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…

Flame Sound is celebrating its 5th anniversary with a limited-time $5 offer on the Firestarter SFX cinematic sound effects collection. I launched Flame Sound five years ago as my cinematic sound label, and at the time, it was pretty much a passion project, much like Bedroom Producers Blog was in the beginning. I was not [...] View post: Flame Sound celebrates 5th anniversary with $5 Firestarter SFX deal View the full article

sonible is offering its learn:bundle for €49 instead of €199 until June 8th. The learn:bundle includes five AI-assisted mixing plugins made to help newer producers improve their mixes while learning what each processor is doing. The included tools are learn:EQ, learn:comp, learn:limit, learn:reverb, and learn:unmask. It helps producers who want help getting started with core [...] View post: sonible learn:bundle is on sale for €49 until June 8th View the full article

Trebless has released Tesseract Echo, a free multi-tap magnetic tape delay and FDN reverb for macOS, Windows, and Linux. I still miss the old arcDev ET-301 delay plugin, which is sadly discontinued. But because of that, I still test every new delay plugin that pops up, hoping I will find something with a similar sound. [...] View post: Tesseract Echo is a FREE multi-tap tape delay and reverb plugin View the full article

Eli & Flo has released HiPan, a free dual-band panning utility plugin for macOS and Windows. HiPan is a simple tool that lets you pan high and low frequencies independently instead of moving the entire signal left or right. I like having a folder with simple utilities like this when mixing. It is not that [...] View post: HiPan is a FREE dual-band panning plugin for macOS and Windows View the full article

Developer DAWJunkie has released Peggio Jr, a free arpeggiator synth for macOS and Windows. Whenever we speak about a new freebie from DAWJunkie, we rarely have to wait too long before the next one comes around. It has only been a few weeks since we covered Mini-Menace, DAWJunkie’s free nod to the Arturia MicroBrute, and [...] View post: DAWJunkie releases Peggio Jr, a FREE arpeggiator synth for macOS and Windows View the full article

Fender, one of the most recognisable brand names in the world, is to the guitar what Steinway is to the piano – it is the name that comes to mind first, even for people who have never played an instrument in their lives. That kind of brand identity and trust takes a lifetime to build, [...] View post: Fender and the Stratocaster Copyright Saga: Is There a Winner? View the full article

2B Played Music is offering QFX Color as a free download until June 26th, 2026. QFX Color normally costs €19.99 and is currently listed at €14.99 during the developer’s June sale, but you can get it for free by using the coupon code “JUNE26” at checkout. We covered QFX Color before, and we have also [...] View post: 2B Played Music QFX Color plugin is FREE until June 26th View the full article

Épica Audio has released Resonant Reverb, a creative plate reverb and multi-effect plugin developed in collaboration with 11-time Grammy-winning producer and engineer Joe Chiccarelli. Joe Chiccarelli’s credits include The White Stripes, The Strokes, Morrissey, Little Dragon, The Killers, and U2, and Resonant Reverb is based on a technique he has used for years on vocals, [...] View post: Épica Audio releases Resonant Reverb by Joe Chiccarelli with intro price View the full article

Analog Obsession has released an updated version of LOVEND, its free harmonic bass enhancer plugin for macOS and Windows. LOVEND is designed to add weight and focus to the low end. It gives you a continuous frequency control from 60 Hz to 180 Hz, up to 10 dB of boost, and an output control with [...] View post: Analog Obsession updates LOVEND bass enhancer plugin with rewritten DSP View the full article

Developer ypichev has released UnderwaterFX, a free and open-source creative multi-effect plugin for Windows. UnderwaterFX is built with C++ and the JUCE framework. And the idea behind it is pretty cool – it makes your audio sound like it is being heard from underwater. I am always on the lookout for unique sound design tools, [...] View post: UnderwaterFX is a FREE open-source underwater filter plugin for Windows View the full article

Carve Audio has released Gas Can Amp ($49), a guitar amp plugin inspired by the rare battery-powered amplifier known as “The Can.” The original amp was built by SLM Electronics in the 1980s and housed in a plastic gas-can-style enclosure. It later became associated with the first Foo Fighters record, where its unusually gritty tone [...] View post: Carve Audio releases Gas Can Amp plugin inspired by rare 1980s amp ($49) View the full article

S1gns Of L1fe has released Texture Loom, a free dual-sample atmosphere engine for Ableton Live, macOS, and Windows. I tested Texture Loom last night and ended up playing it for over an hour while also coming up with several layered sounds that I’ll use in future sound design projects. I have also seen some of [...] View post: S1gns Of L1fe releases FREE Texture Loom atmosphere engine plugin View the full article

Embodme today introduced ERAE Sound, a new software synthesizer that they describe as "The first synthesizer designed for an expressive surface. Not adapted — built from scratch."… Read More Embodme Intros ERAE Sound, ‘First Synth Designed For An Expressive Surface’View the full article

The performance makes creative use of effects to radically transform the Casio SA-2 sound.… Read More How To Make A Toy Keyboard Sound Like An OrchestraView the full article

The Extensions Software Development Kit (SDK), now in public beta, is an open JavaScript toolkit that lets you create custom tools that expand what you can do in Live Suite.… Read More Ableton Extensions SDK Adds ‘Experimental Playground’ To Live SuiteView the full article

Not only has the Kagouyar firmware received a major update, adding deeper synthesis options, but the price has been reduced to €849.… Read More Nozoïd Kagouyar Synthesizer Updated With Deeper Synthesis Options, More Affordable PricingView the full article

From @synthandsoftware - The Crow Hill Company announces ABSURDLY QUIET PIANO PRO, produced beyond the possibilities afforded in live performance on the very verge of silence. ABSURDLY QUIET PIANO, creates the seemingly impossible sensation of playing a grand piano impossibly quietly as the latest downloadable drop in the Edinburgh-based enterprise’s free virtual instrument collection, The Crow Hill Company […] The post Introducing Absurdly Quiet Piano Pro appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - SSL 1 delivers real studio sound in a compact form for musicians, producers, and content creators. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Solid State Logic (SSL) announces the new SSL 1: a 2‑channel, plug‑and‑play USB audio interface delivering powerful performance and authentic studio sound quality at an unprecedented price point. Designed for those beginning their creative journey as well […] The post Solid State Logic Introduces the SSL 1 Audio Interface appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Organix for Chromaphone is a collection of 100 presets by AAS resident sound designer Christian Laffitte from France. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT The pack explores a rich palette of acoustic influences, drawing from India and Asia with expressive plucked strings and airy winds, and extending to Africa and the Middle East through resonant lutes and intricate percussions. […] The post New From AAS – Organix for Chromaphone appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

OTODESK has released Ambience, a free and open-source algorithmic reverb plugin for Windows. Ambience is a 16-channel Feedback Delay Network reverb from Makoto Iida, a solo developer and hobbyist producer behind OTODESK. I asked the developer how he made the plugin and was surprised to learn that it is not based on convolution and that [...] View post: OTODESK releases FREE open-source Ambience algorithmic reverb plugin for Windows View the full article

UB DSP has released Vowel Blender, a formant filter plugin for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Vowel Blender is the second plugin from UB DSP, following Grit Blender. Its main feature is a 2D phonetic XY pad. Instead of choosing a few preset vowel shapes from a menu, you drag a cursor through a vowel space based [...] View post: UB DSP releases Vowel Blender formant filter plugin with intro offer View the full article

AIR Music Technology is offering Jura Chorus as a free download until August 2nd. Jura Chorus is the standalone chorus effect from AIR’s Jura virtual synthesizer, which is based on the classic Roland Juno-60. The plugin normally costs $39, and it is currently discounted to $14 on Plugin Boutique, but you can get it for [...] View post: AIR Music Technology offers Jura Chorus plugin FREE until August 2nd View the full article

Here's a hands-on demo of the AMYboard, a 10HP Eurorack-compatible synthesizer that lets you load a variety of synths, with digital and analog audio, MIDI, and two CV channels.… Read More $29 Amyboard Eurorack Synthesizer Hands-On DemoView the full article

SonicModeler has introduced Syntropy, a new software synthesizer for Mac & Windows that generates sound through mathematical modeling rather than traditional oscillator architectures.… Read More Syntropy Soft Synth Offers Mathematical Modeling, MPE Support, MicrotuningView the full article

You can now download Audio Assault’s Voice of Reason bass enhancer plugin for free. Audio Assault is the developer behind Amp Locker and Mix Locker, two collections with lots of free content. Amp Locker is a collection of amp sims, cabs, and FX pedals that includes the Prestige 1950 (a British hot-rodded amp) and various [...] View post: Get Audio Assault’s Voice of Reason bass enhancer plugin for FREE View the full article

Audio Plugin Deals has launched the June Mega Bundle, a $9.99 collection of virtual instruments, sound libraries, and cinematic assets. The June Mega Bundle is listed at $9.99 throughout June, down from a combined claimed value of $626. I think this kind of bundle is fun if you want to experiment with new sound sources. [...] View post: Audio Plugin Deals launches June Mega Bundle with five tools for $9.99 View the full article

Independent musician and sound designer Adrian Bartholomew has released Arcturian, a pay-what-you-want Kontakt instrument for experimental sound design. Arcturian is available through Gumroad with $0 as the minimum price, so you can download it for free or leave a donation if you want to support the developer (which is always cool). The idea behind the [...] View post: Arcturian is a FREE/PWYW Kontakt instrument for glitchy sound design View the full article

Sound Magic has released Harmonia Grand, a new virtual piano instrument built around two contrasting piano sounds and the latest Neo Piano Yosemite Engine. Harmonia Grand is currently on sale for $169, down from the regular $299 price. BPB readers can use the coupon code BPBreaders20c for an extra $20 off Sound Magic pianos valued [...] View post: Sound Magic releases Harmonia Grand virtual piano with BPB reader discount View the full article

A morphing tonal engine, global modulation system, and onboard reverb provide a range of sounds extending from percussive strikes and melodic phrases to evolving drones and atmospheric textures.… Read More Recovery Effects & Devices Larking Ambient Drone SynthesizerView the full article