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…

It's a hybrid design, combing digital oscillators with an analog signal path. … Read More EMW WCS-X Synthesizer Sneak PreviewView the full article

Novation has released an update for the Launch Control XL 3 control surface, adding deeper customization, support for more DAWs and more. … Read More Novation Launch Control XL 3 Update Adds Deeper Customization, Expanded DAW Support & MoreView the full article

Wee Noisemakers calls the PGB-1 "The Ultimate Pocket Synth". Does it live up to the hype?… Read More Is The Wee Noisemakers PGB-1 The Ultimate Pocket Synth?View the full article

The El-Ma Ørsted can detect radio waves, electromagnetic fields emitted by electronic devices, and environmental electromagnetic interactions and translate them into sound. … Read More VAEMI Electromagnetic Field Microphone Lets You Listen To The InvisibleView the full article

LALAL.AI has launched its first VST plugin, bringing its industry-leading stem-splitting technology to your DAW for the first time, “significantly reducing the time spent switching between workflows”. The plugin uses its Lyra model, and is designed to run locally on nearly any hardware. According to LALAL.AI, Lyra delivers “fast and effective” stem separation for “unlimited experimentation” right inside the DAW... The post LALAL.AI launches its first stem-splitting VST plugin for “unlimited experimentation” inside your DAW appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Developer Carve Audio has released BusBoy ($49), a mixing utility plugin for macOS and Windows. It is currently free until March 2nd, 2026. BusBoy is best described as a simplified channel strip for stereo buses, but I think it’s also an excellent choice for individual channels. The main idea here is to help you establish [...] View post: Carve Audio offers new BusBoy channel strip for FREE until March 2nd View the full article

Otter Mods has introduced four new Moog Format modules. … Read More Otter Mods Intros Four New Moog Format ModulesView the full article

Moog Messenger Ultimate Patches features 200 presets, including polys, pads, leads, keys, basses, percussion, FX and more. … Read More 200 New Patches For The Moog MessengerView the full article

UVI’s PX Apollo synth is now available for just $19, down from $79, in an exclusive deal at Audio Deluxe. This 64-bit-only release is available for macOS and Windows in AU, AAX, VST, and VST3 formats. PX Apollo is based on a rare prototype from the early ’70s-an early polyphonic analog synth with a 71-voice [...] View post: UVI PX Apollo ‘70s Analog Emulation Synth is now just $19 View the full article

The UB-1 Micro features dual DCO oscillators, a 24 dB/oct low-pass filter and a built-in arpeggiator.… Read More Behringer UB-1 Micro Puts Big Sound In Small Package (Sound Demo)View the full article

The event will feature exhibitions, masterclasses, concerts, discussions, synth rarities, tutorials and more.… Read More Synthfest France Returns April 17-19, 2026View the full article

WoodPecker v2.5 is now available for both MacOS and iOS.… Read More WoodPecker MIDI Sequencer 2.5 Brings New Sequencing Options, MIDI CC LearnView the full article

Boochow Instruments has introduced a free web app for building custom KORG drumlogue user units directly from Pure Data patches.… Read More Free Tool Turns Pure Data Patches Intro Korg drumlogue UnitsView the full article

Shortcircuit XT by Surge Synth Team is an open-source sampler plugin for macOS, Windows, and Linux, and it’s now in beta. Fans of the original Shortcircuit sampler and the Surge Synth Team have been eagerly awaiting the next step in the plugin’s progress since we covered the pre-alpha release years ago. We have a lot [...] View post: The open-source Shortcircuit XT sampler by Surge Synth Team is now in beta View the full article

Continuing their series, the Crow Hill Company has released Glass Beaker, a free experimental instrument in the Vaults series. I think we’re all familiar with the Vaults series from The Crow Hill Company. But, for anyone who isn’t, the Vaults series is a collection of free instruments, each available for a limited time. Once the [...] View post: The Crow Hill Company releases Glass Beaker, a FREE experimental instrument in the Vaults series View the full article

The Bob Moog Foundation has announced its latest fundraising raffle, featuring a Minimoog Voyager XL synthesizer, signed by electronic music pioneer Thomas Dolby. … Read More Latest Moog Foundation Raffle Features Minimoog Voyager XL Signed By Thomas DolbyView the full article

From @synthandsoftware - The Bob Moog Foundation is excited to announce its winter fundraising raffle for a Minimoog Voyager XL signed by the legendary musician and tech innovator Thomas Dolby. The Minimoog Voyager XL, serial number 0745, is in excellent physical and technical condition. It is valued at $7,500. The raffle begins at 7 am on February 2, […] The post Bob Moog Foundation Announces Fundraising Raffle for Minimoog Voyager XL Signed by Thomas Dolby appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Manifest Audio has released Tactum, a free stochastic impulse monosynth built for Max for Live and designed to run inside Ableton Live. I don’t usually feature Max for Live devices on BPB, mainly because not everyone can use them. But every now and then, something amazing comes along that feels worth making an exception for. [...] View post: Manifest Audio releases Tactum, FREE stochastic impulse monosynth for Max for Live View the full article

Craft Labs has released Mayerism, a free guitar amp plugin for Windows and macOS inspired by the signature tones of John Mayer. Mayerism is another example of how far free guitar amp plugins have come in recent years, and that is especially true for those built on Neural Amp Modeler technology. Not that long ago, [...] View post: Craft Labs releases Mayerism, a free guitar amp plugin inspired by John Mayer View the full article

In his latest video, German synthesist Hainbach takes a look at the String Armonica, an electro-acoustic instrument based on the idea of acoustic synthesis. … Read More The String Armonica Offers A Different Take On Acoustic SynthesisView the full article

Black Octopus Sound offers the Drums Master Bundle drum and percussion sample collection for $10 to Bedroom Producers Blog readers until February 11th. This is an exclusive BPB offer. Drums Master Bundle is listed at its full price on the website, but you can bring it down to $10 by entering the coupon code BPBDrums10 at [...] View post: BPB Deal: Black Octopus Sound Drums Master Bundle for $10 View the full article

The Syntrx II features stable main oscillators with waveshapers, a versatile multimode filter, external instrument inputs with an envelope follower, ringmodulator, recordable joystick, built-in piano roll sequencer, matrix mixer and DSP-based FX. … Read More Erica Synths Syntrx II Review – ‘The Beast Of Analog’View the full article

Synsonic Instruments has made three of its previously paid drum plugins free to download for macOS and Windows. If you’ve been following Bedroom Producers Blog for a while, you’ll probably recognize the name Synsonic Instruments from their old BD-808 Free (featured in our article about the best free 808 plugins) and BD-909 Free plugins. Those [...] View post: Synsonic Instruments now offers their paid drum plugins for free View the full article

RCJacH has released RCSiner, a free distortion plugin for macOS and Windows, now available as a standalone plugin. RCSiner is a waveshaping and phase-distortion effect built around sine-based shaping formulas. While the project has been floating around in various forms before (I first saw it mentioned in 2025, but haven’t featured it on BPB then), [...] View post: RCJacH releases FREE RCSiner distortion plugin for Windows and macOS View the full article

Igorski has released Phlegetron, a free distortion plugin for macOS and Windows. I’m a big fan of Igorski’s plugins. The interfaces are always nicely designed, and the functionality tends to be focused rather than bloated with unnecessary stuff. The old Homecorrupter bitcrusher is still a personal favorite of mine, but I’m always happy to dig [...] View post: Igorski releases Phlegetron, a FREE distortion plugin for macOS and Windows View the full article

With the NightSky plugin, you can create vast soundscapes from just a few notes. … Read More Strymon NightSky Now Available For Mac & WindowsView the full article

Here's a sneak preview of the upcoming reissue of the Future Retro 777 bassline synthesizer.… Read More Future Retro 777 Reissue Sneak Preview From 2026 Buchla & Friends ShowView the full article

LaunchCodes is a free virtual instrument for Mac & Windows that's built for synthesizing explosive hits and basses.… Read More Free Software Synth, LaunchCodes, Makes An ImpactView the full article