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…

UVI Dual Delay X, a creative stereo delay plugin for macOS and Windows, is available for just $19 at Plugin Boutique until June 30. Dual Delay X is a highly musical delay that takes the classic effect in some unexpected directions that I find super inspiring when working on my cinematic SFX. Rather than relying [...] View post: UVI Dual Delay X is $19 at Plugin Boutique until June 30 View the full article

Audiolatry has released LoQuest, a free virtual instrument plugin designed for lo-fi, ambient, and retro music styles. LoQuest is a sample-based virtual instrument with 22 lo-fi presets. You get keys, organs, warm pads, plucks, and ambient strings. Each patch is ready to use out of the box and aims to deliver that cozy vintage feel [...] View post: Audiolatry releases LoQuest, a FREE lo-fi instrument plugin for Windows and macOS View the full article

AudioKit Pro has released AudioKit Synth One J6, a new professional-quality iOS synthesizer that they built as a labor of love.… Read More AudioKit Synth One J6 Is ‘Awesome, Amazing & Free’View the full article

Emergence Audio has launched its Infinite Summer Sale, offering up to 50% off its cinematic Kontakt instrument lineup, including highlights like Quantum, Viola Textures, and Infinite Upright. If you need modern cinematic textures and expressive scoring tools, the Infinite Summer Sale might be one of the best deals of the season. We recently featured Emergence [...] View post: Emergence Audio Launches Infinite Summer Sale with up to 50% Off Kontakt Libraries View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Instant Audio introduces QuickVox vocal multi-effect plugin – designed to bridge the gap between studio-quality vocal processing and the demands of live performance. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT QuickVox features three independent, identical rack units that allow users to craft unique effects chains for different parts of a song, such as verses, choruses, and intros. These settings can […] The post New Vocal Multi-Effect Plugin, QuickVox appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Have you ever wanted to turn your phone into a MIDI controller? You’re in luck – Michael Moalem recently released his MIDI CC Phone Controller for Android for free! Moalem had been in need of a cheap, wireless, and portable XY controller for certain plugins in his DAW. He didn’t find what he was looking [...] View post: Michael Moalem just released MIDI CC Phone Controller for free (Android) View the full article

Cakewalk has re-released Sonar as a free DAW for Windows users. This is the long-awaited (re)birth of Cakewalk’s old flagship digital audio workstation, now with a new price tag, interface, and some new rules. If you’ve been around the free DAW scene, you’ll remember Cakewalk by BandLab as one of the top choices, rivaling Waveform [...] View post: Cakewalk Sonar Returns as a Free DAW for Windows View the full article

Splash Sound has released Kalimba, a free virtual instrument for macOS and Windows. It’s the second addition to Splash Sound’s Play Collection of freeware, lightweight instruments for hassle-free music production. We featured the first instrument in the series, the Djembe, back in 2024. We liked the simple interface and surprisingly authentic sound (considering the lightweight [...] View post: Splash Sound releases FREE Kalimba VST Plugin and Kontakt Library View the full article

Reader Karol Pokojowczyk shared this live Berlin School style synth jam, featuring four Moog synthesizers: the Moog One, Micromoog, Matriarch and Messenger.… Read More Berlin School Jam Features Four Moog Synths, Recorded Live In One TakeView the full article

It features two recordable CV joysticks that can be used to automate the parameters of your choice with expressive gestures.… Read More Liquid Sky & Erica Synths Dada Noise FX Cube Modular Multi Effect SystemView the full article

Tetrad takes four oscillators, routes them in combination through a Quad AM processor that works like a pseudo-sequencer, a specifically tailored Granulator, and four physically modeled plate resonators.… Read More New Synth, Tetrad, Combines Physical Modeling & Granular SynthesisView the full article

S-4 Scultping Sampler OS 2.0 introduces macro controls, scenes, varispeed recording, unlimited sample length playback, and new dynamic modulation options.… Read More Torso Electronics S-4 Sculpting Sampler Gets Major UpdateView the full article

PlugInGuru has organized a weekend-long benefit for the Bob Moog Foundation. One hundred percent of the proceeds from sales at the www.pluginguru.com website this Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22, will be donated to the Bob Moog Foundation to support its important work in education, archive preservation, and the operation of the Moogseum.… Read More PlugIn Guru Announces Sale, June 21-22, To Benefit Bob Moog FoundationView the full article

The Moog Messenger is designed to be the company's most accessible analog synthesizer to date.… Read More Moog Messenger In-Depth Review – “A Major Milestone For Moog Synthesizers Under InMusic”View the full article

Universal Audio has introduced Anthem, a new analog-inspired software synthesizer for MacOS & Windows. … Read More Universal Audio Intros Anthem ‘Analog Synthesizer’View the full article

Sonicware has introduced the Liven Evoke, an "Acoustronic synthesizer with granular effects designed for ambient music."… Read More Sonicware Intros Liven Evoke Acoustronic Synthesizer With Granular EffectsView the full article

Plugin Boutique is currently offering a tempting $29 deal on the MF-104S Analog Delay, the software recreation of Moog’s legendary MF-104 analog delay pedal. Typically priced at $79, this plugin captures the essence of the original Moogerfooger MF-104M, combining vintage character with modern convenience. The MF-104S Analog Delay revives the highly sought-after tone of the [...] View post: Plugin Boutique offers the Moogerfooger MF-104S Analog Delay plugin for $29 (Reg. $79) View the full article

IK Multimedia’s T-RackS Tape Echo, a faithful recreation of the classic Echoplex EP3, is now available for free at Audio Plugin Deals for a limited time. T-RackS Tape Echo brings the warmth and musical saturation of vintage tape delays straight into your DAW. The plugin is modeled after the iconic hardware from 1969. It captures [...] View post: IK Multimedia T-RackS Tape Echo is FREE at Audio Plugin Deals View the full article

Pulse Audio has launched one of the biggest plugin giveaways we’ve seen in a long time. The Pulse Contest is open now and runs until June 30th, 2025, offering one lucky winner a jaw-dropping grand prize: the complete product catalogs of over 37 music software developers. That’s an estimated total value of more than $50,000! The [...] View post: Pulse Audio Launches Massive $50K+ Giveaway Featuring 37+ Audio Developers View the full article

AIR Music offers the AIR Stutter rhythmic FX plugin for macOS and Windows, for free, exclusively via Black Octopus Sound. AIR Stutter is designed for creative beat manipulation, experimenting with glitchy textures, and super quick rhythmic layering. At its core, it’s a linear rhythmic gate effect for slicing up your audio. You choose how many [...] View post: AIR Stutter Rhythmic FX Plugin by AIR Music is FREE via Black Octopus Sound View the full article

Nightfox Audio is offering the Everything Acoustic plugin, a sample-based virtual instrument for Windows and macOS, free exclusively to Bedroom Producers Blog readers until June 23. Everything Acoustic ($99 list price) comes stacked with ten deeply sampled acoustic instruments that you can layer and shape into hybrid textures. You get an inspiring selection of acoustic guitars, [...] View post: Nightfox Audio Everything Acoustic is FREE for BPB Readers until June 23 View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - The new version Infinite Flow provides the warm musicality of 12 iconic analog polysynths packed inside a fast drag-and-drop interface. PRESS ANNNOUNCEMENT The post New Filter Routing – Infinite Flow Version 1.18 appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Beatmaker 3 is a unified platform for Beat Creation and launches with Hyperpop Instrument Title Chromed. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Used by tens of thousands of producers around the world, UJAM’s Beatmaker series has become a go-to toolkit for creating genre-focused beats quickly and musically. Version 3 builds on that foundation by reimagining the series as a […] The post UJAM Releases Beatmaker 3 appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Q-Bit Electronix announces the Daisy platform-based Bloom v2 — reimagining its sequencer with additional features and configurability. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT As a three-channel, 64-step CV and gate sequencer at its roots, Bloom v2 provides all the bread and butter controls considered necessary for creating a catchy, melodic sequence. Saying that, though, a quick push through the […] The post Qu-Bit Electronix Reimagines Sequencer as Bloom v2 appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Stagecraft Software has launched a limited-time freebie deal on Overdrive 5, a distortion plugin for macOS and Windows, which is currently available for free to the first 1,000 users. Overdrive 5 features five high-quality distortion types, each with a variable scaling control that lets you dial in everything from subtle saturation to aggressive, snarling distortion. [...] View post: Stagecraft Software offers Overdrive 5 distortion plugin for FREE View the full article

Expressive E has introduced Soliste, an MPE-ready solo string suite, featuring 4 physically-modeled instruments (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass). … Read More Expressive E Introduces Soliste, An MPE-Ready Solo String SuiteView the full article

Plugin Boutique is currently offering a 75% discount on FM8 by Native Instruments, reducing the price to just $24.50 (regularly $99). To sweeten the deal, you’ll also get a free copy of Wave Alchemy Pulse with any purchase this month. FM8 is a powerful FM synthesizer that’s earned its legendary status for good reason. While [...] View post: Get Native Instruments FM8 for $24.50 + FREE Wave Alchemy Pulse View the full article

AudioKit has launched Synth One J6, a new free synth app for iPhone and iPad, inspired by classic analog hardware and powered by machine learning. If you’ve used any of AudioKit’s previous iOS instruments (like King Of FM or Retro Piano), you’ll know they lean heavily on sample-based engines with an array of synth-style controls. [...] View post: AudioKit releases Synth One J6, a FREE Virtual Synthesizer for iOS View the full article

Visu is the latest addition to Tritik’s impressive collection, and it’s available to download for free for macOS and Windows. Tritik is the developer behind free plugins like Krush (bit crusher) and Tymee (delay), as well as some excellent paid plugins, including Flaw (lo-fi effect). Although free, Visu has a pay-what-feels-right option. Whether you download [...] View post: Tritik releases Visu, a FREE advanced spectrogram plugin for macOS and Windows View the full article