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…

CARP Audio is offering Octapus, its octave effect plugin, for free for a limited time. The offer expires in 48 hours, and the exact expiry time depends on your timezone, so download it as soon as possible if you want to grab it for free. It normally retails at €29.95. Octapus is an octaver with [...] View post: Get Octapus by CARP Audio for FREE this weekend only View the full article

Gray Cat Music is offering the Regal Mandolin Decent Sampler instrument to the first 1,000 BPB readers for free. Use the coupon code BPBRULES at checkout on the Payhip product page to claim your free copy. The instrument is normally a pay-what-you-want product with a $10 minimum, so this is a solid deal while the [...] View post: First 1,000 BPB readers can get the Regal Mandolin Decent Sampler instrument for FREE View the full article

And now for something completely different, as Abbey Road Studios and Charles Jeffrey Loverboy release The Big Nessie, a free multi-instrument library for Kontakt Player. It’s unusual to begin any post with the title of a 1970s Monty Python classic, but this seems as good a time as any. The Big Nessie is a free [...] View post: Abbey Road Studios releases The Big Nessie, a FREE multi-instrument library for Kontakt Player View the full article

The KeyStep line has always been about Arturia packing way more features and connectivity than you’d expect from such a compact controller, and sometimes still making it work. Well, they’ve done it again. With the KeyStep 37 mk2, Arturia has moved from 32 to 37 slimkey keys, added a dedicated OLED display with a clickable [...] View post: Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2 Review View the full article

Plugin Boutique is currently offering iZotope VocalSynth 2 at 85% off, bringing it down to $29 from its regular price of $199. The deal runs until March 1st. VocalSynth 2 is one of my favorite vocal processing plugins, and at it’s almost a steal at this price, considering how versatile it is. Also, it’s primarily [...] View post: Get iZotope VocalSynth 2 for $29 at Plugin Boutique until March 1 View the full article

Dreamtonics has released three new Choir Voice Collections for use within Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro, alongside a free version 2.2.0 update for the software. After two years of development and recording, the new Choir Voice Collections bring a total of three virtual choir voices to the platform. Each collection contains 16 individual voices (four [...] View post: Dreamtonics intros three Choir Voice Collections for Synthesizer V Studio 2 Pro View the full article

Here's a look at the Infinite Machinery line of Eurorack modules. … Read More Infinite Machinery Eurorack ModulesView the full article

voidDSP has released Echo1, a free modulated stereo delay plugin for Mac and Windows. Echo1 has two independent delay lines, each with its own speed control. The Sync button locks both lines to the left slider value, which is handy when you don’t need the more complex interactions you get from running the two lines [...] View post: voidDSP releases Echo1, a FREE stereo delay plugin with modulation View the full article

Analog Obsession has released RazorClip, a free analog-based clipper plugin for Mac and Windows. RazorClip offers five clipping modes, each modeled after a different analog circuit type. That’s really the core of what RazorClip offers, and the modes give you various distortion characters to work with. The five options are Tape, XFMR, BJT, Tube, and [...] View post: Analog Obsession releases RazorClip, a FREE analog-based clipper plugin View the full article

Radigue was best known as a pioneer of drone music and a proponent of the ARP 2500 modular synthesizer.… Read More Composer & Synthesist Éliane Radigue Has Died At The Age Of 94View the full article

This performance goes far beyond the basics, using the phase8 less like a traditional instrument than a platform for sound design. … Read More Sound Design With The Korg phase8 Acoustic Synthesizer With Richard DevineView the full article

The microKorg was viewed as a toy by many, when it was introduced, but it packs a tremendous range of capabilities into its compact package.… Read More Korg microKorg Vintage Synth ReviewView the full article

Australian telecommunications company Telstra has teamed up with electronic music group and fellow Aussies The Avalanches to create a fully functional synth from over 80% repurposed e-waste items like mobile phones, games consoles and old electronic cables. The one-of-a-kind “e-waste” synth – created to raise awareness of the growing problem of e-waste in Australia – will be on display in the window of Telstra’s Melbourne Discovery Store through March and April... The post This one-of-a-kind synth is made almost entirely of e-waste appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

This week, the spotlight is on Moog. The Moogerfooger plugins bring true analog character straight into your DAW. At the same time, AKAI Professional’s MPC 2 delivers a classic groove-based workflow, while iZotope VocalSynth 2opens up fresh possibilities for modern vocal production. These three very different software tools share one thing: they add real value to everyday studio work. If you want to elevate your sound design, beat production, or vocal processing, these deals are well worth a closer look... The post Moog, AKAI, iZotope: 3 Massive Software Deals appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Eplex7 DSP releases Analog Warming X-Stopper AS470 all-in-one analog compressor / limiter nonlinear algorithmic simulation. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT The Analog Warming X-Stopper AS470 is a high-quality, all-in-one analog compressor /limiter nonlinear algorithmic simulation. Rather than being two separate processors, this device seamlessly transitions from natural automatic compression at slower time constants to a fast, analog-sounding limiter—or anything in between. Its primary mission is […] The post New Analog Warming X-Stopper AS470 appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Inear Display has made its creative audio tools now available via pay-what-you-want (meaning they can be yours for free). If the Complete Monkwind Effect Bundle and the Aqua Node open-source plugin suite weren’t enough, we’ve got another developer making everything available for free. Inear Display has moved all of its products into the pay-what-you-want category. [...] View post: Inear Display offers its full plugin collection as pay-what-you-want (available for FREE) View the full article

Sender Spike has released qb (Kyubi), a free multimode distortion plugin for Windows. If you’re familiar with the name Sender Spike, that’s likely because we recently featured the developer’s SN Zero hybrid synthesizer. That one is a fun FM vector hybrid synth with a clean interface and a nice sample loading feature. Well worth checking [...] View post: Sender Spike releases qb (Kyubi), a FREE multimode distortion plugin for Windows View the full article

The “world’s first fully 8-voice Jupiter-8 clone” is 95% finished. Will the ACME Synth Works Jupiter-8 Clone become a full product? Well, looky here. Just the other day I ran a story called “5 Synths That Need a Remake,” and number three on the list was the Roland Jupiter-8. Today I see this. It’s not Roland doing the remake, granted, but it is apparently a one-to-one clone. The only issue is that it may not see the light of day… The post ACME Synth Works Jupiter-8 Clone: Shut Up and Take My Money! appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

If this develops into a product, it sounds like the intent is to make it as a boutique, full-size clone, vs a mass-produced, budget copy. … Read More First Roland Jupiter-8 Clone (Sneak Preview)View the full article

The collection includes audio effects, synthesizers and utilities. … Read More Free VST Collection For WindowsView the full article

There's a deep rabbit hole to go down....… Read More Are Audiophile Cables BS? Or, A New Meaning For ‘Banana Cables’View the full article

If you produce or perform with synths and drum machines, you need a mixer that’s up for the task. We check out some of the best mixers for synths and electronic performance setups... The post Best Mixers for Synths: Mixers for Electronic Live Performance appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

If you’ve been dreaming of getting your hands on a Moog Messenger then now might be the time to go for it, as Guitar Center is currently offering $200 off. The Messenger was first announced in May last year, and was described by Moog as marking a “significant evolution” in its synth lineage, introducing “new sonic possibilities and enhanced playability”. It was even rated a near flawless 9/10 in our review... The post The Moog Messenger was one of the biggest synth launches of last year – and you can get it right now at $200 off appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Developer Aqua Node has released a collection of 20 free and open-source plugins for Windows. The plugins are free to download in VST3 format for Windows directly from the developer’s Gumroad page. All downloads include the open source code (JUCE) for anyone who’d like to expand on the existing code, or compile macOS or Linux [...] View post: Aqua Node releases a FREE and open-source plugin suite for Windows View the full article

Plugin Boutique is currently running historically low prices on three Roland synthesizer plugins, with the Roland D-50 leading the way at 67% off (down to $49 from $149). The deal runs until March 3rd. The D-50 is my main pick here. Released in 1987, it was Roland’s first fully digital synthesizer and one of the most [...] View post: Roland D-50, JV-1080, and XV-5080 plugins are at historically low prices at Plugin Boutique View the full article

The Complete Monkwind Effect Bundle from Monkwind DSP features thirteen plugins, including pitch shifters, drum processors, compressors, stereo width enhancers, and more – all for free! Here’s the complete list of plugins: ArpeggiateMe CRUNCHer DrumWizard EZPitch GimmeSpace LEVELer MajicFM SaturateMe SaturateLLC SUMO Suppressor WickdPitcher WideMe The plugins are available to download for free in AU [...] View post: Monkwind DSP offers the Complete Monkwind Effect Bundle for FREE View the full article

You don’t need 20 layers to make a loop feel new. Most of the time, you need one smart move that changes the emotion (warm → aggressive, clean → gritty, narrow → wide, static → alive). Below are 12 “one-knob” shortcuts you can do in any DAW with almost any plugin. Each one includes a quick example so you can turn a basic loop into a hook in minutes. View the full article

Behringer’s LM Drum is currently reduced over at Thomann, and you can get your hands on it for just under £300. Launched in 2024, this drum machine is not just a modern take on the LinnDrum. It captures the essence of “a hundred legendary ’80s drum sounds”, according to Behringer itself, including those designed by Roger Linn such as the LM-1, LM-2, LM9000 and more. The LM Drum landed just after its launch of its Wave synth, and offers 16 voices with trigger pads for each, plus a mixer with volume and panorama controls. It features 109 sounds in total, and has tuning controls for snare, toms, and congas, and a control for hi-hat decay... The post You can get Behringer’s L…

Sync Audio has released MegaMod, a free modulation plugin that lets you attach any of your existing plugins to it and use it as a modulation host. MegaMod is currently available for free as a limited-time offer during its beta period, so if this sounds interesting, it’s worth grabbing now. I’m guessing that this could [...] View post: Sync Audio releases MegaMod, a FREE plugin that modulates any other plugin View the full article