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…

Audio Plugin Deals is offering Mutant Delay by W.A. Production as a free download for a limited time. Mutant Delay usually costs $39, but you can currently add it to your Audio Plugin Deals account for $0. I couldn’t find an end anywhere, so grab it sooner rather than later if you need a nice [...] View post: Get W.A. Production Mutant Delay FREE for a limited time View the full article

The Persistent Series from developer Kage Production is a collection of seven free plugins (beta stage) available in VST3 format for Windows. Before I list the individual plugins, I want to expand on compatibility a little, as there are a few things I’m unclear about. The Kage Production website says, “Persistent Series aims to support [...] View post: Kage Production releases the Persistent Series (beta) plugins for Windows View the full article

Mercurial Tones has released Dagon, a free resonance control plugin for macOS and Windows. Dagon sits in the same broad category as plugins like oeksound soothe2 and Baby Audio Smooth Operator. It basically lets you detect resonances, harsh notes, and level spikes in context, then pull them down without flattening the whole track. Similar to [...] View post: Mercurial Tones releases Dagon FREE resonance control plugin View the full article

Synthesist Craig Padilla shared this video, capturing a live studio performance, with Marvin Allen, of their track Architects Of Time.… Read More Craig Padilla & Marvin Allen – Architects Of Time StrippedView the full article

Vladimir Kuzmin, the Russian engineer and synthesizer designer best known for creating the Formanta Polivoks synthesizer, has died.… Read More Polivoks Synthesizer Designer Vladimir Kuzmin Has DiedView the full article

The alternative firmware adds a lot of features, including Trig Conditions, per-track Loop Length, new Spee options and more. … Read More Elektron Monomachine Alternate Firmware In-Depth DemoView the full article

Arturia has launched the MiniLab 37, the latest addition to the MiniLab MIDI keyboard controller series. The MiniLab series has been around since 2013 and has become one of the most popular budget-friendly controllers on the market. A new kind of MiniLab Although MiniLab controllers have been around for well over a decade and improved [...] View post: Arturia launches MiniLab 37: More keys and more possibilities View the full article

They say that this makes your bass instruments feel larger, more focused, and mix-ready.… Read More New Plug, SubMass, Helps You Get ‘Massive Bass Response’View the full article

Uryan Modula, a company specialising in hand-built Eurorack cases and enclosures, has released Vaelyra Stryn, a free resonant string/pluck synth for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The Hungarian modular experts also offer free plugins, samples, and theory guides. At the time of writing, Uryan Modular has the following plugins on offer: Waeler Aether Drift Elysa Morph [...] View post: Uryan Modular releases Vaelyra Stryn, a FREE resonant string/pluck synth View the full article

Gulf Coast Synthesis has released GCS Model 8 v3.0, a standalone 24-track tape machine and studio environment for macOS, Windows, and iPad. GCS Model 8 is a dedicated recording environment built around the sound, workflow, and limitations of a multitrack reel-to-reel tape machine. Most modern DAWs are designed to make editing as flexible as possible, [...] View post: Gulf Coast Synthesis releases GCS Model 8 v3.0 tape-based DAW (intro offer) View the full article

Rekkerd Sounds has made several sound packs available as pay-what-you-like downloads, which means you can grab them for free by entering zero as the price. The packs were originally released around ten years ago, but they are still worth checking out if you use any of the featured synths. There are four soundsets available, covering [...] View post: Rekkerd Sounds preset packs for Massive, Serum, Spire, and Sylenth1 are now FREE View the full article

The MPC60 was developed by Akai and Roger Linn and released in 1988, and went on to be used on classic albums by DJ Shadow, Dr. Dre, J Dilla, MF Doom and others.… Read More Akai MPC60 Retro Gear ReviewView the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Its features include three octaves, pads for drumming and clip-launching, and a software bundle The following release from Arturia compares their new 3-octave keyboard controller to their previously best-selling controller, which had two octaves. It looks intriguing. One feature that sticks out is its 5-year warranty, which says something about its build quality. They also […] The post Arturia’s New MiniLab 37 MIDI Controller appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - It expands on the Mini 37 and 49 White in the MK4 line, with three or four octaves The choice of keyboard controllers has expanded today. This one has a lot of appealing features, including ready-to-go integration with the major DAWs as well as support for Native Instruments’ NKS standard to control a lot of […] The post Novation’s Launchkey 61 MK4 White Keyboard Controller With Five Octaves appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Studio Kozak has released FALA, a free vintage-inspired BBD chorus plugin for macOS and Windows. This is another guitar stompbox-style plugin we have covered this week. The last one was GRIM3 Overdrive from Aurora DSP, while FALA is a chorus plugin shaped like a simple guitar pedal. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it [...] View post: Studio Kozak releases FALA, a FREE BBD chorus plugin View the full article

Bedroom Producers Blog is teaming up with Bjango for another giveaway! We are giving away three Robot Rocket licenses and three Chaos Line licenses, so six BPB readers will win in total. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below and tell us your favorite song that uses a talkbox or vocoder. We will randomly [...] View post: GIVEAWAY: Win 3 x Bjango Robot Rocket vocoder and 3 x Chaos Line sequencer View the full article

OS 1.55 adds a Euclidean Sequencer Mode, Control All, Loop Pages, Rotate Arp Sequence, Save Trig to Sound and more.… Read More Elektron Analog Four, Analog Keys Update Adds Euclidean Sequencer & MoreView the full article

Fender Studio Pro has received the 8.1 update, offering a brand-new AI assistant (public beta) and Moises Studio integration. As if we haven’t talked about Fender enough recently, here we are again with the legendary manufacturer as the topic of the day. This time, we’re not talking about guitars or lawsuits, well, not directly, anyway. [...] View post: Fender Studio Pro 8.1 puts an AI assistant and Moises stem separation inside the DAW View the full article

Every few weeks, someone asks me some version of the same question. Should I learn Vital or Surge XT? It’s a tough question because these are the two best free synths you can download in 2026, and either one can realistically be called the greatest free synth of all time. So I decided to test [...] View post: Vital vs Surge XT: How To Pick Your Free Synthesizer in 2026 View the full article

Developer ABYZOR Audio has released Genesis, a Windows-only free MIDI generator plugin. MIDI generators are handy tools when you’re struggling to get out of a creative block or need to lay something down as a quick placeholder. Whether you need a helping hand with chord progressions, basslines, or melodies, there’s no shortage of options available. [...] View post: ABYZOR Audio releases Genesis, a FREE MIDI generator plugin for Windows View the full article

From developer M Media Audio comes Volume Dealer, a free mastering limiter with a full BS.1770 LUFS metering suite. Earlier this month, we covered Violet Crown from M Media Audio, a free channel strip plugin for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Violet Crown is the first freebie from M Media Audio, and now we have the [...] View post: M Media Audio releases Volume Dealer, a FREE mastering limiter and metering suite View the full article

The DVNA is a compact synthesizer, designed for creating rich harmonic textures with minimal effort.… Read More Doboz DVNA Chord & Texture SynthesizerView the full article

Aurora DSP has released GRIM3, a free overdrive plugin based on the feel of a guitar pedal. You can put GRIM3 before an amp or amp sim and use it to tighten the low end, add a bit of midrange overdrive, or push the input stage harder. Aurora DSP optimized it for modern high-gain guitars, [...] View post: Aurora DSP releases GRIM3 FREE overdrive plugin View the full article

Dreeemwave is offering BPB readers 25% off Bassliner, a MIDI bassline generator plugin for macOS and Windows. Bassliner normally costs €24, but you can use the coupon code BPB25 at checkout to reduce the price to €19. This one first caught my attention because of the Cableguys connection. I love Cableguys’ plugins, and Bassliner started [...] View post: BPB readers get 25% OFF Bassliner MIDI bassline generator View the full article

Here's a head-to-head comparison between the Roland Juno-60 and the Behringer JN-80. … Read More How Well Does Behringer JN-80 Copy The Roland Juno-60? (Head-To-Head Comparison)View the full article

The Flexur T2 is a new expressive synthesizer, inspired by the classic Mixture Trautonium. … Read More Flexur T2 Trautonium Synthesizer Available To Pre-OrderView the full article

Can a mini-synth capture the true Minimoog sound? Stranger things have happened.… Read More Behringer D Mini Offers Minimoog-Inspired Sound In A Tiny Form FactorView the full article

The Groov~e Console automatically generates musical “grooves”.… Read More Ellitone Groov~e Console Groove SynthesizerView the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Roma Modulare 2026 announce international synth and pro audio fair. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Organizers of Roma Modulare 2026 announce that the international synth and pro audio fair in question is to be held on September 18-19, 2026 as an unmissable two-day expo in central Rome, representing a journey into electronic music devices where creativity, passion, and experimentation meet at a unique […] The post When In Rome… appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article