchase option this week, making it the standout pick in their current giveaway lineup. While several returning freebies from Black Friday are still on the list, the MF-103S is the fresh addition, and easily the most exciting one if you’re into classic [...] View post: Moog MoogerFooger MF-103S is FREE with any purchase View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - The Bob Moog Foundation announces its winter fundraising raffle featuring a custom-built Eurorack modular synthesizer valued at $24,000. The system is housed in a handcrafted 15U (126 hp) walnut cabinet by Asheville wood craftsman Chris Perryman (Gold Splinter) and includes 50 Eurorack modules and 11 controllers, all donated from 52 companies. The raffle is open […] The post The Bob Moog Foundation Announces “What Would Bob Do” Winter Raffle for Custom Built $24,000 Eurorack Synthesizer appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Loopmasters has been re-acquired by its original founder, Matt Pelling, marking a rare moment in today’s music tech world where a beloved company returns to independent ownership. Loopmasters and its Loopcloud platform were sold to Beatport in 2020. Since then, Matt stepped away to focus on new projects, including his role at Rhodes Music Group. [...] View post: Loopmasters and Loopcloud returns to founder Matt Pelling View the full article

Ghosthack offers the Warehouse Techno Sounds 2026 sample pack as a free download today as the first gift in the company’s annual Advent Calendar. This year’s Advent Calendar from Ghosthack launched with a solid starter kit for techno producers. You’re getting over 450 royalty-free sounds, covering pounding bass loops, punchy drums, FX, synth loops, textures, [...] View post: Warehouse Techno Sounds is FREE today as Ghosthack launches 2025 Advent Calendar View the full article

DAWJunkie has released Lil’ Miss Doubler, a free artificial double-tracking (ADT) plugin designed to instantly thicken your vocals, guitars, or any mono source that needs a bit more width and presence. Lil’ Miss Doubler is a simple doubling tool, in contrast to something like the Tape Double Track plugin from AIR Music Tech. In this [...] View post: DAWJunkie releases Lil’ Miss Doubler, a FREE vocal doubler plugin View the full article

2B Played Music is offering SlimVerb and Delayed Classic plugins as FREE downloads with the code HOLIDAY25 until December 15, 2025. Both plugins have been free in the past, so if you missed those earlier chances, now’s a good time to add them to your toolbox at no cost. SlimVerb was covered as a freebie [...] View post: 2B Played Music offers SlimVerb and Delayed Classic for FREE View the full article