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…

Bedroom Producers Blog and Tuned Plugins offer 10,000 free copies of the Tuned Reverb ($99 list price) plugin for Windows and macOS. Tuned Reverb is a streamlined yet highly usable reverb plugin for Windows and macOS, and Bedroom Producers Blog readers get 10,000 free licenses. The plugin is typically priced at $99 (currently on sale [...] View post: Get Tuned Reverb FREE for a Limited Time (10,000 Licenses Available) View the full article

Until 15 May, Plugin Boutique is hosting an exclusive sale on Excite Audio plugins and bundles – and the savings range from 50% right up to a massive 78% off, if you know where to look… One of the hottest deals comes in the form of the Complete Excite Audio Bundle, which now costs just £239 rather than its usual price of £478. The bundle comes with all 16 of Excite Audio’s extensive library of plugins and instruments, from the Bloom series of vocal and instrumental effects, to visual analysis plugin VISION 4X, to Lifeline Console’s ability to add warmth of analogue audio processing to your mix... The post Plugin Boutique is hosting a massive Excite Audio sale – including …

Still mourning the discontinuation of the Mäander? It’s your lucky day, as it’s back as the Flame Instruments Mäander-M – and the wavetable powerhouse is now Eurorack-ready... The post Flame Instruments Mäander-M: The Wavetable Synth With an Analog Filterbank Is Back, Baby! appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Here's an in-depth look at the Tiptop Audio ART system, a collection of modules that implement a new standard for polyphonic synth patching in Eurorack modular systems. … Read More Polyphony In Eurorack With The Tiptop Audio ART Modular SystemView the full article

Here's a deep dive into the restoration of an EMS VCS3 synthesizer and DK-1 keyboard.… Read More Restoring A Vintage EMS VCS3 SynthesizerView the full article

Today Polyend announced the release of Synth Firmware 1.3.0, a major update that expands the possibilities of the Polyend Synth with a brand-new synth engine, a dedicated MIDI engine, expanded MIDI capabilities, new content, and usability improvements. … Read More Polyend Synth Firmware Update, With New DWA Synth Engine, Now AvailableView the full article

They say the OXI One mk2 is "the most powerful, inspiring and affordable sequencer on the market."… Read More New OXI One mk2 ‘The Most Powerful, Inspiring & Affordable Sequencer On The Market’View the full article

Larix Elektro has announced two new modules, Time & Canon, and is previewing a third module, Origami. … Read More Larix Elektro Intros Time, Canon, Origami Eurorack Modules Ahead Of Superbooth 2025View the full article

Full Bucket Music has introduced Fury-68, a free software synthesizer that emulates the KORG Poly-61 polyphonic synthesizer from 1982.… Read More Free Fury-68 Software Synth Emulates Vintage Korg Poly-61View the full article

Welcome to the BPB Community Weekly Freebie Thread for May 5-12, 2025! 😊 Read the Thread Guidelines 💬 This section of our community is where BPB readers can share links to the latest freeware news and deals with fellow music producers in the comments. Thank you for contributing! To keep the discussion helpful and relevant, please [...] View post: 💬🔥 Weekly Deals & Freebies Thread View the full article

Welcome to the BPB Community Weekly Production Thread for May 5-12, 2025! 😊 This week’s topic is: Your favorite saturation plugin. Let’s share our favorite saturator and hopefully help other BPB readers find software that flew under their radar. Thank you! Last week’s topic was your favorite EQ plugins. Read the Thread Guidelines 💬 This section [...] View post: 💬 🎹 Weekly Production Thread: Your Favorite Saturation Plugin View the full article

This month, Audio Deluxe offers either Softube Bad Speaker ($59) or UVI Digital Synsations Vol. 1 ($149) with any paid purchase for free. Audio Deluxe offers this free-with-any-purchase deal until the end of May. Softube Bad Speaker is a macOS and Windows release for AU, VST, VST3, and AAX. The lo-fi distortion plugin requires an iLok [...] View post: Get Softube Bad Speaker or UVI Digital Synsations Vol. 1 for FREE with any Audio Deluxe purchase View the full article

Sample Logic recently released GrainScaper, an innovative granular soft synth for macOS and Windows, and it’s available at a special introductory price for a limited time. GrainScaper is available for $69 until Wednesday, 7 May 2025, when it will return to the regular price of $99. GrainScaper takes any audio source and splits it into [...] View post: Get $30 off Sample Logic’s GrainScaper granular soft synth for a limited time View the full article

From now until May 31, 2025, Plugin Boutique is offering a free copy of Bitwig Studio 8-Track with any paid purchase. Bitwig Studio 8-Track is an entry-level digital audio workstation for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Bitwig describes the DAW as a sketch pad for musical ideas that features the workflow from its big bro Bitwig [...] View post: Get a Free Copy of Bitwig Studio 8-Track with any Plugin Boutique Purchase View the full article

You might remember when Lofi Girl hit the internet. It was a landmark cultural moment. Perhaps in a time when things felt chaotic, we needed this kind of music to slow ourselves down. Whatever it was that was so compelling about Lofi Girl, it was part of a movement that made lo-fi hip hop one of the most iconic and laid-back genres for beatmakers. Dusty textures, mellow vibes, and a nostalgic feel are the foundational elements that make lo-fi hip hop what it is. With a sound that’s both soothing and raw, the genre works perfectly as a background listen and is somewhat of a 21st-century answer to 20th-century ambient music. In this guide, we’ll go through how to make a lo-…

Dorico 6 adds a new Proofreading panel, Cutaways, enhanced chord symbol support, OpenType features, new sound and more. … Read More Steinberg Dorico 6 Updated With Automatic Proofreading & MoreView the full article

Sinevibes let us know that they've released updated versions of their Isomer and Stator effects for Korg Multi-Engine devices, adding support for the NTS-1 mkII synthesizer & NTS-3 kaoss pad.… Read More Sinevibes Updates Isomer Delay & Stator Tape Simulator For KORG NTS-1 mkII Synth & NTS-3 kaoss padView the full article

The project has already reached 10,000 supporters, which means that the idea will move on to the next stage.… Read More Awesome LEGO Minimoog Project Moving On To Next StageView the full article

Full Bucket Music Fury-68 is a free emulation of the KORG Poly-61 analog polysynth from the ‘80s! This week’s round-up of the best free plugins also features Hammer & Meißel, a fascinating modal filter by Florian Mrugalla, and RoomLite, a high-quality room reverb... The post Fury-68, Hammer & Meißel, RoomLite: Free Plugins of the Week appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Is this the coolest new synth of the year? … Read More Frap Tools Intros Magnolia 8-Voice Analog FM SynthesizerView the full article

Error Instruments has announced the Cinematic Tape System 9 - a powerful tape-based system designed for ambient, soundscape, and experimental music.… Read More Error Instruments Intro Cinematic Tape System 9 At Superbooth 2025View the full article

Superbooth is almost here! The world’s biggest synth event is still a few days away, but the first highlights of this year’s show are already pouring in. Also: Soundtoys releases a freebie you won’t want to miss, and Future Retro discontinues the Vectra. Tops & Flops of the Week! ... The post Superbooth, an Awesome Freebie, and a Farewell to Vectra: Tops & Flops of the Week appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Bastl Instruments has introduced Kastle 2 Wave Bard, an experimental patchable sample player.… Read More Bastl Intros Kastle 2 Wave Bard Experimental Patchable Sampler PlayerView the full article

The Matrix VCF may be the most versatile VCF ever, offering an unparalleled degree of sonic flexibility in a single 14 HP analog Eurorack module.… Read More AJH Synth Intros Matrix VCF, “The Most Versatile Eurorack Filter Ever’View the full article

Anukari is a new software synthesizer based on the idea of creating a network of small masses (like little ball bearings, or marbles) connected by springs.… Read More Anukari 3D Physics Synthesizer Now Available As Public BetaView the full article

Melbourne Instruments and Bitwig are pleased to announce that Roto-Control's deep integration with Bitwig Studio is now available as a public beta.… Read More Melbourne Instruments and Bitwig Announce Integration for Roto-ControlView the full article

Organic house music has been gaining traction in the electronic music scene. The blend of natural elements and electronic soundscapes feels singular to this subgenre of house music. It is this particular blend of acoustic textures and groove-based energy that has made this genre popular in the festival scene today. In this article, we’ll explore what organic house music is, how it differs from other house genres, and give you a guide on creating your own organic house tracks… The post Organic house music: exploring the genre and how to make it first appeared on Native Instruments Blog. View the full article

Can’t afford a vintage synthesizer or don’t want to bother with endless maintenance? These five synth clones sit at the centre of the synthesizer Venn diagram between authenticity, reliability and affordability. What a time to be alive. It used to be that if you wanted a classic synthesizer, you had to trawl the back pages of music mags, scanning the classifieds with a magnifying glass for something good for sale. These days, enterprising companies of all sizes are giving the people what they want, with all manner of re-releases, updates and upgrades, and outright clones now just a Buy It Now button click away... The post 5 of the Best Modern Synth Clones: Affordable Clas…