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…

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

Developer JonET has released the beta version of MonkSynth, a free Delay-Lama-inspired vocal synth for macOS, Windows, and Linux. AudioNerdz released the original Delay Lama back in 2002, and now, over two decades later, your favourite chanting monk is back. MonkSynth is a free mono vocal synth, inspired by the original Delay Lama plugin. The [...] View post: JonET releases MonkSynth (beta), a FREE Delay-Lama-inspired vocal synth plugin View the full article

Cosmosf Saturn 9S comes with a fully resizable interface, next-gen spatial audio with support of 5th and 7th order Ambisonics, delivering up to 64 channels of real-time encoded audio, and a revised file access and structure.… Read More Cosmosf Saturn Stochastic Synthesizer Gets Major UpdateView the full article

Make Noise has introduced their latest module in the New Universal Synthesizer System, the Gestural Time Extractor.… Read More Make Noise Intros Gestural Time Extractor Eurorack ModuleView the full article

Vubeatz has released VU202, a free sampler plugin that started life as an iOS beat machine and now works as a VST plugin on macOS and Windows. I typically expect a plugin designed for mobile to feel awkward in a DAW, especially with its portrait-oriented interface. I tested the VST version in Studio One on [...] View post: VU202 is a new FREE sampler plugin for iOS, macOS and Windows View the full article

SessionDock lets you browse your music projects like a library, track development of your projects, and preview them via mobile, your Car via CarPlay, your TV via Apple TV and more. … Read More SessionDock Promises To Keep Your Music Projects Organized Across Mac, Windows, iOS & Apple TVView the full article

The ARP Odyssey has inspired generations of musicians and remains one of the most sought-after vintage synths to this day. If you don’t happen to be one of the lucky few who can call an original their own, don’t despair! With these ARP Odyssey alternatives, anyone can get their hands on the legendary duophonic classic. The ARP Odyssey was released in 1972 as a direct competitor to the mighty Minimoog. As the era of massive modular systems came to an end, working musicians desired more compact, more practical, and—perhaps most importantly—more affordable synthesizers, and ARP certainly wasn’t going to miss out on this trend. Although similar in size to the Minimoog, the Od…

Developer Renger Koning has released Felt & Fog cinematic piano for Kontakt, along with a free version. We’re almost spoiled for choice when it comes to free cinematic piano libraries; we have things like Dark Mode by SRM Sounds, Cozy Piano from SampleScience, and Venus Theory’s forms:piano. They all offer something a little different, so [...] View post: Renger Koning releases Felt & Fog cinematic piano for Kontakt (FREE version available) View the full article

Relooper by United Plugins is currently 81% off on Plugin Boutique, bringing the price down to only $15 (regular price $82). The deal runs until April 30th. If, like me, you have hundreds of loops on your hard drive and need something to breathe new life into them, this one might do the trick. Relooper [...] View post: United Plugins Relooper real-time remix engine is 81% OFF ($15) View the full article

This in-depth review of the MacBook Neo, focusing on music production, argues that it's a great 'first computer' for music making. … Read More Is The Macbook Neo The Ultimate Budget Music Computer?View the full article