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…

From @synthandsoftware - Did you miss the original 40 years ago? If you were around in 1986, chances are good that you drooled over the Ensoniq ESQ-1 when you read about it in all the music magazines you subscribed to. And look where we are today, thanks to Cherry Audio: $69 gets you not just one, but as […] The post Cherry Audio Releases an Ensoniq ESQ-1 Synth in Software (updated with 2026 features) appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Plugin Boutique is offering 50% off KORG Collection 6, dropping the software instrument bundle from $399 to $199 until July 21st. KORG Collection 6 is a huge bundle of official KORG software instruments and effects. It covers A LOT of stuff, including analog classics, digital workstations, physical modeling, pianos, organs, grooveboxes, and effects. If you [...] View post: KORG Collection 6 is 50% OFF at Plugin Boutique View the full article

Mike Sorrentino has released DNA Track Purifier, a free Trackspacer-style sidechain dynamic processor designed to reduce frequency masking between competing tracks. Mike is a musician, composer, producer, and solo developer from Rome, Italy. DNA Track Purifier is his first software release, and it comes as a free plugin with an optional paid PRO version. The [...] View post: DNA Track Purifier is a FREE Trackspacer-style plugin for Windows View the full article

AngelicVibes has released AV Pitchshifter, a free pitch-shifting plugin for macOS and Windows. We’ve covered a few AngelicVibes freebies on BPB over the years, including Basshead Mini in 2025 and the Free Ambient Female Vocals sample pack back in 2020. AV Pitchshifter is the first release in the developer’s AV Essentials FX series. I’m wondering [...] View post: AngelicVibes releases AV Pitchshifter, a FREE pitch-shifting plugin View the full article

Orra Audio has released Orra Pump, a free (pay-what-you-can) tempo-synced modulation filter for macOS and Windows. David from Orra Audio reached out to let me know about the new release, and I was very happy to see another freebie from their team. We covered Orra Audio’s Tone Zone in April, and that one got a [...] View post: Orra Audio releases Orra Pump, a FREE tempo-synced modulation filter View the full article

Thomann has taken legal action against Fender, adding another chapter to the Stratocaster copyright story. Until now, this has mostly looked like Fender sending cease-and-desist letters and smaller guitar makers trying to figure out how much legal firepower they could afford. Now Thomann, one of the biggest names in music retail, is stepping in, and [...] View post: Thomann Is Taking Fender’s Stratocaster Fight to Court View the full article

Loop 2 Kit automatically slices, groups, and creates round robins from your audio, unlocking new workflows for making music with loops.… Read More New App, Loop 2 Kit, Turns Any Loop Into A Playable KitView the full article

Session Pro offers a multi-threaded audio engine, Session Mix performer's view, backing track playback and flexible file-based projects. … Read More New App, Session Pro, Promises To Make Your Computer A ‘DAW-less’ HubView the full article

In modular synthesis, control voltages (CV) are low-voltage electrical signals used to control parameters of the sound, rather than carry audio.… Read More An Introduction To Modular Synthesizer Control VoltageView the full article

OTODESK has released ANATOMY, a free and open-source VST3 plugin for Windows. This is the third free plugin from OTODESK we’ve covered on BPB in June, following Ambience and Quad Morph Filter. Both received some very cool comments from the BPB community, although I especially liked Quad Morph Filter. ANATOMY is different from any transient [...] View post: OTODESK releases ANATOMY, a FREE transient sound design plugin for Windows View the full article

United Plugins has released TrapTune Core, a free automatic vocal tuning plugin by Soundevice Digital. TrapTune Core is part of the UnitedFree Bundle, which means you can run it for free through the UnitedPlugins Manager. You create a free account, go to the downloads section, install the manager, and you get access to the free [...] View post: United Plugins releases TrapTune Core, a FREE (with ads) autotune plugin View the full article

HoRNet Plugins is offering HoRNet DeeLay as a free download for 48 hours with the coupon code DLYFREE. Huge thanks to BPB readers Piti Acho and Javier Emanuel for sharing this one in the BPB Community. The offer expires soon, so I’m keeping this short and getting it out as fast as possible. We’ve covered [...] View post: HoRNet DeeLay is FREE for 48 hours with coupon code View the full article

CapybaraSoftware is offering CapySynth as a free download for 24 hours, with roughly 12 hours left at the time of writing. Thanks to BPB community member N. Robin for sharing this in the BPB Community. It was perfect timing. I saw the comment as soon as I woke up this morning, so I’m trying to [...] View post: CapySynth synthwave synthesizer is FREE for the next few hours View the full article

Developer Oliver Greshke shared this live drum and bass jam session, captured outside at the Funkhaus in Berlin.… Read More Live Drum & Bass On iPad At The Funkhaus BerlinView the full article

Catalyst Audio’s Mig Series is a new family of Eurorack modules built around NOS Soviet-era vacuum tubes, covering oscillator, filter, amplifier, mixer, and noise-source duties in fully analog designs.… Read More Catalyst Audio Brings Soviet Vacuum Tube Synthesis To EurorackView the full article

The latest video from synthesist Julian "J3PO" Pollack captures a live improvisation, centered around the Arturia KeyStep Pro. … Read More Live Improvisation With KeyStep Pro SequencerView the full article

Synthesizer enthusiasts everywhere look forward to SUPERBOOTH (SB) every May. In its relatively short history, this trade show for sound generators and sound effects has grown into one of the… Read More The post SUPERBOOTH26 – Synth Expo Berlin (Part 1) appeared first on GreatSynthesizers. View the full article

Jynth is a synth app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines an analog-style subtractive voice architecture with a physics-based modulation engine, AUv3 support, and built-in effects.… Read More Fingerlab’s Jynth Brings Analog-Style Synthesis, Physics Engine Control To iOS & macOSView the full article

Developer Matteo Caldari has released Sand 3.0, an iOS sequencing app that combines grid-based MIDI and audio clip workflows with AUv3 hosting, song arrangement, automation, and external MIDI routing.… Read More SAND Combines MIDI Sequencing, Audio Tracks, AUv3 Plugin Hosting On iOSView the full article

Akai’s MPC 3.9 update is centered on three major additions: a new oscillator engine that lets Drum and Keygroup tracks use synthesis sources instead of samples, expanded Arrange Mode editing tools, and more flexible time signature handling for sequences and clips.… Read More Akai MPC 3.9 Adds Built-In Oscillators, Arrange Editing Tools & Time Signature UpdatesView the full article

In tandem with the release of Genome 2.0, Two Notes Audio Engineering has launched a free entry-level version, Genome Intro. Genome Intro is available in AU, VST3, and AAX formats for macOS and Windows. Even as a free offering, Genome Intro is a fairly comprehensive collection, including four amp models, fourteen pedals, five cabinets, and [...] View post: Two Notes Audio Engineering releases Genome Intro, a FREE amp and FX suite View the full article

Developer Kobito has made its ChordGenius free for a limited time. We’ve covered a few MIDI Chord generators recently; we’ve had the Bloomer emotional chord engine by The Freequency, UChord by Ultimate MIDI Plugins, and we can now add ChordGenius to the list. Additionally, if you want to add the right bassline to your chord [...] View post: Kobito ChordGenius is FREE for a limited time: crate digging for chords View the full article

Bunkervik Spatial Reverb is a free spatial reverb plugin for macOS and Windows, created in collaboration between The NEMUS Project, Missing Ear, and Physical Audio. We’ve seen plenty of plugins that offer the spatial character of interesting places, and you can check some out in our best FREE convolution reverb article. Our list isn’t just [...] View post: The NEMUS Project has released Bunkervik SpatialReverb, a FREE spatial reverb plugin View the full article

We first covered Bassliner during its open beta stage in late 2024. It’s been a while since then; Bassliner is now a fully fledged commercial plugin, and I’ve been putting it to the test over the last couple of days. What is Bassliner? Bassliner (25% off using the promo code “BPB25”) is a MIDI bassline [...] View post: Dreeemwave Bassliner: Instant no-AI baselines and exclusive discount View the full article

Calloga has released Unshuffle, a free open-source sample library organizer for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Unshuffle is designed for producers with messy sample folders, which is probably most of us at some point. My main samples are nicely sorted into folders, but I have an insane amount of other samples scattered across hard drives, mostly [...] View post: Calloga releases Unshuffle FREE open-source sample library organizer View the full article

CodWaves has released WaveBalance, an auto gain staging plugin for macOS and Windows. WaveBalance is designed to solve one of the most common mixing problems: inconsistent track levels before the rest of the processing chain. You place WaveBalance early in the chain, usually as the first plugin, and it adjusts the incoming level so compressors, [...] View post: CodWaves launches WaveBalance auto gain staging plugin View the full article

Stagecraft Software has released FlowFilter, a free filter plugin for macOS and Windows. The developer informed me that FlowFilter is a major update to AutoFilter, the company’s filterscape plugin, which has now been transformed into a new product. FlowFilter retains the main idea of its predecessor while adding a new architecture, more filter models, and [...] View post: Stagecraft Software releases FlowFilter FREE filter plugin View the full article

Clack.DIGITAL has released Amp Squeezer, a free frequency-shaped overdrive plugin for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Amp Squeezer was originally developed for the Darkglass Anagram pedalboard and released through the Anagram Marketplace. It is now available as a regular plugin, and you can download it directly from the Clack.DIGITAL website without creating an account, entering an [...] View post: Clack.DIGITAL releases FREE Amp Squeezer overdrive plugin View the full article

Annulus is a free polyphonic resonator and effects engine for Mac & Windows.… Read More Free Plugin Brings Mutable Instruments Rings To Mac, WindowsView the full article