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…

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

N-Track has announced the release of n-Track Studio 10.3, adding AI-powered Audio to MIDI, per-note envelopes, global solo button, and a new single track view for mobile. … Read More N-Track Updates n-Track Studio 10.3 With Audio to MIDI, Single Track ViewView the full article

It's completely free, and lets you play and record directly from your browser.… Read More Free Online Granular SynthesizerView the full article

Objeq Delay 2 reimagines delay by merging classic techniques with acoustic resonance. … Read More AAS Releases Objeq Delay 2, Acoustic Filter and Delay Plug-inView the full article

You can now save 89% on IK Multimedia’s TOTAL Guitar MAX as part of a limited-time deal at Plugin Boutique. It’s been quite a while now since IK Multimedia’s 2025 Group Buy promotion, and I still think about it every time the developer’s name comes up. It’s the closest we’ll ever get to playing a [...] View post: Save 90% on IK Multimedia’s TOTAL Guitar MAX at Plugin Boutique View the full article

At the heart of the instrument are optically amplified carbon-fiber reeds, paired with true hammer action. This combination gives the keys a light yet responsive touch and produces a deep analog bass tone.… Read More Tentij Instruments Orb Optical Reed BassView the full article

Sonuscore has released LUX Orchestral Strings Elements, a free orchestral strings instrument for the free Kontakt Player. The amount of high-quality orchestral content available for free nowadays is something I still find hard to believe. Even ten years ago, getting your hands on an in-depth orchestral string library without spending serious money was pretty much [...] View post: Sonuscore releases LUX Orchestral Strings Elements, a FREE library for Kontakt Player View the full article

MeldaProduction is offering BPB readers an exclusive 90% discount on MLimiterX, its brickwall limiter plugin. Use the coupon code BPBMLX90 at checkout to bring the price down from €99 to just €10. The offer runs until April 19th. MLimiterX is a mastering-grade brickwall limiter built on MeldaProduction’s MDynamics kernel. The whole idea here is to [...] View post: MeldaProduction MLimiterX is 90% OFF for BPB readers (only €10) View the full article

Here's a roundup of early reviews and demos of the new UDO Audio DMNO Multitimbral Polyphonic Synthesizer. … Read More UDO Audio DMNO Multitimbral Polyphonic Synthesizer Review & Demo Round UpView the full article

Since the Deft Audio Luma-1 is designed to recreate the original LM-1, it has open up new options for spare parts and hardware upgrades.… Read More Linn LM-1 Drum Machine Upgrade OptionsView the full article

TAL-J-8X is a virtual instrument plug-in that emulates the sound of the analog 80's synthesizer and expands on it with new capabilities. … Read More Hardware vs Software Emulation: Can TAL J-8X Match The Roland JX-8P Sound?View the full article

It's a synth. It's a banana. It's the Banan-a-Synth!… Read More Banan-a-Synth Now Available To Pre-OrderView the full article

The Editor is available now, is completely free and works through your web browser, just plug in your CZ-1 to your desktop computer or phone.… Read More Free Behringer CZ-1 MINI Patch EditorView the full article

Developer Momo Müller has introduced a third-party MIDI Controller and Patch Editor for the Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator. … Read More New Controller & Editor For The Roland TR-1000 Rhythm CreatorView the full article

The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation (ARP Foundation) is holding a special concert tonight to commemorate one hundred years of ARP Instruments founder and electronic music innovator Alan R. Pearlman.… Read More Berklee & Friends Celebrate ARP @100 With Live-Streamed Concert April 9th, 2026View the full article

MAGDA is a free and open-source DAW built on JUCE and Tracktion Engine, and Conceptual Machines has just released version 0.4.0. It’s very early days for MAGDA, so updates might come with significant additions, but before we get into what the latest version has to offer, let’s take a broader overview. Although it’s early days, [...] View post: Conceptual Machines releases MAGDA, a FREE AI-assisted DAW View the full article

Solid State Logic’s G3 MultiBusComp is currently 70% off on AudioDeluxe, bringing the price down to $29.99 (regular price $99). If you’ve ever used an SSL bus compressor on your mix bus, you already know the sound. It’s basically an everything-just-clicks-together glue that’s been on countless records for decades. SSL G3 MultiBusComp takes that same [...] View post: SSL G3 MultiBusComp multiband glue compressor is 70% OFF ($29.99) View the full article

When it comes to soft synths, very few developers do it as well as u-he. Now, their Zebra 3 edges closer to official status with the final beta release The Berlin-based developer has been one of my favourites for a very long time and regularly features in many best free or paid synth articles. Zebra [...] View post: u-he Zebra 3 edges closer to official status with FREE final beta release View the full article

For customers, partners, and the wider Elektron community, the day-to-day operations, product development, and existing commitments remain unchanged.… Read More Swedish Media Group Bonnier Capital Acquires Elektron, Says Day-To-Day Operations Will Continue UnchangedView the full article

Reason Studios has announced Reason 14, a major update to their flagship DAW that features an all-new Track Panel, Rack per Track architecture, and the RV-9 Reverb.… Read More Reason 14 Now Available As Beta Release, Here’s What’s NewView the full article

Reason Studios has announced the latest edition of its primary DAW, Reason 14. There are many new features included in this version, such as the Track Panel, improvements to the sequencer function, and the RV-9 Reverb Station device. With the new Track Panel function, signal chain, levels, and sends can be accessed in the mains sequencer window. Now users won’t have to switch views in order to alter the sounds of individual tracks. Simply select a track to work in, and the panel will appear with all its specific info alongside the full session... The post Reason 14 is coming, with a new track panel, sequencer upgrades, and more appeared first on MusicTech. View the full …

Hivetune has released Relica 2, a free subtractive synthesizer designed to recreate the sounds of the 8-bit era. If you’re after NES-style leads, classic handheld console percussion, or chiptune sequences, this one is worth a look. Relica 2 is the sequel to the original Relica synth from the same developer. It offers four classic oscillator [...] View post: Hivetune releases Relica 2, a FREE 8-bit synthesizer plugin View the full article

Boutique gear brand Elektron has been acquired by Bonnier Capital, a Swedish investment division of the “family-owned media group,” Bonnier Group, according to a press statement issued by Elektron. Day-to-day operations will proceed as usual for customers and partners... The post Elektron acquired by investment firm Bonnier Capital: “The beginning of a more ambitious journey” appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - The Crow Hill Company introduces Crystal Pianos, imagining 18 pianos where strings have been ripped out and replaced by glass as an instrument. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT The post New Crystal Pianos Instrument appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Freqport FreqTube FT1-EMU emulations true analog tube saturation and harmonics plug-in with optional real hardware integration. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT FreqTube FT1-EMU effectively removes this barrier by delivering circuit-accurate analogue modelling directly inside a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), with no hardware required. By being built using a through component-level SPICE-based reference model to deliver authentic tube saturation […] The post Freqport Introduces FreqTube FT1-EMU appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - The Tube Lab plugin is a multi-tube preamp, a Baxandall-style EQ, and an optical leveler combination – delivering classic analog vibes. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Tube Lab lets engineers and producers configure tube flavors and module order to shape their custom tone. The TUBE AMPLIFIER (preamp), BAXANDALL EQUALIZER, and OPTICAL LEVELER (opto compressor) sections can consequently be […] The post New Tube Lab Vintage Channel Strip Plugin appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Mastering The Mix has released REFERENCE 3, a major update to its popular mix referencing plugin. We are taking a closer look at the latest update and giving away one license to one lucky BPB reader. REFERENCE 3 is priced at $79 with a 15-day free trial available (no credit card required). Owners of REFERENCE 1 [...] View post: Mastering The Mix releases REFERENCE 3 mix referencing plugin (win a FREE copy!) View the full article