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…

LFOstore has introduced a new sound library for Casio CZ synthesizers, including the CZ-101, CZ-1000, CZ-3000 & CZ-5000.… Read More New Sounds For Old Synths: 64 Casio CZ PatchesView the full article

Artists in DSP have updated the free Amorph text-to-DSP plugin, which now lets you create custom user interfaces. We looked at Amorph earlier this year, and as with many things AI-related, it comes with seemingly limitless potential and just as many divided opinions. If you missed Amorph on its initial release, here’s a quick recap. [...] View post: Free Amorph AI-driven text-to-DSP plugin gets a major visual update View the full article

Developer Mr Jefferson has released Stepista, a free AI-assisted MIDI pattern generator. Chord and Pattern generators have been around for a long time, and while the simplicity of 1980s hardware MIDI sequencers is still desirable to many, software offerings have come a long way. Although we have long seen new MIDI-generation plugins come along fairly [...] View post: Mr. Jefferson releases Stepista, a FREE AI-assisted MIDI pattern generator View the full article

Windows 11 now supports both MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0 through Windows MIDI Services.… Read More MIDI 2.0 Comes To Microsoft WindowsView the full article

Fuse Audio Labs has released Tube Lab, a vintage channel strip plugin built around a multi-tube preamp, a Baxandall-style EQ, and an optical compressor with flexible module routing. If you’re familiar with Fuse Audio Labs (we covered the excellent free VPRE-72 Vintage Tube Preamp and VREV-666 Spring Reverb plugins in the past), you know the developer [...] View post: Fuse Audio Labs releases Tube Lab vintage channel strip plugin ($29 intro price) View the full article

We’re giving away three free copies of Chimera, the cinematic Vital soundbank by HydraTek. But stick around, because there’s a 30% OFF Easter Sale happening right now with a hidden Easter egg that could save you a lot more than 30%. Let’s check out the giveaway first. The Giveaway To enter the Chimera giveaway, just [...] View post: WIN Chimera Cinematic Vital Presets + Flame Sound Easter Sale (+ 80% OFF Easter Egg) View the full article

Cherry Audio has introduced Crumar DS-2, a new virtual instrument, based on the hardware DS-2 from 1978.… Read More Cherry Audio Intros Crumar DS-2 Synthesizer PluginView the full article

TATO shared this overview of the Aline Compositional Step Sequencer. … Read More Aline Compositional Step Sequencer Now AvailableView the full article

The session dives deep what makes Korg unique, from their analog heritage, to the acoustic synthesis of the Phase8 synthesizer. … Read More The Past, Present & Future Of Korg SynthesisView the full article

The video explores the evolution of Oberheim's products in the '70s and '80s, covering many of the most influential electronic instruments ever made.… Read More New Documentary, Expander, Looks At The History Of Oberheim ElectronicsView the full article

Stryde Audio has introduced Swayed, a new software synthesizer modeled after the Yamaha SY-77. … Read More New Software Synth, Swayed, Recreates Classic Yamaha SY77 SoundView the full article

Firmware Update 1.6 introduces a new polyphonic sequencer engine and macros. … Read More Redshift 6 Firmware Update Adds Polyphonic Sequencing, MacrosView the full article

Plugin Boutique’s VirtualCZ synth is currently 75% off, bringing the price down from $79 to $19. The sale runs until April 30th. On top of that, Plugin Boutique is running a new tiered free gift promotion this month, and I’ll cover the freebies you can pick up with your purchase below. VirtualCZ is a phase [...] View post: Get 75% off VirtualCZ phase distortion synth + FREE Plugin Boutique gifts View the full article

Vocal Gate is a free, open-source AI noise gate plugin that separates clean speech from unwanted microphone artifacts like coughs, sneezes, keyboard clicks, and heavy breathing. It’s available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The concept reminds me a little of Goyo Voice Separator, which was free for a limited time a few years ago. Goyo [...] View post: Vocal Gate is a new FREE AI noise gate plugin for podcasts, streams, and video editing View the full article

Dusk Audio has released Chord Analyzer, a free MIDI chord detection and music theory analysis plugin for Windows, macOS, and Linux. We’ve covered a few Dusk Audio releases recently, including DuskVerb and the 4K EQ, MultiComp, and Tape Machine trio. Chord Analyzer is a different kind of tool. Instead of processing audio, it reads incoming [...] View post: Dusk Audio releases Chord Analyzer, a FREE real-time chord detection plugin View the full article

Sojus Records has released a free and open-source VST3 emulation of the Ensoniq SD-1/32 synthesizer. It’s the first plugin emulation of this synth. But the coolest part for me is that it’s built on MAME, the same emulation framework used to preserve arcade machines and vintage hardware. I’ve spent hours playing some of my favorite [...] View post: Sojus Records releases a FREE open-source Ensoniq SD-1/32 VST emulation View the full article

April is Vocal Month at Minimal Audio, and the developer behind Ripple Phaser, Poly Flanger, and the free Formant plugin is kicking off proceedings with a free vocal sample pack – Elevated Vocals. It’s worth noting that Audio Plugin Deals is offering a massive 90% discount on Ripple Phaser for a limited time. You [...] View post: Minimal Audio offers a FREE vocal sample pack: Elevated Vocals View the full article

Audio Plugin Deals is throwing a huge sale this month, and you can now get their April Mega Bundle for $9.99. The original price is a whooping $507, so to say this is a massive discount (98% off) is almost an understatement. If you’re into cinematic and ambient atmospheres or on the lookout for percussive [...] View post: Get the entire April Mega Bundle from Audio Plugin Deals for $9.99 in LIMITED time offer View the full article

Developer Urban Kits has released Plural, which is a free pitch-shifting sequencer plugin for macOS and Windows. Urban Kits is known to provide tools and sounds that help musicians create music from the ground up. What I mean is that Urban Kits offers products with no barriers to entry; they are free, easy to use, [...] View post: Urban Kits releases Plural, a FREE pitch-shifting sequencer plugin for macOS and Windows View the full article

Tuva is a standalone desktop application that helps music producers organize, classify, and search their audio samples, MIDI files, and DAW project files from a single interface. My sample and loop content gets scattered across hard drives, so any help with organizing this stuff is welcome. If, like me, you’ve accumulated tens of thousands of files [...] View post: Tuva is a smart sample manager with AI tagging and DAW project browsing (30% OFF) View the full article

OTT (over-the-top) compression has become one of the most recognizable sounds in modern music production.… Read More Audio Damage Intros Free Over-The-Top Compressor For Linux, Mac & Windows, Evil OttoView the full article

The free alt firmware adds physical modeling capabilities, based on the MI Elements module.… Read More New Firmware Turns Mutable Instruments Rings Module Into ‘Mini-Elements’ Physical Modeling SynthesizerView the full article

Are you ready to 'unleash the creativity'?… Read More Erica Synths Intros Perkons Keys – The First Portable Drum Machine KeyboardView the full article

SOMA Laboratory, in collaboration with The Midium, has introduced the PULSAR-23: 1984, a 'dystopian' take on Vlad Kreimer's organismic drum machine design. … Read More SOMA Laboratory Intros PULSAR-23 1984 Limited Edition Drum MachineView the full article

Midifex has released Plugoff, a free app for macOS and Windows that scans, organizes, and offloads your audio plugins. It supports AU, VST, VST3, and AAX formats. Plugoff is currently free, but the developer stated that it will become a paid product in the future. So, now is the perfect time to get it. When [...] View post: Plugoff is a FREE audio plugin manager for macOS and Windows View the full article

Audio Assault has released Amp Locker 98, a free guitar amp simulation plugin dressed head-to-toe in Windows 98 aesthetics. Yes, it’s an April Fools’ release, but no, it’s not a joke. Well, it is, but it’s also a real guitar amp plugin. If you grew up in the late 90s like me, this will be [...] View post: Audio Assault releases Amp Locker 98, a FREE guitar amp sim in full Windows 98 style View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Reykjavik-based instrument developer Genki Instruments announces the Katla – a Voice Rotating Polyphonic Synthesizer inspired by Iceland’s largest subglacial volcano as its natural namesake. NOTE: Synth and Software does not recommend leaving your synths on rocks by the ocean. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Active at the core of the Katla Voice Rotating Polyphonic Synthesizer — to give […] The post Katla – A Voice Rotating Polyphonic Synthesizer appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Werkdiscs has released Concrète Waves, a new live album by Actress and Suzanne Ciani.… Read More New Music From Actress and Suzanne Ciani – Concrète WavesView the full article

From @synthandsoftware - Kenton announces USB Solo mk2 – a bridge between modern DAWs and vintage analog synthesizers. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT The Kenton USB Solo mk2 is a multi-functional MIDI-to-CV converter and USB MIDI interface designed to bring legendary analog monosynths into the modern production era, offering 16-bit precision, ultra-fast response times, and unparalleled flexibility for studio and live […] The post New Kenton USB Solo mk2 appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article